José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt – Network Science- Top Researcher Award

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José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt – Network Science- Top Researcher Award

Assoc Prof Dr. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt distinguished academic and researcher in the field Network science.

🌐 Professional Profile

Educations📚📚📚

Dr. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of the Andes in Merida. He then pursued a Master’s degree in Biochemistry and Cellular Biology at the Ecole Normale Supérieure in Paris, where he contributed to an international research project. He earned his PhD in Neurobiology at the Scuola Normale Superiore of Pisa under the mentorship of Lamberto Maffei and continued there as a Postdoctoral fellow. His postdoctoral work extended to the NEST laboratory.

Research Interests

Dr. Maya-Vetencourt’s research interests encompass:

  1. Neuronal Interfaces: Developing devices to substitute damaged tissues in the nervous system.
  2. Optogenetics and Neuronal Plasticity: Investigating mechanisms underlying sensory perception and behavior.
  3. Retinal Circuitries: Studying physiological and pathological conditions in the retina.

Publications and Academic Contributions

Dr. Maya-Vetencourt has published 34 scientific manuscripts in esteemed peer-reviewed journals, with 29 indexed in PubMed, including Science, Nature Neuroscience, and Nature Nanotechnology. He has edited one neuroscience book, authored four book chapters, and co-invented four patents. His work has garnered over 3400 citations, an H-index of 22 on Google Scholar, and an average impact factor per manuscript of 13.06.

Teaching and Mentorship

He has supervised over 35 Master’s thesis students in Neuroscience and Biotechnology. Dr. Maya-Vetencourt is a member of the Italian Society of Neuroscience (SINS), the American Society of Neuroscience (SfN), and the Italian Physiological Society (SIF). He serves as an associate review editor for “Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience” and “Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience”.

Awards and Recognitions

In 2017, Dr. Maya-Vetencourt received two prestigious “Young Investigator” awards: one from the Italian Physiological Society in Pavia and another from the Federation of European Physiological Societies in Vienna.

Pioneering Research

Dr. Maya-Vetencourt pioneered approaches to reactivate juvenile-like plasticity in the adult visual system (Nat Neurosc 2007; Science 2008). He explored chromatin susceptibility mechanisms for reinstating plasticity in the adult brain (Eur J Neurosci 2011). At IIT, he set up an electrophysiology lab to apply photovoltaic interfaces in rodent models of retinitis pigmentosa, leading to the development of a fully organic prosthetic device for subretinal implantation in RCS rats (Nat Mat 2017). This research demonstrated significant recovery of light sensitivity and visual acuity, accompanied by increased metabolic activity in the visual cortex.

Current Projects

Dr. Maya-Vetencourt is currently working on adapting surgical implant procedures for pig models to evaluate biocompatibility and visual function recovery (Front Bioeng Biotech 2020). He is also developing innovative “liquid” retinal prostheses to address age-related macular degeneration (Nat Nanotech 2020a, 2020b).

Future Directions

Dr. Maya-Vetencourt continues to advance the field of neuroscience by developing novel, biocompatible, and cost-effective solutions for neurodegenerative diseases, aiming to improve therapeutic outcomes for patients with degenerative blindness.

 

 

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

  • 1. Edoardo Porzano, Benedetta Borghi, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2024.
    Environmental enrichment as an innovative therapeutic approach to treat neurodegenerative
    blindness (in preparation)
    2. Edoardo Porzano, Dominga Lapi, Benedetta Borghi, Silvia Marracci, Melecchi Alberto,
    Giovanni Casini, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt. 2024. Enriched environment
    enhances visual responses of the inner retina in early-stage retinitis pigmentosa (in
    preparation)
    3. Dmytro Shmal, Giulia Mantero, Thomas Floss, Fabio Benfenati, José Fernando MayaVetencourt. 2024. Restoring vision in adult amblyopia by enhancing plasticity through
    deletion of the transcriptional repressor REST. iScience 27(4): 109507. IF 5.8
    4. Ilaria Piano, Arianna Votta, Patrizia Colucci, Francesca Corsi, Sara Vitolo, Chiara Cerri, Dario
    Puppi, Michele Lai, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Massimiliano Leigheb, Chiara
    Gabellini, Elisabetta Ferraro. 2023. Anti-inflammatory reprogramming of microglia cells by
    metabolic modulators to counteract neurodegeneration: a new role for Ranolazine. Scientific
    Reports 13: 20138. IF 5.13
    5. Simona Francia, Stefano Di Marco, Mattia Lorenzo DiFrancesco, Davide Ferrari, Dmytro
    Shmal, Alessio Cavalli, Grazia Pertile, Marcella Attanasio, José Fernando MayaVetencourt, Giovanni Manfredi, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati, Elisabetta Colombo.
    2023. P3HT-Graphene device for the restoration of visual properties in a model of retinitis
    pigmentosa. Advanced Materials Technologies 8: 2201467. IF 8.86
    6. Domenico Ventrella*, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt*, Alberto Elmi, Francesca Barone,
    Camilla Aniballi, Luisa Vera Muscatello, Maurizio Mete, Grazia Pertile, Fabio Benfenati, Maria
    Laura Bacci. 2022. The p-ERG spatial acuity in the biomedical pig under physiological
    conditions. Scientific Reports 12: 15479. IF 5.13
    7. Simona Francia, Dmytro Shmal, Stefano Di Marco, Greta Chiaravalli, José Fernando MayaVetencourt, Giulia Mantero, Caterina Michetti, Sara Cupini, Giovanni Manfredi, Mattia
    Lorenzo DiFrancesco, Anna Rocchi, Sara Perotto, Marcella Attanasio, Riccardo Sacco, Silvia
    Bisti, Maurizio Mete, Grazia Pertile, Guglielmo Lanzani, Elisabetta Colombo, Fabio Benfenati.
    2022. Light induced charge generation in polymeric nanoparticles restores vision in
    advanced-stage retinitis pigmentosa rats. Nature Communications 13: 3677. IF 17.69
    8. Miguel Skirzewski, Stéphane Molotchnikoff, Luis F Hernandez, José Fernando MayaVetencourt. 2022. Multisensory integration: is medial prefrontal cortex signaling relevant for
    the treatment of higher-order visual dysfunctions? Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience
    14: 806376. IF 5.63
    9. Stefano di Marco, Mattia Di Francesco, Elisabetta Colombo, Giovanni Manfredi, José
    Fernando Maya- Vetencourt, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. Modulation of
    neuronal firing: what role can nanotechnology play? Nanomedicine 8: 579141. IF 4.7
    10. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Stefano Di Marco, Maurizio Mete, Mattia Di Paolo,
    Francesca Barone, Domenico Ventrella, Giovanni Manfredi, Silvia Bisti, Guglielmo Lanzani,
    Grazia Pertile, Maria Laura Bacci, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. Biocompatibility of a polymeric
    subretinal prosthesis in the domestic pig. Frontiers in Bioengineering and
    Biotechnology 8: 1188. IF 6.06
    11. José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Giovanni Manfredi, Maurizio Mete, Elisabetta Colombo,
    Mattia Bramini, Mattia DiFrancesco, Dmytro Shmal, Cyril Eleftheriou, Francesca Di Maria,
    Vanessa Cossu, Laura Emionite, Flavia Ticconi, Cecilia Marini, Gianmario Sambuceti, Grazia
    Pertile, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. Subretinal semiconducting polymer
    nanoparticles fully rescue vision in a rat model of retinal dystrophy. Nature
    Nanotechnology 15: 698. IF 40.5
    12. DiFrancesco Mattia, Elisabetta Colombo, Ermanno Papaleo, José Fernando MayaVetencourt, Giovanni Manfredi, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. A hybrid P3HTGraphene interface for efficient photostimulation of neurons. Carbon 162: 308. IF 11.3
    13. Francesca Barone, Luisa Vera Muscatello, Domenico Ventrella, Alberto Elmi, Noemi
    Romagnoli, Luciana Mandrioli, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Cristiano Bombardi,
    Maurizio Mete, Giuseppe Sarli, Fabio Benfenati, Grazia Pertile, Maria Laura Bacci. 2020. The
    porcine iodoacetic acid model of retinal degeneration: morpho-functional characterization of
    the visual system. Experimental Eye Research 193 107979. IF 3.77
    14. Mattia DiFrancesco, Francesco Lodola, Elisabetta Colombo, Luca Maragliano, Giuseppe M.
    Paternò, Mattia Bramini, Simone Cimò, Letizia Collela, Daniele Fazzi, José Fernando MayaVetencourt, Chiara Bertarelli, Guglielmo Lanzani, Fabio Benfenati. 2020. Neuronal firing
    modulation by a membrane-targeted photoswitch. Nature Nanotechnology 15(4): 296. IF
    40.5
    15. Stéphane Molotchnikoff, Vishal Bharmauria, Nayan Chanauria, Lyes Bachatene, José
    Fernando Maya- Vetencourt. 2019. The function of connectomes in encoding sensory
    stimuli. Progress in Neurobiology 101659. IF 14.16
    16. Luisa Vera Muscatello, Francesca Barone, Domenico Ventrella, Alberto Elmi, Luciana
    Mandrioli, Noemi Romagnoli, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Cristiano Bombardi,
    Maurizio Mete, Giuseppe Sarli, Fabio Benfenati, Grazia Pertile, Maria Laura Bacci. 2019.
    Retinal features in iodoacetic-treated biomedical pigs as a model for photoreceptor disorders.
    Journal of Comparative Pathology 166: 103. IF N.A.
    17. Francesca Barone, Eleonora Nannoni, Alberto Elmi, Domenico Ventrella, Marika Vitali,
    Giovanna Martelli, José Fernando Maya-Vetencourt, Fabio Benfenati, Maria Laura Bacci.
    2018. Behavioral assessment of vision in pigs. Journal of the American Association for
    Laboratory Animal Science 57(4): 350. IF 1.34

