Rachna Garg | Cognitive Neuroscience | Excellence in Research Award

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Ms. Rachna Garg | Cognitive Neuroscience | Excellence in Research Award

Ms. Rachna Garg | Tecnia Institute of Advanced Studies under GGSIPU | India

Ms. Rachna Garg is an accomplished Assistant Professor and Psychologist at Tecnia Institute of Advanced Studies, Delhi, bringing over a decade of experience in teaching, research, and psychological training. She is pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology from Amity University, Gwalior, with a research focus on elderly mental health, resilience, and mindfulness-based cognitive interventions. She holds dual MBAs in Human Resource Management and Marketing, an MA in Psychology, and a B.Com (Hons) from Delhi University, reflecting a strong interdisciplinary background. Her scholarly output includes multiple international publications, book chapters, and research papers indexed in SCOPUS, Web of Science, and UGC-CARE. She has authored four book chapters with ISBNs and completed two major research projects on elderly mental health, alongside an ongoing Ph.D. empirical study. Her contributions extend to extensive training programs for MCD, NDMC, DIET, and SCERT educators, where she has delivered modules on communication, conflict management, learning disabilities, and sexual literacy. She has served as Convener for a notable Faculty Development Program on Indian Knowledge Systems. With an h-index of 1, a total of 10 documents, and 5 citations across ResearchGate and Google Scholar, she continues to advance impactful psychological research. She also holds editorial and reviewer roles in multiple reputed journals.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Garg, R. (2025, October 9). Rewiring the aging mind: A randomized controlled trial on the transformative impact of mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy on depression and anxiety. Journal of Ecophysiology and Occupational Health.

Garg, R. (2025, September 13). Group-based mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral intervention for enhancing resilience and preventing depression and anxiety in at-risk elderly: A randomized controlled trial. Journal of Rational-Emotive & Cognitive-Behavior Therapy.

Garg, R. (2025, July 2). Evaluating the impact of mindfulness practices on depression, anxiety, and stress in geriatric populations: A randomized control trial. The Learning Curve, (ISSN 2321-7057).

Garg, R., Awasthi, S., & Gupta, N. (2025, January 2). The role of a 10-week mindfulness-based cognitive behavioral therapy intervention in managing depression, anxiety, and stress among the elderly: A quasi-experimental study. Journal of Neonatal Surgery, 14(21s). https://doi.org/10.63682/jns.v14i21s.5344

Garg, R., Awasthi, S., & Gupta, N. (2024, November). Mindfulness meets aging: The transformative power of mindfulness and cognitive behavioral interventions for mental health in the golden years. Indian Journal of Psychology, (ISSN 0019-5553).

Carmen Berenguer | Behavioral Neuroscience | Women Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Carmen Berenguer | Behavioral Neuroscience | Women Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Carmen Berenguer | Universitat de Valencia | Spain

Dr. Carmen Berenguer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Developmental and Educational Psychology at the University of Valencia. She holds a degree in Psychology, a Master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience and Special Educational Needs, and a Ph.D. in Psychology with the distinction of Cum Laude and International Doctorate from the same university. Her research has consistently focused on neurodevelopmental disorders, particularly Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), exploring cognitive, social, communication, and learning dimensions. In recent years, she has extended her work to examine comorbid conditions such as sleep difficulties and to design psychosocial intervention programs for families of children with ASD and ADHD. Dr. Berenguer has completed or participated in nine research projects and authored 20 books. She holds two patents related to psychosocial programs and augmented reality applications for educational and therapeutic purposes. With 54 published documents, her work has been cited in 994 scientific papers, accumulating a total of 1,077 citations and achieving an h-index of 17, reflecting her significant impact in developmental psychology and neurodevelopmental research.

Profiles: Scopus | orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

(2025). Characteristics, motivations and attitudes of students using ChatGPT and other language model-based chatbots in higher education. Education and Information Technologies.

(2025). Parenting stress in autistic and ADHD children: Implications of social support and child characteristics. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

(2025). Sleep disturbances in autistic children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

(2025). Augmented reality and learning-cognitive outcomes in autism spectrum disorder: A systematic review.

