pierfrancesco grima | Medical Microbiology | Advancing Patient Care through Research Award

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Dr. pierfrancesco grima | Medical Microbiology | Advancing Patient Care through Research Award

Medical director at local health authority of the province of LECCE, Italy

Dr. Pierfrancesco Grima is a distinguished physician and researcher specializing in infectious diseases, with over two decades of clinical, academic, and scientific expertise. His career spans across major hospitals and research institutions in Italy, with a focus on HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, and infectious comorbidities. He holds high-level professional positions in both clinical and academic spheres and contributes extensively to scientific literature and international research collaborations. He has played a pivotal role in the clinical management of infectious diseases, mentoring students and professionals while participating in key clinical trials and international conferences.

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Education

Dr. Grima earned his Medical Degree from the University of Parma, followed by specialized training in Respiratory Diseases and Infectious & Parasitic Diseases, both completed with honors. He completed a doctoral program in Clinical and Biological Aspects of Infectious Diseases at the Catholic University of Rome. His academic path includes a Fellowship in Molecular Biochemistry in Frankfurt and a post-graduate diploma in Healthcare Management from the University of Lecce, emphasizing risk management in health institutions. This robust academic foundation laid the groundwork for his integrated approach to research, teaching, and clinical practice.

Experience

Since 2017, Dr. Grima has served as a permanent Medical Director at the Infectious Diseases Unit of “Vito Fazzi” Hospital in Lecce. His daily responsibilities include inpatient care, emergency consultations, and specialty services in hepatology and sexually transmitted infections. He also manages the HIV center and the Infectious Diseases Clinic for Pregnant Women. Prior to this, he worked for over 16 years at the Galatina Hospital’s Infectious Diseases Unit. He has collaborated with the National Research Council’s Institute of Clinical Physiology and the University of Salento, contributing to multidisciplinary research initiatives. Additionally, Dr. Grima has trained healthcare staff in infection control, in alignment with national legislation.

Research Interest

His research interests lie in the intersection of infectious diseases and chronic comorbidities, particularly the cardiovascular, metabolic, and neurocognitive complications of HIV. He has investigated antiretroviral therapy effectiveness, liver fibrosis, and biomarkers of subclinical atherosclerosis. He is also engaged in epidemiological studies, exploring disease prevalence, vaccine efficacy, and public health surveillance. Dr. Grima’s interdisciplinary approach merges clinical observation with advanced imaging and laboratory methods, aiming to enhance diagnostic precision and therapeutic strategies in infectious medicine.

Awards and Recognition

Dr. Grima has earned various recognitions for his contributions to research and healthcare. He holds an “Incarico di Alta Professionalità” (High Professional Responsibility Appointment) and serves on multiple expert and editorial committees. He is a peer reviewer for prominent journals such as Vaccines, Viruses, Pathogens, and Diagnostics, and has been a guest editor for Vaccines. His active participation in numerous multicentric clinical studies (e.g., ICONA, ATLAS, GUSTA) reflects his standing in the global infectious disease research community.

Publications

Dr. Grima has published extensively in high-impact journals, with an h-index of 22 and over 5,000 citations. Below are seven notable publications:

Grima P. et al. “Increased ophthalmic artery resistance index is associated with cognitive impairment in HIV-infected patients.” J Infect, 2012; cited by 97 articles.

Grima P. et al. “Altered phosphate metabolism in HIV-1-infected patients with metabolic syndrome.” Scand J Infect Dis, 2012; cited by 58 articles.

Fabbiani M, Grima P. et al. “Atazanavir/ritonavir with lamivudine as maintenance therapy in HIV-infected patients: 96-week outcomes.” J Antimicrob Chemother, 2018; cited by 74 articles.

Grima P. et al. “Ultrasound-assessed perirenal fat and ophthalmic artery resistance in HIV-1 patients.” Cardiovasc Ultrasound, 2010; cited by 63 articles.

Guido M, Grima P. et al. “Human metapneumovirus and bocavirus in respiratory infections.” Virology, 2011; cited by 88 articles.

Grima P. et al. “Routine ultrasound-guided vs. echo-assisted biopsy in chronic hepatitis.” Radiol Med, 2008; cited by 35 articles.

Ciccarelli N, Grima P. et al. “Liver fibrosis and cognitive impairment in HIV patients.” Infection, 2019; cited by 66 articles.

Conclusion

Dr. Grima’s multidimensional expertise—ranging from patient bedside care to policy-level interventions and groundbreaking research—makes him exceptionally suited for the Research for Advancing Patient Care through Research Award. His translational approach to infectious disease management, coupled with his consistent academic output, has had a lasting impact on both individual patient outcomes and the broader medical community. His work exemplifies how research can directly elevate standards of care, particularly in vulnerable and complex patient populations.

