Jane Paulsen | Clinical Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Jane Paulsen | Clinical Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Jane Paulsen | University of Wisconsin Madison | United States

Dr. Jane S. Paulsen, Ph.D., is a Professor of Neurology and Vice Chair for Research at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, where she also contributes to the Department of Neurosciences Graduate Program. Her expertise lies in cognitive, psychiatric, and imaging correlates of neuropsychiatric disorders, with a strong focus on the early detection of brain diseases and the development of innovative methods for clinical trials. She has significantly advanced the understanding of genetic discrimination and the discovery and validation of biological and clinical markers of brain disease, incorporating neuroimaging and omics-based outcomes into her research. Dr. Paulsen completed her Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology at the University of Iowa, followed by postdoctoral training in Neuropsychology at the University of California, San Diego, where she worked on Alzheimer’s and geriatric psychiatry research. Over her career, she has held key positions including Director of the Huntington’s Disease Clinical Research Program at UCSD and has contributed extensively to advancing neuropsychological research and clinical applications. Her scholarly impact includes 4 published documents, 78 citations from 77 documents, and an h-index of 3, reflecting her influence in the fields of neurology, neuropsychology, and cognitive neuroscience.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Reserach Gate | linked In

Featured Publications

Sachdev, P. S., Blacker, D., Blazer, D. G., Ganguli, M., Jeste, D. V., Paulsen, J. S., & Petersen, R. C. (2014). Classifying neurocognitive disorders: The DSM-5 approach. Nature Reviews Neurology, 10(11), 634–642.

Ross, C. A., Aylward, E. H., Wild, E. J., Langbehn, D. R., Long, J. D., Warner, J. H., & Paulsen, J. S. (2014). Huntington disease: Natural history, biomarkers and prospects for therapeutics. Nature Reviews Neurology, 10(4), 204–216.

Paulsen, J. S., Langbehn, D. R., Stout, J. C., Aylward, E., Ross, C. A., Nance, M., & Shoulson, I. (2008). Detection of Huntington’s disease decades before diagnosis: The Predict-HD study. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 79(8), 874–880.

Langbehn, D. R., Brinkman, R. R., Falush, D., Paulsen, J. S., Hayden, M. R., & International Huntington’s Disease Collaborative Group. (2004). A new model for prediction of the age of onset and penetrance for Huntington’s disease based on CAG length. Clinical Genetics, 65(4), 267–277.

Levy, M. L., Cummings, J. L., Fairbanks, L. A., Masterman, D., Miller, B. L., Craig, A. H., & Paulsen, J. S. (1998). Apathy is not depression. The Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 10(3), 314–319.

Sachdev, P., Kalaria, R., O’Brien, J., Skoog, I., Alladi, S., Black, S. E., Blacker, D., & Paulsen, J. S. (2014). Diagnostic criteria for vascular cognitive disorders: A VASCOG statement. Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders, 28(3), 206–218.

Palmer, B. W., Heaton, R. K., Paulsen, J. S., Kuck, J., Braff, D., Harris, M. J., & Zisook, S. (1997). Is it possible to be schizophrenic yet neuropsychologically normal? Neuropsychology, 11(3), 437–446.

Plis, S. M., Hjelm, D. R., Salakhutdinov, R., Allen, E. A., Bockholt, H. J., Long, J. D., & Calhoun, V. D. (2014). Deep learning for neuroimaging: A validation study. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 8, 229.

Mohamed, S., Paulsen, J. S., O’Leary, D., Arndt, S., & Andreasen, N. (1999). Generalized cognitive deficits in schizophrenia: A study of first-episode patients. Archives of General Psychiatry, 56(8), 749–754.

Paulsen, J. S., Ready, R. E., Hamilton, J. M., Mega, M. S., & Cummings, J. L. (2001). Neuropsychiatric aspects of Huntington’s disease. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry, 71(3), 310–314.