Liwei Deng- Autonomous Driving- Best Researcher Award

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Liwei Deng- Autonomous Driving-Best Researcher Award

Prof. Liwei Deng distinguished academic and researcher in the field Autonomous Driving. 

🌐 Professional Profile

Educations📚📚📚

He holds a Ph.D. in Control Science and Engineering from the Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China, which he earned in 2014. His dissertation focused on “Control Theory and Its Applications of Fractional Order Sliding Mode” under the supervision of Professor Shenmin Song. Prior to this, he completed a Master of Science in Control Theory and Control Engineering at Harbin University of Science and Technology in 2010, where his thesis was titled “Pressure Data Acquisition and Control System Based on ARM,” supervised by Professor Junshan Gao. He began his academic journey with a Bachelor of Engineering in Automation from Jiamusi University, Jiamusi, China, graduating in 2007.

 Experience:

He began his academic career as a Lecturer in the School of Automation at Harbin University of Science and Technology, serving from October 2014 to August 2018. Following this, he was promoted to Associate Professor within the same school, a role he held from August 2018 to August 2023. In September 2023, he was further promoted to the position of Professor at the School of Automation. Additionally, since May 2023, he has been serving as a Doctoral Supervisor in the School of Computer Science and Technology at Harbin University of Science and Technology.

Projects 

He has been actively involved in various research projects over the years. From 2021 to 2024, he led the Key R&D Program Guidance Projects of Heilongjiang Province (Grant No. GZ20210065), focusing on the development of intelligent winding equipment for hydrogen cylinders based on robots. As the Principal Investigator for the National Science Foundation for Young Scientists of China (Grant No. 61806060) from 2019 to 2021, he researched diabetic retinal image analysis algorithms using fractional order differential and deep learning. During the same period, he also served as Principal Investigator for a project funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province, China, which focused on the key technology of defect detection of wind turbine blades based on images taken by unmanned aerial vehicles. From 2017 to 2020, he was the Principal Investigator for the Harbin Program of Science and Technology (Grant No. 2017RAQXJ006), which aimed to develop key technologies for the automatic production line for rubber bridge bearing members. Additionally, he played significant roles in several other projects, including being a Principal Participant in the National Natural Science Foundation of China project (Grant No. 61174037) on distributed motion autonomous coordination control of on-orbit multi-spacecraft expectation mode (2011-2015), a Participant in the State Key Program of National Natural Science of China (Grant No. 61333003) on coordination control technology for networked satellite clusters (2012-2016), and a Principal Participant in a project funded by the Natural Science Foundation of Heilongjiang Province, China (Grant No. F030101) on the dynamic morphology of hyperchaotic attractors (2013-2016).

