Science is built on trust and reproducibility fuels that trust. Yet, for many years, researchers across disciplines have struggled to replicate published findings, raising concerns over the credibility of scientific literature. This reproducibility crisis has prompted scientists to reevaluate practices and introduce methods to promote transparency and improve method reporting. Developments such as the conceptualisation of CONSORT guidelines, and the adoption of Registered Reports, have certainly helped reduce selective reporting and publication bias, but substantial structural change and frequent documentation of experimental workflows are crucial in normalising reproducible science on a larger scale.

To help tackle this ongoing crisis, FEBS Open Bio is proud to present its April ‘In the Limelight’ special issue dedicated entirely to Research Protocols – detailed experimental protocols that include a comprehensive list of all required reagents and a section for ‘Tips and Tricks’.

Guest edited by Prof. Ivana Novak (University of Split, Croatia), this issue contains eight resourceful Research Protocols and an introductory editorial that expertly summarises each article. Ranging from innovative approaches in protein crystallization and production of multiprotein complexes, to enzymatic activity screening, to autophagy analysis via flow cytometry, and even behavioural testing in rodent models, this collection offers a broad and highly applicable set of research procedures for those in the molecular and cellular life sciences.

At a time where the increasing pressure to publish as fast as possible leads authors to cut corners on methods, this special issue provides a crucial reminder of the importance of sharing thorough experimental workflows that can be adopted by researchers at all stages.

We hope this issue will aid in combatting the reproducibility crisis and will be a valuable resource for those in the field, and we invite you to read the full collection here.

Do you have a methodology that you would like to share with the scientific community? If so, consider submitting it to FEBS Open Bio! The full Author Guidelines can be found here. All of our Research Protocols are published as part of a dedicated Virtual Issue, which you can explore here.

^{Cover art by Merve Evren, PhD, illustrating the role of Research Protocols in guiding scientists through the complexities of challenging experimental methods.}