Paula Abola | Neuroscience & Education | Neuroscience Academic Distinction Award

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Mrs. Paula Abola | Neuroscience & Education | Neuroscience Academic Distinction Award

Mrs. Paula Abola | University of Jamestown | United States

Paula Abola is a clinical researcher and academic with a strong focus on Parkinson’s disease, clinical drug development, and chemical biology. She has earned advanced degrees in Clinical Research, Clinical Drug Development, and Medicinal Chemistry & Chemical Biology, completing dissertations that explored knowledge disparities and shared decision-making in Parkinson’s disease, as well as comparative efficacy studies of pharmacological interventions and novel synthetic approaches in chemical biology. Paula has extensive experience in higher education, serving as an adjunct professor at multiple international universities, where she designs and delivers graduate- and doctorate-level courses in systematic reviews, meta-analyses, survey research, research proposal writing, study design, statistical methods, and chemical biology, while also mentoring and supervising student research projects. Her work emphasizes bridging methodological rigor with practical applications in clinical and social research, including applications in pharmacological management and vaccine development. Paula’s research contributions are documented in 2 scholarly works, which have collectively received 2 citations, giving her an h-index of 1 and an i10-index of 0. Her academic and research endeavors reflect a dedication to advancing knowledge in clinical pharmacology, research methodology, and chemical biology while fostering the development of future researchers through mentorship and teaching.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Orcid | Research Gate | Linked In

Featured Publications

Abola, P., Lefebvre, K., & Wolden, M. (2025). Influence of sociodemographic variables on patient and practitioner knowledge of pharmacological management options for Parkinson’s disease. American Journal of Medical and Clinical Research & Reviews, 4(1), 1–16.

Abola, P., Wolden, M. (2024). Monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor rasagiline effects on motor and non-motor symptoms in individuals with Parkinson’s disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Advances in Parkinson’s Disease, 13(3), 27–56.

Abola, P., & Jabishvili, G. (2025). Incidence of adverse and safety events in individuals with Parkinson’s disease treated with catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor opicapone as an add-on to levodopa treatment. Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences.

Abola, P., & Lefebvre, K. (2025). Technological advancements in the reduction of Parkinsonian tremor: A scoping review. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 41(3), 162–170.

Abola, P., Wolden, B., & Wolden, M. (2025). Journal of Neurology & Neuropsychiatry. Neuropsychiatry, 2(1).

Abola, P., & Lefebvre, K. (2025). Technological advancements in the detection and quantification of Parkinsonian tremor: A scoping review. Topics in Geriatric Rehabilitation, 41(3), 154–161.

Abola, P., & Wolden, M. (2025). Intra-individual variations in voice variables among individuals with and without Parkinson’s disease. Cureus, 17(3).

Abola, P., & Lefebvre, K. M. (2025). Technological advancements in the rehabilitation of Parkinsonian tremor: A systematic review. 2025 Combined Sections Meeting (CSM).

Kareem Al-Khalil | Cognitive Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Kareem Al-Khalil | Cognitive Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Kareem Al-Khalil | University of Wisconsin – Madison | United States

Kareem I. Al-Khalil is a Multimodal Imaging Scientist at the Institute on Aging, University of Wisconsin-Madison, with extensive expertise in human development, family sciences, and neuroscience. He earned his Ph.D. in Human Development & Family Sciences, focusing on differences in brain activation and connectivity among college students with varying mathematical abilities, and holds dual M.Sc. degrees in Psychology and Experimental Psychology, as well as a B.Sc. in Biology. His professional trajectory spans postdoctoral research and associate positions at Duke University School of Medicine and the Mind Research Network, where he contributed to understanding neurocognitive processes in psychiatric and behavioral contexts. He has also served as a research analyst, teaching assistant, and graduate instructor, gaining substantial experience in experimental design, psychometrics, and cognitive neuroscience. Al-Khalil’s research contributions include peer-reviewed publications on connectomics, brain network disruption in HIV and substance use, and structural connectivity alterations associated with chronic cannabis use. His work has garnered a total of 201 citations, with an h-index of 8 and an i10-index of 7, reflecting his influence in the fields of cognitive neuroscience and neuroimaging. Through his research, he advances understanding of brain function, network connectivity, and cognitive processes in health and disease, integrating behavioral science with multimodal imaging approaches.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Linked In

Featured Publications

Al-Khalil, K., Vakamudi, K., Witkiewitz, K., & Claus, E. D. (2021). Neural correlates of alcohol use disorder severity among nontreatment‐seeking heavy drinkers: An examination of the incentive salience and negative emotionality domains of the … Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 45(6), 1200–1214.

Hou, J., Rajmohan, R., Fang, D., Kashfi, K., Al-Khalil, K., Yang, J., & Westney, W. (2017). Mirror neuron activation of musicians and non-musicians in response to motion captured piano performances. Brain and Cognition, 115, 47–55.