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

    • Deng, L., Zou, Y., Yang, X. et al. L2NLF: a novel linear-to-nonlinear framework for multi-modal medical image registration[J]. Biomed. Eng. Lett.(2024).（WOS:001139763600001）
    • Deng, L., Lan, Q., Zhi, Q. et al. Deep learning-based 3D brain multimodal medical image registration[J]. Med Biol EngComput .2024,62: 505–（WOS:001098686900001）
    • Biao Zhang, Sheng Wang, Liwei Deng, et al.Ship motion attitude prediction model based on IWOA-TCN-Attention[J].Ocean Engineering,2023,272:113911
    • Liwei Deng, Henan Sun, Jing Wang, et al.A Novel Unsupervised MRI Synthetic CT Image Generation Framework with Registration Network[J].CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua,2023,77(2):2271–（WOS:0011269599000 24）
    • Liwei Deng, Zhen Liu,Jiandong Wang et al.ATT-YOLOv5-Ghost: Water surface object detection in complex scenes[J].Journal of Real-Time Image Processing,2023,20:97.（WOS:001050358900001）
    • LiweiDeng,ShanshanLiu,WeiShi,et al.Defect Detection and Classification of Offshore Wind Turbine Rotor Blades[J].Nondestructive Testing and Evaluation,2023.（WOS:001025791800001）
    • Yuheng Yin, Yangang Guo, Liwei Deng, et al.Improved Pspnet-Based Water Shoreline Detection in Complex Inland River Scenarios[J]. Complex & Intelligent Systems, 2022,9(1): 233-245.（WOS:000816995100001）
    • Liwei Deng, Yue Wang, Qi Lan,etal.Remote sensing image building change detection based on efficient-UNet++[J].Journal of Applied Remote Sensing,2023,17(3):034501.（WOS:00177860300006）
    • Liwei Deng, He Cao,QingboDong,etal.Semi-Supervised Lane Detection for Continuous Traffic Scenes[J].Traffic Injury Prevention.2023,24(6):452-457.（WOS:001008469300001）
    • Liwei Deng, Yanchao Zou, SijuanHuang,et al. Deformable 3D Medical Image Registration with ConvolutionalNeural Network and Transformer[J].Journal of Instrumentation.2023,(18):P04029（WOS:000986658100 001）
    • Rui Zhang, Cong Xie, Liwei Deng. A Fine-Grained Object Detection Model for Aerial Images Based on Yolov5 Deep Neural Network[J]. Chinese Journal of Electronics, 2023, 32(1): 51-63.（WOS:000932261100001）
    • Liwei Deng, Yufei Ji, Sijuan Huang, et al.Synthetic CT generation from CBCT using Double-Chain-CycleGAN[J].Computers in Biology and Medicine.2023,106889.（WOS:001006917800001）
    • Liwei Deng, JiandongWang, Zhen Liu. Cascaded Network Based on EfficientNet and Transformer for Deepfake Video Detection[J].Neural Processing Letters.2023.（WOS:000961765200002）
    • Liwei Deng, QiangZhi, Sijuan Huang, et al. A Deformable Patch-based Transformer for 3D Medical Image Registration[J].International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery.2023.（WOS:000990481800001）
    • Liwei Deng, Yuanzhi Zhang, Xin Yang, et al. Meta-learning Multi-scale Radiology Medical Image Superresolution[J].CMC-Computers, Materials & Continua.2023,75(2) :2671-2684.（WOS:000980836000018）
    • Liwei Deng, Yuanzhi Zhang, Jing Wang, et al. Improving Performance of Medical Image Alignment through Super-resolution[J].Biomedical Engineering Letters.2023.（WOS:000934806000001）
    • LiweiDeng ,Mingxing Zhang , JingWang, et al.Improving Cone-Beam Ct Quality Using a Cycle-Residual Connection with a Dilated Convolution-Consistent Generative Adversarial Network[J]. Physics in Medicine & Biology, 2022,67(14): 145010.（WOS:000822102200001）
    • Liwei Deng, Jie Hu, Jing Wang, et al.Synthetic CT Generation Based on CBCT Using Respath-cycleGAN[J]. Medical Physics, 2022,49(8): 5317-5329.（WOS:000792418600001）
    • Zhe Yan, Shuchun Chu, Liwei Deng. Visual SLAM Based on Instance Segmentation in Dynamic Scenes[J]. Measurement Science and Technology.2021,32(9):095113.（WOS:000662668300001）

    Conference Papers

    • Liwei Deng*, Yuanzhi Zhang, Xiaofei Wang. High-definition Processing of Remote Sensing Images Based on CUT-CycleGAN[C], The 40th Chinese Control Conference, CCC 2021.( EI：20214311045982).
    • Liwei Deng*, YueWang, Jing Han. Optical Disc Location Based on Similarity toImproved Harris Algorithm[C], The 40th Chinese Control Conference, CCC 2021.( EI：20214311046402).
    • Liwei Deng*, Hongfei Suo, Haonan Ren. Research on Tension Control System of Winding Machine Based on Fuzzy PID Algorithm[C], The 40th Chinese Control Conference, CCC 2021.( EI：20214311045650).
    • Yuheng Yin, Yangang Guo, Liwei Deng*. Research on Image Processing Application of Improved Adaptive Filter Based on LPSO Algorithm[C], The 40th Chinese Control Conference, CCC 2021.( EI：20214311045948).
    • Yanshu Jiang, Mingqi Jia, Biao Zhang, Liwei Deng. Malicious Domain Name Detection Model Based on CNN-GRU-Attention[C], The 33rd Chinese Control and Decision Conference, CCDC 2021.
    • Liwei Deng, Xiaofei Wang.A New Fracture Image Segmentation Method Based on MSA-k Clustering Algorithm[C], The 39th Chinese Control Conference, CCC 2020.( EI：20203909242340).
    • Liwei Deng,Jie Hu,Jingjing Qi. Super-Resolution Reconstruction of Finger Vein Image Based on Regression Tree Model[C],The 32nd Chinese Control and Decision Conference, CCDC 2020.( EI：20204009254996).

Giorgia Modenini – Biological Networks – Young Scientist Award

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Giorgia Modenini – Biological Networks – Young Scientist Award

Dr. Giorgia Modenini distinguished academic and researcher in the field Biological Networks.

🌐 Professional Profile

Educations📚📚📚

She has been deeply engaged in academic pursuits since 2014,  commencing with her Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Sciences from the University of Bologna, Italy, where she attained a commendable grade of 106/110. This laid the foundation for her subsequent academic journey. Building upon her undergraduate studies, she pursued a Master of Science in Biodiversity and Evolution at the same institution, achieving the highest distinction of 110/110 cum laude, indicative of her exceptional aptitude and dedication. Undeterred by challenges, she continued to excel in her academic endeavors and embarked on a PhD course in Environment, Earth, and Life Sciences at the University of Bologna. Spanning from 2020 to the present, this doctoral program underscores her commitment to advancing knowledge and contributing to the fields of biological, geological, and environmental sciences. Throughout her academic trajectory, she has demonstrated a fervent passion for her chosen disciplines and a relentless pursuit of excellence.

