Yang Li | Biology and Life Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Mrs. Yang Li | Biology and Life Sciences | Best Researcher Award

The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University | China

Mrs. Yang Li is a committed attending doctor at the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, where she integrates clinical service with translational research. With a strong foundation in endocrinology and metabolic diseases, her academic and clinical endeavors focus on diabetic complications, particularly type 2 diabetic nephropathy. Her contributions to both provincial and national-level projects highlight her dedication to improving patient outcomes through evidence-based research.

Professional Profile

Scopus

Education

Mrs. Yang Li began her academic journey in clinical medicine at Tongji Medical College, one of China’s top-tier medical institutions. She specialized in endocrinology and metabolic diseases, laying a strong academic foundation in chronic disease management, hormonal regulation, and metabolic dysfunctions. Her education was marked by excellence in both theoretical understanding and hands-on training in hospital environments. Continuing her commitment to academic advancement, she is currently pursuing an academic master’s degree, with research embedded into her clinical role. Her educational path reflects a lifelong commitment to improving the diagnosis, treatment, and understanding of chronic metabolic disorders such as diabetes and its complications.

Experience

Mrs. Li’s professional experience encompasses extensive clinical practice, medical education, and rigorous scientific research. At the First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, she functions both as a frontline clinician and a research investigator. Her clinical work has given her firsthand insight into the complexities of diabetic complications, particularly diabetic nephropathy. This experience fuels her research endeavors, allowing her to design studies that are both clinically relevant and methodologically sound. She has independently led two provincially funded research projects and participated in two nationally funded projects under the National Natural Science Foundation of China. Her dual role has equipped her with the skills to integrate clinical questions into laboratory settings and translate scientific findings back into patient care protocols.

Research Interest

Mrs. Li’s core research interests revolve around type 2 diabetic nephropathy, particularly the molecular mechanisms driving renal damage in diabetic patients. Her work investigates the interplay between metabolic stress, adipose tissue function, vascular endothelial integrity, and renal cellular injury. Of special interest is the role of perirenal adipose tissue in modulating the onset and progression of diabetic kidney disease, a relatively underexplored area that may yield novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. She is also interested in transcriptomics, signaling pathways such as TGF-β1, and the protective role of ACE2–Ang-(1-7)–Mas receptor axes in pancreatic and renal tissues. Through her research, she aims to uncover early biomarkers and develop targeted interventions that can prevent or slow the progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Award

Mrs. Yang Li is an exemplary nominee for the Best Researcher Award, a recognition that would honor her persistent and impactful contributions to clinical science. Her ability to lead government-funded projects, publish in respected international journals, and remain active in frontline patient care places her among the most promising early-career physician-researchers in China. The translational nature of her research directly addresses one of the world’s most pressing public health concerns: diabetes and its complications. Her leadership, scientific rigor, and commitment to evidence-based medicine make her a deserving recipient of this prestigious award.

Publications

Mrs. Yang Li has published four peer-reviewed articles in reputable SCI-indexed journals, reflecting her growing influence in the field of diabetic complications. Each of her publications contributes to a deeper understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms behind diabetes and its impact on vital organs:

Title: Ang (1-7) protects islet endothelial cells from palmitate-induced apoptosis via AKT, eNOS, p38 MAPK, and JNK pathways
Journal: Journal of Diabetes Research
Published on: 2014
Citation: Cited by 64 articles

Title: The ACE2–Ang-(1-7)–Mas axis improves microvascular endothelial cell function in pancreatic β cells
Journal: International Journal of Molecular Medicine
Published on: 2014
Citation: Cited by 91 studies

Title: Scutellarin ameliorates diabetic nephropathy via the TGF-β1 signaling pathway
Journal: Natural Products and Bioprospecting
Published on: 2024
Citation: Cited by 6 articles

Title: Transcriptomic analysis of ceRNA regulatory networks in perirenal adipose tissue of T2DM SD rats with diabetic nephropathy
Journal: Biotechnology and Applied Biochemistry
Published on: 2025
Citation: Cited by 2 articles

Conclusion

Mrs. Yang Li exemplifies the integration of clinical excellence and scientific innovation. Her work has advanced the understanding of diabetic nephropathy at both cellular and systemic levels, contributing new insights into its prevention and treatment. By combining patient care with a robust research portfolio, she continues to bridge the gap between laboratory discovery and clinical application. Her academic background, research leadership, and impactful publications collectively highlight her qualifications for prestigious research recognition. With her contributions resonating across endocrinology and nephrology, Mrs. Yang Li stands as a valuable asset to the medical and scientific community.

Jie Huang | Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Forensic Scientist

Dr. Jie Huang | Biological Sciences | Best Researcher Award

University of Oxford | United Kingdom

Dr. Jie Huang (黄杰), is a distinguished plant biologist currently serving as a postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Biology, University of Oxford. His research focuses on molecular plant–pathogen interactions, alternative splicing, and effector biology. Dr. Huang has made substantial contributions to our understanding of how pathogens manipulate plant immune responses and has published widely in high-impact journals.

Professional profile👤

Google Scholar

Strengths for the Awards✨

1. Strong Academic Background & Training

  • PhD from Nanjing Agricultural University under a leading expert, Prof. Suomeng Dong.

  • Postdoctoral experience at the prestigious University of Oxford, a global hub for biological sciences.

2. Consistent and High-Impact Research Output

  • Multiple first-author and corresponding-author publications in top-tier journals such as Nature Communications, Advanced Science, The Plant Cell, Molecular Plant, and New Phytologist.

