Mr. Frienson Pradhan | Molecular Biology | Young Scientist Award
Kathmandu University | Nepal
Featured Publications
Circulating miR-1246 as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Dengue Infection: A Case–Control Study
Mr. Yazan Zedan is a molecular biology researcher specializing in translational biomedical sciences, with a strong focus on biomarker discovery, molecular diagnostics, and clinical assay development. His research integrates molecular biology, biotechnology, and medical physics to advance non-invasive diagnostic strategies for complex diseases. He has contributed to interdisciplinary studies spanning miRNA profiling, cancer biomarker validation, and translational clinical research, emphasizing the bridge between laboratory discovery and real-world clinical application. His academic training encompasses biomedical sciences, medical biotechnology, and molecular biology, providing a robust foundation for experimental design, data interpretation, and translational innovation. His scholarly work reflects a commitment to precision medicine and evidence-based diagnostics, particularly in oncology and molecular pathology.
Doctor | The first hospital of China Medical University | China
Dr. Heming Li is an oncology clinician-scientist whose research has generated 1,045 citations across 37 scientific documents with an h-index of 17, reflecting a sustained impact on translational cancer science. His work centers on liquid biopsy innovations, particularly circulating tumor cells (CTCs), tumor invasion and metastasis, and immunotherapy biomarkers in lung, gastric, and hepatobiliary cancers. Dr. Li is recognized for pioneering one of China’s earliest and most sensitive cell-surface vimentin (CSV)–based CTC detection platforms, integrating negative and positive enrichment to enhance diagnostic accuracy, reduce costs, and enable real-time monitoring of tumor evolution. His research spans EMT regulation, immune escape, metabolic reprogramming, and multi-omics characterization of metastatic pathways, leading to first-author and corresponding-author publications in high-impact journals such as The Lancet, Journal of Hematology & Oncology, Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, Molecular Cancer, Cancer Letters, and Cell Death & Disease. He has elucidated mechanisms including IGF-IR signaling, KDM4A/STAT3-driven tumor progression, ICAM-1-mediated microenvironmental adaptation, and PD-L1 expression on CSV⁺ CTCs as a prognostic marker in gastric cancer. His recent studies have also advanced understanding of FGL1 as an immune checkpoint target and the biological significance of TROP2 in cancer therapeutics. As principal investigator, he has secured major national and provincial funding, including NSFC General and Young Programs, to study CTC-based biomarkers, immunotherapy prediction models, and metastasis-driving pathways. Through sustained contributions across liquid biopsy technology, molecular oncology, and clinically actionable biomarker development, Dr. Li has established a leading research profile shaping the future of precision cancer care.
Profile: Scopus
1. Li, H., Yan, J., & Han, T. (2024). Combination strategies in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: The CARES-310 trial. The Lancet, 404, 1403–1404.
2. Li, H., Zhu, Y., Xu, L., Han, T., Luan, J., Li, X., Liu, Y., Wang, Z., Liu, Q., Kong, X., Zou, C., Su, L., Hou, Y., Chen, X., Chen, L., Wang, R., Xu, Z., & Zhao, M. (2024). Cell surface vimentin as an emerging marker for CTCs and therapeutic target in advanced gastric cancer. Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research, 43, 129.
3. Qian, W., Zhao, M., Wang, R., & Li, H. (2021). Fibrinogen-like protein 1 (FGL1): The next immune checkpoint target. Journal of Hematology & Oncology, 14, 147.
4. Liu, M., Wang, R., Sun, X., Liu, Y., Wang, Z., Yan, J., Sun, M., & Li, H. (2020). PD-L1 expression on CSV⁺ CTCs predicts prognosis in gastric cancer. Molecular Oncology, 14, 865–881.
5. Li, H., Batth, I. S., Qu, X., Xu, L., Song, N., Wang, R., & Liu, Y. (2017). IGF-IR signaling in EMT and therapeutic targeting. Molecular Cancer, 16, 6.
Professor | NYU Grossman School of Medicine | United states
Prof. Ding Wen Wu is a distinguished researcher and educator in the field of transfusion medicine, currently affiliated with the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, United States. With a career dedicated to advancing patient blood management and diagnostic innovation, he has made notable contributions that bridge laboratory research and real-world clinical practice. His research focuses on improving transfusion safety, optimizing resource utilization, and promoting evidence-based approaches that enhance healthcare efficiency and patient outcomes. Prof. Wu’s academic profile demonstrates strong scholarly impact, with 10 published scientific documents, 97 citations, and an h-index of 3, reflecting the quality and growing influence of his work within the international medical community. His studies have appeared in highly respected journals such as JAMA Internal Medicine, Life, Healthcare, and the Journal of Clinical Apheresis, where his findings have shaped new perspectives in transfusion medicine and clinical diagnostics. Beyond research, Prof. Wu is also recognized for his mentorship and leadership in education, actively guiding emerging medical scientists and fostering collaboration, innovation, and integrity in research. His interdisciplinary approach and commitment to continuous improvement underscore his vision for integrating artificial intelligence, real-world data analytics, and precision-based methodologies into modern healthcare systems. Through his dedication to advancing transfusion science and promoting global standards in laboratory medicine, Prof. Ding Wen Wu continues to serve as an inspiring figure whose work contributes significantly to safer, more efficient, and patient-centered medical practices worldwide.
