Natalia Luxardo | social work | Outstanding Contribution Award

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Dr. Natalia Luxardo | social work | Outstanding Contribution Award

Investigador Principal at CONICET, Argentina

Professional Profile:

Scopus

Google Scholar

Summary:

Dr. Natalia Luxardo is a prominent Argentine social scientist, educator, and researcher specializing in the intersections of health, social inequality, and care practices. As Principal Investigator at CONICET and a professor at the University of Buenos Aires, she has significantly contributed to the fields of medical anthropology, social work, and palliative care. With a multidisciplinary and transnational academic background, her work bridges local realities with global health and social policy debates.

Educational Details

Dr. Luxardo earned her undergraduate degree in Social Work from the University of Buenos Aires in 1996. She holds a Master’s degree in Social Sciences with a focus on Health from FLACSO-CEDES, where she graduated with honors in 2005. Her first doctorate, completed at the University of Buenos Aires in 2007, examined non-formal therapeutic practices in cancer care. She further completed a second doctorate in Culture and Society at the Universidad Nacional de las Artes in 2011, focusing on home-based end-of-life care. Across these programs, she consistently earned top academic distinctions, including Suma Cum Laude.

Professional Experience

Dr. Luxardo is a Principal Researcher at CONICET, based at the Instituto de Investigaciones Gino Germani (UBA), where she has been active since 2007. She also holds faculty appointments at the University of Buenos Aires as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Social Work. She teaches courses on research methodology, final thesis supervision, and health-related topics. Internationally, she has lectured in Germany, Spain, and the UK, and participated in global research networks focused on health, care work, and social equity. She has also collaborated with organizations such as FEMEBA and the Universidad Nacional de Jujuy to enhance training for health and social professionals.

Research Interests

Dr. Luxardo’s research focuses on social inequalities in health, palliative and home-based care, medical pluralism, and the intersection of health systems with cultural practices. She emphasizes a gender-sensitive and epistemologically plural approach to care and disease, particularly cancer, end-of-life experiences, and informal caregiving. Her current projects address inequities in chronic disease prevention, the feminization of care labor, and collaborative health interventions in underserved populations.

Author Metrics

Dr. Luxardo has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in Spanish and international journals, contributing extensively to the fields of health sociology, medical anthropology, and public health. Her research is indexed in Scopus, Google Scholar, and ORCID (ID: 0000-0002-9304-0110). She is recognized for her methodological rigor, qualitative expertise, and interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly in Latin America and Europe.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Luxardo has received widespread recognition for her work, including the TASA Best Paper Award for Health Sociology (2019), an Honor Diploma from the Argentine Senate (2011), and multiple first-place research awards from national institutions like the Academia Nacional de Medicina. Her book "Morir en casa" was declared of social interest by the Buenos Aires Legislature, reflecting its societal impact. Internationally, she received the “Award of Excellence” from Family Service of South Lake County (USA) for her work with Latin American immigrants. These honors underscore her scholarly impact and public engagement on critical issues of health, care, and social justice.

Publication Top Notes

1. Keeping Unsafe at Home: Disputes and Social Practices Regarding Risks During a Geological Disaster in a Vulnerable Fishing Community in Argentina

Authors: N. Luxardo, L. M. Passerino, M. Bordes, I. Spessotti, F. Sassetti
Journal: Health, Risk & Society (2025), 1–22
Summary:
This article examines how a marginalized fishing community in Argentina perceives and navigates risk during a geological disaster (e.g., flooding or erosion). Using collaborative ethnography, the study uncovers the conflict between institutional risk narratives and community-based practices. The residents’ decision to remain in hazardous homes is shown to stem not from ignorance but from structural vulnerabilities and culturally embedded notions of care and survival. The study critiques one-size-fits-all risk policies and argues for more inclusive, community-informed disaster responses.

2. Collaborative Ethnography and a Call for Pluralism and Dialogic Knowledge in Health Equity Debates and Global Cancer Research Culture

Author: N. Luxardo
Journal: Anthropology & Medicine (2024), 1–18
Summary:
In this theoretical and methodological reflection, Luxardo advocates for dialogic, pluralistic approaches in global health equity research, especially in cancer care. Drawing on fieldwork experiences, the paper critiques dominant biomedical paradigms and proposes collaborative ethnography as a means to bridge epistemological gaps between Global North and South. It highlights the value of co-producing knowledge with marginalized communities and calls for restructuring the research process to foster equity, recognition, and contextual relevance in global oncology.