Awards

She has actively contributed to the academic community through various engagements and leadership roles in conferences focused on the role of transposable elements in human evolution and diseases. Notably, she organized and co-chaired the “Transposable Elements in Human Brain Evolution and Diseases” virtual conferences in December 2021 and December 2022, featuring esteemed speakers such as Marie Jönnson, Jose Luis Garcia-Perez, Fabio Macciardi, Cedric Feschotte, Johan Jakobsson, and Molly Gale Hammell. Her dedication to advancing knowledge in this field is further exemplified by her role as the organizer and co-chair of the “Transposable Elements in Human Evolution and Diseases” virtual conference in February 2024, featuring confirmed invited speakers Anna Sophie Fiston-Lavier and Marco Trizzino. Moreover, her outstanding contributions were recognized with the “Best Poster Award” at the XXV Congress of the Italian Anthropological Association, presented by the Italian Primatologists Association, for her poster titled “Exploring signatures of adaptive introgression on chromosome 22 in worldwide human populations,” a fitting tribute to the memory of Judith Masters and Fabien Génin. Through these endeavors, she continues to foster collaboration and facilitate discussions at the forefront of scientific research.

Academic experience

She has been actively involved in various academic activities spanning several years, showcasing her commitment to advancing knowledge in her field. From April to September 2019, she undertook an internship at the Molecular Anthropology Lab at the University of Bologna, Italy. Here, she delved into the intricate relationships between non-LTR retrotransposons and schizophrenia in both modern and ancient human populations. This experience provided her with invaluable insights into the intersection of genetics and mental health. Subsequently, in February to May 2023, she embarked on an international internship at the Globe Institute, Lundbeck Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark. During this period abroad, she immersed herself in the project titled “Investigating human evolution through the lens of retrotransposons,” further expanding her understanding of evolutionary genetics. Currently, since November 2020, she has been engaged as a PhD student at the Molecular Anthropology Lab, University of Bologna, Italy. Her doctoral research focuses on studying retrotransposition events and DNA methylation in the evolution of the human brain, a testament to her continued dedication to unraveling the complexities of human evolution and genetics.

Seminars and thesis

She has been actively involved in supervising and supporting research projects and academic activities related to transposable elements and genetic variability. Under her guidance as a supervisor, Giacomo Mercuri presented his thesis titled “Polymorphic transposable element insertions provide new insights into North-Eastern Italian isolates’ genetic variability” for the LM Biodiversità ed Evoluzione program. Similarly, Stefano Puleo explored the signatures of adaptive introgression on chromosome 22 in worldwide human populations for his thesis under her supervision. Additionally, she has contributed to the academic community by delivering lessons on “Transposable Elements as drivers of genome evolution” and “Transposable Elements as drivers of evolution” for the course “Genetica di popolazione ed evoluzione molecolare,” showcasing her expertise in the field. Furthermore, she supervised Francesco Magni’s thesis, which focused on transposable elements variability in ancient and modern human samples, further enriching the understanding of genetic dynamics. Through these mentorship roles and academic contributions, she continues to advance knowledge and foster intellectual growth in the field of biodiversity and evolution.

📝🔬Publications📝

 

 

 

Adugna Abera – Biological Networks – Best Researcher Award

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Adugna Abera – Biological Networks – Best Researcher Award

Mr. Adugna Abera distinguished academic and researcher in the field Biological Networks. He has held several key positions in public health research and coordination. From August 2021 to July 2022, he served as the National COVID-19 Epidemiological Surveillance and Laboratory Coordinator at the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Concurrently, since 2019, he has been pursuing his Ph.D. at Addis Ababa University, College of Natural and Computational Sciences, in the Department of Cellular, Microbial, and Molecular Technology, focusing on the Applied Genetics stream.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

He completed his educational journey at Addis Ababa University, where he first earned a Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Technology in July 2005. He then continued his studies at the same university and obtained a Master of Science in Medical Microbiology in June 2009. Currently, he is pursuing his Ph.D. in Applied Genetics at Addis Ababa University, having started in September 2019 and expected to complete his doctorate in the near future.

Research Experience

He has extensive experience in research laboratory techniques, particularly in the study of Visceral Leishmaniasis and related assays. His expertise includes conducting FACS-based whole blood assays such as reactive oxygen burst assays, phagocytosis assays, and leukocytes surface activation markers assays. Additionally, he is skilled in whole blood stimulation for ELISA-based cytokine/chemokine assays and the isolation and subtyping of human monocyte-derived macrophages. He has also cultivated and handled both wild strain and gene reporter Leishmania parasites. His proficiency extends to a wide range of molecular techniques, including DNA extraction from various clinical samples, conventional PCR, loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), Sanger capillary electrophoresis sequencing, whole genome sequencing using both Illumina and Oxford Nanopore platforms, PET-PCR, nested and quantitative PCR (qPCR), PCR-RFLP, and real-time PCR.

Experience

Prior to his role in COVID-19 coordination, he was the team leader of the Malaria and NTDs research team at EPHI from September 2017 until 2020 and continues to work as a researcher in the same team to date. Additionally, from 2017 to 2019, he coordinated the Malaria Elimination Baseline Assessment in elimination-targeted districts in Ethiopia. His earlier career included working as a Research Assistant on the Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases research team at the Armauer Hansen Research Institute in Addis Ababa from March 2010 to April 2016. He also served as an instructor at Bethel Medical College in Addis Ababa from September 2009 to January 2010.