Niehuis, S., Reifman, A., Al-Khalil, K., Oldham, C. R., Fang, D., & O’Boyle, M. (2019). Functional magnetic resonance imaging activation in response to prompts of romantically disillusioning events. Personal Relationships, 26(2), 209–231.

Gonzales, J. U., James, C. R., Yang, H. S., Jensen, D., Atkins, L., & Thompson, B. J. (2016). Different cognitive functions discriminate gait performance in younger and older women: A pilot study. Gait & Posture, 50, 89–95.

Calderon-Delgado, L., Barrera-Valencia, M., Noriega, I., & Al-Khalil, K. (2020). Implicit processing of emotional words by children with post-traumatic stress disorder: An fMRI investigation. International Journal of Clinical and Health Psychology, 20(1), 46–53.

Noriega, I., Trejos-Castillo, E., Chae, Y., & Calderon-Delgado, L. (2021). Emotional memory processing in post‐traumatic stress disorder affected Colombian youth. International Journal of Psychology, 56(3), 387–393.

Kashfi, K., Al-Khalil, K., Hou, J., Fang, D., Anderson, R., Rajmohan, R., & Syapin, P. (2017). Hyper-brain connectivity in binge drinking college students: A diffusion tensor imaging study. Neurocase, 23(3–4), 179–186.

Kashfi, K., Fang, D., Hou, J., Al-Khalil, K., Anderson, R., Syapin, P. J., & O’Boyle, M. W. (2017). Spatial attention in binge-drinking and moderate-drinking college students: An fMRI investigation. Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly, 35(3), 260–278.

Swartz, M., Burton, F., Vakamudi, K., Al-Khalil, K., Witkiewitz, K., & Claus, E. D. (2021). Age dependent neural correlates of inhibition and control mechanisms in moderate to heavy drinkers. NeuroImage: Clinical, 32, 102875.

Yue Ding | Cognitive Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Yue Ding | Cognitive Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Yue Ding | Shanghai Mental Health Center | China

Dr. Yue Ding is a distinguished neuroscientist and biomedical engineer whose research focuses on the neural mechanisms of music and rhythm-based interventions for affective and anxiety disorders, particularly in children and adolescents. With a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Tsinghua University and a B.S. in Biomedical Engineering from Dalian University of Technology, Dr. Ding has extensive experience in both academic and industry settings, including leadership roles at Shanghai Mental Health Center, AI Institute at iFlytek, and Nielsen Consumer LLC, as well as a visiting scholar position at Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Ding’s research integrates neuroscience, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality to develop personalized interventions, including closed-loop music therapies, rhythm interactive training, and controllable music generation models, supported by numerous national and municipal grants. His work also explores neural oscillations in depression and anxiety, taste perception, and language impairments in Alzheimer’s patients. He is actively involved in professional organizations, including the Art Psychotherapy Committee, Music Psychology Committee, and editorial boards of prominent journals such as Scientific Reports and Frontiers in Psychiatry. With 17 published documents, Dr. Ding has garnered 228 citations and holds an h-index of 8, reflecting his influential contributions to the fields of neuroscience, neuroengineering, and mental health research.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Linked In

Featured Publications

Ding, Y., Hu, X., Li, J., Ye, J., Wang, F., & Zhang, D. (2018). What makes a champion: The behavioral and neural correlates of expertise in multiplayer online battle arena games. International Journal of Human–Computer Interaction, 34(8), 682–694.

Ding, Y., Hu, X., Xia, Z., Liu, Y. J., & Zhang, D. (2021). Inter-brain EEG feature extraction and analysis for continuous implicit emotion tagging during video watching. IEEE Transactions on Affective Computing, 12(1), 92–102.

Ding, Y., Zhang, Y., Zhou, W., Ling, Z., Huang, J., Hong, B., & Wang, X. (2019). Neural correlates of music listening and recall in the human brain. Journal of Neuroscience, 39(41), 8112–8123.

Ding, Y., Chu, Y., Liu, M., Ling, Z., Wang, S., Li, X., & Li, Y. (2022). Fully automated discrimination of Alzheimer’s disease using resting-state electroencephalography signals. Quantitative Imaging in Medicine and Surgery, 12(2), 1063–1077.

