Georgia Kourlaba | Public Health Analytics | Research Excellence Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Georgia Kourlaba | Public Health Analytics | Research Excellence Award

 National & Kapodistrian University of Athens | Greece

Assist. Prof. Dr. Georgia Kourlaba is an accomplished public health nursing scholar, currently serving as Assistant Professor of Public Health Nursing – Prevention at the Department of Nursing, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). From 2022 to 2025, she was Assistant Professor of Research Methodology and Evidence-Based Nursing at the University of Peloponnese. She has also been an Academic Fellow at the 1st Intensive Care Unit of the Faculty of Medicine, NKUA, focusing on nosocomial infections and epidemiology, and is a founding member of the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Outcomes Research (CLEO), where she served as Administrative Director and Deputy Scientific Director. Dr. Kourlaba is a member of the Public Health Experts Committee of the Ministry of Health, has held leadership roles at the National Public Health Organization (EODY), and served as an alternate member of the Management Board of the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). She teaches epidemiology, research methodology, biostatistics, health technology assessment, and disease prevention at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Her research focuses on nosocomial infections, antimicrobial resistance, vaccination coverage, chronic disease epidemiology, childhood obesity, and socioeconomic burden of disease. She has participated in numerous funded projects and published 166 documents cited 3,485 times, with an h-index of 33. Dr. Kourlaba holds an MSc in Biostatistics (NKUA) and a Ph.D. in Nutritional Epidemiology and Biostatistics (Harokopio University).

Profile : Scopus 

Featured Publications

(2026). HPV vaccination coverage among children and adolescents in Greece using national prescription data. Vaccine.

(2025). Real-world switching patterns and associated characteristics in patients with psoriasis treated with biologics. Archives of Dermatological Research.

(2025). QuantiFERON SARS-CoV-2 assay for the evaluation of cellular immunity after immunization with mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Immunologic Research.

(2025). Early discontinuation of empiric antibiotic therapy in children treated for cancer who develop febrile neutropenia: A prospective cohort study. EJC Paediatric Oncology.

(2025). Attitudes, behaviors, opinions, and suggestions of blood donors toward blood donation in Crete, Greece. Archives of Hellenic Medicine.

Osama Sawalha | Healthcare Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Osama Sawalha | Healthcare Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Universidad de Granada | Spain

Dr. Osama Sawalha is a dedicated researcher and registered nurse with a PhD in Public Health and Clinical Medicine from the University of Granada, Spain. His academic background also includes a Master’s degree in Health Care for the Promotion of Personal Autonomy and End-of-Life Care Processes and a Bachelor’s degree in Nursing. With extensive clinical experience across Spain and Palestine, Dr. Sawalha has worked in diverse healthcare environments, including hospitals, Alzheimer’s care facilities, and emergency medical services. His research focuses on psychological well-being, particularly depression, anxiety, and stress among patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and their caregivers. He has authored and co-authored several peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals, addressing mental health outcomes, cardiac recovery, and family functioning in chronic illness contexts. Dr. Sawalha has presented his work at international conferences and participated in numerous professional development programs on research methodologies, scientific writing, and biomedicine. His work aims to improve the integration of psychological care within clinical and community health systems. Through his dedication to patient-centered research and compassionate nursing practice, Dr. Sawalha continues to contribute meaningfully to advancing public health and evidence-based care.

Profile : Orcid

Featured Publications

Sawalha, O., Ariza-Vega, P., Alhalaiqa, F., Pérez-Rodríguez, S., & Romero-Ayuso, D. (2024). Psychological discomfort in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) in West Bank: A cohort study. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(7), 2027.

Sawalha, O., Ariza-Vega, P., Alhalaiqa, F., Dabbour, R., & Romero-Ayuso, D. (2025). Comparison of pre- and post-surgery cardiac depression and perceived stress levels in heart patients undergoing different types of surgery. Geriatric Nursing.

Pérez-Rodríguez, S., Sawalha, O., & Romero-Ayuso, D. (2025). ECogFun-Virtual Reality program for improving planning and organization skills in daily life in children and adolescents with ADHD: A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. Research in Developmental Disabilities.

Wenhu Xu | Quantitative Research | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Wenhu Xu | Quantitative Research | Best Researcher Award

Peking University | China

Wenhu Xu is a doctoral candidate in Demography at Peking University, with a master’s degree in Social Work from the same institution and a bachelor’s degree from Jimei University. His research focuses on population aging, elderly health, social policy, and the silver economy. Xu has actively contributed to national research projects, including the National Key Research and Development Plan and the National Social Science Foundation major project on elderly care systems with Chinese characteristics. His work has been published in both international and Chinese core journals, addressing topics such as chronic diseases, medical burden, and the impact of AI and accessibility technologies on vulnerable groups. He has presented at multiple international conferences, including IJCAI and AIDBEI, and received distinctions such as the Peking University May Fourth Scholarship and recognition as a merit student. Xu’s academic endeavors integrate demographic analysis with social innovation, emphasizing data-driven insights for improving health equity and active aging. His goal is to contribute to policy optimization and the sustainable development of China’s aging society through interdisciplinary research and evidence-based strategies.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publication

A Cohort of Sociodemographic and Health-Related Risk Factors for All-Cause Mortality in Middle-Aged and Older Adults in China, 2025