3. Tecnologías para la Inclusión Social: Implementación de un Sistema Informático para la Gestión de Programas de Prevención de Cáncer en el Territorio

Authors: F. Sassetti, E. Ridel, M. Iturain, J. Billordo, I. Spessotti, L. Alva, L. Passerino, N. Luxardo
Publisher: Asociación Latino-Iberoamericana de Gestión Tecnológica y de la Innovación (2023)
Summary:
This project report and applied study documents the development and implementation of a digital health system aimed at improving cancer prevention programs in underserved areas. The system allows for efficient, territory-sensitive data collection and follow-up, enhancing coordination between public health agents and community-based care networks. Dr. Luxardo contributed the socio-anthropological analysis of how such technologies can support equity if developed through participatory, inclusive frameworks.

4. Volcano: Between Structural Vulnerabilities and Collective Defence of Honor in Communities Surrounding an Open Dumpsite

Authors: N. Luxardo, F. Sassetti, L. M. Passerino, E. Wright, J. Billordo, M. Kolvenbach, et al.
Journal: Qualitative Health Research, 32(11), 1701–1720 (2022)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323221088183
Summary:
This ethnographic study investigates the sociocultural dynamics around a toxic dumpsite in Argentina, where communities live in extreme precarity. The paper explores how residents navigate health risks, environmental degradation, and social stigma. Central to the analysis is the concept of honor as a form of resistance and identity preservation amid structural neglect. It provides a powerful critique of environmental injustice and contributes to debates on health, place, and dignity in global public health.

5. “It Just Keeps Hurting”: Continuums of Violence and Their Impact on Cervical Cancer Mortality in Argentina

Authors: N. Luxardo, L. Bennett
Publication: Cancer and the Politics of Care: Inequalities and Interventions in Global Perspective (2022)
Summary:
This book chapter explores how various forms of violence—structural, institutional, and intimate—intersect to affect cervical cancer mortality among women in Argentina. Through a feminist and ethnographic lens, the authors analyze barriers to timely diagnosis and treatment, revealing how systemic neglect, stigma, and gendered violence contribute to preventable deaths. The chapter calls for integrating violence-awareness and social justice into cancer care policy and practice.

Conclusion

Dr. Natalia Luxardo exemplifies the mission of the Outstanding Contribution Award through her scholarly rigor, ethical research engagement, and unwavering commitment to equity in health and care. Her transdisciplinary and feminist approach to social work and medical anthropology has had a measurable impact on research, education, and public health across Latin America.

She stands out not only for her academic excellence and publication record, but for transforming the lives of vulnerable populations through both research and advocacy. Her leadership in bridging science, society, and care represents the very best of social work as a field of practice and scholarship.

 

Chia-Wen Lu – Preventive medicine – Best Researcher Award

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Chia-Wen Lu – Preventive medicine – Best Researcher Award

Assoc Prof Dr. Chia-wen-Lu  distinguished academic and researcher in the field Preventive Medicine. She has been an attending physician in the Department of Family Medicine at the National Taiwan University Hospital since 2013. In addition to her clinical role, she has served as a clinical lecturer in the Department of Family Medicine at the College of Medicine, National Taiwan University since 2016. Her academic career progressed as she became a clinical assistant professor in 2019, and she has recently been appointed as a clinical associate professor in the same department in 2024.

🌐 Professional Profile

Educations📚📚📚

She earned her M.Sc. from the Graduate Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University in 2013, and her M.D. from the College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University in 2007. Currently, she is a Ph.D. candidate at the Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine. Her clinical training includes serving as a resident in the Department of Family Medicine at the National Taiwan University Hospital, Yun-Lin Branch from 2008 to 2012, and as a fellow in the same department at the National Taiwan University Hospital from 2012 to 2013.

