Yunjie Zhao | Biological Networks | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Yunjie Zhao | Biological Networks | Research Excellence Award

Central China Normal University | China

Prof. Yunjie Zhao is a distinguished biophysicist who earned his Ph.D. in Biophysics from Huazhong University of Science and Technology in 2012, where he conducted pioneering research on computational prediction of non-coding RNA structures under the mentorship of Prof. Yi Xiao, following his B.S. in Physics from the same institution. He advanced his expertise as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist at The George Washington University with Prof. Chen Zeng, contributing significantly to de novo protein design and bionetwork modeling. Since 2016, he has been a faculty member at Central China Normal University, becoming a full Professor in 2019, and has taught a wide range of courses including Machine Learning, Biophysics, Bioinformatics, Computational Biology, and Physics. Prof. Zhao is an active member of several professional societies, including the Chinese Physical Society and the Biophysical Society of China, and previously the American Physical Society. He serves as an editorial board member for leading journals such as Briefings in Bioinformatics, iScience, Pharmaceuticals, Life, Biomolecules, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, and Scientific Reports, and is a frequent reviewer for top-tier publications including Nature Biotechnology, Nature Reviews Genetics, Nature Machine Intelligence, Nature Communications, and Physical Review Letters. His research contributions are further reflected in multiple granted patents spanning protein–ligand binding site prediction, RNA contact prediction, plant lectin polymerization peptide inhibitors, and protein drug binding pocket prediction, underscoring his impactful contributions to computational biology and biophysics.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

"RNA-protein interaction prediction using network-guided deep learning", H Liu, Y Jian, C Zeng, Y Zhao, Communications Biology 8 (1), 2025.

"Advances and Mechanisms of RNA–Ligand Interaction Predictions", C Zhuo, C Zeng, H Liu, H Wang, Y Peng, Y Zhao Life 15 (1), 2025.

"Decoding the effects of mutation on protein interactions using machine learning", W Xu, A Li, Y Zhao, Y Peng, Biophysics Reviews 6 (1), 2025.

"Advances in Methods for Accurate Prediction of RNA–Small Molecule Binding Sites: From Isolated to AI-Integrated Strategies", J Gao, C Zhuo, C Zeng, H Liu, Y Zhao, Pharmaceuticals 18 (10), 2025.

"Ab initio HIV-1 Tat–TAR interactions study using hybrid scoring-enhanced molecular modeling across subtypes", C Zeng, H Wang, J Gao, H Liu, C Zhuo, Y Zhao, Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics 27 (27), 2025.

Nikhil Sudhir Sathe | Biological Networks | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nikhil Sudhir Sathe | Biological Networks | Best Researcher Award

Reliance Life Sciences Pvt Ltd | India

Dr. Nikhil Sudhir Sathe (PhD), currently associated with Laboratory Animal Research Services (LARS), is a distinguished researcher with over 20 years of expertise in drug discovery and preclinical evaluation of new chemical entities. His extensive professional experience encompasses in vitro genotoxicology, cell and microbial culture (aerobic, anaerobic, and viral systems including rabies virus), and small laboratory animal studies. Throughout his career at Reliance Life Sciences, Vimta Labs, Dabur Research Centre, and Wockhardt Research Centre, Dr. Sathe has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in GLP-compliant laboratory practices, including bacterial reverse mutation, chromosomal aberration, micronucleus, ELISA, cytotoxicity, and microbial monitoring assays. His early research contributions involved innovative in vitro models for evaluating the efficacy of antimicrobial and cosmetic products. Academically, he holds a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in Microbiology from Shivaji University, Kolhapur, both with distinction. Dr. Sathe has contributed significantly to scientific literature with publications in reputed journals such as Vaccine, Microbial Pathogenesis, Infectious Medicine, and BioMed, focusing on bacteriophage therapy and vaccine development against multidrug-resistant pathogens and SARS-CoV-2. His scholarly achievements are complemented by active participation in national conferences and workshops, reflecting his deep commitment to advancing microbiological and biomedical research.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

"Unveiling Lytic Bacteriophages as Promising Biotherapeutics for the Control of Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa", CS Nikhil Sathe, Eugene Athan, Arnab Kapat, BioMed, 2025.

"Safety, immunogenicity and efficacy of Relcovax®, a dual receptor binding domain (RBD) and nucleocapsid (N) subunit protein vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 virus", N Sathe, S Shaikh, M Bhavsar, L Parte, A Gadiparthi, S Kad, S Sensarma, Vaccine, 2024.

"Bacteriophage vB_kpnS-Kpn15: Unveiling its potential triumph against extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae-Unraveling efficacy through innovative", N Sathe, C Suphioglu, E Athan, A Kapat, Microbial Pathogenesis, 2024.

"Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Infections and novel approaches to treatment “Knowing the enemy” the threat of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and exploring novel approaches to treatment", N Sathe, P Beech, L Croft, C Suphioglu, A Kapat, E Athan, Infectious medicine 2, 2023.

"Development of a novel therapy using bacteriophages: An alternative to antibiotics", NS Sathe, Deakin University, 2023.