(2025). Occupational stress, burnout, and job satisfaction amongst Spanish speech-language pathologists. International Journal of Speech Language Pathology.

Wenxin Deng | Social and Cultural Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Wenxin Deng | Social and Cultural Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Wenxin Deng | Soochow University | China

Dr. Wenxin Deng is a distinguished researcher at Soochow University, China, recognized for her contributions to the scientific community through impactful research publications and scholarly influence. She has authored 4 research documents that collectively have been cited in 43 other academic works, reflecting the growing recognition of her research contributions. With an h-index of 3, Dr. Deng’s scholarly output demonstrates both productivity and citation impact within her field. Her research is characterized by a strong commitment to advancing knowledge and fostering innovation across interdisciplinary areas. Through her publications, Dr. Deng has contributed valuable insights that have informed and guided ongoing investigations in her domain. Her academic efforts underscore a dedication to excellence, intellectual curiosity, and the continuous pursuit of solutions to complex scientific challenges. At Soochow University, she continues to play an active role in research development, mentoring, and collaboration, reinforcing her position as a promising academic contributing to China’s and the global scientific community’s advancement.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Deng, W. (2025). AI and knowledge sharing in team performance: Emotional intelligence as the mediator between coordination and performance. Sustainable Futures.

Deng, W., & Jiang, M. (2025). A multilevel fuzzy AHP model for green furniture evaluation: Enhancing resource efficiency and circular design through lifecycle integration. Systems.

Jiang, M., Deng, W., & Lin, H. (2024). Sustainability through biomimicry: A comprehensive review of bionic design applications. Biomimetics.

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.

Zhou Yu | Behavioral Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Zhou Yu | Behavioral Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Yu Zhou is a postdoctoral researcher at Army Engineering University, specializing in the intersection of neuroscience, computer vision, and target detection. His research primarily focuses on deceptive visual design for both human and machine perception, exploring how visual stimuli can influence detection, recognition, and cognitive processing. Zhou has conducted pioneering studies on camouflage and optical deception, utilizing EEG-based brain functional network analysis to evaluate target visibility and cognitive responses. His work integrates principles from weapon science, biomedical engineering, and computer science to develop comprehensive models of visual perception and deception. Representative publications include investigations into neural responses to camouflage targets with varying exposure signs, the impact of color differences on brain activation patterns, and feasibility assessments of optical camouflage effects. Through these studies, he contributes to a deeper understanding of how visual designs can manipulate human attention and computer vision systems, providing actionable insights for defense technology applications. Zhou’s research emphasizes rigorous quantitative evaluation methods, leveraging neurophysiological data to inform the design of effective deceptive visual patterns. With an h-index of 2 and multiple citations, his work demonstrates a growing influence in fields spanning neuroscience-informed computer vision, perceptual deception, and applied optical camouflage.

Profiles: Scopus | Reasearch Gate

Featured publication

Author(s). (2024). Neural responses to camouflage targets with different exposure signs based on EEG. Neuropsychologia.

Chahra Chbili | Clinical Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Chahra Chbili | Clinical Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Chahra Chbili | University of Sousse | Tunisia

Dr. Chahra Chbili is an Assistant Professor of Pharmacology at the Higher School of Health Sciences and Techniques of Sousse (ESSTSS) and a member of the Research Laboratory of Metabolic Biophysics and Applied Pharmacology (LR/12ES02) at the Faculty of Medicine Ibn El Jazzar of Sousse, Tunisia. Her academic journey spans extensive training in biological sciences, genetics, and medical biotechnology, with a Ph.D. earned with highest honors for her work on the pharmacokinetic and pharmacogenetic study of carbamazepine therapy in epileptic and bipolar patients. Dr. Chbili’s research focuses on pharmacogenetics, pharmacokinetics, and the molecular mechanisms underlying drug efficacy and toxicity. She has contributed significantly to studies exploring the genetic determinants of drug metabolism, including investigations into glutathione-S-transferases in tuberculosis patients with drug-induced hepatotoxicity. Skilled in advanced laboratory techniques such as PCR, FISH, ELISA, and HPLC-MS, she has developed expertise in integrating molecular biology with clinical pharmacology. Dr. Chbili has authored 17 scientific documents, accumulated 138 citations across 123 indexed works, and maintains an h-index of 7, reflecting her impactful contributions to pharmacological and biomedical research in Tunisia and beyond.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Research Gate