Ding, Y., Gray, K., Forrence, A., Wang, X., & Huang, J. (2018). A behavioral study on tonal working memory in musicians and non-musicians. PLOS ONE, 13(8), e0201765.

Zhang, Y., Ding, Y., Huang, J., Zhou, W., Ling, Z., Hong, B., & Wang, X. (2021). Hierarchical cortical networks of “voice patches” for processing voices in human brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 118(44), e2103518118.

Efstratios Stylianos Pyrgelis | Neurochemistry | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Efstratios Stylianos Pyrgelis | Neurochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Efstratios Stylianos Pyrgelis | National and Kapodistrian University of Athens | Greece

Dr. Efstratios-Stylianos Pyrgelis is a distinguished Neurologist and Ph.D. scholar affiliated with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. His extensive research contributions span neurochemistry, neuroimaging, and normal pressure hydrocephalus, reflecting a deep commitment to advancing clinical neuroscience. With over 40 published articles in SCI- and Scopus-indexed journals and authorship of 4 international medical books, Dr. Pyrgelis has established a strong academic footprint. His scholarly influence is demonstrated by a total of 510 citations, an h-index of 11, and an i10-index of 12, as recorded on Google Scholar. As a Review Editor for Frontiers in Neurology and Guest Editor for Diagnostics, he plays a pivotal role in shaping contemporary neurological research. He collaborates with the CNS Alliance Research Group and maintains professional memberships with the Greek Neurologic Society and the Medical Association of Chios. Beyond academia, he has contributed to consultancy projects linking research with clinical applications. Through his innovative work and international collaborations, Dr. Pyrgelis continues to contribute significantly to the understanding and treatment of neurological disorders, reinforcing his reputation as one of Greece’s leading researchers in the field of neuroscience.

Profiles: Orcid | Research Gate

Featured Publications

Pyrgelis, E.-S., Paraskevas, G. P., Constantinides, V. C., Boufidou, F., Stefanis, L., & Kapaki, E. (2024). In vivo prevalence of beta-amyloid pathology and Alzheimer’s disease co-pathology in idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus—Association with neuropsychological features. Biomedicines, 12(8), 1898.

Pyrgelis, E.-S., Paraskevas, G. P., Constantinides, V. C., Boufidou, F., Papaioannou, M., Stefanis, L., & Kapaki, E. (2023). Alzheimer’s disease CSF biomarkers as possible indicators of tap-test response in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus. Brain Sciences, 13(11), 1593.

Angelopoulou, E., Pyrgelis, E.-S., Ahire, C., Suman, P., Mishra, A., & Piperi, C. (2023). Functional implications of protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) in neurodegenerative diseases. Biology, 12(9), 1257.

Pyrgelis, E.-S., Velonakis, G., Papageorgiou, S. G., Stefanis, L., Kapaki, E., & Constantinides, V. C. (2023). Imaging markers for normal pressure hydrocephalus: An overview. Biomedicines, 11(5), 1265.

Constantinides, V. C., Paraskevas, G. P., Boufidou, F., Bourbouli, M., Pyrgelis, E.-S., Stefanis, L., & Kapaki, E. (2023). CSF Aβ42 and Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio in Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal dementias. Diagnostics, 13(4), 783.

Constantinides, V. C., Boufidou, F., Bourbouli, M., Pyrgelis, E.-S., Ghika, A., Koros, C., Liakakis, G., Papageorgiou, S., Stefanis, L., Paraskevas, G. P., et al. (2023). Application of the AT(N) and other CSF classification systems in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia. Diagnostics, 13(3), 332.

Angelopoulou, E., Pyrgelis, E.-S., & Piperi, C. (2022). Emerging potential of the phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor ibudilast for neurodegenerative diseases: An update on preclinical and clinical evidence. Molecules, 27(23), 8448.

