Kevin Pak | Medicine | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Kevin Pak | Medicine | Best Researcher Award

Transplant Hepatology Fellow | UCLA | United States

Dr. Kevin C. Pak, M.D., is a distinguished transplant hepatologist affiliated with the Pflieger Liver Institute at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. With a strong background in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and hepatology, Dr. Pak has dedicated his career to advancing liver disease treatment and transplantation. His contributions to academic research and clinical practice have earned him recognition in the medical community.

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Strengths for the Awards✨

Exceptional Research Contributions: Dr. Pak has an extensive portfolio of peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals, covering a range of topics in gastroenterology, hepatology, and military medicine. His research on hepatitis B, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplantation, and inflammatory bowel disease is particularly noteworthy.

Clinical and Academic Leadership: As an Assistant Professor at USUHS and a former Chief Fellow in a gastroenterology fellowship, Dr. Pak has demonstrated strong mentorship and leadership in academic medicine. His contributions to teaching and training future physicians further emphasize his dedication to research and education.

Recognized Excellence: Multiple honors and awards, including the AASLD Emerging Liver Scholar Award (2019) and Resident Researcher of the Year, highlight his significant impact in the field. His invited presentations and poster sessions at national and international conferences further validate his research reputation.

Interdisciplinary and Military Medicine Contributions: His unique background in military medicine and research contributions in military healthcare settings (e.g., inflammatory bowel disease in active-duty personnel) provide a broader impact beyond civilian medicine.

Education 🎓

Dr. Pak began his academic journey at the United States Military Academy (USMA) in West Point, New York, earning a B.S. in Life Sciences. He then pursued his medical degree at the F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS) in Bethesda, Maryland. His postgraduate training includes an Internal Medicine Residency at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, followed by a Gastroenterology & Hepatology Fellowship at Naval Medical Center San Diego. He further specialized in Transplant Hepatology through a fellowship at the Pflieger Liver Institute at UCLA.

Experience 💼

Dr. Pak has held several academic positions, including Assistant Professor of Medicine and Teaching Fellow at USUHS. He is actively involved in medical education, mentoring students and residents. His clinical expertise spans hepatology, transplant medicine, and gastroenterology, making him a key contributor to the field. Additionally, Dr. Pak has served in the military, where he provided medical services in critical care settings.

Research Interests On Medicine🔬

Dr. Pak’s research focuses on liver disease, hepatocellular carcinoma, chronic hepatitis B, and liver transplantation. He is particularly interested in optimizing treatment strategies for liver disease and investigating emerging therapies. His work contributes to advancements in hepatology, improving patient outcomes and clinical practices.

Awards 🏆

Dr. Pak has received numerous accolades throughout his career. He was honored with the Resident Researcher of the Year Award and the AASLD Emerging Liver Scholar Award. His excellence in teaching earned him the James J. Leonard Award for Excellence in Teaching. In his military service, he received commendations such as the Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal and the Joint Service Commendation Medal.

Publications 📚

Dr. Pak has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications in prestigious journals. His notable works include:

  • Systematic review of safety of selective androgen receptor modulators in healthy adults: implications for recreational users

    • Authors: JD Vignali, KC Pak, HR Beverley, JP DeLuca, JW Downs, AT Kress, …
    • Publication Year: 2023
    • Citations: 38
  • Wilson’s disease and iron overload: pathophysiology and therapeutic implications

    • Authors: K Pak, S Ordway, B Sadowski, M Canevari, D Torres
    • Publication Year: 2021
    • Citations: 23
  • Helicobacter pylori Treatment Regimen Selection and Eradication Rates Across Department of Defense Patients for Fiscal Years 2016-2018

    • Authors: ZC Junga, A Mertz, K Pak, M Singla
    • Publication Year: 2023
    • Citations: 9
  • The Patterns and Associated Cost of Serologic Testing for Helicobacter pylori in the U.S. Military Health System

    • Authors: K Pak, Z Junga, A Mertz, M Singla
    • Publication Year: 2020
    • Citations: 6
  • State of the art: Test all for anti-hepatitis D virus and reflex to hepatitis D virus RNA polymerase chain reaction quantification

    • Authors: E Umukoro, JJ Alukal, K Pak, J Gutierrez
    • Publication Year: 2023
    • Citations: 5
  • Occult HBV infection: a case series at a military treatment facility

    • Authors: K Pak, S Ordway, D Torres
    • Publication Year: 2020
    • Citations: 4
  • An acute presentation of chronic gastric volvulus

    • Authors: K Pak, Z Junga, P Young
    • Publication Year: 2020
    • Citations: 4
  • Decades of cough: Delayed recognition of atypical cystic fibrosis in an adult patient

