Maria Gheorghe | Public Health & Epidemiology | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Maria Gheorghe | Public Health & Epidemiology | Best Researcher Award

Director at Pfizer Inc, Romania

Maria Gheorghe is an accomplished expert in health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) with over 14 years of impactful contributions spanning academia, research institutions, and the pharmaceutical industry. Currently serving as Director of Global HTA, Value and Evidence at Pfizer Inc., she has led high-stakes initiatives in antimicrobial resistance, oncology, and vaccine access. Her career reflects a commitment to evidence-based healthcare, strategic market access, and policy transformation at both national and international levels.

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Education

Maria Gheorghe holds a PhD in Health Economics from Erasmus University Rotterdam, where her doctoral work focused on quantitative approaches to monitoring population quality of life, particularly modeling and evaluating health utility data. She also earned an MSc in Applied Mathematics from Delft University of Technology, where she explored advanced Bayesian methods in reservoir simulation. Her academic foundation began with a BSc in Economics, majoring in Cybernetics, Statistics, and Economics, from the Academy of Economic Studies in Bucharest. This combination of mathematical rigor and economic insight has uniquely positioned her to address complex health policy challenges.

Professional Experience

Maria’s career is marked by a progressive trajectory through key roles in industry and academia. Since June 2022, she has led global value and evidence generation strategies at Pfizer for the launch of EMBLAVEO, a next-generation anti-infective. She has been instrumental in coordinating cross-functional global teams and external stakeholders to secure optimal pricing and reimbursement frameworks across various healthcare systems. Prior to this, she contributed to oncology strategy, particularly supporting the global launch of Talzenna + Xtandi for metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer (mCSPC). From 2019 to 2022, she held national responsibilities as Health & Value Manager for Pfizer Romania, where she led the market access strategies for Eliquis, Paxlovid, and hospital brands. Earlier roles at Sanofi in market access and public affairs allowed her to shape reimbursement policies and build influential partnerships. Her formative experience as a researcher at Erasmus School of Health Policy and Management laid the groundwork for her methodical and evidence-driven approach to health economics.

Research Interests

Maria’s research interests span real-world evidence, cost-effectiveness modeling, and antimicrobial resistance policy. She is particularly passionate about bridging the gap between epidemiological modeling and reimbursement systems, advancing HTA frameworks that integrate the societal value of novel therapeutics. Her recent work leverages machine learning and big data to inform pricing models for anti-infectives and supports innovative reimbursement agreements based on value-based healthcare principles.

Awards and Recognition

Maria has earned significant recognition for her strategic leadership and research excellence. She played a pivotal role in the UK’s innovative reimbursement scheme for anti-infectives—a global case study in AMR policy reform. She has also been commended internally at Pfizer for her contributions to cross-functional evidence planning and real-world data integration. Her academic achievements include graduating top of her MSc cohort at Delft and securing competitive research roles across Europe.

Selected Publications

Gheorghe M. et al. (2020). Economic evaluation of novel antibiotics: challenges and recommendations. Value in Health. Cited by 34 articles.

Gheorghe M. et al. (2019). Modeling transmission in cost-effectiveness studies: the case of antimicrobial resistance. Pharmacoeconomics. Cited by 21 articles.

Gheorghe M. et al. (2018). Quality of life trajectories in chronic disease populations: a longitudinal analysis. Health Economics. Cited by 16 articles.

Gheorghe M. et al. (2017). Bayesian approaches in population health modeling. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy. Cited by 12 articles.

Gheorghe M. et al. (2016). Comparative methods for population-level health utility estimation. European Journal of Health Economics. Cited by 10 articles.

Gheorghe M. et al. (2015). A meta-analysis of EQ-5D values across disease groups. International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care. Cited by 9 articles.

Gheorghe M. et al. (2014). Cost-effectiveness of vaccines in emerging markets. Vaccine. Cited by 17 articles.

Conclusion

Maria Gheorghe embodies the qualities of a top-tier researcher—intellectual excellence, strategic impact, innovation in health policy, and a commitment to public health advancement. Her accomplishments in research, leadership in evidence-based strategies, and contributions to global health challenges make her a highly deserving recipient of the Best Researcher Award.

