Methods and Protocols in Network Physiology

Network Physiology is an emerging interdisciplinary field dedicated to understanding the dynamic interactions and coordination among multiple physiological systems, both in health and disease. As this field continues to advance, there is an urgent need for robust, reproducible, and innovative methods and protocols that enable researchers to probe, analyze, and interpret physiological networks across scales – from molecules to organs to the whole organism.

This Research Topic aims to showcase state-of-the-art techniques, methodological advancements, and standardized protocols that are shaping the future of Network Physiology. We encourage submissions that demonstrate methodological rigor, highlight practical applications, and promote reproducibility and data sharing across the discipline.

Submissions must explicitly frame their content within the context of Network Physiology, focusing on interactions, network analysis, or the coordination of physiological systems.

All contributions will undergo peer review, with emphasis placed on the clarity, reliability, and utility of the method or protocol, rather than strict novelty. Manuscripts presenting methods or protocols should clearly demonstrate their relevance and applicability to Network Physiology research.

In line with our commitment to open and transparent science, we support the FAIR principles (Findability, Accessibility, Interoperability, and Reusability) for scientific data management and stewardship.

This Research Topic welcomes:
• Methods: New methods, or existing methods significantly improved or adapted for application in Network Physiology. Primary (original) data may be included where appropriate.
• Protocols: Detailed procedural descriptions, including troubleshooting, pitfalls, and practical considerations, which have been reliably tested and are of immediate utility to the community.
• Perspective or General Commentaries: Thoughtful insights or commentaries on methodological challenges, emerging trends, or gaps in current protocols relevant to Network Physiology.
• Reviews and Mini-reviews: Overviews of current state-of-the-art methods and protocols, including a critical appraisal of their advantages, limitations, and potential directions for future research.

Relevant topics include, but are not limited to:
• Experimental or computational techniques for multiscale physiological data integration
• Innovative analytical tools for physiological network characterization
• Cross-system coupling and synchronization analysis
• Advanced signal processing, modeling, and visualization of physiological interactions
• Standardized protocols for data acquisition, cleaning, and analysis in complex systems
• Assessment of network dynamics in health, disease, development, or aging

Submissions addressing clinical, translational, or applied contexts are especially welcome, as are articles that promote methodological transparency and reusability.

Topic Editor Debnath Pal is co-founder and director of ReneLife Pvt. Limited. Topic Coordinator Deepa Maheshvare is employed by AstraZeneca. The other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regard to the Research Topic subject.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Network Physiology, Methods, Data Analysis, Models, Complex Systems, Time-varying Interactions, Nonlinearity, Synchronization, Higher-order Interactions, Adaptive Networks

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.