Hatice Zeynep Kosar |  Interdisciplinary Data Insights | Global Insight Excellence Award

Ms. Hatice Zeynep Kosar |  Interdisciplinary Data Insights | Global Insight Excellence Award

Dokuz Eylül University | Turkey

Dr Hatice Zeynep Kosar holds a PhD in Laboratory Animal Science from Dokuz Eylül University (Turkey), an Associate Degree in Law from Anadolu University and a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine from Uludağ University (Türkiye). At Dokuz Eylül University’s Multidisciplinary Department of Laboratory Animal Science she has contributed to advancing experimental research infrastructure and ethical standards. Her research centres on laboratory animal facility design and the application of the 3R (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) principles in animal experiments. She co-authored a 2024 study on physical conditions in conventional laboratory animal facilities and a 2025 article in the African Journal of Urology examining differences between countries in experimental partial nephrectomy procedures. She holds a patent application (No: 2024-GE-122346) for a platform serving as a transport unit and safety cabin for laboratory animals. She is a member of the Springer Nature Research Communities (Biomedical Research, Research Data) and participates in COST Action CA21139 (“Improving the Quality of Biomedical Science with 3R Concepts”). Her contributions emphasise the ethical and scientific rigour of animal experimentation and call for harmonised global standards in this area. This global-insight excellence award nomination honours her efforts to merge animal welfare with rigorous experimental design and to promote international research ethics.

Profile : Orcid

Featured Publications

Koşar, H.Z. (2024). Are there differences between countries in the application of experimental partial nephrectomy procedures? 5th International Ethics Congress. Writing – review and editing, Conceptualization.

Yılmaz, O., & Koşar, H.Z. (2024). Konvansiyonel laboratuvar hayvan tesisinde, aktif kullanım süresince, mekanlar arasındaki fiziksel şartlarda farklılık var mıdır? Laboratuvar Hayvanları Bilimi ve Uygulamaları Dergisi.

Koşar, H.Z., & Yılmaz, O. (2023). A case of ulcerative pododermatitis in Balb/c mice. 5th National Laboratory Animal Science Congress, İstanbul, Türkiye. 18 September 2023. Conference Paper.

Koşar, H.Z., Yılmaz, O., & Keskinoğlu, P. (2025). Are there differences between countries in the application of experimental partial nephrectomy procedures? [Journal Title not specified] Conceptualization.

Koşar, H.Z. (2023). Are there differences between countries in the application of the 3R rule in experimental animal research? 5th National Laboratory Animal Science Congress, İstanbul, Türkiye. 18 September 2023. Conference Paper.

Kiyoshi Nokihara |  Diagnostic Analytics | Pioneer Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Kiyoshi Nokihara |  Diagnostic Analytics | Pioneer Researcher Award

Hipep Laboratories | Japan

Kiyoshi Nokihara is a distinguished biomedical scientist whose career spans organic chemistry, peptide-protein science and bio-detection instrumentation. After his initial studies in Tokyo, he conducted research in Germany at the Deutsches Wollforschungs­institut an der Technischen Hochschule Aachen (1974-79) focusing on the chemistry and biology of biomolecules such as insulin, followed by work in the U.S. with Finnegan Inc. in Silicon Valley on mass spectrometry of biomolecules. He returned to Japan to investigate brain-gastrointestinal and neuro-peptides as Assistant Professor at the Shizuoka Prefectural University. Subsequent roles included Visiting Professor at the University of Heidelberg (via the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation) and R&D leadership at Shimadzu Corporation leading the Life Science Center, where his team received a national award from the Japanese Agency of Science and Technology. In 2002 he founded HiPep Laboratories as CEO & CSO to develop novel biodetection systems, and since 2017 he holds a Professor position at the First School of Clinical Medicine, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University (China). With over 119 publications, more than ~3,365 citations (according to ResearchGate) and numerous patent applications (130+), his research interests include peptide-protein recognition, structural biology, combinatorial chemistry, immunochemistry, instrumentation and drug-discovery technologies. His work has been recognized by multiple awards and national projects for innovation in life-science instrumentation and biomedical applications. In sum, Dr. Nokihara’s career bridges academic discovery, applied instrumentation and entrepreneurial innovation in peptide/bio-molecular sciences.

Profile : Scopus

Featured Publications

Kiyoshi Nokihara (2025). Development of a new biodetection system independent of known marker molecules using a novel material for microarrays made from amorphous carbon substrates. Analytical Methods.