Clinical specialist

Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome

-Preventive Medicine

-Travel Medicine

Professional Memberships

She is an active member of the Taiwan Association of Family Medicine and serves as the Secretary-General for both the Taiwan Medical Association for the Study of Obesity and the Taiwan Medical Association for Comprehensive Care of Chronic Diseases. Additionally, she holds memberships in the Taiwan Medical Association of Human Nutrition, the Taiwan Academy of Hospice Palliative Medicine, the Taiwan Association for International Health, and the Taiwanese Osteoporosis Association.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

Africa Holguin – human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- Women Researcher Award

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Africa Holguin – human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- Women Researcher Award

Dr. Africa Holguin distinguished academic and researcher in the field Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). She is the Head of the HIV-1 Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory, affiliated with the Microbiology Department at Hospital Ramón y Cajal in Madrid and the Ramón y Cajal Health Research Institute (IRYCIS). As the leader of numerous national and international research projects, she secures funding from both public and private sources, oversees budget administration, and provides the essential expertise and leadership skills to guide and train her team successfully. She has authored over 150 scientific papers in international journals, often serving as the first or last author. Her research group collaborates with national partners and international public health agencies, focusing on well-established pediatric and adult populations across various countries. For more details on her publications, see her Google Scholar profile.

 

🌐 Professional Profile

Educations📚📚📚

She holds a Doctorate in Molecular Biology from Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain, earned in 1996, and a Licentiate in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the same university, completed in 1991. In 2011, she completed the “BIOCAMPUS 2011” Bioentrepreneurship training program, comprising 280 hours, organized by Fundación Genoma España. Additionally, she has undertaken more than 400 hours of training in leadership skills, human resources management, teamwork, coaching, leadership, negotiation, and strategy through various public courses organized by the Instituto de Administración Pública de Madrid (MAP) and the Dirección General de Función Pública de la Comunidad de Madrid.

Research Experiences

She is currently an Investigadora Titular del Sistema Nacional de Salud and the head of the HIV Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory at IRYCIS, Hospital Ramón y Cajal, in Madrid, a position she has held since 2022. Her career includes various roles, starting as a Becaria de Colaboración del MEC at the Centro de Biología Molecular “Severo Ochoa,” CSIC, in Spain from 1989 to 1990. She then served as a predoctoral fellow at the same institution from 1990 to 1996 and a visiting predoctoral researcher at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, in 1995. From 1996 to 2000, she was a postdoctoral fellow funded by the Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias (FIS) at Hospital Carlos III in Madrid. In 1997, she also worked as a visiting postdoctoral researcher at the Georg-Speyer-Haus Institute in Frankfurt, Germany. From 2000 to 2008, she was an investigator at the Sistema Nacional de Salud, Hospital Carlos III. Since 2006, she has been a stabilized investigator at the Fundación para la Investigación Sanitaria del Hospital Ramón y Cajal in Madrid.

Activities of technology / knowledge transfer and results exploitation

  • Actualmente la Unidad de Innovación del Instituto para la Investigación Sanitaria (IRYCIS)
    del Hospital Ramón y Cajal de Madrid está valorando la mejor vía de protección de unos
    aptámeros que reconocen específicamente regiones altamente conservadas de varias
    proteínas del VIH para una futura aplicación diagnóstica.
  • La Dra. Holguín es autora al 40% del programa BioInformático EpiMolBIo (Registro
    2305114294344 en SAFE CREATIVE S.L, 11-5-2023) para analizar secuencias genéticas
    de patógenos y de genes/proteínas de interés biomédico. Con él se analizó la conservación
    de la región de las 5 proteínas del virus usadas para seleccionar los aptámeros anti VIH
    de este proyecto (PMID:35495642, 35694284, 35910645, 33586996), y para estudiar la
    evolución del SARS-CoV-2 en España (PMID:35742840) y mundo (PMID:33557213)
📝🔬Publications📝🔬

1. Scientific paper. Valadés-Alcaraz, A.; Reinosa, R.; González-Hevilla, M.; Medina-Sánchez,
C.; Martín, M. A.; (6/6) Holguín, A. (AC). 2024. Development and characterization of
High-Affinity Aptamers for HIV Protease Detection. (Submitted).Nucleic Acids Research
(Open Acess). (JIF: 14.9, Decil 1 – 10/285, JCR 2022).

2. Scientific paper. Reinosa, R.; Troyano-Hernáez, P.; Valadés-Alcaraz, A.; (4/4) Holguín, A.
(AC). 2024. EpiMolBio: A Novel User-Friendly Bioinformatic Program for Genetic Variability
Analysis. (Submitted).Bioinformatics (Open Access). (JIF: 5.8, Q1 – 24/158 in Bioechnology
& applied Microbiology, JCR 2022).

