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.

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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.

Simon Adu | Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Simon Adu | Nuclear Security and Nonproliferation | Best Researcher Award

Texas A&M university | United States

Dr. Simon Adu is a distinguished researcher in Radiation Protection and Health Physics with over 16 years of professional experience. He holds a PhD (2016) and MPhil (2008) in Radiation Protection/Health Physics from the University of Ghana, and a BSc in Physics from the University of Cape Coast. He has held senior roles as Senior Research Scientist at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Senior Regulatory Officer heading the Department of Nuclear Security at Ghana’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority, and Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana. His work encompasses radiation safety in medical, industrial, mining and research reactor settings; calibration; regulatory inspections; nuclear security; non-proliferation; and education at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. He has supervised PhD and MSc students, reviewed theses externally in several African universities, participated in numerous IAEA-coordinated research projects, and has been awarded prestigious fellowships including the Stanton Fellowship, the IAEA PhD Sandwich Award, and Argonne National Laboratory fellowship. His research interests include nuclear safety, reactor core conversion (HEU to LEU), radiation dosimetry, nuclear security and safeguards. He is also an IAEA nuclear security expert participating in missions across Africa. Dr. Adu’s contributions have significantly advanced regulatory frameworks, improved safety culture, and strengthened capacity building in radiation protection and nuclear security across the region.

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Featured Publications

Doudoo, C. O., Gyekye, P. K., Emi-Reynolds, G., Adu, S., Kpeglo, D. O., Tagoe, S. N. A., & others (2023). “Dose and secondary cancer-risk estimation of patients undergoing high dose rate intracavitary gynaecological brachytherapy.” Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 54 (2), 335–342.

Hasford, F., Owusu-Banahene, J., Otoo, F., Adu, S., Sosu, E. K., Amoako, J. K., & others (2012). “Assessment of annual whole-body occupational radiation exposure in education, research and industrial sectors in Ghana (2000–09).” Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 150 (3), 350–358.

Arwui, C. C., Deatanyah, P., Wotorchi-Gordon, S., Ankaah, J., Emi-Reynolds, G., Adu, S., & others (2011). “Assessment of the effectiveness of collimation of Cs–137 panoramic beam on TLD calibration using a constructed lead block collimator and an ICRU slab phantom at SSDL in Ghana.” International Journal of Science and Technology, 1 (4), 169–173.

Ndum, Z. N., Tao, J., Liu, Y., Ford, J., Vlassov, V., Morton, N., Grissom, J., Adu, S., & others (2024). “A digital twin-based simulator for small modular and microreactors.” Proceedings of the 2024 Winter Simulation Conference (WSC), 2963–2974.

Adu, S., Horvatovic, I., D’Auria, F., Nyarko, B. B. J., Geoffrey, E. R., & Menzel, F. (2015). “Analysis of channel blockage of MNSR reactor using the system thermal-hydraulic code RELAP5/MOD3.3.” Proceedings of the 24th International Conference on Nuclear Energy for New Europe, Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Birikorang, S. A., Dahunsi, S., Adu, S., Nketia, C. A., & Blay, A. (2025). “Assessing nuclear energy and radiological risks: a case study of radionuclide dispersion from potential nuclear power plant accidents in Ghana.” Radiation Protection Dosimetry, 201 (5), 333–350.