Ying Cui | Immunology and Microbiology | Excellence in Research Award

Ms. Ying Cui | Immunology and Microbiology | Excellence in Research Award

Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University | China

Ms. Ying Cui is an emerging neuroscientist whose research advances the understanding of the gut–brain axis, neurodegeneration mechanisms, and biomarker innovation in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Her work integrates metagenomics, multi-parameter clinical imaging, molecular neuroscience, and machine-learning analytics to improve diagnostic precision and support translational therapeutic development. With 6 Scopus-indexed publications, 85 citations, and an h-index of 2, her research impact continues to grow across both clinical and experimental domains. Ms. Ying Cui has contributed to high-value research projects, including multicenter clinical trials and national-level neuroscience studies, where she played key roles in microbiome profiling, experimental methodology, and advanced neuroimaging assessment using ¹²³I-MIBG scintigraphy. Her first-author publications provide novel insights into the diagnostic performance of cardiac and extra-cardiac washout rate parameters for differentiating PD from Parkinson-plus syndromes, offering clinically relevant imaging markers for complex diagnostic scenarios. Complementing her imaging research, Ying has developed a high-accuracy metagenomic diagnostic model with 99% validation accuracy and identified functional probiotic strains with the potential to modulate α-synuclein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and neuroinflammatory signaling work that has led to a PCT international patent for a probiotic composition targeting REM Sleep Behavior Disorder. Her multidisciplinary contributions span biomarker discovery, clinical–computational integration, translational microbiome innovation, and cross-institutional collaborations in neurology, microbiology, metabolomics, and bioinformatics. Through this synergistic research portfolio, Ying Cui continues to advance early diagnostic strategies, mechanistic insights, and therapeutic innovation in Parkinson’s disease, establishing herself as a rising researcher in translational neurodegeneration science.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

  • Xue, T., Cui, Y., Kan, Y., & Yang, J. (2025). Value of extra-cardiac sympathetic nervous uptake parameters based on ¹²³I-MIBG SPECT/CT in the assessment of Parkinson’s disease. Clinical and Translational Imaging.

  • Xue, T., Cui, Y., Kan, Y., & Yang, J. (2025). Value of multi-parameter ¹²³I-MIBG scintigraphy in the differential diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. EJNMMI Research.

Eduardo Vignoto Fernandes | Medicine and Health Sciences | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Dr. Eduardo Vignoto Fernandes | Medicine and Health Sciences | Research Excellence Award

Federal University of Jataí | Brazil

Prof. Dr. Eduardo Vignoto Fernandes, is a distinguished researcher in immunometabolism, human physiology, and applied health sciences, recognized for his multidisciplinary contributions integrating experimental pathology, human anatomy, and exercise science. With 28 Scopus-indexed publications, 119 citations, and an h-index of 5, his research advances understanding of metabolic, genetic, and physiological adaptations in healthy individuals and those with clinical or lifestyle-related conditions, including people living with HIV/AIDS. Fernandes has produced influential studies covering immunometabolism responses, exercise physiology, body composition, sports nutrition, metabolic syndrome, cancer immunopathology, and antiretroviral therapy effectiveness. His scientific output includes peer-reviewed articles, systematic reviews, and collaborative investigations published in respected journals such as Metabolites, Geriatrics, Sports, Current HIV Research, Molecular Biology Reports, and Discover Public Health. Fernandes leads and collaborates on research projects exploring exercise prescription, photo biomodulation, osteopathic interventions, muscle damage biomarkers, and functional health indicators such as handgrip strength. His expertise also extends to educational research on human anatomy, including remote versus in-person instruction and academic performance in health-science students. Through public health outreach initiatives, he contributes to community wellness by developing structured exercise programs and participating in One Health–aligned interdisciplinary actions. Supported by competitive funding from major Brazilian agencies, he conducts R&D focused on immunometabolism health, functional performance, and applied health interventions. His growing citation base, broad research themes, and sustained collaborations underscore his scientific relevance and expanding impact across exercise science, pathology, and applied health research.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | ORCID | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

1. De Rossi, T., Lozovoy, M. A. B., da Silva, R. V., Fernandes, E. V., Geraldino, T. H., & others. (2011). Interações entre Candida albicans e hospedeiro. Semina: Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, 32(1), 15–28.