3. Scientific paper. Rodríguez-Galet, A.; Ventosa-Cubillo, J.; Bendomo, V.; et al; (9/9)
Holguín, A. (AC). 2024. HIV Diagnosis in Equatorial Guinea. Keys to reduce the diagnostic
and therapeutic delay. (Submitted). Journal of Infection and Public Health (Open Acess).
(JIF: 6.7, Q1 – 18/96 in Infectious Diseases, JCR 2022).

4. Scientific paper. Martínez De Aguirre, P.; Carlos, S.; Pina-Sánchez, M.; et al; Reina,
G.; (8/9) Holguín, A.2024. High pre-Delta and early-Omicron SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence
detected in dried blood samples from Kinshasa (D.R.Congo) (In press).Journal of Medical
Virology (Open Access). (JIF: 12.7, Decil 1 – 2/36, JCR 2022).

5. Scientific paper. Rodríguez-Galet, A.; Ventosa-Cubillo, J.; Eyene, M.; et al; (9/9) Holguín,
A. (AC). 2024. Immunity to six vaccine pathogens in HIV+ and HIV- children in Bata city,
Equatorial Guinea. (In press). Vaccines (Open Acess). (JIF: 7.8, Q1- 24/136 in Medicine,
Research & Experimental, JCR 2022).

6. Scientific paper. Epalza, C.; Valadés-Alcaraz, A.; González-Alba, J.M.; et al; (14/14)
Holguín, A. (AC). 2024. Transmitted Drug Resistance and HIV Diversity Among
Adolescents Newly Diagnosed With HIV in Spain.The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal
(Open Acess). (JIF: 3.6, Q1 – 23/130 in Pediatrics, JCR 2022).43, pp.40-48. PMID:
37922511. https://doi.org/10.1097/INF.0000000000004138

7. Scientific paper. Mbuagbaw L; Garcia C; Brenner B; et al; Jordan, M.R.; (7/15)
Holguin, A.2023. Checklist for studies of HIV drug resistance prevalence or
incidence: rationale and recommended use.The Lancet HIV (Open Access). (JIF:
16.1, Decil 1 – 6/96 in Infectious Diseases, JCR 2022). 10, pp.e684-e689. PMID:
37716367. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-3018(23)00173-X

8. Scientific paper. Ventosa-Cubillo, J.; Pinzón, R.; González-Alba, J.M.; Estripeaut, D.;
Navarro, M.L.; (6/6) Holguín, A. (AC). 2023. Drug resistance in children and adolescents
with HIV in Panama.The Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (Open Access). (JIF:
5.2, Q1- 55/278 in Pharmacology & Pharmacy

Panagiotis Karanis – Biomedical Research – Best Researcher Award

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Panagiotis Karanis – Biomedical Research

Dr. Panagiotis karanis  distinguished academic and researcher in the field Biomedical research, infectious diseases, climate changes.  Professor Karanis is a resourceful and dedicated professor with an impressive academic background,
excellent publication record and significant teaching experiences in the fields of Emerging Infectious
Parasitic and Tropical Diseases and Human Anatomy. Possesses excellent interpersonal and liaison skills
with the ability to build and maintain positive working relationships. Possesses mature administrative and
managerial skills and solid experience in science policy and public health. Enjoys worldwide collaborating
in a productive and successful team and thrives in challenging environments. He was 1000 Talent Plan
Expert (2014-2017) in Qinghai, China.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations: 📚🎓

Professor Dr. Panagiotis Karanis has held various esteemed positions in the field of anatomy and biomedicine, showcasing an extensive and distinguished career spanning several decades. From 2019 to the present, he serves as a Professor of Anatomy and the Coordinator of the Unit of Anatomy & Morphology at the Medical School, University of Nicosia, Nicosia, Cyprus. His contributions extend globally, as he has been an international advisor, consultant, and visiting professor at numerous universities.

During the period from 2014 to 2018, Professor Karanis held the position of Professor and Director of the Centre of Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases at the State Key Laboratory for Plateau Ecology and Agriculture at Qinghai University in Xining, China. His expertise was recognized internationally, as he was selected as a Foreign Expert in the 1000 Talent Plan, Recruitment Program of Foreign Experts (RPFE) for non-ethnic Chinese experts in China.

Earlier in his career, from 2009 to the present, Professor Karanis made significant contributions as a Professor of Anatomy at the Medical School, University of Cologne, Germany. Prior to this, he served as an Associate Professor and later as a Full Professor at the National Research Centre for Protozoan Diseases (NRCPD) in Japan from 2006 to 2007.