Kiyoshi Nokihara. Construction of cyclic peptide libraries immobilized on gel-type supports for screening towards discovery of interacting peptides. Book Chapter.

Kiyoshi Nokihara (2024). A high-throughput sequence determination for one cyclic peptide immobilized on a single bead by the one-pot cyanidation followed by MALDI-TOF–MS/MS for discovery of interacting peptides. Analytical Sciences.

Kiyoshi Nokihara (2023). A novel cyclic peptide library immobilized on gel-type beads focusing on rapid construction and characterization for comprehensive drug discovery. Chemical Biology and Drug Design.

Kiyoshi Nokihara (2022). Investigation of the behaviors of molecules exhibiting angiogenic actions. International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics.

Kiyoshi Nokihara (2020). Improved design of peptides exhibiting angiogenic activities for clinical applications. Bioorganic and Medicinal Chemistry.

Gleb Sychugov |  Healthcare Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gleb Sychugov |  Healthcare Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Southern Urals Federal Research and Clinical Center for Medical Biophysics | Russia

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gleb Sychugov is a distinguished pathologist and medical researcher with a Ph.D. in Medicine and the highest qualification category in pathology. He serves as Deputy Chief Physician at the Chelyabinsk Regional Pathological Anatomy Bureau, Associate Professor at South Ural State Medical University, and Senior Research Fellow at the Southern Urals Federal Research and Clinical Center for Medical Biophysics (SUFRCC MB). With over 190 scientific publications, including 25 in Scopus-indexed journals and 4 patents, Dr. Sychugov has made pioneering contributions to radiation pathology, pulmonary pathology, reproductive system pathology, oncology, and dermatopathology. His research innovations include patented diagnostic algorithms for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and mucinous ovarian carcinoma, as well as computational models for predicting dermal changes in anti-aging therapy. As Chief Pathologist of the Chelyabinsk Region and the Ural Federal District, he has led multiple regional and federal initiatives in pathology standardization. He actively collaborates in international epidemiological programs and serves on the Presidium of the Russian Society of Pathologists. With Scopus h-index 25, Web of Science h-index 4, and more than 55 citations, Dr. Sychugov continues to advance diagnostic pathology through evidence-based research, mentorship, and innovation, embodying excellence in translational medical science.

Profiles : Orcid | Scopus

Featured Publications

Gogoleva, D. V., & Sychugov, G. V. (2023). Immunohistochemistry of bone marrow extracellular matrix in Ph-negative myeloproliferative diseases. Ural Medical Journal.

Shamanova, A. Yu., Rostovtsev, D. M., Privalov, A. V., Yarina, L. V., Aristarkhova, K. S., Sychugov, G. V., Vasil’kova, I. V., Artem’eva, A. S., Saevets, V. V., & Alymov, E. A. (2023). Undifferentiated pancreatic carcinoma with osteoclast-like giant cells. Russian Journal of Archive of Pathology.

Sychugov, G. V., Kazachkov, E. L., Osovets, S. V., Grigoryeva, E. S., Sychugov, A. G., & Azizova, T. V. (2022). Leukemia inhibitory factor and cellular renewal in various types of pulmonary fibrosis in plutonium production workers. Biology Bulletin.

Zhuntova, G. V., Azizova, T. V., Bannikova, M. V., & Sychugov, G. V. (2022). Characteristics of malignant neoplasms of the hepatobiliary system in the cohort of occupationally-exposed workers. Ural Medical Journal.

Gogoleva, D., & Sychugov, G. (2021). Matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in JAK2-mutated myeloproliferative neoplasms. Virchows Archiv. WOSUID: WOS:000692384500404

Bhavna Chopra |  Big Data Analytics | Global Data Innovation Recognition Award

Dr. Bhavna Chopra |  Big Data Analytics | Global Data Innovation Recognition Award