Award

He has been recognized with several prestigious awards and fellowships. In November 2023, he received a fellowship to participate in a hands-on Genomics and Bioinformatics training workshop at Stellenbosch University, which took place from the 13th to the 24th. Earlier, he was selected for the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT), which was supported by WHO/TDR and held at the University of Gonder from September 24 to October 6, 2018. These opportunities have enhanced his skills and expanded his expertise in his field.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬
  1. G/meskel W., Desta K., Diriba R., Belachew M., Evans M., Cantarelli V., Urrego M, Sisay A., Gebreegziabxier A., Abera A. SARS-CoV-2 variant typing using real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction–based assays in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. IJID Regions. 2024; 11(2024): 100363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijregi.2024.100363.
  2. Gebregziabher SM., Yalew AW., Sime H., Abera A. Molecular detection of waterborne pathogens in infants’ drinking water and theirrelationship with water quality determinants in eastern Ethiopia: loop-mediatedisothermal amplification (LAMP)-based study. Journal of Water & Health. 2024; 22(1): 1. doi: 10.2166/wh.2023.201.
  3. Abera, A., Mamecha, T., Abose, E., Bokicho, B., Ashole, A., Bishaw, T., Mariyo, A., Bogale, B., Terefe, H., Tadesse, H., Belachew, M., Difabachew, H., Eukubay, A., Kinde, S., Ali, A., Regasa, F., Seife, F., Kebede, Z., Wossen, M., Tollera, G., … Tasew, G. Reemergence of Human African Trypanosomiasis Caused by Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, Ethiopia. Emerging infectious diseases. 2024; 30(1): 125–128. https://doi.org/10.3201/eid3001.231319.
  4. Zeleke MT, Gelaye KA, Abera A, Teshome MB, Guma GT, Abate BT, et al. (2023) Diagnostic performance of PfHRP2/pLDH malaria rapid diagnostic tests in elimination setting, northwest Ethiopia. PLOS Glob Public Health 3(7): e0001879. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0001879.
  5. Tameru K, Tsegaye B, Shikur M, Ergete W, Tasew G, Abera A, and Wolday D. Case Report: Disseminated Strongloidesstercoralis Presenting as an Ulcerated Gastric Mass in an HIV-1-Infected Patient. Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg., 106(6), 2022, pp. 1675–1677. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.21-0791.
  6. Sisay A, Abera A, Dufera B, Endrias T, Tasew G, Tesfaye A, et al. (2022) Diagnostic accuracy of three commercially available one step RT-PCR assays for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in resource-limited settings. PLoS ONE 17(1): https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262178.
  7. Belachew, M., Wolde, M., Nega, D. Gidey B, Negash L, Assefa A, Tasew G, Woyessa A, Abera A.Evaluating performance of multiplex real time PCR for the diagnosis of malaria at elimination targeted low transmission settings of Ethiopia. Malar J 21, 9 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-021-04029-x.
  8. Nega, Abera A, Gidey B et al. Baseline malaria prevalence at the targeted pre-elimination districts in Ethiopia. BMC Public Health (2021) 21:1996. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-12036-5.
  9. Abera A, Belay H, Zewude A et al. Establishment of COVID-19 testing laboratory in resource-limited settings: challenges and prospects reported from Ethiopia. Global Health Action. 2020; 13(1841963):1-7.
  10. Gidey B, Nega D, Abera Aet al. Mentorship on malaria microscopy diagnostic service in Ethiopia: baseline competency of microscopists and performance of health facilities. Malaria Journal. 2021; 20(1).
  11. Tasew G, Gadisa E, Abera A et al. Whole blood-based in vitro culture reveals diminished secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in visceral leishmaniasis. Cytokine. 2020; 155246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cyto.2020.155246.
  12. Abib Berhanu, Adugna Abera, Desalegn Nega, SindewMekasha, Surafel Fentaw, Abebe Assefa, Gashaw Gebrewolde, Yonas Wuletaw, Ashenafi Assefa, Sisay Dugassa, Habte Tekie1 and Geremew Tasew. Isolation and identification of microflora from the midgut and salivary glands of Anopheles species in malaria endemic areas of Ethiopia. BMC Microbiology. 2019; 19:85.

Carolina Cabrero – Applications of Network science in Archeology Award – Young Scientist Award

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Carolina Cabrero – Applications of Network science in Archeology Award – Young Scientist Award

Dr. Carolina Cabrero distinguished academic and researcher in the field Applications of Network science in Archeology. She currently holds a position as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Grupo de Estudios en Prehistoria Reciente de Andalucía (GEPRAN, HUM-274) within the Department of Prehistory and Archaeology at the University of Granada in Spain. Commencing on July 7, 2023, she specializes in Prehistory, particularly focusing on Megalithic complexes, spatial patterns, and quantitative archaeology, with expertise in Geographic Information Systems. For inquiries, she can be reached at (+34) 958243611.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

She holds a Ph.D. in History and Arts from the University of Granada, which she completed in 2023. Prior to this, she obtained a University Expert certification in Anthropology from the University of Isabel I in 2021. She also holds a Master of Science degree in Archaeology from the University of Granada, achieved in 2018. Her academic journey began with a Bachelor’s degree in History from the University of Oviedo, which she completed in 2015. Experience

She has held various positions in the field of archaeology and research. From January 23, 2023, to April 8, 2023, she served as a Co-director in the project of photovoltaic power plants in Pinos Puente-Colomera with CLÍO Arqueología in Spain, which concluded upon the project’s completion. Prior to this, from May 31, 2022, to October 31, 2022, she worked as a Technician in Proyecto ALCO with Palimpsesto Lda. in Portugal, completing her tenure with the project’s conclusion. She also worked as a Director in several projects, including “Replanteando el megalitismo del sudeste. Prospección arqueológica superficial en el entorno de los ríos Gor y Fardes” as a freelancer in Spain from March 30, 2022, to June 15, 2022. Additionally, she served as Director in Projecto Florestal da Herdade das Lendas as a freelancer in Portugal from August 30, 2021, to September 31, 2022. She was also the Director in the Archaeological excavation of the site Seixinho with Archéocelis in Portugal from April 1, 2021, to July 31, 2021. Prior to these roles, she worked as a Predoctoral Researcher in the Department of Prehistory and Archaeology at the University of Granada in Spain from December 1, 2019, until completing her research on July 7, 2023.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

Thomas Liehr – Biological Networks Award – Best Researcher Award

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Thomas Liehr – Biological Networks Award – Best Researcher Award

Assoc Prof Dr. Thomas Liehr distinguished academic and researcher in the field Biological Networks. The Lab of Molecular Cytogenetics at the Institut für Humangenetik in Jena pursues various research lines, all linked by a common interest in chromosome structure and evolution. His primary focus lies within the realm of clinical genetic research, specifically in characterizing acquired and inherited chromosomal aberrations to comprehend the underlying biological mechanisms behind such deviations from the norm. Ongoing projects delve into topics such as small supernumerary marker chromosomes, chromosomal heteromorphisms, uniparental disomy, chromosomal breakpoints, and multicolor-FISH techniques. In the field of leukemia research, he contributes to identifying cryptic chromosomal aberrations associated with the disease. Additionally, the lab investigates chromosomal evolution through collaborations with other research groups studying diverse species such as fish (in Brazil), turtles (in Italy), and rodents (in Russia). In addition to employing multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization techniques, he utilizes methods like immunohistochemistry, microsatellite analysis, array-CGH, and next-generation sequencing to further his research objectives

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

He holds various academic positions across different institutions and countries, showcasing his expertise and contributions to the field of medicine and biology. Since November 7, 2016, he has served as a Visiting Professor of Medicine at the University of Belgrade School of Medicine in Belgrade, RS. Furthermore, he has been awarded an honorary Doctorate in Biology (Dr. h.c.) from Yerevan State University in Armenia, a recognition he has held since June 25, 2014. Concurrently, he holds the position of Invited Professor of Biology at Yerevan State University since May 1, 2013, further emphasizing his international engagement in academia. In addition to his roles in teaching and research, he obtained European registered Clinical Laboratory Geneticists (ErCLG) certification in Human Genetics from Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena in Thüringen, Germany, a qualification he held from January 1, 2009, until April 1, 2015. Through these positions and qualifications, he contributes significantly to the advancement of knowledge and education in the fields of medicine and biology.

