Zhi Li | Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Neuroscientists

Assist. Prof. Dr. Zhi Li | Molecular and Cellular Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Zhi Li | Qinghai University | China

Zhi Li is a researcher specializing in cellular biology, infection and immunity, host–pathogen interactions, vector and vector-borne diseases, and zoonoses. His work focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying host responses to parasitic infections and the epidemiology of emerging infectious diseases in animals. As an Assistant Professor at Qinghai University, he has contributed significantly to research on parasitic pathogens affecting livestock and wildlife in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau region. His studies have explored infections caused by Echinococcus shiquicus, Theileria annulata, and various fluke species, emphasizing their identification, transmission dynamics, and host interactions. Through collaborations with national and international researchers, he has published in leading journals such as Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, Parasitology Research, Parasites & Vectors, and Acta Tropica. His research integrates molecular biology, immunological assays, and field epidemiology to develop improved diagnostic tools and better understand pathogen adaptation in diverse ecological settings. By linking laboratory findings with field observations, Zhi Li’s work contributes to controlling zoonotic and vector-borne diseases that threaten both animal and human health, aligning with the global “One Health” approach that connects veterinary and biomedical research for sustainable disease management.

Profile: Orcid

Li, Z., Han, Y., Liu, J.-L., Zhang, X.-Y., Shen, X., Guo, Z.-H., Yin, H., Duo, H., & Fu, Y. (2025). High diversity of Piroplasm species carried by ticks from Qinghai, China. Acta Tropica, 250, 107907.

Fu, Y., Zhang, X., Li, Z., Shi, Z., Ma, X., Meng, R., Zhang, Q., Zhao, C., Guo, S., Ma, W., et al. (2023, November 23). Emerging Echinococcus shiquicus infection of Asian badgers in the Qinghai–Tibetan Plateau. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, 2023, 6874033.

Fu, Y., Zhang, X., Li, Z., Meng, R., Duo, H., Shen, X., Ma, Y., & Guo, Z. (2023, July). Identification and prevalence of fluke infection in yak and Tibetan sheep around Qinghai Lake, China. Parasitology Research.

Zhang, X., Jian, Y., Li, Z., Duo, H., Guo, Z., & Fu, Y. (2023, February 25). Optimization of single-tube nested PCR for the detection of Echinococcus spp. Experimental Parasitology, 246, 108358.

Liu, J., Zhao, S., Li, Z., Zhang, Z., Zhao, B., Guan, G., Yin, H., & Luo, J. (2023, February 23). Activation of telomerase activity and telomere elongation of host cells by Theileria annulata infection. Frontiers in Microbiology, 14, 1123456.

Danai Veltra | Neurogenetics and Molecular Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Neuroscientists

Dr. Danai Veltra | Neurogenetics and Molecular Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award 

Dr. Danai Veltra | National and Kapodistrian University | Greece

Dr. Danai Veltra is a Greek medical researcher specializing in clinical genetics and genomic medicine, with a strong focus on rare genetic disorders, epileptic encephalopathies, and neurodevelopmental syndromes. Her research contributions encompass genetic diagnostics through Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) and Whole Exome Sequencing (WES), significantly improving the identification and understanding of Mendelian and chromosomal disorders. She has presented her work at numerous prestigious international conferences, including the European Human Genetics Conference and the European Paediatric Neurology Society Congress, where she has contributed to studies on Marfan syndrome, Williams syndrome, Melnick-Needles syndrome, and Diamond Blackfan Anemia. Dr. Veltra has co-authored impactful publications in leading journals such as the European Journal of Paediatric Neurology, Gynecological Endocrinology, and American Journal of Medical Genetics. Her collaborative work has enhanced genotype–phenotype correlations and advanced precision medicine approaches in pediatric and hereditary diseases. With 237 citations, an h-index of 7, and an i10-index of 5, she has established herself as a promising scientist in medical genetics, contributing both to clinical application and academic advancement in human genomics and molecular diagnostics.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Marinakis, N. M., Svingou, M., Veltra, D., Kekou, K., Sofocleous, C., Tilemis, F. N., … (2021). Phenotype‐driven variant filtration strategy in exome sequencing toward a high diagnostic yield and identification of 85 novel variants in 400 patients with rare Mendelian disorders. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 185(8), 2561–2571.

Zouvelou, V., Yubero, D., Apostolakopoulou, L., Kokkinou, E., Bilanakis, M., … Veltra, D. (2019). The genetic etiology in cerebral palsy mimics: The results from a Greek tertiary care center. European Journal of Paediatric Neurology, 23(3), 427–437.

Tilemis, F. N., Marinakis, N. M., Veltra, D., Svingou, M., Kekou, K., Mitrakos, A., … (2023). Germline CNV detection through whole-exome sequencing (WES) data analysis enhances resolution of rare genetic diseases. Genes, 14(7), 1490.

Pavinato, L., Delle Vedove, A., Carli, D., Ferrero, M., Carestiato, S., Howe, J. L., … (2023). CAPRIN1 haploinsufficiency causes a neurodevelopmental disorder with language impairment, ADHD and ASD. Brain, 146(2), 534–548.

Saffari, A., Lau, T., Tajsharghi, H., Karimiani, E. G., Kariminejad, A., Efthymiou, S., … (2023). The clinical and genetic spectrum of autosomal-recessive TOR1A-related disorders. Brain, 146(8), 3273–3288.

Layo-Carris, D. E., Lubin, E. E., Sangree, A. K., Clark, K. J., Durham, E. L., … (2024). Expanded phenotypic spectrum of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorder Bryant-Li-Bhoj syndrome with 38 additional individuals. European Journal of Human Genetics, 32(8), 928–937.

Veltra, D., Kosma, K., Papavasiliou, A., Tilemis, F. N., Traeger‐Synodinos, J., … (2022). A novel pathogenic ATP6V1B2 variant: Widening the genotypic spectrum of the epileptic neurodevelopmental phenotype. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 188(12), 3563–3566.