 BIDMC, Boston | United States

Dr. Bhavna Chopra is an accomplished transplant nephrologist and clinician-scientist whose academic and professional journey bridges India and the United States. She earned her MBBS from B.J. Medical College, Pune, India, followed by residency and chief residency in Internal Medicine at Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh. She then completed fellowships in Nephrology at the University of Pennsylvania and Transplant Nephrology at the Mayo Clinic. Currently, she serves as Instructor in Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Medical Director of the Living Donor Transplant Program and Solid Organ Transplant Inpatient Unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston. Her research focuses on kidney transplantation outcomes, donor-recipient risk factors, donor-derived biomarkers such as cell-free DNA (dd-cfDNA), and immunosuppression optimization strategies. She has authored over 52 publications with 400+ citations, including impactful studies on recipient obesity and kidney transplant survival. Dr. Chopra’s contributions have been recognized through honors such as Fellow of the American Society of Nephrology (FASN), Fellow of the American Society of Transplantation (FAST), and the AJKD Editor’s Choice Award. She also contributes nationally through the ABIM Nephrology Board Question-Writing Task Force. Her clinical and academic work continues to shape advancements in transplant medicine, improving outcomes for kidney transplant recipients worldwide.

Profile : Orcid 

Featured Publications

Cojuc-Konigsberg, G., Cañizares, S., Rivera, B., Sureshkumar, K. K., Eckhoff, D., Pavlakis, M., & Chopra, B. (2025). Outcomes of the kidney after liver transplantation by induction type, inter-transplant interval, and immunologic risk: A UNOS analysis. Liver Transplantation.

Cañizares, S., Trindade, B., Cojuc-Konigsberg, G., Chumdermpadetsuk, R., Rivera, B., Cerqueira, T. L., Eckhoff, D., & Chopra, B. (2025). Geospatial insights into access to kidney transplantation in underserved Hispanic communities. Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.

Cojuc-Konigsberg, G., & Chopra, B. (2025). Kidney machine perfusion is associated with improved long-term graft survival mediated by reduced delayed graft function: A mate-kidney analysis. Artificial Organs.

Cañizares, S., Montalvan, A., Eckhoff, D., Sureshkumar, K. K., & Chopra, B. (2025). Long-term outcomes of transplant recipients comparing Belatacept vs. Tacrolimus: A UNOS database analysis. Clinical Transplantation.

Chumdermpadetsuk, R. R., Montalvan, A., Cañizares, S., Chopra, B., Pavlakis, M., Lee, D. D., & Eckhoff, D. E. (2024). A single-center retrospective study to identify causes of sex differences in the living kidney donor evaluation process. Kidney360.

Ali Kaveh | Artificial Intelligence | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Ali Kaveh | Artificial Intelligence | Best Researcher Award

Civil Engineering/Iran Univerrsity of Science and Technology | Iran

Prof. Dr. Ali Kaveh is a Distinguished Professor of Civil Engineering at Iran University of Science and Technology (IUST), renowned for his pioneering work in structural mechanics, graph theory applications, and metaheuristic optimization. He holds a BSc from Tabriz University, an MSc, DIC, and PhD in Structural Engineering from Imperial College London, and Dipl.-Ing. and Dr. Tech. degrees from the Technical University of Vienna. With an h-index of 85, over 735 journal articles, 155 conference papers, and more than 30,000 citations, his research spans optimal structural analysis, sparse matrix methods, symmetry in structures, and the development of novel algorithms such as Charged System Search, Ray Optimization, and Water Strider Algorithm. A Fellow of the Iranian Academy of Sciences, The World Academy of Sciences, and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, Prof. Kaveh has authored 18 English books and 23 Persian volumes, shaping modern computational structural engineering. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of the Asian Journal of Civil Engineering and the International Journal of Optimization in Civil Engineering, contributing extensively to global scholarship. Recipient of 47 awards and a mentor to numerous PhD students, Prof. Kaveh continues to advance innovative, efficient, and sustainable structural design methodologies that influence academia and industry worldwide.

Profiles : Orcid | Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

1️⃣ Zavari, S., Kaveh, A., Babaei, H., Arshid, E., Dimitri, R., & Tornabene, F. (2024). A quasi-3D hyperbolic formulation for the buckling study of metal foam microplates layered with graphene nanoplatelets-embedded nanocomposite patches with temperature fluctuations. Composite Structures.

2️⃣ Kaveh, A., & Yousefpoor, H. (2024). Chaotic Artificial Bees Colony. In Studies in Computational Intelligence.

3️⃣ Kaveh, A., & Yousefpoor, H. (2024). Chaotic Biogeography Based Optimization. In Studies in Computational Intelligence.

4️⃣ Kaveh, A., & Yousefpoor, H. (2024). Chaotic Cyclical Parthenogenesis Algorithm. In Studies in Computational Intelligence.