Work experiences

He has had a distinguished career trajectory marked by significant contributions to the field of human genetics. Beginning as a scientific coworker at the Institute of Human Genetics Erlangen under the guidance of Prof. Dr. E. Gebhart from 1991 to 1998, he embarked on a path of research and academic engagement. During his tenure, he was honored as a Fellow of the Herbert Quandt Stiftung der VARTA-AG from 1995 to 1997, further solidifying his commitment to advancing genetic knowledge. Since 1998, he has continued his research as a scientific coworker at the Institute of Human Genetics Jena, focusing on Molecular Cytogenetics. Notably, he has held the role of Coordinator of the Permanent Working Group Marker Chromosomes of the European Cytogenetic Association (ECA) since 2007, demonstrating his leadership in the field. Additionally, he served as Co-Editor of the journal Molecular Cytogenetics from 2007 to 2022, contributing to scholarly discourse and dissemination of research findings. Since September 2010, he has led the national quality control efforts for molecular cytogenetics as the head of the national quality control for molecular cytogenetics under the BVDH. His international engagements include serving as a member of the DAAD-review board in Brazil from 2010 to 2017 and chairing the scientist division of the European Board of Medical Genetics (ESHG) since 2012. Moreover, he has been an Invited Professor at Yerevan State University, Armenia, since May 2013, and was honored with a Doctorate h.c. and golden medal from the same institution in September 2014, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the field. He achieved European registered Clinical Laboratory Geneticist (ErCLG) certification in July 2015, further affirming his expertise and qualifications in the field of genetics. Additionally, he has served on the Advisory Board of the Armenian Association of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Immunology since 2012, further demonstrating his commitment to international collaboration and advancement in genetics research and education.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

 

Mehmet Fatih YUCE – Networks Science Award – Best Researcher Award

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Mehmet Fatih YUCE – Networks Science Award – Best Researcher Award

Mr. Mehmet Faith YUCE distinguished academic and researcher in the field Network science, V2X Misbehavior Detection. During his tenure as a Consultant (Senior Software Engineer) at PIWorks, Inc., he provided valuable consultation for ongoing projects, assisted in the development of new projects, and offered technical guidance to the management team. Notably, he contributed to the development of RachRootSequencer, a utility designed to provide “RACH Root Sequences” to LTE (4G) networks, incorporating elements of Genetic Algorithms to enhance its functionality. Through his diverse experiences and contributions, he has established himself as a skilled and versatile software engineer adept at tackling complex challenges across various projects and domains.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

He pursued his academic journey with great dedication and passion. Starting with a Bachelor of Science in Software Engineering from Dokuz Eylul University, he laid a strong foundation in the field. Building upon this, he further honed his skills and knowledge through a Master of Science in Computer Software Engineering at Istanbul Aydın University. His commitment to academic excellence led him to pursue a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) at Istanbul Üniversitesi’s Institute of Science and Technology. Throughout his education, he demonstrated a keen interest in software engineering and computer science, preparing himself for a promising career in academia or industry.

Work experience

He has accumulated extensive experience and expertise in software engineering over the span of more than seventeen years. Currently serving as the SW Team Lead at ULAK HABERLEŞME A.Ş. since May 2022, he specializes in SDN(NG), rust, wireguard, and the Linux kernel. His commitment to open-source development is evident through his continuous contributions, showcased on GitHub and GitLab.

Prior to his current role, he held various positions, including Software Architect at NETAŞ, where he worked extensively on business intelligence, Java, Python, C/C++, Docker, Vagrant, Kubernetes, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, 4G/5G, C#, and Software Defined Networks (SDN). Before that, as a Senior Software Development Engineer at LOGO Cyber Security and Network Technologies, he focused on Java, Python, FreeBSD, Hotspot, Firewall, UTM, TDD, Test Driven Development, TCP/IP, Internet Protocol Suite, and Maven.

His career also includes roles such as Sr. Software Engineer at Intertech Bilgi İşlem ve Pazarlama Tic. A.Ş., where he specialized in Spring, Spring Boot, Camel, React, microservices, optimization, Git, and Gradle. Additionally, he served as a Sr. Software Engineer at Organon Analytics, contributing to projects involving Predictive Analytics, Hadoop, SPARK, ETL, Scala, Java, .NET, REST, Apache Kafka, and Design Patterns.

Earlier in his career, he worked as a Sr. Software Engineer at LA Software Group, where he developed RouteArt, a new framework for vehicle routing problems using Heuristic Bubble Algorithm. He also contributed his skills to LOGO Business Solutions as a Sr. Software Engineer, focusing on FreeBSD, Network Security, Selenium, Vaadin, GWT, AspectJ, and Java. Through these diverse roles, he has demonstrated his proficiency across a wide range of technologies and domains, establishing himself as a seasoned professional in the field of software engineering.

He possesses a wealth of experience in software engineering, demonstrated through his involvement in various projects across different domains. One notable project involves subscriber-based reconciliation, where he developed a system to identify and reconcile discrepancies between nodes, generating approximately 40 reports. Additionally, he implemented a service-based reconciliation system, producing around 14 reports highlighting discrepancies in subscribers’ services provided by the operator.

Furthermore, he contributed to the development of NATter, a project aimed at sniffing the mobile network operator’s firewall for “NAT”ting logs and storing them for a specified period. This project was based on a Workflow ETL system, utilizing HBase as the backend for data storage and employing MapReduce, written in Java, for data manipulation. He also played a key role in developing the web interface using GWT to present the results of NATter.

In addition to these projects, he participated in the creation of the GGSN Redirection Site, a web platform allowing mobile operator customers to refill their balance. This site, built using Tomcat, JSP, and MySQL, was designed to accommodate more than 10 million hits while maintaining minimal resource usage. Another noteworthy contribution includes the development of QuickPay, a web portal facilitating payments via credit card, debit card, or vouchers. QuickPay was developed using Tomcat, GWT, and MySQL, showcasing his proficiency in Java-based technologies and web development frameworks.

 

 

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

Ali Vaezi- Network Science Awards- Best Researcher Award

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Ali Vaezi- Network Science Award – Best Researcher Award

Mr. Ali Vaezi distinguished academic and researcher in the field  Network Science. He is an experienced data analyst at Parva Co. in Tehran, Iran, where he has been driving operational excellence and optimizing supply chains for automotive parts suppliers since October 2019. His responsibilities include utilizing data analysis, implementing process improvements, and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Notably, he has developed data models and dashboards to deliver valuable insights to leadership, leading to a 10% reduction in inventory management costs.

In addition to his professional role, he has served as a teaching assistant at Science & Research University from 2020 to 2023, supporting courses such as Computer Programming, Operational Research 2, Quality and Productivity Management, Decision-Making Analysis, and Systems Analysis. In this capacity, he provided individual tutoring to over 250 students and assisted professors with exam preparation, grading, and facilitating review sessions.

