Shahin Zandieh | Medicine | Innovative Research Award

Prof. Dr. Shahin Zandieh | Medicine | Innovative Research Award

Professor | Hanusch-Krankenhaus | Austria

Prof. Dr. Shahin Zandieh is a medical imaging and diagnostic radiology specialist whose research spans musculoskeletal biomechanics, cardiovascular imaging, oncologic radiology, and advanced radiomics. With 49 publications, over 550 citations, and an h-index of 12, his scientific work reflects a strong interdisciplinary approach to clinical diagnosis, disease characterization, and imaging-guided evaluation of structural abnormalities. His contributions extend across orthopedic, cardiovascular, endocrine, and oncological systems through innovative use of MRI, CT, X-ray, and radiomic feature extraction.A notable component of Prof. Dr. Zandieh’s research focuses on orthopedic imaging and biomechanical assessment, including comparative studies such as the analysis of proximal chevron osteotomy versus Lapidus arthrodesis in managing hallux valgus deformities. His work provides clinically meaningful insights for surgeons, improving treatment selection, operative planning, and postoperative evaluation.In the field of cardiovascular imaging, he has explored rare cardiac pathologies such as “toothpaste tumor” manifestations of the mitral valve, enhancing the diagnostic awareness of uncommon presentations through multimodal radiologic evaluation. His studies also extend to endocrine-related morphologic changes, such as MRI-based radiomics used to detect cardiac variations influenced by autoimmune thyroid disorders—paving the way for AI-assisted diagnostic tools.Prof. Dr. Zandieh has also contributed to oncologic radiology, documenting rare metastatic patterns including giant ovarian metastasis from breast cancer. These case-based investigations broaden clinician understanding of atypical disease progression.Collectively, his research strengthens clinical imaging practice by integrating radiomics, rare-case documentation, biomechanics, and cross-system diagnostic strategies—advancing precision diagnosis, personalized treatment planning, and the broader field of radiological science.

Profiles: Scopus |ResearchGate

Featured Publications

Fezoulidis, N., Slavicek, J., Nonninger, J.-N., … , & Zandieh, S. (2025). Quantitative CT perfusion and radiomics reveal complementary markers of treatment response in HCC patients undergoing TACE.

Behanova, M., Sokhan, A., Haschka, J., … , & Kocijan, R. (2025). AI-supported opportunistic detection of vertebral fractures on routine CT scans: Diagnostic performance and clinical relevance.

Al-Taiee, B., Lamiss, M., Slavicek, J., … , & Zandieh, S. (2025). Disseminated miliary tuberculosis following intravesical BCG therapy: A rare but serious complication.

Kainz, B., Hergan, K., & Zandieh, S. (2025). Große Ovarialmetastase beim Mammakarzinom: Ein seltener Fall.

Prof. Dr. Shahin Zandieh’s work advances medical imaging by integrating radiomics, AI-supported diagnostics, and multimodal radiology to improve early disease detection, treatment response evaluation, and clinical decision-making. His contributions enhance patient safety, elevate diagnostic precision across oncology, cardiology, musculoskeletal, and infectious diseases, and support global healthcare innovation by translating advanced imaging technologies into practical, life-saving clinical applications.

Philipp Kanske | Medicine | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Dr. Philipp Kanske | Medicine | Research Excellence Award