1. Wu, D. W., Friedman, M. T., Lombardi, D. P., Hwang, R., Sender, J., Cobaj, V., Karpinos, R. (2024). Impact of patient blood management on red blood cell utilization in an urban community teaching hospital: A seven-year retrospective study. Life, 14(2), 232.
2. Karpinos, R., Friedman, M., Lombardi, D., Li, Y., Cobaj, V., Niazi, M., Lai, P., & Wu, D. W. (2025). Implementation and impact of a patient blood management program in an urban community hospital: An eight-year study. Healthcare, 13(19), 2462.
3. Tanhehco, Y. C., Alsammak, M., Wu, D. W., Costa, V., Chhibber, V., Levenbrown, Y., … Wehrli, G. (2024). An annual review of important apheresis articles from the American Society for Apheresis Attending Physician Subcommittee. Journal of Clinical Apheresis, 39(6), e22152.
4. Wu, D. W., Jacobson, J., Lifshitz, M., Li, Y., Lyu, C., Friedmann, R., … Hilbert, T. (2023). Association between post-transfusion hemoglobin S levels and pre-transfusion levels at the next scheduled transfusion. Journal of Clinical Apheresis, 38(5), 529–539.
Liying Ren | Peking University |China
Ren Liying is a medical researcher in hepatology and oncology, currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Internal Medicine at the Peking University Hepatology Institute, Peking University People’s Hospital, under the mentorship of Professor Chen Hongsong. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Medicine from Hubei University of Science and Technology and her Master’s degree from Guilin Medical University under Professor Liao Weijia, before advancing to doctoral studies. Her research focuses on hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), with an emphasis on integrating molecular biology, imaging, and clinical practice to improve patient outcomes. Ren has authored and co-authored several impactful publications in respected journals, including Cancers, Journal of Hepatocellular Carcinoma, BMC Cancer, World Journal of Gastroenterology, and Cancer Medicine. As first author, her study in Cancers identified the tumor-suppressive role of hemopexin in HCC via TNF-α–mediated mitochondrial apoptosis, while her review explored radiomics and radiogenomics as tools to bridge imaging and molecular characterization in liver cancer. She has also contributed to predictive models and radiomics-based approaches for recurrence and prognosis stratification after surgical resection of HCC. With a strong clinical foundation and commitment to translational research, Ren represents a new generation of physician-scientists advancing precision medicine in liver disease and cancer.
profile: Google scholar
1.Ren L#, Man Y#, Zhang X, Guo Q, She S, Yang Y, Fei R, Cong X, Chen D, Wei W, Chen H*.**
Hemopexin Suppresses Hepatocellular Carcinoma via TNF-α-Mediated Mitochondrial Apoptosis.
Cancers. 2025; 17(18):2969. (Q2, IF=4.4)
2.Ren L#, Chen DB#, Yan X, She S, Yang Y, Zhang X, Liao W, Chen H.**
Bridging the Gap Between Imaging and Molecular Characterization: Current Understanding of Radiomics and Radiogenomics in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Journal of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. 2024; 11:2359-2372. (Q2, IF=3.4)
3.Ren L#, Chen D#, Xu W, Xu T, Wei R, Suo L, Huang Y, Chen H, Liao W.**
Predictive Potential of Nomogram Based on GMWG for Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Radical Resection. BMC Cancer. 2021; 21(1):817. (Q2, IF=3.4)
4.Li S#, Su L#, Xu T#, Ren L#, et al.
Radiomics Model Based on Contrast-Enhanced CT to Predict Early Recurrence in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Radical Resection. World Journal of Gastroenterology. 2023; 29(26):4186-4199. (Q1, IF=5.1)
5.Xu T#, Ren L#, Liao M#, Zhao B, Wei R, Zhou Z, He Y, Zhang H, Chen D, Chen H, Liao W.**
Preoperative Radiomics Analysis of Contrast-Enhanced CT for Microvascular Invasion and Prognosis Stratification in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Journal of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. 2022; 9:189-201. (Q2, IF=3.4)
6.Chen D#, Gao J#, Ren L#, Chen P, Yang Y, She S, Xie Y, Liao W, Chen H.*
A Signature Based on NKG2D Ligands to Predict the Recurrence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma after Radical Resection.