5️⃣ Kaveh, A., & Yousefpoor, H. (2024). Chaotic Differential Evolution. In Studies in Computational Intelligence.

Eman Ayman Nada |  Public Health Analytics | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Eman Ayman Nada |  Public Health Analytics | Best Researcher Award

Mnistry of Health, Damietta | Egypt

Dr. Eman Ayman Nada is a pharmacist-researcher who earned her Bachelor’s degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the Tanta University (2017–2022), graduating with a “Very Good” grade. She currently serves as a hospital pharmacist at Kafr Saad Central Hospital in Damietta, Egypt, and as a researcher with the Medical Research Group of Egypt (MRGE) in Arlington, USA. In her research role she has led systematic reviews and meta-analyses (including as first or corresponding author), performing data analysis with RevMan and SPSS. Her education and internships have included clinical research training (via Negida Academy) and GCP certification (viaMedical Agency for Research and Statistics in London). Her research interests span clinical pharmacy, systematic reviews and meta-analysis, pharmacoepidemiology, drug safety and pharmacovigilance, and the intersection of data-analysis / machine-learning with public-health outcomes. She has also served in student-research leadership roles, coordinating training for hundreds of students in scientific research methodology. Looking ahead, she aims to further publish high-impact evidence-based medicine studies, mentor emerging researchers, and contribute to improved pharmaceutical care through rigorous clinical research.

Profiles : Orcid | Scopus

Featured Publications

1️⃣ Nada, E. A., Abu Kaddorah, M. E., El Jamal, M., Hamad, A., & Mansour, F. R. (2025). Eggshell waste as a sustainable resource for nanoparticle preparation; synthesis, characterization and applications. Environmental Nanotechnology, Monitoring & Management.

2️⃣ Varghese, C., Peters, L., Gaborit, L., Xu, W., Kalyanasundaram, K., Basam, A., Park, M., Wells, C., McLean, K. A., Schamberg, G., et al. (2025). Predicting opioid consumption after surgical discharge: a multinational derivation and validation study using a foundation model. npj Digital Medicine.

3️⃣ Zaazouee, M. S., Nada, E. A., Al-kafarna, M., Shaheen, A., Ramu, S. K., Hafez, A. H., Matar, S. G., Assar, A., Elshennawy, M., Abu El-Enien, H., et al. (2025). A multinational cross-sectional study on the prevalence and predictors of long COVID across 33 countries. Scientific Reports.

4️⃣ Abdelghany, A., Qutob, I. A., Abdel Azim, A., Assem, M., Gad, M., Shawkat, A., Gamal, A., & Nada, E. A. (2025). Perioperative and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic versus open pancreaticoduodenectomy: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Annals of Oncology.

5️⃣ Chukr, M., Mohamady, A. O., Abdallh, F., Farrag, D. A., Nada, E. A., Qutob, I. A., & Elsayed, M. M. (2025). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Blood Donation Among Medical Students: A Systematic Review Across Nine Countries. Preprint.

 

Justice Sebuga Kotani | Government and Public Policy Analysis | Young Researcher Award

Mr. Justice Sebuga Kotani | Government and Public Policy Analysis | Young Researcher Award

University of North Carolina, Charlotte | United States

Dr. Justice Kotani holds a PhD in Geography from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, following an MSc in Sustainability from the United Nations University – Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability in Tokyo and a BSc in Development Planning from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Ghana. His professional experience spans teaching assistance, program analysis and internships with the United Nations University (on carbon-pricing, NDCs and youth forums) and field planning roles with the Environmental Protection Agency (Ghana). His research interests centre on environmental planning, forest-landscape restoration, green infrastructure, urban informal economies and inclusive spatial governance in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Kotani has an h-index of 1, with four documents and two citations to date (via Google Scholar). He has published work on professional misconduct in planning, wetland ecosystems in Ghana, and spatial planning in informal urban economies; and earned the Wayland H. Cato Jr. First-Year Doctoral Fellowship among his awards. In summary, Dr. Kotani brings a strong international sustainability education, hands-on field experience and emerging scholarly contributions focused on socio-ecological transitions and inclusive planning.

Profile : Orcid 

Featured Publications

1️⃣ Kotani, J. S., Akrofi, M. M., & Okitasari, M. (2025). Synergies and trade-offs between Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions and Sustainable Development Goals. Next Research, DOI: 10.1016/j.nexres.2025.100938**

2️⃣ Kotani, J. S., Takyi, S. A., Asibey, M. O., Amponsah, O., Quagraine, V. K., & Liwur, S. B. (2024). Planning in Ghana: Analysis of the various forms of professional misconduct from the perspective of professional planners. Planning Practice & Research, 1-20.