Professor | TUD Dresden University of Technology | Germany

Prof. Dr. Philipp Kanske is an internationally recognized expert in cognitive and affective neuroscience whose work bridges psychology, social cognition, neuroimaging, and mental health research. His research centers on empathy, compassion, emotion regulation, personality functioning, and the neurobiological mechanisms that shape human social behavior across the lifespan. He investigates how individuals perceive and respond to others’ emotions, how empathic stress is transmitted within families, and how interventions such as meditation and compassion training can induce functional neural plasticity and improve emotional well-being, particularly in older adults. His interests extend to personality organization in both clinical and non-clinical populations, disease progression in bipolar disorder, white-matter microstructure, attachment dynamics in couples, value integration for self and others, and ritual-based methods for strengthening human–nature connectedness in the context of sustainability transformations. Prof. Kanske is skilled in a wide range of methodologies including experimental psychology, behavioral analysis, longitudinal study design, cognitive testing, psychoneuroendocrinology, structural and functional MRI, and advanced statistical modeling. His contributions to research transparency and reproducibility are reflected in his leadership in developing the PECANS methodological framework for cognitive and neuropsychological studies. Throughout his career, he has received multiple awards and honors (as listed in Scopus’s “Awarded Grants” section), recognizing his innovative contributions to social neuroscience, aging research, and clinical psychology. According to Scopus Preview, he has 7,136 citations, 163 documents, and an impressive h-index of 43, underscoring his global scientific influence and sustained scholarly productivity. Overall, Prof. Dr. Philipp Kanske’s work provides significant insights into how emotional, neural, and relational processes shape human behavior, offering important implications for mental health, interpersonal functioning, and societal well-being, and solidifying his role as a leading figure in modern neuroscience and psychology.

ProfilesScopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

  1. Kanske, P., Heissler, J., Schönfelder, S., Bongers, A., & Wessa, M. (2011). How to regulate emotion? Neural networks for reappraisal and distraction. Cerebral Cortex, 21(6), 1379–138.
    Citations: 698

  2. Schurz, M., Radua, J., Tholen, M. G., Maliske, L., Margulies, D. S., Mars, R. B., … Kanske, P. (2021). Toward a hierarchical model of social cognition: A neuroimaging meta-analysis and integrative review of empathy and theory of mind. Psychological Bulletin, 147(3), 293–. Citations: 648

  3. Kanske, P., & Kotz, S. A. (2007). Concreteness in emotional words: ERP evidence from a hemifield study. Brain Research, 1148, 138–148. Citations: 630

  4. Preckel, K., Kanske, P., & Singer, T. (2018). On the interaction of social affect and cognition: Empathy, compassion and theory of mind. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 19, 1–6.
    Citations: 554

  5. Moshontz, H., Campbell, L., Ebersole, C. R., IJzerman, H., Urry, H. L., Forscher, P. S., … Kanske, P. (2018). The Psychological Science Accelerator: Advancing psychology through a distributed collaborative network. Advances in Methods and Practices in Psychological Science, 1(4), 501–515. Citations: 499

Prof. Dr. Philipp Kanske’s work advances global scientific understanding of empathy, compassion, and emotion regulation by uncovering the neural and psychological mechanisms that drive healthy social functioning. His research enables evidence-based mental-health interventions, strengthens human well-being across communities, and supports interdisciplinary innovation in neuroscience, clinical psychology, aging research, and societal resilience.

 

Zixin Wang | Medicine | Best Researcher Award | 1743

Ms. Zixin Wang | Medicine | Best Researcher Award

Medical Student | Naval Medical University | China

Ms. Zixin Wang is an emerging researcher in the fields of tumor microenvironment biology and cancer immunotherapy, with a growing academic foundation in clinical medicine and surgical sciences. Her research interests are shaped by her training at the Second Military Medical University, where she pursued an undergraduate degree in Clinical Medicine (2021–2026), and her forthcoming academic engagement as a Master’s student in General Surgery at the Shanghai Medical College of Fudan University (2026–2029). Her academic trajectory reflects a strong commitment to translational oncology, integrating clinical insights with mechanistic research to improve therapeutic strategies for cancer patients. A key focus of Ms. Wang’s research is the tumor microenvironment (TME)—a complex cellular ecosystem that plays a decisive role in tumor progression, immune evasion, and treatment response. By studying the interactions between cancer cells, stromal components, and immune infiltrates, she aims to identify factors that influence immunotherapy effectiveness.Ms. Wang’s published work, “Mechanisms, advances, and challenges of immunotherapy in gastric cancer” in Frontiers in Immunology (2025), highlights her expertise in analyzing current and emerging immunotherapeutic modalities, including checkpoint inhibition, CAR-T cell therapy, and tumor vaccine development. Her scholarship examines both the molecular underpinnings and clinical bottlenecks of these therapies, with particular emphasis on the heterogeneity of gastric cancer, resistance pathways, and TME-driven immunosuppression.Through her interdisciplinary approach spanning clinical practice and immune-oncology research, Ms. Wang aims to contribute to the development of more precise, responsive, and personalized cancer treatments. Her evolving body of work positions her as a promising young scientist dedicated to advancing the future of surgical oncology and immunotherapeutic innovation.