Wagdy Khalil | Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Wagdy Khalil | Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Wagdy Khalil |  National Research Centre | Egypt

Dr. Wagdy Khalil is a Professor of Animal Genetics specializing in Molecular Genetics at the Cell Biology Department, National Research Centre, Egypt. His research focuses on genetic and molecular mechanisms underlying animal reproduction, gene expression, and environmental genotoxicity. He has significantly contributed to the understanding of oocyte maturation, preovulatory hormonal regulation, and molecular responses to toxins, nanoparticles, and natural therapeutic agents. Dr. Khalil’s work integrates molecular biology, biotechnology, and animal genetics to explore the genetic basis of fertility, mutagenicity, and disease resistance. He has published 161 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals indexed in Scopus, reflecting his consistent research productivity and international collaboration. His studies have advanced knowledge in fields such as reproductive biology, toxicogenomics, molecular diagnostics, and genetic engineering. Dr. Khalil’s impactful research has earned him 2,055 citations from 1,801 documents, demonstrating wide recognition within the scientific community. With an h-index of 27, his work continues to influence emerging research in molecular genetics and biotechnology, bridging fundamental discoveries with applied biomedical and agricultural innovations.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar | Research Gate | Linked In

Featured Publications

  • Antiarthritic activities of berberine in a rat model of gouty arthritis. (2025). Scientific Reports.

  • Unravelling the mechanism by which vildagliptin and linagliptin inhibit pyroptosis in lung injury through the NLRP3 inflammatory pathway in type 1 diabetic rats. (2025). Scientific Reports.

  • Comparative study of pyridine and pyrimidine derivatives as promising anti-inflammatory agents: Design, synthesis, and LPS-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages. (2025). Drug Development Research.

  • Expression of growth factors in buffalo ovarian tissue across different follicular developmental stages. (2025). Archives of Gynecology and Obstetrics.

  • Estrus, preovulatory LH surge and oocyte maturation in Goettingen miniature pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus). (2025). Theriogenology.

  • Targeting apoptotic pathways in cancer: Design, synthesis, and molecular docking studies of 1,3,5-trisubstituted-1H-pyrazole derivatives with Bcl-2 inhibition and DNA damage potential. (2025). RSC Advances.

  • Assessment of the gold nanoparticles biosynthesized using Casuarina equisetifolia bark extract against the ethion-induced hepato- and neurotoxicity in rats. (2025). Journal of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.

  • In vitro and in vivo antidiabetic evaluation of new coumarin and chromone derivatives: Design, synthesis, and molecular modeling. (2025). Bioorganic Chemistry.

  • Potential therapeutic effects of interleukin-1 receptor type 1 antagonist and the ethyl acetate fraction of Murraya exotica leaves against κ-carrageenan-induced vein thrombosis in rats. (2025). Phytomedicine Plus.

  • The ability of stressor factors of environmental pollution to induce ROS and 8-OHdG mediated apoptosis in fish species of Suez Gulf, Red Sea. (2025). Egyptian Journal of Chemistry.

Sirous Rafiei Asl | Neuroscience & Education | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Sirous Rafiei Asl | Neuroscience & Education | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Sirous Rafiei Asl | Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences | Iran

S. Rafiei Asl is an active biomedical researcher whose work spans toxicology, pharmacology, microbiology, and infectious diseases. His research primarily explores the protective and therapeutic potential of natural compounds and pharmacological agents against various toxic and pathological conditions. He has investigated the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of agents such as quercetin, bromelain, syringic acid, and Camellia sinensis extract, highlighting their roles in mitigating oxidative stress, inflammation, and tissue damage in animal models. His studies also extend to antimicrobial resistance and biofilm inhibition, including in vitro and in vivo evaluations of zinc sulfate and carvacrol against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, as well as clinical investigations into infectious diseases like Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever and parasitic infections such as Leishmania. Additionally, he has contributed to case studies in urology and immunology, including systemic lupus erythematosus research. With a growing body of scholarly work encompassing 8 indexed documents, he has achieved 75 citations from 63 documents, reflecting increasing recognition in his field. His current h-index is 3 and i10-index is 2, underscoring his meaningful contributions to biomedical science and the ongoing pursuit of evidence-based therapeutic interventions.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Research Gate

Featured Publications

Mahdavinia, M., Alizadeh, S., Vanani, A. R., Dehghani, M. A., & Shirani, M. (2019). Effects of quercetin on bisphenol A-induced mitochondrial toxicity in rat liver. Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences, 22(5), 499.

Elahi, R. K., Rafiei Asl, S., & Shahian, F. (2013). Study on the effects of various doses of Tribulus Terrestris extract on epididymal sperm morphology and count in rat.

Rafiei-Asl, S., Khadjeh, G., Jalali, S. M., Jamshidian, J., & Rezaie, A. (2020). Investigating the protective effects of bromelain against inflammatory marker alterations induced by cadmium pulmonary intoxication in rat. Iranian Veterinary Journal, 16(2), 75–88.

