Jorge Hugo Villafañe | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Published on 18/11/202518/11/2025 by Forensic Scientist

Prof. Dr. Jorge Hugo Villafañe | Social Sciences | Best Researcher Award

European University of Madrid | Italy

Dr. Jorge Hugo Villafañe is an eminent researcher whose scientific contributions have significantly advanced the fields of musculoskeletal rehabilitation, epidemiology, and global health metrics. With a Scopus-indexed portfolio of 326 publications, he has produced a substantial body of high-quality research that includes randomized clinical trials, systematic reviews, book chapters, and collaborative international studies. His work demonstrates exceptional global visibility, reflected in 14,878 citations from 10,899 documents and a robust h-index of 47, underscoring his sustained scholarly influence. Dr. Jorge Hugo Villafañe is widely recognized for his involvement in major The Lancet Global Burden of Disease (GBD) initiatives, contributing to landmark analyses on disease prevalence, disability, mortality, life expectancy, and risk factor trends across more than 200 countries. Beyond global health, he has published extensively on therapeutic exercise, manual therapy, osteoarthritis, nonspecific neck pain, and rehabilitation outcomes, with several of his papers surpassing 100–200 citations, marking him as a leading authority in musculoskeletal science. His research leadership extends to competitive funding achievements in rehabilitation and participation in large-scale projects that have shaped contemporary clinical guidelines. He has delivered influential findings at international scientific conferences, contributed to editorial and peer-review roles in respected journals, and advanced methodological standards in rehabilitation research. Through his innovative investigations and contributions to high-impact global epidemiological studies, Dr. Jorge Hugo Villafañe continues to influence clinical practice, public health strategies, and the scientific understanding of musculoskeletal disorders, positioning him among the most impactful researchers in his field.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | ORCID | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

Ferrari, A. J., Santomauro, D. F., Aali, A., Abate, Y. H., Abbafati, C., Abbastabar, H., … (2024).
Global incidence, prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and healthy life expectancy (HALE) for 371 diseases and injuries in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2021: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403(10440), 2133–2161.

Naghavi, M., Ong, K. L., Aali, A., Ababneh, H. S., Abate, Y. H., Abbafati, C., … (2024).
Global burden of 288 causes of death and life expectancy decomposition in 204 countries and territories and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403(10440), 2100–2132.

Brauer, M., Roth, G. A., Aravkin, A. Y., Zheng, P., Abate, K. H., Abate, Y. H., Abbafati, C., … (2024).
Global burden and strength of evidence for 88 risk factors in 204 countries and 811 subnational locations, 1990–2021: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403(10440), 2162–2203.

Steinmetz, J. D., Seeher, K. M., Schiess, N., Nichols, E., Cao, B., Servili, C., … (2024).
Global, regional, and national burden of disorders affecting the nervous system, 1990–2021: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet Neurology, 23(4), 344–381.

Vollset, S. E., Ababneh, H. S., Abate, Y. H., Abbafati, C., Abbasgholizadeh, R., … (2024).
Burden of disease scenarios for 204 countries and territories, 2022–2050: A forecasting analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The Lancet, 403(10440), 2204–2256.