Gunjan Agarwal | Biosensing and Bioimaging | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Gunjan Agarwal | Biosensing and Bioimaging | Best Researcher Award

Ohio State University | United States

Prof. Gunjan Agarwal is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at The Ohio State University (OSU), with prior faculty appointments in Biomedical Engineering. She holds a Ph.D. in Biophysics from the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, an M.S. in Physics from IIT Delhi, and a B.Sc. from Allahabad University. With postdoctoral training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and industry experience at Procter & Gamble and the Air Force Research Lab, her multidisciplinary background supports a robust research portfolio in nanobiotechnology, cellular biomechanics, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and biomaterials. Prof. Agarwal has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications, with an h-index of 22, more than 2,643 citations, and 62 documents indexed in Scopus and Google Scholar. She directs the AFM Facility in the College of Engineering and co-directs the Interdisciplinary Biophysics Graduate Program. Her contributions have earned her several honors including the 2023 College of Engineering Faculty Diversity Excellence Award and the 2018 Elizabeth L. Gross Award for Faculty Excellence. Through extensive service at OSU and leadership in professional societies like the Biophysical Society, she champions diversity, mentorship, and academic excellence. Her work integrates engineering and biophysics to address critical biomedical challenges.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid 

Featured Publications

(2026). Nano-mechanical mapping of human and porcine abdominal aortic aneurysm. Journal of the Mechanical Behavior of Biomedical Materials. (Article).

(2025). Magnetic Force Microscopy of Micropatterned Clusters of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles. ACS Applied Nano Materials. (Open access).

 (2025). Discoidin Domain Receptor 1 impacts bone microarchitecture with aging in female mice. JBMR Plus. (Open access).

 (2023). The myosin and RhoGAP MYO9B influences osteocyte dendrite growth and responses to mechanical stimuli. Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology. (Open access,  1 citation).

 (2023). Dissociation of pulse wave velocity and aortic wall stiffness in diabetic db/db mice: The influence of blood pressure. Frontiers in Physiology. (Open access, 8 citations).

 

Vahideh Farhangi | Geology | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Vahideh Farhangi | Geology | Best Researcher Award

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro | Brazil

Vahideh Farhangi is a geoscientist with a doctoral degree in Geology from the Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (2023), where she investigated the synergies between Holocene paleoclimatic oscillations and anthropogenic pressures in coastal systems of southeastern Brazil. She holds a master’s degree in Geology from the Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (2016), focused on Jurassic organic facies from the Lusitanian Basin in Portugal, and a bachelor’s degree in Geology from Urmia University, Iran (2008). Farhangi has contributed to the fields of organic geochemistry, sedimentology, and paleoclimatology, with particular attention to the impacts of climate variability and human activity on coastal ecosystems. Her research includes notable publications in Environmental Earth Sciences and the Journal of Sedimentary Environments. She has received research scholarships from CAPES and FAPERJ and collaborated with multidisciplinary teams across Brazil and Europe. Her work supports environmental assessment and management in sensitive coastal zones. With a solid background in palynofacies and organic sedimentology, Farhangi continues to explore paleoenvironmental reconstructions and their relevance to contemporary climate challenges.

Profile : Orcid

Featured Publications

Farhangi, V., Alves Martins, M.V., Figueira, R.C.L., Ferreira, P.A.L., Pereira, E., Lara, D., Nascimento, C.A., Hohenegger, J., Saibro, M.B., & Guerra, J.V. (2025).
“Impact of paleo-rainfall events in the South Atlantic Convergence Zone (SACZ) and human pressures since ~ 1950 in southeastern Brazil: Paraty and Saco de Mamanguá” in Environmental Earth Sciences.

Damasceno, F.L., Alves Martins, M.V., Guerra, J.V., Reis, A.T., Saibro, M.B., Silva, L.C., Seixas, A.P., Farhangi, V., Chueng, K.F., Mane, M.Á., Figueira, R.C.L., & Geraldes, M. (2024). “Influence of early/mid-Holocene climate change and sea level rise on a coast with barrier islands, Rio de Janeiro State, SE Brazil” in Journal of Sedimentary Environments.