Rafiei-Asl, S., Khadjeh, G., Jalali, S. M., Jamshidian, J., & Rezaie, A. (2021). Protective effects of bromelain against cadmium-induced pulmonary intoxication in rats: A histopathologic and cytologic study. Archives of Razi Institute, 76(5), 1427.

Moradi, M., Montazeri, E. A., Rafiei Asl, S., Pormohammad, A., Farshadzadeh, Z., & others. (2025). In vitro and in vivo antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of zinc sulfate (ZnSO₄) and carvacrol (CV) alone and in combination with antibiotics against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Antibiotics, 14(4), 367.

Najafi, S., Rafiei Asl, S., Kajbaf, F., Changizi, Z., & Abbasipour, Z. (2024). Investigation of epidemiological factors and clinical pathology in suspected and affected patients with Crimean Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) in Ahvaz. Journal of Inflammatory Diseases, 28(1).

Sarkarian, M., Alishoushtari, A., & Rafiei Asl, S. (2025). Misplacement of nephrostomy catheter into inferior vena cava during percutaneous nephrostomy procedure: A case report. Translational Research in Urology, e226102.

Li-Ru Zhao | Neurogenetics | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Li-Ru Zhao | Neurogenetics | Best Researcher Award

Dr. LR Zhao is a distinguished neuroscientist and professor at the State University of New York Upstate Medical University, with appointments in the Departments of Neurosurgery and Neuroscience & Physiology. He received his M.D. from Hebei Medical College and completed his Ph.D. at Lund University, focusing on neural stem cells, brain plasticity, and neurobiology. His postdoctoral work at the University of Minnesota explored the role of bone marrow stem cells in brain repair. Dr. Zhao’s research career spans multiple institutions, including Northwestern University and Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, where he progressed from Research Assistant Professor to Associate Professor. His work primarily investigates mechanisms underlying brain repair and regeneration, with emphasis on traumatic brain injury, enriched environment interventions, and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and CADASIL. He has successfully secured multiple NIH-funded grants, including R01 and R56 awards, totaling several million dollars, and has mentored numerous medical students through summer and research fellowship programs. Dr. Zhao has published 66 peer-reviewed documents, which have been cited 3,238 times by 2,814 documents, yielding an h-index of 27. His contributions have advanced understanding of hematopoietic growth factors in neurorepair, SCF+G-CSF-mediated recovery in chronic TBI, and the cellular mechanisms regulating neurodegeneration and regeneration, establishing him as a leader in translational neuroscience research.

Profiles: Scopus | Linked In

Featured Publications

  • Author(s). (2024). Research guideline recommendations for research on stem cells, human embryos, and gene editing.

  • Author(s). (2024). Hematopoietic growth factors regulate the entry of monocytes into the adult brain via chemokine receptor CCR5. International Journal of Molecular Sciences.

  • Author(s). (2024). Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals immunomodulatory effects of stem cell factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor treatment in the brains of aged APP/PS1 mice. Biomolecules.

  • Author(s). (2023). Stem cell factor and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor promote remyelination in the chronic phase of severe traumatic brain injury. Cells.

  • Author(s). (2021). SCF + G-CSF treatment in the chronic phase of severe TBI enhances axonal sprouting in the spinal cord and synaptic pruning in the hippocampus. Acta Neuropathologica Communications.

Michael Sacher | Neurodevelopmental Processes | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Michael Sacher | Neurodevelopmental Processes | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Michael Sacher | Concordia University | Canada

Dr. Michael Sacher is a distinguished cell biologist and professor at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, currently serving as Chair of the Department of Biology. He earned his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from McGill University and has held numerous academic and research positions, including postdoctoral work at Yale University and leadership roles in proteomics research. His work focuses on vesicle trafficking, organelle communication, and the molecular mechanisms regulating intracellular transport, with significant contributions to understanding the TRAPP (Transport Protein Particle) complex and its role in cellular function. Dr. Sacher has authored and co-authored over 180 publications, mentoring students and postdoctoral researchers throughout his career. His research has had substantial impact, reflected in more than 18,000 citations, an h-index of 36, and an i10-index of 53, underscoring his influence in cell biology and molecular genetics. His findings have advanced knowledge of cellular transport mechanisms and their implications for human disease, particularly in disorders linked to vesicle trafficking dysfunction. Through his work, Dr. Sacher continues to shape the fields of cell biology and biochemistry, combining rigorous experimental approaches with innovative imaging and molecular techniques to elucidate complex intracellular processes.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Reserch Gate | Linked In

Featured Publications

  • Klionsky, D. J., Abdel-Aziz, A. K., Abdelfatah, S., Abdellatif, M., Abdoli, A., Abel, S., … (2021). Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition). Autophagy, 17(1), 1–382.