Ana González Ramos | Social Sciences | Women Researcher Award

Published on 18/11/202518/11/2025 by Forensic Scientist

Dr. Ana González Ramos | Social Sciences | Women Researcher Award

IESA (CSIC) | Spain

Dr. Ana González Ramos is a distinguished sociologist at the CSIC-JA Instituto de Estudios Sociales Avanzados (IESA), Córdoba, Spain, whose research provides a transformative lens on the intersections of gender, technology, health, scientific careers, and contemporary digital cultures. With 39 publications, 291 citations, and an h-index of 11 according to Scopus, she has established a strong international scholarly presence. Her research advances the understanding of gender regimes in health, revealing how biomedical, economic, and methodological biases shape women’s wellbeing and the integration of sex and gender perspectives into clinical guidelines. She is widely recognized for her impactful contributions to gendered analyses of ICT, academic career trajectories, psychosocial risks, social media cultures, and feminist digital activism. Dr. Ana González Ramos has authored and edited influential books and contributed to major academic volumes addressing feminist pedagogy, digital communication, sociotechnical inequalities, pornography as a global issue, and gender dimensions of health and social wellbeing. Her leadership in national and international research projects spans gender-health inequities, digitalization, equality and mobility policies, One Health approaches, and feminist sociological interventions. Supported by competitive grants from European institutions and leading research councils, she collaborates across multidisciplinary teams to address pressing societal challenges. Her scholarly influence extends to editorial leadership roles in indexed journals, contributions to scientific committees, and active participation in global gender research networks. Collectively, her work demonstrates a steadfast commitment to advancing equitable scientific ecosystems and producing rigorous, socially engaged, and gender-responsive research that shapes both academic discourse and policy development.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | ORCID

Featured Publications

1. Padrón Armas, A., González Ramos, A., & Serrano-del-Rosal, R. (2025). Understanding health and pain through the gender regime: A multilevel framework from a sociological view. Social Sciences, 14(11), Article 636.

2. González Ramos, A. M., Serrano del Rosal, R., & Padrón, A. G. (2025). Gender regimes influences on social perception of pain and illness among European citizens. European Sociological Association, Research Network 16 – Sociology of Health & Medicine Mid-Term Conference: Health in the Anthropocene: Sociological Analysis, Reflections, and Implications. Conference paper.

3. González Ramos, A. M. (2025). La cultura de la pornografía: Del castillo a la pantalla. In La Pornografía, un problema social global: Didáctica feminista (pp. xx–xx). Octaedro.

4. Benazizi Dahbi, I., & González Ramos, A. M. (2025). Mesa inaugural: Reducción de las desigualdades en salud en la cooperación española. IV Encuentro Conocimiento en Acción: Tejiendo saberes desde la investigación en salud a la transformación social. Other scholarly contribution.

5. González Ramos, A. M., Benazizi, I., & Toledo, A. (2025). Women in biomedical model: The case of the instruments of diagnosis and recommendations (CPG, Clinical Practice Guidelines). European Sociological Association, Research Network 16 – Sociology of Health & Medicine Mid-Term Conference: Health in the Anthropocene: Sociological Analysis, Reflections, and Implications. Conference paper.

Mehrdad Arabestani | Social Sciences | Breakthrough Research Award

Published on 28/08/202528/08/2025 by Forensic Scientist

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehrdad Arabestani | Social Sciences | Breakthrough Research Award

University of Tehran | Iran

Dr. Mehrdad Arabestani is an Associate Professor of Anthropology at the University of Tehran and also serves as an Adjunct Faculty at the Institute for Cultural, Social, and Civilization Studies. Over the course of his distinguished academic career, he has established himself as one of the leading voices in cultural anthropology and ethnographic studies in Iran. His research extends across identity, intersubjectivity, religion, ritual practices, and the anthropology of migration, providing deep insights into both Iranian society and wider global cultural dynamics. Through his extensive teaching, prolific publications, and international collaborations, Dr. Mehrdad Arabestani has continually shaped anthropological discourse and has become an influential figure in both regional and international scholarship.

Professional Profile

Scopus

Google Scholar

ORCID

Education

Dr. Mehrdad Arabestani pursued his academic journey through a combination of interdisciplinary training that bridges the social sciences and the health sciences. He began with a foundation in the biological sciences, later advancing his studies to explore the complex dynamics of culture, identity, and society. His graduate research developed critical expertise in anthropology, particularly in examining how symbolic systems, rituals, and intersubjective practices shape human experience. His doctoral research was conducted with a strong focus on ethnography, giving him direct exposure to diverse cultural contexts and cementing his reputation as an innovative researcher who integrates theoretical and field-based insights.

