Wei Dai | Quantitative Research | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Wei Dai | Quantitative Research | Research Excellence Award

Sichuan Cancer Hospital | China

Dr. Wei Dai is an accomplished thoracic surgeon and researcher specializing in minimally invasive surgery for lung cancer and the integration of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) into perioperative care. He earned his MD in Clinical Medicine from Southern Medical University, an MSc in Thoracic Surgery from Peking Union Medical College, a PhD in Thoracic Surgery from Sichuan University, and completed a fellowship in Thoracic Surgery at the University Hospital of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet. Dr. Dai has progressed through roles from thoracic surgery trainee and resident to attending surgeon, and currently serves as an associate consultant at Sichuan Cancer Hospital. His research focuses on the development and implementation of PRO-based databases, optimization of postoperative symptom management, and enhancement of patient rehabilitation and recovery pathways. Dr. Dai has led multiple national and provincial research grants, including multicenter randomized controlled trials, and has been instrumental in establishing REDCap-based medical research platforms. He has authored over 60 peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and serves as a reviewer for several international journals. An active member of leading professional societies, including ESTS, IASLC, and ISOQOL, Dr. Dai is dedicated to advancing precision perioperative care and improving the quality of life for lung cancer patients. His work bridges clinical innovation, research excellence, and patient-centered care.

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Featured Publications

Liu, J., Ma, H., Li, D., Li, Y., Qing, H., Wei, X., Shi, Q., Li, Q., Dai, W., & Zhou, P. (2025). “ASO visual abstract: Early post-discharge pain trajectories after thoracoscopic sublobar resection for Stage IA non-small cell lung cancer.” Annals of Surgical Oncology.

Liu, J., Ma, H., Li, D., Li, Y., Qing, H., Wei, X., Shi, Q., Li, Q., Dai, W., & Zhou, P. (2025). “Early post-discharge pain trajectories after thoracoscopic sublobar resection for Stage IA non-small cell lung cancer.” Annals of Surgical Oncology.

Tian, X., Mao, P., Lei, C., Yu, H., Dai, W., Wei, X., Zhang, J., Xu, W., & Shi, Q. (2025). “Patient-reported walking difficulty predicting the post-discharge overall function in patients with lung cancer undergoing minimally invasive surgery.” Journal of Cancer Survivorship.

Liao, J., Hu, X., Wei, X., Dai, W., Yu, H., Tian, X., Wang, Y., Qin, Q., Xu, N., Li, Y., et al. (2025). “Sex-related differences in postoperative patient-reported outcomes among lung cancer patients: A multicenter cohort study.” BMC Cancer.

Zheng, H., Guo, C., Zhang, Y., Gu, H., Zhao, Y., Xiang, R., Dai, W., Wei, X., Xie, T., Li, Q., et al. (2025). “Single staged repair of an anastomotic tracheal fistula following Mckeown esophagectomy via cervical incision: A case report.” Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Zhifen Chen | Public Health Analytics | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Zhifen Chen | Public Health Analytics | Best Researcher Award

German Heart Center, TUM University Hospital, Technical University of Munich (TUM) | Germany

Dr. Zhifen Chen is an Independent Junior Group Leader at the German Heart Center, Technical University of Munich, specializing in experimental cardiology. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences from Hubei Normal University and a Master of Science from Tsinghua University. Dr. Chen completed her PhD at the Technical University of Munich with a summa cum laude distinction, focusing on human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes for cardiac disease modeling, therapeutic discovery, and safety pharmacology. She pursued postdoctoral research at Harvard University and the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, contributing to functional genomics, CRISPR-based screening, and cardiovascular disease studies. Her research focuses on the genetics and molecular mechanisms of coronary artery disease, adipose tissue biology, insulin resistance, and cardiovascular precision medicine. Dr. Chen has secured multiple competitive grants, including from the DFG, DZHK, and international cardiovascular research partnerships. She has received numerous awards and honors, such as PhD summa cum laude, international travel awards, and conference prizes. She actively supervises postdoctoral researchers, PhD, MD, Master, and Bachelor students, and contributes to scientific communities as a reviewer, consortium member, and workshop organizer. Dr. Chen’s work integrates genome editing, transcriptomics, and advanced in vitro models to identify novel therapeutic targets, advancing cardiovascular research and translational medicine.

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Featured Publications

von Scheidt, M., Adkar, S. S., Krefting, J., Hoermann, G., Meggendorfer, M., Bauer, S., Mitchell, S., Pugach, I., Friess, C., Ma, A., et al. (2025). “Clonal Haematopoiesis of Indeterminate Potential and Mortality in Coronary Artery Disease.” European Heart Journal.

Xu, C., Nie, X., Chen, Z., Qu, J. Z., & Wang, D. (2025). “Stenotic Left Atrioventricular Valve after Atrioventricular Septal Defect Repair: A Distinct Surgical Phenotype.” The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

Chen, Z., Li, S., Song, X., Diagel, A., Li, L., Moggio, A., Li, Z., Chen, Y., Dang, T., Li, M., et al. (2025). “An Interplay of Non-Coding RNAs Regulates CDH13 Expression and Affects Endothelial Function and Coronary Artery Disease Risk.” Preprint.

Byers, P., Kellerer, T., Li, M., Chen, Z., Huser, T., & Hellerer, T. (2025). “Super-Resolution Upgrade for Deep Tissue Imaging Featuring Simple Implementation.” Nature Communications.

Sanin, V., Schmieder, R. S., Koenig, W., Li, L., Schunkert, H., & Chen, Z. (2025). “Rolle der Genetik in der Präzisionsmedizin der Koronaren Herzkrankheit.” Herz.