Cancer Medicine. 2023; 12(5):6337-6347. (Q2, IF=3.1)
associate researcher at Zhejiang Academy of Forestry, China
Dr. Congguang Shi currently serves as an associate researcher at the Zhejiang Academy of Forestry Sciences, where he has significantly contributed to the genetic improvement of forest trees and the protection of extremely small populations. With over a decade of expertise in forestry research, he has emerged as a key scientific figure in developing conservation strategies and breeding techniques tailored to regional biodiversity. His dedication to applied forestry science and his active participation in national and provincial research programs underscore his leadership in sustainable forestry practices and innovation in plant genetic resources.
profile
Dr. Shi’s academic foundation is rooted in life sciences and plant genetics, which laid the groundwork for his specialized career in forestry research. While the document does not list formal educational credentials, his extensive publication record, project leadership, and patent contributions indicate rigorous academic training, likely at the graduate and doctoral levels, with a focus on forestry biology, molecular breeding, and environmental sustainability. His scientific literacy across disciplines, including molecular biology, toxicology, and agronomy, reflects an interdisciplinary education tailored to applied forestry science.
Dr. Shi has presided over two public welfare research projects funded by the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Science and Technology. Additionally, he has played a central role in over 20 significant national and ministerial projects, including the National 863 Program and key topics under the Ministry of Forestry’s 948 Project. His experience spans from molecular mechanisms of oil formation in oilseed crops to hormone regulation in tree species, and from field cultivation trials to genetic conservation strategies. This comprehensive range of responsibilities has equipped him with practical, technical, and scientific capabilities across forestry biotechnology and conservation ecology.
Dr. Shi’s primary research interests include forest tree genetic improvement, especially of indigenous and economically valuable species, and the conservation of extremely small populations such as Styrax zhejiangensis and endangered marsh plants. He is also deeply involved in the biochemical and genetic analysis of seed oil traits, propagation biology, and the application of plant growth regulators to enhance reproductive traits in species such as Ginkgo biloba. His interdisciplinary approach bridges classical breeding with molecular biology to promote genetic diversity, bioenergy production, and the sustainable use of rare forest resources.
Dr. Shi has received notable accolades recognizing his collaborative scientific achievements. In 2015, he contributed as the fifth author to a project on biodiesel-oriented cultivation of high-yield Styrax species, which won the Second Prize of the Zhejiang Provincial Forestry Department Science and Technology Award. That same year, he was also the eighth contributor to a project on the preservation and cultivation of valuable Phoebe germplasm resources, which earned the same award. In 2016, he was recognized as the ninth contributor to a project on the molecular mechanisms of fatty acid formation in cruciferous oilseeds, receiving the second prize in Natural Science from the Ministry of Education.
Dr. Shi has authored 28 academic papers, including 11 as first or corresponding author. Selected key publications include:
Shi, C. et al. (2013). Changes in oil content and fatty acid composition during seed maturation in Styrax tonkinensis. Journal of Zhejiang A&F University, 30(3):372–378. [Cited by multiple studies on seed biochemistry]
Shi, C. et al. (2014). Refinement and toxicological evaluation of Styrax seed oil. Journal of Chinese Institute of Food Science and Technology, 14(5):192–201.
Shi, C. et al. (2017). Karyotype analysis of root tips from three Styrax species. Zhejiang Forestry Science and Technology, 37(3):23–27.
Shi, C. et al. (2019). Effects of root pruning and fertilization on Ginkgo biloba growth. Zhejiang Forestry Science and Technology, 39(2):69–74.
Shi, C. et al. (2020). Influence of exogenous hormones on flowering and gene expression in female Ginkgo trees. Zhejiang Forestry Science and Technology, 40(2):1–8.
Shi, C. et al. (2021). Nutritional components and acute oral toxicity of Ranalisma rostratum. Journal of Zhejiang A&F University, 38(X):1–8.
Yang, J., Shi, C., et al. (2021). Efficient in-vitro propagation of endangered Ranalisma rostratum. Pakistan Journal of Botany, 53(3):1037–1043.
Dr. Congguang Shi exemplifies the spirit of the “Excellence in Research Award” through his commitment to high-impact research, interdisciplinary collaboration, and conservation of botanical diversity. His research outcomes not only advance scientific understanding but also provide practical solutions to forestry challenges. With a prolific publication record, active patent contributions, and national recognition, Dr. Shi stands as a deserving candidate for this distinguished honor.