Erika Azorin-vega | Qualitative Research | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Erika Azorin-vega | Qualitative Research | Women Researcher Award

Instituto Nacional De Investigaciones Nucleares | Mexico

Erika Patricia Azorín Vega is a distinguished researcher at the Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Nucleares, specializing in radiopharmaceuticals and their applications in cancer diagnosis and therapy. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Experimental Biology from Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, a Master’s in Sciences, and a Ph.D. in Bio-Physiology and Neurosciences from CINVESTAV-IPN, with research focused on cellular interactions with extracellular matrices and tumor cell biology. Since 2013, she has led pioneering work in radiopharmaceutical development, resulting in four international patents and over 80 scientific publications with nearly a thousand citations. Her academic contributions include directing multiple undergraduate and graduate theses, reviewing projects for national and international funding agencies, and participating in thesis evaluations globally. She has served as a professor and invited lecturer at several universities, delivering specialized courses in radiobiology, dosimetry, and medical physics, both nationally and internationally. Her research interests encompass radiopharmaceutical design, cancer radiotherapy, metabolomics, and radiation protection. Recognized for her excellence in scientific communication, she has delivered numerous conferences and outreach presentations to advance knowledge in nuclear medicine. Erika’s work continues to shape the field of radiopharmaceutical research and the training of highly skilled professionals in medical physics and biotechnology.

Profile : Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Jiménez-Mancilla, N., Ferro-Flores, G., Santos-Cuevas, C., & et al. (2013). Multifunctional targeted therapy system based on 99mTc/177Lu-labeled gold nanoparticles-Tat(49–57)-Lys3-bombesin internalized in nuclei of prostate cancer. Journal of Labelled Compounds and Radiopharmaceuticals, 56(13), 663–671.

Ferro-Flores, G., Luna-Gutiérrez, M., Ocampo-García, B., Santos-Cuevas, C., & et al. (2017). Clinical translation of a PSMA inhibitor for 99mTc-based SPECT. Nuclear Medicine and Biology, 48, 36–44.

Mendoza-Nava, H., Ferro-Flores, G., Ramírez, F. M., Ocampo-García, B., & et al. (2016). 177Lu-dendrimer conjugated to folate and bombesin with gold nanoparticles in the dendritic cavity: A potential theranostic radiopharmaceutical. Journal of Nanomaterials, 2016(1), 1039258.

Azorín-Vega, A. V. E., Ferro-Flores, G., & Ocampo-García, B. E. (2014). Multifunctional radiolabeled nanoparticles for targeted therapy. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 21(1), 124–138.

Mendoza-Nava, H., Ferro-Flores, G., Ramírez, F. M., Ocampo-García, B., & et al. (2017). Fluorescent, plasmonic, and radiotherapeutic properties of the 177Lu–dendrimer-AuNP–folate–bombesin nanoprobe located inside cancer cells. Molecular Imaging, 16, 1536012117704768.

Min Zhang | Medical Imaging Analytics in Radiation Oncology | Best Innovation Award

Prof. Min Zhang | Medical Imaging Analytics in Radiation Oncology | Best Innovation Award

Peking University People’s Hospital | China

Dr. Min Zhang is an accomplished radiation oncologist and academic leader with comprehensive medical training, including integrated bachelor’s–master’s studies and a Ph.D. in Oncology from Peking University Health Science Center. With extensive experience in thoracic, breast, and bone tumor radiotherapy, she has developed strong expertise in precision treatment planning and AI-assisted dose calculation. As an Associate Chief Physician and Associate Professor at Peking University People’s Hospital, she leads multiple provincial-level research projects focused on synthetic CT–based dose computation and GPU-accelerated Monte Carlo algorithms. Her scholarly contributions include first-author and corresponding-author publications in high-impact SCI journals, book translation work for a major neurosurgery textbook, and several granted patents in radiotherapy devices and positioning systems. She also participates in industry-funded research and actively collaborates with multidisciplinary teams across oncology specialties. Her professional memberships in regional radiation oncology and neuro-oncology committees reflect her engagement in advancing clinical standards and scientific exchange. Recognized for her commitment to innovation and improved patient outcomes, Dr. Zhang continues to contribute significantly to the evolution of evidence-based radiotherapy. Her sustained efforts in research, technological optimization, and clinical practice underscore her dedication to improving cancer treatment efficacy and shaping the future of radiation oncology.

Profile : Orcid

Featured Publications

Zhang, M., Gao, X., Gao, T., Li, H., Sheng, X., Su, M., & Jia, C. (2025). “A retrospective study on Mohs micrographic surgery combined with adjuvant radiotherapy in the treatment of extramammary Paget’s disease: analysis of 87 patients.” Postgraduate Medical Journal.

Zhang, M. “Accuracy study of deep learning-based synthetic CT images for adaptive radiotherapy of pelvic tumors.” Current Radiopharmaceuticals.

Zhang, M. “Co-translator of the radiotherapy-related sections.” In Oxford Textbook of Neurological Surgery (ISBN: 978-7-5659-3071-3).

Nicholas Otumi | Neuroscience Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

Mr. Nicholas Otumi | Neuroscience Data Analysis | Best Researcher Award

University of Rochester | United States

Nicholas Otumi is a biomedical imaging researcher with a strong foundation in diagnostic imaging and deep learning. He holds a BSc in Diagnostic Imaging Technology from the University of Cape Coast (Ghana) and an MS in Diagnostic Imaging (Bioengineering & Biomedical Engineering) from the University of Rochester (USA), where his coursework included deep learning, inverse problems in imaging, clinical imaging, and signal processing. He has held research and technical roles at multiple institutions: as a remote Research Assistant at Indiana University working on pharmaceutical pricing and market analytics, and at the University of Rochester contributing to segmentation (with UNet-R) and image analysis in brain CT. Previously, as a Research and Teaching Assistant at UCC, he supported imaging equipment courses, data analysis, and undergraduate research. His research interests center on medical image analysis, especially applying deep learning to brain MRI and CT segmentation, classification of disease from imaging, and imaging in resource-constrained settings. He has several manuscripts under review or published, including a multicentre survey on advanced brain MRI in low-resource settings and case reports in radiology.  He is a recipient of honors such as the Harry W. Fischer Research Funds (2025) and the HSEAS Dean’s Fellowship (2024) at Rochester, as well as campus leadership awards in Ghana. Nicholas is committed to advancing AI-driven neuroimaging and translational imaging research across low- and middle-income settings, aiming to bridge technology gaps and enhance equitable access to advanced diagnostic tools.

Profiles : Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Piersson, A. D., Nunoo, G., Dzefi-Tettey, K., & Otumi, N. (2025). Utility of advanced brain MRI techniques for clinical and research purposes in a low-resource setting: A multicentre survey. Next Research.

Fiagbedzi, E., Arkorful, J., Brobbey, I. F., Appiah, E., Nyarko, S., Otumi, N., Piersson, A. D., Nimo, O., Ofori, I. N., & Gorleku, P. N. (2025). A case of ruptured infrapatellar bursa sac with Baker’s cyst. Radiology Case Reports, 20(1).

Fiagbedzi, E., Arkorful, J., Appiah, E., Otumi, N., Ofori, I., & Gorleku, P. N. (2024). A rare case of intussusception in a 6-month-old baby. Radiology Case Reports, 19(10).