The trajectory of Professor Karanis’s career is marked by academic achievements. In 1999, he received Venia legendi in Parasitology (PD Dr.) and completed his Habilitation in Clinical-Theoretical Medicine at the Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Germany. His academic journey began with a PhD in Parasitology, focusing on ‘UV-Disinfection of Protozoan Parasites’ at the University of Bonn in 1992. Earlier, in 1987, he earned a Diploma in Biology from the University of Bochum, Germany.

Professor Karanis’s educational background is diverse, including studies in Biology at the Universities of Bielefeld, Düsseldorf, and Bochum from 1980 to 1986. He also pursued complementary studies of Medicine at the Universities of Bochum and Cologne, completing the pre-clinical medical curriculum. His commitment to academia and research has made him a respected figure in the international scientific community, contributing significantly to the fields of anatomy, biomedicine, and parasitology.

Research Interests: 🧬🔬

Biomedical research, infectious diseases, climate changes,Applications of Network Science and Graph Analytics in Social, Biological, and Technological Networks

Awards and Achievements: 🏆👏

  •  Prof. Karanis is included on the annual list of 100,000 top scientists worldwide and, correspondingly, in
    the top 2 per cent of scientists in their field, according to a team of researchers at Stanford University in
    the USA. The updated 2020 list is based on a range of citation metrics that provides standardized data
    across those fields and subfields, in arriving at the (2019) single year impact result of more than 8,000,000
    scientists worldwide.
  • Gained worldwide administrative and managerial skills and experiences in science policy and public
    health. Successfully established 5 Laboratories / Institutions in Bonn / Germany (Waterborne and Vectorborne
    Parasitic Diseases), Thessaloniki / Greece (Leishmania and Sandflies), Cologne / Germany (Medical and
    Molecular Parasitology), Obihiro / Japan (Unit for Diseases Control and Genetics), Xining / China (Centre
    of Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases; the laboratory was promoted from the Chinese Government toState Key Laboratory of the Qinghai Province in China, 2016). The laboratories in Germany, Japan and
    China achieved an international reputation
  • Developed worldwide effective cooperations between many countries, in particular betweenEuropean
    and Asian countries
  •  Consultant at Qatar National Research Foundation and Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
  • Academic program review for the Master of Science in Biomedical Science, College of Health
    Sciences at Qatar University, Doha, Qatar, September 2018
  • Consultant” at Walailak University, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
  • Nominated as “Advisory Board Member” of the “Centre of Excellence for Medical Research and
    Innovative Products (CEMRIP)” in Thailand.
  • Nominated “National Distinguished Expert” and “State Specially Recruited Expert” of China
  • Selected in 1000 Talent Plan, the Recruitment Program of Foreign Experts (RPFE) for non-ethnic Chinese
    experts, China, 2014, leading into ongoing innovative and promising collaborations with China
  • Invitation for Short Term – Fellowship – Program for Malaria Research in Japan by JSPS (Japanese
    Society of Promotion of Science), 12th January – 11th March 2014

Career Summary 

Dr. Panagiotis Karanis is a distinguished parasitologist with a wealth of expertise and a prolific career spanning several prestigious institutions across the globe. Serving as a Guest Professor at the University of Padova in Italy during 2019 and 2020, as well as a Consultant at the College of Public Health in Qatar in 2018, he contributed significantly to the field of parasitology. Dr. Karanis has been a Consultant at Walailak University in Thailand since 2017, where he has provided guidance and international supervision for PhD students.

His academic endeavors include roles as an Invited Professor at the University of Alexandroupolis and the University of Ioannina in Greece, where he delivered lectures on infectious diseases to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. Notably, from 2014 to 2018, Dr. Karanis held the position of Professor and Director of the Centre of Biomedicine and Infectious Diseases at Qinghai University in China.

As a Foreign Expert in the 1000 Talent Plan Recruitment Program, he played a pivotal role in elevating the laboratory to the State Key Laboratory for Plateau Ecology and Agriculture of the Qinghai Province. Dr. Karanis’s contributions extended to advising the Chinese government on research ideas, particularly in waterborne and vectorborne diseases, and his efforts in developing Cryptosporidium culture assays for drug testing garnered recognition and funding from prestigious institutions such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. His comprehensive involvement in academia, research, and international collaborations underscores his commitment to advancing the field of parasitology and infectious diseases.

 

📚Top Noted Publication