Featured Publications

Chbili, C., Mrad, S., Graiet, H., Selmi, M., Maatoug, J., Maoua, M., Abdellaoui, L., Mrizek, N., Nouira, M., Ben Fredj, M., et al. (2024). Randomized, placebo-controlled pilot study investigating the effects of Laurus nobilis tea on lipid profiles and oxidative stress biomarkers in healthy North African volunteers. The North African Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 8(17), 86–98.

Chbili, C., Fathallah, N., Laadhari, C., Ouni, B., Saguem, S., Ben Fredj, M., Abdelghani, A., Ben Saad, H., & Ben Salem, C. (2022). Glutathione-S-transferase genetic polymorphism and risk of hepatotoxicity to antitubercular drugs in a North-African population: A case-control study. Gene, 808, 146019.

Rebai, A., Chbili, C., Ben Amor, S., Hassine, A., Ben Ammou, S., & Saguem, S. (2021). Effects of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 deletions on Parkinson’s disease risk among a North African population. Revue Neurologique, 177(1–2), 93–99.

Chbili, C. (2021, August 22). The effect of Origanum majorana tea on motor and non-motor symptoms in patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease: A randomized controlled pilot study. Journal article.

Chbili, C., Maoua, M., Selmi, M., Mrad, S., Khairi, H., Limem, K., Mrizek, N., Saguem, S., & Ben Fredj, M. (2020). Evaluation of daily Laurus nobilis tea consumption on lipid profile biomarkers in healthy volunteers. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 39(6), 518–526.

Rebai, A., Reçber, T., Nemutlu, E., Chbili, C., Kurbanoglu, S., Kir, S., Ben Amor, S., Özkan, S. A., & Saguem, S. (2020). GC-MS based metabolic profiling of Parkinson’s disease with glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 polymorphism in Tunisian patients. Combinatorial Chemistry and High Throughput Screening, 23(8), 785–794.

Elzbieta Paszynska | Clinical Neuroscience | Best Research Article Award

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Prof. Dr. Elzbieta Paszynska | Clinical Neuroscience | Best Research Article Award

Prof. Dr. Elzbieta Paszynska | Poznan University of Medical Sciences | Poland

Professor Elzbieta Paszynska is a distinguished expert in dentistry, serving as Chair of the Department of Integrated Dentistry and Chair of Community Dentistry at Poznan University of Medical Sciences. Her academic focus includes community dentistry, adult comprehensive dental treatment, dental materials, and clinical research in oral health, particularly in patients with eating disorders. She has led numerous significant research projects, including studies on salivary biomarkers, oral health status in eating disorders, and the caries-preventive effects of hydroxyapatite toothpaste in children and adults, collaborating with multiple international institutions. Her research has contributed to over 70 scientific documents with more than 598 citations and an h-index of 13. She has published high-impact works in journals such as Scientific Reports, Frontiers in Public Health, Frontiers in Psychiatry, Nutrients, and the Journal of Dentistry. Her contributions include interdisciplinary projects integrating dentistry, ethics, and public health, and she has coordinated large-scale EU-funded projects and international collaborations. Her work has been recognized with multiple institutional and national awards for scientific excellence, teaching, and professional contributions to dentistry, as well as honors from professional dental associations. She is an active member of national boards and promotes innovation in dental education and research.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Research Gate

Featured Publications

  • Obesity and central accumulation of fat in school-age children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. (2025). Scientific Reports.

  • Miescher’s Cheilitis as a Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge—A Case Report. (2025). Medicina, Kaunas, Lithuania.

  • Prevalence of Toothache in Adults: A Meta-Analysis of Worldwide Studies. (2025).