Furthermore, he is an active volunteer member of the Iran Project Management Association since April 2023. In this role, he contributes to the advancement of project management practices through professional development, training, research, and knowledge sharing. He actively participates in association programs aimed at promoting certification, events, and seminars within the field.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

He pursued his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering at Islamic Azad University, Science & Research Branch in Tehran, Iran, from September 2019 to July 2023. During his undergraduate studies, he demonstrated strong academic performance, maintaining a GPA ranging from 3.69/4 to 3.75/4 in his last two years. His coursework included a variety of essential subjects such as Operational Research (1,2), Computer Programming, Probability Theory and its Application, Engineering Statistics, Production Planning, and Principles of Simulation.

Prior to his university education, he completed his Pre-University Diploma in Mathematics and Physics at Allameh Tabatabaei High School in Tehran, Iran, from September 2018 to May 2019. He achieved an outstanding GPA of 18.91/20 during this period, laying a solid foundation for his academic journey in industrial engineering.

Research interests

His research interests encompass a diverse range of topics within the realm of data analytics, machine learning, statistical modeling, operations research, and data science integration. He is particularly drawn to scalable technologies and real-time processing in data analytics, seeking innovative solutions to handle large volumes of data efficiently. Within machine learning, his focus lies in classification, regression, clustering, and deep learning techniques, aiming to uncover patterns and insights from complex datasets.

In statistical modeling for optimization, he is intrigued by predictive modeling, time series analysis, and Bayesian methods, utilizing statistical techniques to enhance decision-making processes. Additionally, he explores the integration of operations research and data science, leveraging mixed-integer linear programming (MILP), metaheuristics, and addressing optimization challenges in real-world applications.

Moreover, he is passionate about interactive data visualization, emphasizing the creation of engaging visuals for effective data communication and decision support. Through his research pursuits, he endeavors to contribute to advancements in these interdisciplinary fields, bridging theory with practical applications to address contemporary challenges.

Honors and Awards:

Received top marks (grade point average above 17) for six semesters during bachelor’s degree at Azad
University
– Recognized as an exceptional student (Elite Student status) based on high academic performance –
ranked in the top 5% of the program
– Secured first place in the idea competition held at Science & Research University, competing against
20 teams.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

Shareef Mahdi- Network Science Award – Best Researcher Award

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Shareef Mahdi- Network Science Award – Best Researcher Award

Dr. Shareef Mahdi distinguished academic and researcher in the field Network Science. He is a highly motivated and dedicated doctor currently in his first year of general surgery specialty training (ST3) in the West Midlands. His clinical interests encompass oesophagogastric surgery, along with emergency general surgery, major trauma, and global/humanitarian surgery. Academically, his goal is to complete a PhD/DPhil with a focus on oesophageal or gastric cancer during the early phase of being a registrar (ST3-5), then rejoin training in the clinical academic route as an Academic Clinical Lecturer (ACL) with the aim of achieving Senior Lectureship as a Consultant. He is also keen on medical education, leadership, and management. His long-term aspiration is to undergo training in all aspects of elective oesophagogastric surgery and emergency general and major trauma surgery, and to become a substantive consultant surgeon in the NHS, while maintaining a global perspective and engaging in humanitarian surgery abroad.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

He completed his education at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, achieving a Master of Science with Distinction in Trauma Sciences (Military and Humanitarian) from 2020 to 2022. Prior to that, he earned a First-Class Honours iBSc in Prehospital Medicine from 2017 to 2018 and completed his MBBS in Medicine with a Final Year Merit from 2013 to 2019. In terms of postgraduate exams and courses, he successfully completed the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Provider Course in November 2021, passed the MRCS Part B Exam in September 2021, and attended the East of England Foundation School Train The Trainer (TTT) Course in December 2020. He also passed the MRCS Part A Exam in September 2020 and completed the Basic Surgical Skills (BSS) Course in March 2020.

 

Research, Clinical Audit and Quality Improvement Experience

Research at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital (RLUH) – 2021 to 2023
• Research as part of the upper GI cancer group including basic science project looking into the utility of PDL1 checkpoint inhibition in the adjuvant setting
for patients with resected junctional adenocarcinoma and a pyloric drainage network meta-analysis (February 2022 to present)
• Quality Improvement Project looking into management of Gallstone Disease at RLUH (February 2022 to present)
• Audit of pre-operative anaemia assessment and management in upper gastrointestinal cancer surgery (May to August 2022)
• Retrospective cohort study looking into outcomes of robotic colorectal cancer surgery patients at RLUH (October 2021 to September 2022)
Research at the Centre for Trauma Sciences, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry – 2021 to 2022
• Prevalence of chronic pain after severe lower limb injury (SLLI): a systematic review and meta-analysis in partial fulfilment of MSc Dissertation (October
2021 to September 2022)
Research at the Lister Hospital – 2019 to 2021
• Retrospective cohort study highlighting changes in practice in the management of appendicitis due to COVID-19 – work submitted for publication in the
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons (England).
• Retrospective cohort study examining documentation practice of hernia repairs over a decade – work presented at the Association of Surgeons in Training
(ASiT), March 2016 and Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI), July-August 2020 conferences. Accepted for publications in the Annals
of the Royal College of Surgeons (England).
Research at the Institute of Prehospital Care, London’s Air Ambulance – 2017 to 2018
• Systematic Literature Review titled ‘The Definition and Categorisation of Preventable Prehospital Trauma Deaths: Recommendation for Uniform Reporting’
in partial fulfilment of iBSc Dissertation (January 2018 to June 2018)
Research at the Royal London Hospital – 2015 to 2019
• SNAP-2: Epidemiology of Critical Care provision after surgery (EpiCCS) – July 2018 – Data collection for a multi-centre collaborative study looking at provision
of specialist care after major surgery. Contributed to data collection.
• Surgical education piece of work, in the form of a survey assessing the use of Snapchat as a means of streaming surgical procedures for training – work
presented nationally at the Global Surgical Frontiers conference at The Royal College of Surgeons, England, March 2017
• Closed loop audit on peripheral line care and patient safety on surgical wards in a large tertiary centre – work presented internationally at European Society
for Trauma and Emergency Surgery (ESTES) conference, May 2017
• Closed loop audit assessing the association between patient recall of consultant and nurse names and the presence of those names on boards near the
patients’ beds, in relation to the ‘#hellomynameis campaign – work presented nationally at ASiT conference, March 2016

Leadership, Management and Teaching Experience

  1. In his leadership, management, and teaching roles, he has demonstrated a strong commitment to fostering growth and development in various settings. Currently serving as the Junior Trainees Lead at Roux Group since February 2023, he actively encourages junior trainees to pursue careers in upper gastrointestinal or hepatopancreatobiliary surgery. He is also involved in organizing national conferences and training events. His tenure as the Staff and Associate Specialists Council (SASC) Representative at the Mersey Junior Doctor Committee (MJDC) from September 2021 to September 2022 involved advocating for colleagues at local, regional, and national levels. As a Foundation Representative for the Surgical Trainees in East of England Research (STEER) Collaborative from October 2020 to July 2021, he played a key role in organizing research activities and facilitating data collection. Additionally, his experience as Course Lead for the Surgical Skills SSC from December 2016 to July 2021 highlights his ability to design and implement educational programs effectively. He has also contributed significantly to community initiatives, such as his role as Expansion Officer at StreetDoctors Ltd from May 2018 to November 2018, where he conducted research on youth violence trends and helped expand the organization’s reach. Furthermore, his leadership roles within Barts and The London Surgical Society demonstrate his proficiency in organizing events and implementing mentorship schemes for aspiring surgeons. As a Team Leader and Project Manager at Medify Ltd from June 2015 to August 2016, he led a project aimed at providing fairer access to medical school through data collection and application support initiatives. Through these experiences, he has honed skills in leadership, communication, organization, and project management, which will undoubtedly contribute to his future endeavors in surgery and academia.