  • His research appears in elite plant biology and molecular journals, indicating significant peer recognition and impact.

3. Innovation in Research

  • Pioneered discoveries related to alternative splicing in plant immunity, plant-pathogen interactions, and protein-peptide interactions, a critical frontier in molecular plant pathology.

  • Integration of computational tools (AlphaFold-Multimer) in cross-kingdom interaction studies, reflecting interdisciplinary sophistication.

4. Competitive Funding Record

  • Secured prestigious funding from national (NSFC), provincial, and postdoctoral foundations in China as Principal Investigator, demonstrating independent scientific leadership.

5. International Collaboration & Mobility

  • Experience at institutions in China, the UK, and the USA, showcasing global integration and collaborative capacity.

  • Short-term training and collaborative publications with international partners, enhancing his scientific network and adaptability.

🎓 Education

 Dr. Huang began his academic journey with a Bachelor’s degree in Plant Science from Anhui Agricultural University (2009–2013). He then pursued his Ph.D. in Plant Pathology at Nanjing Agricultural University (2013–2018), where he was mentored by the esteemed Prof. Suomeng Dong. His doctoral research laid a strong foundation for his expertise in host–pathogen molecular dynamics.

🧪 Experience

 Following his Ph.D., Dr. Huang worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Nanjing Agricultural University (2018–2021), continuing under Prof. Dong’s supervision. In 2019, he broadened his global research exposure as a visiting scholar at Colorado State University with Prof. Anireddy Reddy. Since January 2022, he has been advancing his research at the University of Oxford under Prof. Renier A. L. van der Hoorn, contributing to frontier studies in plant proteomics and immunity.

🔬 Research Interests On Biological Sciences

🌿 Dr. Huang’s research delves into:

  • Alternative splicing in plant immunity

  • Effector biology in oomycete pathogens

  • Protease-targeting mechanisms at the plant–pathogen interface

  • Use of AlphaFold and other computational tools to predict protein interactions
    His work bridges molecular biology, bioinformatics, and biotechnology for improving crop resistance strategies.

🏆 Awards and Funding

 As a Principal Investigator, Dr. Huang has secured several prestigious research grants, including:

  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 31901862)

  • Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province (SBK2019040604)

  • Fundamental Research Funds for Central Universities (KYQN202009)

  • China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2018M640494)

  • Special Postdoctoral Science Fund (2020T130306)

These awards reflect his scientific rigor and innovative research in plant molecular biology.

📚 Publications

1. A Phytophthora effector manipulates host histone acetylation and reprograms defense gene expression to promote infection
Authors: L Kong, X Qiu, J Kang, Y Wang, H Chen, J Huang, M Qiu, Y Zhao, G Kong, …
Year: 2017
Cited by: 144

2. An oomycete plant pathogen reprograms host pre-mRNA splicing to subvert immunity
Authors: J Huang, L Gu, Y Zhang, T Yan, G Kong, L Kong, B Guo, M Qiu, Y Wang, …
Year: 2017
Cited by: 120

3. Phytophthora effectors modulate genome-wide alternative splicing of host mRNAs to reprogram plant immunity
Authors: J Huang, X Lu, H Wu, Y Xie, Q Peng, L Gu, J Wu, Y Wang, ASN Reddy, …
Year: 2020
Cited by: 84

4. The Activation of Phytophthora Effector Avr3b by Plant Cyclophilin is Required for the Nudix Hydrolase Activity of Avr3b
Authors: G Kong, Y Zhao, M Jing, J Huang, J Yang, Y Xia, L Kong, W Ye, Q Xiong, …
Year: 2015
Cited by: 84

5. The Phytophthora sojae RXLR effector Avh238 destabilizes soybean Type2 GmACSs to suppress ethylene biosynthesis and promote infection
Authors: B Yang, Y Wang, B Guo, M Jing, H Zhou, Y Li, H Wang, J Huang, Y Wang, …
Year: 2019
Cited by: 71

6. AlphaFold-Multimer predicts cross-kingdom interactions at the plant-pathogen interface
Authors: F Homma, J Huang, RAL van der Hoorn
Year: 2023
Cited by: 69

7. Pathogen manipulation of chloroplast function triggers a light-dependent immune recognition
Authors: C Gao, H Xu, J Huang, B Sun, F Zhang, Z Savage, C Duggan, T Yan, …
Year: 2020
Cited by: 65

8. Cleavage of a pathogen apoplastic protein by plant subtilases activates host immunity
Authors: S Wang, R Xing, Y Wang, H Shu, S Fu, J Huang, JK Paulus, M Schuster, …
Year: 2021
Cited by: 40

9. Natural allelic variations provide insights into host adaptation of Phytophthora avirulence effector PsAvr3c
Authors: J Huang, L Chen, X Lu, Q Peng, Y Zhang, J Yang, BY Zhang, B Yang, …
Year: 2019
Cited by: 32

10. Phytophthora sojae apoplastic effector AEP1 mediates sugar uptake by mutarotation of extracellular aldose and is recognized as a MAMP
Authors: Y Xu, Y Zhang, J Zhu, Y Sun, B Guo, F Liu, J Huang, H Wang, S Dong, …
Year: 2021
Cited by: 31

📝 Conclusion

🌟 Dr. Jie Huang is a rising star in plant molecular biology, combining classical genetics, proteomics, and cutting-edge computational tools to unravel the complexities of plant immunity and pathogen virulence. His international collaborations, funding success, and impactful publications position him as a strong nominee for any prestigious research award recognizing scientific excellence in plant sciences.