2. Weber, M. G., Dias, S. S., de Angelis, T. R., Fernandes, E. V., Bernardes, A. G., & others. (2021). The use of BCAA to decrease delayed-onset muscle soreness after a single bout of exercise: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Amino Acids, 53(11), 1663–1678.

3. Romanin, P., Palermo, R. L., Cavalini, J. F., Favaro, L. S., De Paula-Petroli, S. B., Fernandes, E. V., & others. (2019). Multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in a tertiary hospital from Brazil: The importance of carbapenemase encoding genes and related resistance mechanisms. Microbial Drug Resistance, 25(9), 1365–1373.

4. Khan, S. A., Venancio, E. J., Ono, M. A., Fernandes, E. V., Hirooka, E. Y., Shimizu, C. F., & others. (2019). Effects of subcutaneous ochratoxin-A exposure on immune system of broiler chicks. Toxins, 11(5), 264.

5. Vitorino, R. W. S., Fornaziero, C. C., & Fernandes, E. V. (2020). Evaluation of performance and perception of learning in teaching human anatomy: Traditional method vs constructivist method. International Journal of Morphology, 38(1), 74–77.

Yuyan Tang | Immunology and Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Yuyan Tang | Immunology and Microbiology | Best Researcher Award

Minhang Hospital, Fudan University | China

Prof. Yuyan Tang is a clinician-scientist specializing in nephrology and molecular immunopathology, with a strong research focus on the gut–kidney axis, IgA nephropathy, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Her studies elucidate the mechanisms by which intestinal microbiota, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling influence renal inflammation and fibrosis, integrating molecular biology with traditional Chinese medicine interventions. She has led several competitive research projects funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and regional scientific bodies, advancing translational insights into renal disease mechanisms and microbiome-based therapeutic strategies. Prof. Yuyan Tang has published 23 peer-reviewed documents indexed in Scopus, garnering 287 citations across 262 citing documents, with an h-index of 8. Her scientific contributions include 8 first- or corresponding-author SCI papers with a total impact factor of 52.7, notably featuring a highly cited article in Circulation Research and impactful publications in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation and BMC Microbiology. Recognized as a Youth Talent Awardee at Fudan University’s Affiliated Minhang Hospital, Prof. Yuyan Tang’s research continues to bridge microbiome regulation and nephrology through innovative molecular and clinical investigations.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

  • Tang, Y., Zhu, Y., He, H., Sun, W., Wu, J., Xiao, Y., … Xu, X. (2024). IgA nephropathy: Gut microbiome regulates the production of hypoglycosylated IgA1 via the TLR4 signaling pathway. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 39(10), 1624–1641.

  • Jiang, L., He, H., Tang, Y., Li, J., Reilly, S., Xin, H., … Cai, H. (2024). Activation of BK channels prevents diabetes-induced osteopenia by regulating mitochondrial Ca2+ and SLC25A5/ANT2-PINK1-PRKN-mediated mitophagy. Autophagy, 20(11), 2388–2404.

  • Li, H., Xu, M., Xu, X., Tang, Y., Jiang, H., Li, L., … Yang, T. (2022). Faecalibacterium prausnitzii attenuates CKD via Butyrate-Renal GPR43 Axis. Circulation Research, 131(9), e120–e134.

  • Tang, Y., Xiao, Y., He, H., Zhu, Y., Sun, W., Hu, P., … Xu, X. (2023). Aberrant gut microbiome contributes to barrier dysfunction, inflammation and local immune responses in IgA nephropathy. Kidney and Blood Pressure Research, 48(1), 261–276.

  • Tang, Y., Zhu, Y., He, H., Peng, Y., Hu, P., Wu, J., … Xu, X. (2022). Gut dysbiosis and intestinal barrier dysfunction promote IgA nephropathy by increasing the production of Gd-IgA1. Frontiers in Medicine, 9, 944027.