  • Sacher, M., Jiang, Y., Barrowman, J., Scarpa, A., Burston, J., Zhang, L., … (1998). TRAPP, a highly conserved novel complex on the cis‐Golgi that mediates vesicle docking and fusion. The EMBO Journal, 17(8), 2494–2503.

  • Sacher, M., Barrowman, J., Wang, W., Horecka, J., Zhang, Y., Pypaert, M., … (2001). TRAPP I implicated in the specificity of tethering in ER-to-Golgi transport. Molecular Cell, 7(2), 433–442.

  • Guo, W., Sacher, M., Barrowman, J., Ferro-Novick, S., & Novick, P. (2000). Protein complexes in transport vesicle targeting. Trends in Cell Biology, 10(6), 251–255.

  • Wang, W., Sacher, M., & Ferro-Novick, S. (2000). TRAPP stimulates guanine nucleotide exchange on Ypt1p. The Journal of Cell Biology, 151(2), 289–296.

Eleni Tsakiri | Foundations of Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Eleni Tsakiri | Foundations of Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Eleni Tsakiri |  National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Medical School | Greece

Dr. Eleni Tsakiri is a distinguished Molecular Biologist whose research centers on the molecular mechanisms of aging, proteostasis, and neurodegeneration. She earned her Ph.D. in Biology from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) with a thesis on proteome homeostasis and its alterations during aging, following her M.Sc. in Cell Biology and Biophysics and a B.Sc. in Molecular Biology and Genetics. Dr. Tsakiri has held multiple postdoctoral positions at leading Greek institutions, including the Medical School of NKUA and the Biomedical Research Center “Alexander Fleming,” where she contributed to projects on proteasome regulation, Tau aggregation, and ribosome-mediated cell competition. Currently, she serves as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Laboratory of Physiology, NKUA, focusing on neurodegeneration and aging under an ERC-funded project. Her research is supported by competitive grants such as the Hellenic Foundation for Research and Innovation (HFRI). She has supervised undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral students and actively collaborates with prominent researchers in Greece and abroad. Dr. Tsakiri’s contributions are reflected in her 24 published documents, 730 citations, and an h-index of 15, highlighting her impact in molecular biology and aging research.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Research Gate | LInked In

Featured Publications

  • Tsakiri, E. N., Sykiotis, G. P., Papassideri, I. S., Terpos, E., Dimopoulos, M. A., & others. (2013). Proteasome dysfunction in Drosophila signals to an Nrf2‐dependent regulatory circuit aiming to restore proteostasis and prevent premature aging. Aging Cell, 12(5), 802–813.

  • Tsakiri, E. N., Sykiotis, G. P., Papassideri, I. S., Gorgoulis, V. G., Bohmann, D., & others. (2013). Differential regulation of proteasome functionality in reproductive vs. somatic tissues of Drosophila during aging or oxidative stress. The FASEB Journal, 27(6), 2407–2419.

  • Tsakiri, E. N., & Trougakos, I. P. (2015). The amazing ubiquitin-proteasome system: Structural components and implication in aging. International Review of Cell and Molecular Biology, 314, 171–237.

  • Tsakiri, E. N., Iliaki, K. K., Höhn, A., Grimm, S., Papassideri, I. S., & Grune, T. (2013). Diet-derived advanced glycation end products or lipofuscin disrupts proteostasis and reduces life span in Drosophila melanogaster. Free Radical Biology and Medicine, 65, 1155–1163.

  • Tsakiri, E. N., Gumeni, S., Iliaki, K. K., Benaki, D., Vougas, K., Sykiotis, G. P., et al. (2019). Hyperactivation of Nrf2 increases stress tolerance at the cost of aging acceleration due to metabolic deregulation. Aging Cell, 18(1), e12845.