In 2025, TGH reviewers continue to make outstanding contributions to the peer review process. They demonstrated professional effort and enthusiasm in their reviews and provided comments that genuinely help the authors to enhance their work.
Hereby, we would like to highlight some of our outstanding reviewers, with a brief interview of their thoughts and insights as a reviewer. Allow us to express our heartfelt gratitude for their tremendous effort and valuable contributions to the scientific process.
Julia Maroto-García, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, Spain
Julia Maroto-García
Dr. Julia Maroto-García is a PhD Specialist in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine in the Department of Biochemistry at the Clínica Universidad de Navarra in Madrid, Spain. In 2016, she obtained her degree in Pharmacy from the University Complutense of Madrid, Spain. Between 2017-2021, she completed her specialized training at the Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria in Malaga. Afterwards, she did her PhD studies at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Malaga on the use of free light chains in the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, where she was honored CUM laude. Currently, she is focused on neurodegenerative and endocrinology diseases. She has been the President of the Commission of Residents and Young Scientists of the Spanish Society of Laboratory Medicine (SEQC), in which she actively collaborates by conducting conferences and scientific presentations. Learn more about her here.
TGH: What do you regard as a healthy peer-review system?
Dr. Maroto-García: A healthy peer-review system is one that maintains rigor, transparency, and fairness while fostering constructive feedback to improve the quality of scientific work. It should ensure that articles are reviewed by experts in the field who are unbiased and objective. The review process should be timely, with clear communication between authors, editors, and reviewers. Furthermore, a healthy system encourages diversity in perspectives, allowing both positive and negative feedback to be delivered professionally and thoughtfully. It should also ensure confidentiality, integrity, and respect for the authors’ work while maintaining accountability in the review process.
TGH: Peer reviewing is often anonymous and non-profitable. What motivates you to do so?
Dr. Maroto-García: The primary motivation for me to engage in peer review is a deep commitment to advancing science and ensuring the integrity of published work. Peer review is a fundamental part of maintaining the credibility and quality of scientific literature, and I feel a sense of responsibility to contribute to this process. By reviewing, I can help identify flaws, suggest improvements, and ensure that the work being published is both scientifically sound and valuable to the community. Additionally, peer reviewing allows me to stay updated on the latest developments in my field, expand my own knowledge, and contribute to the broader scientific community without the expectation of financial gain. The intrinsic reward of supporting the development of high-quality research is what drives me.
(by Lareina Lim, Brad Li)