Maria Gheorghe | Public Health & Epidemiology | Best Researcher Award

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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.

Foroogh Nejatollahi | Medical Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Foroogh Nejatollahi | Medical Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

Professor at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Dr. Foroogh Nejatollahi is a distinguished Iranian-Canadian immunologist renowned for her contributions to cancer immunotherapy and antibody engineering. With over three decades of academic and research experience, she has significantly advanced the field of immunodiagnostics and human recombinant antibodies. Her career spans key professorial roles and impactful publications that have positioned her as a leader in cancer biology and molecular immunology. She is the inventor of patented antibody-based therapeutics and continues to inspire through her groundbreaking work in antibody design for oncology.

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Education

Dr. Nejatollahi began her academic journey with a BSc in Biology from Shiraz University in 1985. Her passion for life sciences led her to complete an MSc in Microbiology at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences in 1990, where she later returned as a faculty member. Her academic excellence culminated in a PhD in Pathological Sciences from the University of Manchester, UK, in 2002. This robust academic foundation underpins her extensive research into human antibodies and immune responses against cancer and infectious diseases.

Experience

Over a rich academic tenure, Dr. Nejatollahi served as a Professor at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences from 2015 until her early retirement in 2022. Her previous roles included Associate Professor (2011–2015) and Assistant Professor (2007–2011). Earlier in her career, she was a tutor in Microbiology and Immunology at Jahrom University of Medical Sciences. Beyond teaching, she has mentored PhD, MSc, and MD students, delivering courses in immunology, molecular biology, vaccine technology, and antibody engineering, shaping the next generation of scientists and clinicians.

Research Interest

Her multidisciplinary research interests encompass immunobiology, immunodiagnostics, pathobiology, infection and immunity, and human recombinant antibodies. A major focus of her work lies in cancer biology, especially in developing antibody-based diagnostic and therapeutic agents. Dr. Nejatollahi’s research is notable for using phage display technology to isolate single-chain variable fragments (scFvs) and targeting specific cancer biomarkers like HER2, HER3, EGFR, and CD146. These contributions have propelled advances in cancer-targeted immunotherapy and personalized medicine.

Awards

Dr. Nejatollahi holds the US Patent No. US10905771B2 for her invention titled “Anti-MUC18 Human Immunotoxin and Applications Thereof,” a remarkable milestone that exemplifies her innovation in therapeutic antibody development. Her scientific excellence has been acknowledged through numerous conference presentations, both internationally and nationally, including in Canada, the UK, Italy, and Iran. She has represented Iran at global events on cancer therapeutics, HIV/AIDS, and antibody technology, marking her presence as a thought leader in immunological science.

Publications

Among her extensive body of work, the following are key publications with high citation relevance:

Nejatollahi F. et al. (2002). “Neutralizing human recombinant antibodies to human cytomegalovirus gB and gH.” FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology, 34:237–244. [Cited by 81 articles]

Nejatollahi F. et al. (2012). “Down-regulation of VEGF expression by anti-HER2/neu single chain antibodies.” Medical Oncology, 26:378–383. [Cited by 54 articles]

Nejatollahi F. et al. (2013). “Deregulation of HER2 downstream signaling in breast cancer cells by a cocktail of anti-HER2 scFvs.” Oncology Research, 20(8):333–340. [Cited by 37 articles]

Nejatollahi F. et al. (2013). “Antiproliferative and apoptotic effects of anti-Prostate Stem Cell scFv antibody on prostate cancer cells.” Journal of Oncology, 2013:839831. [Cited by 29 articles]

Nejatollahi F. et al. (2014). “Triple blockade of HER2 by a cocktail of scFv antibodies in breast cancer.” Tumor Biology, 35(8):7887–7895. [Cited by 45 articles]

Mohammadi M., Nejatollahi F. et al. (2016). “In silico analysis of tag polypeptides in scFv antibodies.” Journal of Theoretical Biology, 402:100–106. [Cited by 23 articles]

Nejatollahi F. et al. (2017). “Anti-FZD7 scFv antibody inhibits cell growth in colorectal cancer.” Applied Biochemistry and Biotechnology, 181:379–390. [Cited by 31 articles]

Conclusion

In conclusion, Professor Foroogh Nejatollahi exemplifies the highest standards of academic excellence, research innovation, and clinical relevance. Her multi-faceted contributions to antibody engineering, cancer immunotherapy, and infectious disease diagnostics not only advance scientific frontiers but also hold transformative potential in medicine. Her scholarly impact, patent portfolio, and mentorship legacy make her a distinguished and deserving nominee for the Best Researcher Award. Her career stands as a beacon of dedication to translational research and global scientific collaboration.