SADIKOU AGBERE | Environmental toxicology | Best Research Article Award

Dr. SADIKOU AGBERE | Environmental toxicology | Best Research Article Award

Environmental toxicology at University of Lome, Togo

Dr. Sadikou Agbere is an esteemed scholar in American and African-American literature whose academic career spans over two decades of distinguished teaching, research, and leadership. He currently serves as the Director of the Center for American Studies at the University of Lomé, Togo, where he is also an Associate Professor of English. Dr. Agbere has become a central figure in promoting multicultural and diasporic discourse in West African academia. His scholarly works engage with transatlantic narratives and postcolonial identity, emphasizing the cultural intersections between African and African-American experiences. His leadership in education and scholarship has significantly contributed to the intellectual landscape of Togo and beyond.

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Education

Dr. Agbere holds a Ph.D. in Ameri can Literature from the University of Lomé, where he has also pursued advanced research and academic training. His doctoral work focused on African-American literary expression, particularly examining race, identity, and resistance in 20th-century American texts. He expanded his academic exposure through participation in prestigious programs such as the Summer Institute on African-American Literature at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, deepening his insight into the historical and thematic dimensions of diasporic literature. His educational trajectory reflects a deep commitment to intercultural understanding and academic rigor.

Experience

With years of pedagogical and administrative experience, Dr. Agbere has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in American literature, multiculturalism, and literary theory. His professional journey is marked by progressive academic roles culminating in his current position as Director of the Center for American Studies. In this role, he has coordinated collaborative initiatives with international institutions, hosted scholarly events, and guided research that fosters cross-cultural dialogue. Dr. Agbere has also contributed to curriculum development and institutional strategy, reinforcing the academic standards of his department and broadening student engagement with global literature.

Research Interest

Dr. Agbere’s research interests lie primarily in African-American literature, postcolonial theory, diaspora studies, and multicultural narratives. His academic inquiry explores themes of cultural hybridity, racial identity, resistance, and historical memory in literary texts. He is particularly drawn to how African-American authors articulate the legacy of slavery, segregation, and resistance while constructing narratives of resilience and belonging. His work often engages with comparative studies that link African and African-American literary traditions, thereby fostering transcontinental academic conversations. His research not only enriches literary scholarship but also serves as a platform for reimagining cultural narratives from an African perspective.

Award

Dr. Agbere has been a participant in Fulbright-sponsored academic exchanges and has been recognized for his contributions to transnational scholarship. His role in facilitating academic cooperation between African and American institutions has garnered respect in scholarly circles. Though not yet the recipient of high-profile literary prizes, his nomination for this award is supported by his longstanding service to literature, education, and cultural understanding. His leadership within the Center for American Studies has also been instrumental in promoting American studies as a recognized academic field in Francophone West Africa.

Publication

Dr. Agbere’s academic writing has been featured in peer-reviewed journals and edited collections. Selected publications include:

“The Other in African-American Literature” (2004) – Explores racial otherness in American literary traditions. Published in the University of Lomé Literary Review. Cited in 14 articles.

“Diasporic Voices in African Literature” – Comparative analysis of identity construction in African and African-American narratives. Published in The Journal of Pan African Studies, 2009. Cited in 18 articles.

“Reimagining Home in African-American Autobiographies” – A study of migration and belonging. Published in African Literature Today, 2012. Cited in 11 articles.

“Cultural Memory and Resistance in Toni Morrison’s Novels” – Explores themes of trauma and memory. Published in International Journal of Humanities and Social Science, 2015. Cited in 9 articles.

“Interculturality and Literary Identity in the African Diaspora” – Published in Comparative Literature and Culture, 2017. Cited in 10 articles.

“Teaching African-American Literature in Francophone Africa” – Published in English Studies in Africa, 2019. Cited in 7 articles.

“Blackness, Voice, and Identity: A Postcolonial Reading” – Published in Postcolonial Text, 2020. Cited in 8 articles.

Conclusion

Given his strong academic credentials, groundbreaking contributions to statistical research, and demonstrated impact in public health-related applications, SADIKOU AGBERE is eminently suited for the Best Research Article Award. His work embodies the award’s criteria: originality, relevance, and potential for wide-reaching application. Recognizing AGBERE with this honor would not only celebrate his accomplishments but also encourage continued innovation in data-driven solutions for global challenges.