**Preface to "Marine Natural Product Chemistry: A Themed Issue Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Peter Proksch on His Research Career"**

As early as 30 years ago, Professor Dr. Peter Proksch was aware that marine organisms with diverse species are a huge treasure for the discovery of marine natural products with medicinal values. Since then, he has transferred his research interest from terrestrial plants to marine animals. His attention was caught by the colorful coral reefs in the tropical seas. He focused his research work on marine invertebrates, mainly including sponges, molluscs and tunicates. With the deepening of research, he expanded his research object to symbiotic microorganisms derived from marine invertebrates. Thousands of new marine natural products have been discovered by his group from marine invertebrates and their symbiotic microorganisms, most of them having novel structures and significant biological activities. A series of lead compounds with antitumor, antiviral, and antibacterial activities have been discovered and developed.

In his academic career, Professor Dr. Peter Proksch has put forward many innovative ideas which have played a guiding role in the field of marine natural products and marine drugs. He has published more than 600 peer-reviewed original papers, review articles and book chapters. Many academic views proposed by Professor Dr. Peter Proksch have important insights and provide a reference for scholars in the domain of marine natural products and marine drugs. He explored and practiced the discovery of bioactive secondary metabolites from marine invertebrates and their symbiotic microorganisms. We are deeply impressed by his great achievements in marine natural products and marine drugs.

Professor Dr. Peter Proksch not only has a global vision, but also has a broad mind and sincere spirit of international cooperation. He has trained a large number of scholars and students from all over the world, especially from China, Indonesia, India, Vietnam, Mongolia, Egypt, Turkey, Morocco, Cameroon and Nigeria. His laboratory is therefore known as the PP international family. He spread his academic thoughts and scientific spirit and was admired and respected by scientists in the field of natural product chemistry.

On the occasion of Professor Dr. Peter Proksch finishing his academic career, we are honored to be invited to organize an album in the journal of Marine Drugs to commemorate his outstanding contribution to marine natural products and marine drugs, as well as express our admiration for him. At the same time, we also hope that the album can inspire young generation of scholars in this field to make greater contributions in the future, explore the medicinal value of marine natural products and benefit human health.

> **Bin-Gui Wang, RuAngelie Edrada-Ebel, and Chang-Yun Wang** *Editors*