Wenqing Li | Immunology & Serology | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Wenqing Li | Immunology & Serology | Best Researcher Award 

Professor at Nantong University School of Medicine, China

Professor Wenqing Li is a distinguished scientist in the field of biomedical science, currently serving as a professor at the School of Medicine, Nantong University. He holds a B.S. in Biological Sciences from Anhui Normal University (2009) and a Ph.D. in Cell Biology from the University of Science and Technology of China (2014). His postdoctoral training was conducted at The Pennsylvania State University (2014–2016), followed by a research position at The Ohio State University (2016–2020). Since 2020, he has led an innovative research program at Nantong University, contributing significantly to the fields of nanomedicine, cancer immunotherapy, and male reproductive health.

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Education

Dr. Li’s academic journey is rooted in top-tier Chinese and American institutions. He began with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences at Anhui Normal University, developing a strong foundation in molecular biology. His passion for advanced cellular mechanisms led him to pursue a Ph.D. in Cell Biology at the prestigious University of Science and Technology of China, where he cultivated expertise in nanobiotechnology. Further enhancing his academic experience, he undertook rigorous postdoctoral research at The Pennsylvania State University, followed by a role as assistant researcher at The Ohio State University. These global experiences shaped his multidisciplinary approach to research in biomedicine.

Experience

Dr. Li’s professional experience spans academia and international research environments. His early postdoctoral work at Penn State focused on nanomaterials and bio-conjugates. At Ohio State, he contributed to translational nanomedicine, developing innovative drug delivery systems. His current role as professor at Nantong University involves supervising research in lipid nanoparticle-based therapeutics, immunotherapy, and reproductive biology. A recognized research leader, he is also a key member of the Jiangsu Provincial Outstanding Scientific and Technological Innovation Team for Male Reproductive Health and has successfully secured and led major grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Research Interest

Professor Li’s research interests lie at the intersection of nanotechnology, molecular biology, and immunotherapy. His current work centers on the development of lipid nanoparticles for mRNA delivery and cancer immunotherapy, including platforms co-delivering STING agonists and mRNA to synergize antitumor responses. He also investigates lipid nanoparticle applications in restoring spermatogenesis in infertile males and treats Non-Obstructive Azoospermia (NOA). His broad interests also include nanotoxicology and male contraceptive development using functionalized nanomaterials. His translational research has bridged fundamental science with therapeutic innovations.

Award

Professor Li was honored with the Jiangsu Distinguished Professor Award in 2020 in recognition of his contributions to biomedical science and innovation. He was also the recipient of funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Youth Program) between 2016 and 2018 for his work on the reproductive toxicity of gold nanoparticles. His innovative research and leadership in translational nanomedicine have garnered national attention, positioning him as a strong contender for the Best Researcher Award.

Publication

Among his numerous high-impact publications, seven notable articles include:

“Vitamin lipid nanoparticles enable adoptive macrophage transfer for the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial sepsis” published in Nature Nanotechnology (2020), cited 226 times.

“Functionalized lipid-like nanoparticles for in vivo mRNA delivery and base editing” published in Science Advances (2020), cited 144 times.

“Leveraging mRNA Sequences and Nanoparticles to Deliver SARS-CoV-2 Antigens In Vivo” in Advanced Materials (2020), cited 106 times.

“Biomimetic nanoparticles deliver mRNAs encoding costimulatory receptors and enhance T cell mediated cancer immunotherapy” in Nature Communications (2021), cited 82 times.

“Ratiometric fluorescent probes for capturing endogenous hypochlorous acid in the lungs of mice” in Chemical Science (2018), cited 99 times.

“Long-term storage of lipid-like nanoparticles for mRNA delivery” in Bioactive Materials (2020), cited 183 times.

“Amplifying the Antitumor Effect of STING Agonist MSA-2 by Phospholipid Nanoparticles Delivering STING mRNA and Copper-Modified MSA-2 Combination” in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces (2025), early-stage with growing recognition.
These publications have significantly influenced nanomedicine, genome editing, and therapeutic delivery systems.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Dr. Wenqing Li exemplifies the qualities of an outstanding researcher. His academic rigor, innovation in lipid-based nanotechnology, impactful publications, and translational focus collectively position him as a leading figure in biomedical science. His contributions not only push the boundaries of current knowledge but also pave the way for novel therapeutic approaches. Therefore, it is with strong confidence that Dr. Wenqing Li is recommended as a highly deserving recipient of the Best Researcher Award.