Profiles: ORCID

Featured Publications

Wang, Z., & Wang, T. (2025). Mechanisms, advances, and challenges of immunotherapy in gastric cancer. Frontiers in Immunology, 16, Article 1639487.

Ms. Zixin Wang’s work advances the scientific understanding of the tumor microenvironment and improves the design of next-generation immunotherapies for gastric cancer, supporting the development of more precise and effective treatment strategies. Her research contributes to society by enabling earlier, more targeted, and less toxic cancer care, while also informing clinical innovation within the biomedical and healthcare industries. With a vision focused on translational impact, her efforts aim to accelerate global progress in cancer immunotherapy and personalized oncology.

 

Manouchehr Ashrafpour | Medicine | Best Scholar Award

Dr. Manouchehr Ashrafpour | Medicine | Best Scholar Award

Faculty Member | Babol University of Medical Sciences | Iran

Dr. Manouchehr Ashrafpour is a prominent neuroscientist and biomedical researcher at Babol University of Medical Sciences, renowned for his extensive contributions to neuropharmacology, molecular neuroscience, and neurodegenerative disease research. He earned his advanced degrees in medical sciences and neuroscience, building a strong academic foundation that bridges cellular biology and clinical neurotherapeutics. Throughout his professional career, Dr. Ashrafpour has demonstrated exceptional expertise in experimental neurobiology, drug delivery systems, and the molecular mechanisms underlying brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, epilepsy, and multiple sclerosis. His research primarily focuses on the neuroprotective effects of natural bioactive compounds and nanotechnology-based formulations, including curcumin-, piperine-, arbutin-, and quercetin-loaded nanoparticles, which have shown promising results in reducing oxidative stress, glial activation, and neuronal degeneration. He possesses advanced research skills in animal modeling, histopathological assessment, biochemical analysis, neurobehavioral testing, and nanomedicine formulation, complemented by a strong command of cellular electrophysiology and molecular signaling studies. His professional experience encompasses collaborations with leading neuroscientists on projects exploring the role of vitamins, antioxidants, and receptor modulation (notably adenosine A2A receptor blockade) in promoting neural repair and functional recovery. Dr. Ashrafpour’s scholarly achievements are reflected in his strong Scopus record, which includes over 700 citations, numerous peer-reviewed documents, and an h-index of 17, underscoring his global academic influence. He has received recognition and academic honors for his innovative work in neurotherapeutic discovery and translational neuroscience, highlighting his commitment to improving treatment strategies for neurodegenerative diseases. In conclusion, Dr. Manouchehr Ashrafpour stands as a distinguished figure in contemporary neuroscience, whose multidisciplinary approach—spanning nanotechnology, pharmacology, and neurobiology—continues to shape the future of neuroprotective medicine and inspire emerging researchers in biomedical sciences worldwide.

Profiles: ORCID | Google Scholar 

Featured Publications

  1. Naeimi, R., Safarpour, F., Hashemian, M., Tashakorian, H., Ahmadian, S. R., & Ashrafpour, M. (2018). Curcumin-loaded nanoparticles ameliorate glial activation and improve myelin repair in lyolecithin-induced focal demyelination model of rat corpus callosum. Neuroscience Letters, 674, 1–10. Cited by 71.

  2. Mansoor, S. R., Hashemian, M., Khalili-Fomeshi, M., Ashrafpour, M., & Moghadamnia, A. A. (2018). Upregulation of klotho and erythropoietin contributes to the neuroprotection induced by curcumin-loaded nanoparticles in an experimental model of chronic epilepsy. Brain Research Bulletin, 142, 281–288. Cited by 52.