  • Pain experience and behavior management: efficacy of photobiomodulation as an adjunct to local anesthesia in MIH patients—a randomized split-mouth clinical study. (2025). Frontiers in Neurology.

  • Clinical evidence of caries prevention by hydroxyapatite: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. (2025).

Priyadharshini Veeralakshmanan | Clinical Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Priyadharshini Veeralakshmanan | Clinical Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Priyadharshini Veeralakshmanan | Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham | India

Ms. Priyadharshini Veeralakshmanan is a dedicated PhD scholar at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, specializing in Medical Oncology with a focus on Breast Cancer Immunology and the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment (TME), particularly in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Her doctoral research involves a Phase 2/3 open-label pilot clinical trial to evaluate neoadjuvant metronomic chemotherapy for modulating the TME and enhancing chemo- and immunotherapy responses, quantifying immunosuppressive cells and tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes from blood and tumour tissue. She holds an M.Sc. in Physician Assistant (Medical Oncology) and a B.Sc. in Physician Assistant (General Medicine), with extensive clinical training in oncology, hematology, surgical oncology, radiation oncology, and palliative care. Priyadharshini has strong expertise in flow cytometry, cell culture, in vitro drug testing, cytotoxicity assays, systematic reviews, meta-analysis, and clinical trial design, using advanced analytical tools such as FlowJo, SPSS, and GraphPad Prism. She has authored several publications, with an h-index of 3, over 7 documents, and more than 50 citations. A member of ESMO, ASCO, and I-OSI, she is committed to advancing cancer research, translating innovative findings into clinical practice to improve patient outcomes globally.

Profiles: Orcid | Linked In

Featured publications

Veeralakshmanan, P., Jose, W. M., Udayakumaran, S., Bindhu, M. R., Dutta, D., Rajesh, K., Kavalagunta, S., Bhaskaran, R., Haridas, N. K., Rakesh, M. P., et al. (2025). Multimodal management and outcome of pediatric and adolescent malignant central nervous system tumors: A single‐center retrospective study. Malignancy Spectrum.

Surendran, H. P., Sah, S. K., Veeralakshmanan, P., Nair, P., Ashok, H. P., Unnikrishnan, M. K., Kalavagunta, S., Sasidharan, A., Chandran, D., Poornachary, N. M., et al. (2025). Efficacy of hippocampal avoidance whole brain radiotherapy to preserve the cognitive functions among brain metastasis patients: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurology India, 73(5), 715–725.

Karen Kikuta | Developmental Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Karen Kikuta | Developmental Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Karen Kikuta | UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine | United States

Ms. Karen Kikuta is an accomplished MD Candidate at the UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine with expertise in neuroscience, immunology, and global health research. She earned her B.S. in Neuroscience with minors in Public Health and Biology from Santa Clara University and conducted advanced immunological studies at Stanford University’s Binns Program for Cord Blood Research, investigating immune cell subsets using flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing. Her work has resulted in publications in high-impact journals, including Frontiers in Immunology and the International Journal of Infectious Diseases. Karen has contributed to seven major research projects spanning neurodevelopment, infectious disease, and translational medicine, notably pioneering studies on antenatal Zika virus exposure and its long-term neurobehavioral and cardiac outcomes in children. Her research portfolio includes 2 published documents, 45 citations, and an h-index of 2. She has presented findings at national and international conferences, reflecting her dedication to bridging laboratory discoveries with clinical application. As a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the American Neurological Association, Karen is committed to integrating scientific innovation with compassionate care to advance understanding and treatment of neuroinfectious and developmental disorders.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Research Gate | Linked In

Featured publication

Kikuta, K., Hernandez, C. J., Dunshee de Abranches, A., Damasceno, L., de Britto, J. A., Jardim Duarte, C., Vasconcelos, Z., Zin, A., Brasil, P., Moreira, M. E., & Nielsen-Saines, K. (2025). Academic and social-behavioral assessment in a prospective cohort of normocephalic school-aged children with antenatal Zika virus exposure. International Journal of Infectious Diseases, 159, Article 108026.