Awards and Achievements

• The Gordon Cassie Postgraduate Fund (2020)
• Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (RCSEd) Africa Elective Bursary (2019)
• Institute of Medical Ethics (IME) Prize for ‘Best Poster Presentation’ at ASiT Conference (2016)
• Rod Flower Vacation Research Scholarship (2014)
• Ian Hart Vacation Research Scholarship (2013)

 

📝🔬Publications📝🔬

• Mahdi, S., Stoner, R.S., Wyatt, J., De’Ath, H., Perkins, Z. 2024. Prevalence of chronic pain after severe lower limb injury (SLLI): a
systematic review and meta-analysis. Injury.
• CholeCovid Collaborative. Mahdi, S. (collaborator), et al. 2022. Global overview of the management of acute cholecystitis during the
COVID-19 pandemic (CHOLECOVID study). Brit J Surg Open. 6 (3)
• STARSurg Collaborative. Mahdi, S. (collaborator), et al. 2022. Impact of postoperative acute kidney injury in patients undergoing
major gastrointestinal surgery on 1-year survival and renal outcomes: a national multicentre cohort study. Brit J Surg Open. 5(6)
• Farquharson, B., Sivarajah, V., Mahdi, S., Bergman, H., Jeyarajah, S. 2021. Where is the nerve? Review of operation note
documentation practice for inguinal hernia repair. Ann Roy Coll Surg.
• Sivarajah, V., Farquharson, B., Mahdi, S., Cathcart, P., Jeyarajah, S. 2020. Chronic groin pain following open inguinal hernia repair –
Has consenting practice improved? Ann Roy Coll Surg.
• GlobalSurg Collaborative. Mahdi, S. (collaborator), et al. 2019. Global variation in anastomosis and end colostomy formation
following left-sided colorectal resection. Brit J Surg Open. 3(3): 403-414
• GlobalSurg Collaborative. Mahdi, S. (collaborator), et al. 2019. Pooled analysis of WHO Surgical Safety Checklist use and mortality
after emergency laparotomy. Brit J Surg. 106(2): e103-e112

. Prevalence of chronic pain after severe lower limb injury (SLLI): a systematic review and meta-analysis

Samantha Amanda Sathyapala – Behavioural Networks- Best Researcher Award

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Samantha Amanda Sathyapala – Behavioural Networks – Best Researcher Award

Dr. S.A. Sathyapala distinguished academic and researcher in the field Behavioural Networks. Amanda Sathyapala is a Senior Lecturer in the Airways Disease Section of the National Heart and Lung Institute of Imperial College London and a Consultant Respiratory Physician, and Clinical Lead of the Home Ventilation Service, at Harefield Hospital. Her clinical expertise is in sleep-disordered breathing, which includes obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) and hypoventilation secondary to obesity and severe chronic lung disease, chest wall deformity or neuromuscular conditions, chronic respiratory failure and home nocturnal non-invasive ventilation. She is also accredited to deliver Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Insomnia. Her current research is aimed at improving patient adherence to CPAP. She is Research Committee Lead for the British Sleep Society and sits on their Executive Board, is a member of the Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) for the RfPB London region NIHR funding scheme and reviews for the top ranked respiratory and muscle journals.

🌐 Professional Profiles

Educations📚📚📚

Dr Sathyapala is a tenured academic at Imperial College London and a practising respiratory physician, specialising in Sleep Medicine at Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust in London, in the UK. She qualified with First Class Honours in Pre-Clinical Medicine and an intercalated BSc in Experimental Psychology at Cambridge University and completed her Clinical Medicine training at Oxford University (1996-1999). She completed her junior doctor training in Oxford and London and her PhD at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London and Maastricht University, which was funded by aprestigious Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellowship. She then took up her permanent position at Imperial College London after winning one of 30 national awards in the final roundof a scheme to support clinical academics long-term.

Research Experience

Her early work from PhD until late 2018 was on Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). In the last five years,Dr Sathypala’s focus has been on improving patient adherence to Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Her grouphave identified that there are six early patterns of behaviour inpatient starting CPAP and that these strongly predict adherence to CPAP at Month 3 of treatment which in turn strongly predicts long-term adherence.These refute previous thinking and will result in current recommendations for practicebeing changed.

🏆🏆Awards🏆🏆

She was awarded a Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellowship to complete her PhD (awarded 2011) in Professor Mike Polkey’s lab at the Royal Brompton Hospital, which also included a year abroad in the Netherlands, at Maastricht University in Professor Annemie Schols’ lab. Dr Sathyapala was awarded a HEFCE Clinical Senior Lectureship; since 2012, she has been a Senior Lecturer and a Principal Investigator at the NHLI and an Consultant Physician at the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust. She was elected as Fellow to the Royal College of Physicians in April 2015.

 

Research interests

Dr Sathyapala’s research relates to adherence to CPAP in patients with OSA which is low based on existing data from trial participants. Her group have demonstrated that CPAP adherence rates are very low in clinical cohorts across the UK, between 27-50% in 2019 and 29-51% in 2020 and described a novel model of CPAP adherence behaviour. Her team are current developing a healthcare intervention for NHS sleep services to provide patients when starting CPAP to increase patients’ adherence to CPAP.

PREVIOUS RESEARCH

Dr Sathyapala’s work has previously been on skeletal muscle dysfunction in COPD and in other chronic diseases, in particular to identify molecular mechanisms which underlie premature muscle fatigue hence exercise intolerance and which are amenable to drug treatment. This is a small field but one of growing importance as skeletal muscle dysfunction is an important cause of frailty, which is a growing problem in ageing populations. To raise awareness of importance of this problem and to foster collaborative working between basic and clinical scientists with common interests, Dr Sathyapala hosted the first international symposium on ‘Skeletal muscle oxidative metabolism as a target for treating human disease’ at the NHLI in 2016.

📝🔬Publications📝🔬