  3. Khalili-Fomeshi, M., Azizi, M. G., Esmaeili, M. R., Gol, M., Kazemi, S., & Ashrafpour, M. (2018). Piperine restores streptozotocin-induced cognitive impairments: Insights into oxidative balance in cerebrospinal fluid and hippocampus. Behavioural Brain Research, 337, 131–138. Cited by 49.

  4. Dastan, Z., Pouramir, M., Ghasemi-Kasman, M., Ghasemzadeh, Z., Dadgar, M., & Ashrafpour, M. (2019). Arbutin reduces cognitive deficit and oxidative stress in an animal model of Alzheimer’s disease. International Journal of Neuroscience, 129(11), 1145–1153. Cited by 45.

  5. Dadgar, M., Pouramir, M., Dastan, Z., Ghasemi-Kasman, M., & Ashrafpour, M. (2018). Arbutin attenuates behavioral impairment and oxidative stress in an animal model of Parkinson’s disease. Avicenna Journal of Phytomedicine, 8(6), 533–540. Cited by 43.

 

 

Yigit Akin | Medicine | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Yigit Akin | Medicine | Best Researcher Award

Yigit Akin | Izmir Kâtip Celebi University School of Medicine | Turkey

Professor Yigit Akin is a distinguished urologist and academic leader specializing in uro-oncology, robotic surgery, and minimally invasive laparoscopy. He earned his M.D. from Ege University Faculty of Medicine in 2004 and completed advanced training in robotics, laparoscopy, and uro-oncology at Klinikum Heilbronn, Germany, between 2013 and 2014. Currently, he serves as Head of Urology at Izmir Katip Celebi University, Turkey, leading one of the country’s premier uro-oncology centers. With over 210 peer-reviewed publications, 14 book chapters, and editorial board memberships in international journals, his contributions are well recognized in PubMed and IEEE-indexed forums. He has directed multiple multidisciplinary and international research projects, notably pioneering the extraperitoneal laparoscopic radical prostatectomy using 3 trocars (#3trocarsELRP), with more than 1300 successful procedures. A global mentor in laparoscopic surgery, Prof. Akin has conducted live surgical workshops and training in over 10 countries, while also supervising international clinical fellows. His leadership extends to community-based medical training, editorial contributions, and professional memberships in leading medical and surgical associations. Prof. Akin is strongly positioned to lead next-generation cancer genetics and surgical innovation research. His expertise in developing novel laparoscopic techniques, combined with mentorship of global fellows, demonstrates the potential to advance robotic uro-oncology surgery, elevate Q1 journal contributions, and strengthen international collaborations that will shape the future of minimally invasive urology worldwide.

Profile: ORCID 

Featured Publications

orulmaz, E. M., Dönmez, K., Görgel, S. N., & Akin, Y. (2025). Penil fraktür nedeniyle opere edilen hastaların klinik sonuçları ve komplikasyonlarla ilişkili faktörler: 10 yıllık sonuçlarımız. Androloji Bülteni.

Tekinaslan, H., Görgel, S. N., & Akin, Y. (2025). Malekot kateter kırığına bağlı retroperitoneal yabancı cisim: Nadir bir olgu sunumu. Endouroloji Bülteni.

Dama, M., Yorulmaz, E. M., Özcan, S., Köse, O., Görgel, S. N., & Akin, Y. (2025). AISI, SIRI, and MLR in predicting surgical outcomes after radical cystectomy: Revisiting inflammatory risk markers. Medicina, 61(10), 1756.

Dama, M., Yorulmaz, E. M., Özcan, S., Köse, O., Görgel, S. N., & Akin, Y. (2025). Optimising imaging strategies in suspected urolithiasis: Effects on diagnostic and therapeutic timelines. Harran Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Dergisi.

Özcan, S., Dama, M., Yorulmaz, E. M., Köse, O., Görgel, S. N., & Akin, Y. (2025). Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate and postoperative dysuria: A 20-year bibliometric perspective. Trends in Surgical Sciences.