Experience

Throughout his academic career, Dr. Mehrdad Arabestani has served as a faculty member in anthropology, engaging in teaching, mentoring, and supervising a wide range of students and research projects. His role at the University of Tehran has been pivotal in shaping future anthropologists, while his adjunct appointment at the Institute for Cultural, Social, and Civilization Studies has allowed him to contribute to interdisciplinary research initiatives. Beyond Iran, he has been invited as a guest lecturer and presenter at renowned universities and conferences across Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. His professional experience is not confined to academia; he has also participated in national-level cultural studies programs, contributed to encyclopedic knowledge systems, and collaborated in cross-cultural research projects that emphasize both theory and applied anthropology.

Research Interests

Dr. Mehrdad Arabestani’s research interests encompass a wide spectrum within cultural anthropology, including identity formation, ritual and religious practices, symbolic anthropology, and the lived experiences of minority groups. He has conducted extensive ethnographic studies among the Mandaeans and indigenous communities, as well as research into intersubjectivity, cultural precarity, and the anthropology of desire. His scholarship also addresses the intersections of migration, cultural change, and social integration, with an emphasis on how symbolic systems influence community resilience and transformation. By critically engaging with major anthropological theories while advancing original perspectives, his work continues to shape both academic debates and policy-relevant understandings of cultural life.

Awards

Dr. Mehrdad Arabestani has been recognized for his contributions to advancing the field of anthropology in Iran and beyond. His works are frequently cited in both Persian and international academic forums, and he has authored books, encyclopedia entries, and translated foundational texts that have broadened the accessibility of anthropological knowledge. His role as a translator and editor of seminal works in anthropology has positioned him as a mediator between global scholarship and local intellectual traditions. Through his scholarship, teaching, and engagement with diverse audiences, he has built a reputation as an intellectual leader committed to innovation, interdisciplinarity, and the promotion of cultural understanding.

Publications

Dr. Mehrdad Arabestani has published widely in leading international and national journals, books, and encyclopedias, addressing themes of cultural identity, ritual, religion, and intersubjectivity. His works are frequently cited and recognized as significant contributions to contemporary anthropology.

1. Title: Ritual purity and the Mandaeans’ identity
Journal: Iran and the Caucasus
Published on: 2012
Citation: 22

2. Title: The Semai’s response to missionary work: From resistance to compliance
Journal: Anthropological Notebooks
Published on: 2011
Citation: 20

3. Title: The Mandaeans’ Religious System: From Mythos to Logos
Journal: Iran and the Caucasus
Published on: 2016
Citation: 17

4. Title: The Mandaean Identity Challenge
Journal: In Crises and (Edited by Elizabeth Morrell & Michael D. Barr)
Published on: 2010
Citation: 8

5. Title: Cosmology, identity and food related rituals among the Mandaeans
Journal: Archives de sciences socials des religions
Published on: 2020
Citation: 4

6. Title: The fatherless society: Discourse of the hysteric in Iran
Journal: Psychoanalysis, Culture & Society
Published on: 2019
Citation: 3

7. Title: Changing world of the Mandaeans
Journal: Iranian Journal of Anthropological Research
Published on: 2019
Citation: 3

Conclusion

Dr. Mehrdad Arabestani’s career reflects a rare combination of academic rigor, interdisciplinary vision, and a commitment to advancing cultural anthropology both in Iran and globally. His work has opened critical spaces for dialogue on identity, ritual, and intersubjectivity while simultaneously addressing pressing social issues such as migration, cultural transitions, and minority rights. By bridging theory and practice, as well as global and local perspectives, he has consistently contributed to reshaping the landscape of anthropological inquiry. His scholarly excellence, extensive publications, and international influence make him a highly deserving candidate for the Breakthrough Research Award, which recognizes individuals who have made transformative contributions to their fields.

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Featured Publications

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