Yingzi Yang | Biological Networks | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Yingzi Yang | Biological Networks | Research Excellence Award

Harvard School of Dental Medicine | United States

Prof. Yingzi Yang is a distinguished developmental biologist whose career spans leading institutions including Harvard Medical School and the National Institutes of Health. She earned her BS in Biology from Fudan University in 1988 and completed her PhD in Molecular Biology at the Sloan-Kettering Institute and Weill Medical College of Cornell University in 1996, followed by postdoctoral training with Andrew P. McMahon at Harvard University. She joined the NIH in 2000 as an Investigator and rose to Senior Investigator before being appointed Professor of Developmental Biology at Harvard Medical School in 2015, where she also serves as Principal Faculty of the Harvard Stem Cell Institute and a member of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center. Widely recognized for her contributions to Wnt signaling, skeletal biology, and developmental mechanisms, Prof. Yang has received numerous honors including the AAAS Fellowship, ASBMR Fellowship, the IADR Distinguished Scientist Award, multiple NIH Awards of Merit, and the Vincent du Vigneaud Award of Excellence. She has held major leadership roles such as President of the Chinese Biological Investigators Society (2022–2024), member of the NIH SBDD Study Section, and keynote speaker at national scientific meetings. Her extensive service includes high-level Harvard committees, NIH central tenure committees, Gordon Research Conference leadership, international symposium organization, and major grant review panels for NIH, NSF, and global scientific agencies. A respected scholar and reviewer for top-tier journals including Cell, Nature family journals, Science family journals, and Development, Prof. Yang is recognized worldwide for advancing fundamental understanding of developmental and stem cell biology and their implications for human disease.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

"Disrupting bile acid metabolism by suppressing Fxr causes hepatocellular carcinoma induced by YAP activation", Y Liu, J Zhu, Y Jin, Z Sun, X Wu, H Zhou, Y Yang, Nature Communications 16 (1), 2025.

"Fibrous dysplasia/McCune-Albright syndrome: state-of-the-art advances, pathogenesis, and basic/translational research", B Palmisano, C Berry, A Boyce, JF Charles, MT Collins, A Corsi, FA Fierro, Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases 20 (1), 2025.

"Piezo1-mediated mechanotransduction controls osteocyte maturation and dendrite development via a YAP-CCN-Src signaling axis", YJ Hu, X Wu, F Wang, Y Jin, Y Jin, Y Liu, Q Cong, Y Yang, Nature Communications, 2025.

"Injury-induced niche factors Cxcl12 and Shh/Ihh coordinate suture stem cell activation during calvarial bone regeneration", B Li, T Ouchi, J Liu, Y Yang, Science Signaling 18 (909), 2025.

"Neutralization of Receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand reduces fibrosis and promotes osteoblast differentiation in a mouse model of fibrous dysplasia driven", RT Ormsby, Y Zhang, C Hodys, LA Wake, SM Perez, K Tsang, Y Yang, JBMR plus 9 (10), 2025.

Dimitrios G. Tsoukas | Biological Networks | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Dimitrios G. Tsoukas | Biological Networks | Best Researcher Award

Mitera Hospital Athens | Greece

Author Profile

Scopus

Orcid ID

EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS

Dr. Dimitrios G. Tsoukas began his academic journey with exceptional distinction, graduating with a Bachelor in Medicine from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens Faculty of Medicine. His early academic excellence set the foundation for a career rooted in clinical precision and innovative thinking. His education emphasized not only traditional orthopaedic surgery but also introduced him to minimally invasive techniques, which would later define his clinical signature.

PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS

Dr. Tsoukas's professional career spans over two decades of dynamic clinical and academic leadership. Currently, he serves as the Director of the E’ Orthopaedic Clinic for Advanced Arthroscopic Sports and Regenerative Surgery at MITERA Hospital (HH Group). He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (USA) and has held numerous leadership positions at top hospitals across Greece and Cyprus. His pioneering efforts led to the founding of MIOSMED Center, an internationally recognized teaching hub endorsed by ISAKOS, ESSKA, and ICRS, and the Elite Regenerative Clinic Athens, a Lipogems SpA Center of Excellence. His clinical footprint spans not only orthopaedics but also women’s health, athletic injuries, and sports medicine innovation.

CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESEARCH FOCUS ON BIOLOGICAL NETWORKS

Dr. Tsoukas is a distinguished authority in arthroscopic, minimally invasive, and regenerative orthopaedic surgery, with special emphasis on adipose-derived stem cell applications for arthritis and joint degeneration. His contributions include advanced biological techniques in cartilage regeneration, joint preservation, and tendon repair. He has played a leading role in global education by serving as a certified instructor for ESSKA, contributing to simulation-based medical training, and mentoring young surgeons. His research interests include low-cost arthroscopy simulators, stem cell therapies, sports injury prevention in children, and medical device innovation.

IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Dr. Tsoukas is recognized as a Key Opinion Leader (KOL) in orthopaedics and regenerative medicine, actively shaping clinical best practices and treatment protocols. His influence is reflected through editorial board memberships, reviewer roles for high-impact journals like the British Journal of Sports Medicine and the Orthopaedic Journal of Sports Medicine, and his participation in international regulatory and scientific committees. His appointment as a TEDx speaker in Kigali, Rwanda (2023) further underscores his role in global medical outreach and inspiration.

ACADEMIC CITES

As a scientific collaborator, Dr. Tsoukas has contributed to various institutions including the Athens University Medical School, Medical Physics Laboratory Simulation Center, and the European University of Cyprus. He has been involved in academic teaching, research, and publication, significantly advancing clinical education in Europe and the United States. He also served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Stem Cell Research, and is a respected peer reviewer, ensuring academic rigor across multiple orthopaedic publications.

LEGACY AND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS

Dr. Dimitrios G. Tsoukas’s legacy is deeply embedded in medical innovation, education, and regenerative orthopaedics. As a fellow member of ICRS (2024) and an American Board of Regenerative Medicine Diplomat, he continues to push the boundaries of biological orthopaedic science. His ongoing leadership in global campaigns like “STOP Sports Injuries in Children” and collaborative research with biotechnology leaders like Terumo BCT, Arthrex, and Lipogems positions him as a visionary in the future of personalized, minimally invasive care. His legacy will endure through the institutions he built, the surgeons he trained, and the global initiatives he leads.

HONORS AND RECOGNITIONS

Dr. Tsoukas has received numerous accolades recognizing his contributions to orthopaedic science and Greek athletics. Among these are the Silver Award for Surgical Innovation at the Boussias Healthcare Business Awards 2021, the Med Professionals Honor for Stem Cell Innovation (2022), and several sports awards acknowledging his contributions to Greek basketball and volleyball. He holds the rare distinction of being enlisted in the Guinness World Records for medical contributions to the record-setting Athinaikos female basketball team.

OTHER SIGNIFICANT AFFILIATIONS AND LICENSES

Dr. Tsoukas maintains international medical licensure in Switzerland and Dubai, and continues to collaborate with organizations such as ECOSEP, CEV, and Smith & Nephew’s European Knee Advisory Board. These affiliations highlight his global reach and his role in shaping orthopaedic protocols across continents. His role as Head Doctor for National and Professional Teams underscores his credibility and trust within elite athletic circles.

NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS

"Prospective Observational Study of a Non-Arthroscopic Autologous Cartilage Micrografting Technology for Knee Osteoarthritis

  • Author: Dimitrios Tsoukas; Ilie Muntean; Christos Simos; Ruben Sabido-Vera
  • Journal: Bioengineering
  • Year: 2023