    • Authors: A Chandel, K Pak, S Dooley, K Salazar
    • Publication Year: 2020
    • Citations: 3
  • A small blemish: isotretinoin-induced microscopic colitis

    • Authors: LR Dukate, K Pak, W O’Connell, Z Junga
    • Publication Year: 2022
    • Citations: 2
  • A Case of Whipple’s Disease With Concomitant Esophageal Candidiasis

    • Authors: R Choi, A Pazevic, K Pak, M Skaret, A Bachmann, R Wilkerson
    • Publication Year: 2024
    • Citations: 1

Conclusion 🔍

Dr. Kevin C. Pak, M.D., is a dedicated physician, educator, and researcher in hepatology and gastroenterology. His commitment to advancing liver disease treatment, coupled with his academic and clinical expertise, makes him a key figure in the field. Through his research, mentorship, and clinical practice, Dr. Pak continues to contribute significantly to medical science and patient care.

Guowei Zheng | Medicine | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Guowei Zheng | Medicine | Best Researcher Award

Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine | China

Dr. Guowei Zheng is a distinguished professor at Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, specializing in medicinal plant research. His work focuses on the collection, evaluation, and breeding of medicinal plant germplasm, as well as understanding plant responses to stress and exploring the biosynthetic pathways of medicinal ingredients in Chinese herbs. With extensive academic experience spanning over a decade, Dr. Zheng has made significant contributions to plant biology through multiomics approaches and phytochemical studies.

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ORCID

Strengths for the Awards✨

  • Strong Research Output 📚

    • Dr. Zheng has published over 20 high-quality research papers in reputable journals, including BMC Plant Biology, Plant Diversity, PLoS ONE, and Phytochemistry.
    • His recent publications (2023–2025) demonstrate consistent research contributions, particularly in multi-omics, metabolomics, and medicinal plants.
  • Diverse Research Expertise 🔬

    • His work spans multiple critical areas, including medicinal plant breeding, stress response, and biosynthetic pathways of Chinese herbs.
    • His research on polyphyllin biosynthesis, glycerolipidome responses, and CO₂ elevation effects contributes to both fundamental science and applied plant biotechnology.
  • Academic and Professional Growth 📈

    • Rising from Assistant Professor (2010) to Full Professor (2021) at Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine.
    • Previous tenure at Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, a prestigious research institution.

🎓 Education

  • Ph.D. in Botany (2005–2010) – Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Biology (2001–2005) – Yunnan University

👨‍🏫 Experience

  • Professor (2021–Present) – Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine
  • Associate Professor (2018–2021) – Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine
  • Associate Professor (2016–2018) – Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences
  • Assistant Professor (2010–2015) – Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences

🔬 Research Interests On Medicine

  • 🌿 Medicinal Plant Germplasm – Collection, evaluation, and breeding of medicinal plant species
  • 💧 Plant Stress Response – Studying how medicinal plants adapt to environmental stressors
  • 🧪 Phytochemical Biosynthesis – Investigating synthesis pathways of medicinal compounds in Chinese herbs

🏆 Awards

(Please provide specific awards or recognitions received.)

📚 Publications

Dr. Zheng has published extensively in high-impact journals, contributing significantly to plant biology and phytochemistry.

  • Xu, P., Mi, Q., Zhang, X., Zhang, X., Yu, M., Gao, Y., Wan, X., Chen, Y., Li, Q., Chen, J., & Zheng, G. (2025). Dissection of transcriptome and metabolome insights into the polyphyllin biosynthesis in Paris. BMC Plant Biology, 25(1), 206.

  • Xu, P., Chen, J., Mi, Q., Li, W., Lu, Y., Luo, W., Yu, M., Zhang, X., Tu, Z., Xu, H., & Zheng, G. (2024). Metabolomics and transcriptomics profiling of three Paris species with varied polyphyllin compositions. Sci Data, 11(1), 1293.

  • Zheng, G., Li, W., Zhang, S., Mi, Q., Luo, W., Zhao, Y., Qin, X., Li, W., Pu, S., & Xu, F. (2023). Multiomics strategies for decoding seed dormancy breakdown in Paris polyphylla. BMC Plant Biology, 23(1), 247.

  • Li, W., Zhang, X., Pei, W., & Zheng, G. (2021). First Report of Root Rot Caused by Dactylonectria torresensis on Bletilla striata (Baiji) in Yunnan, China. Plant Disease, 0(0), PDIS-10-20-2166-PDN.

  • Liu, T., Chen, J., Xu, F., He, X., Yang, S., Zhu, Y., Li, W., & Zheng, G. (2020). Analysis of changes in the Panax notoginseng glycerolipidome in response to long-term chilling and heat. Plant Diversity, 42, 102-110.

  • Zheng, G., Cheng, J., & Li, W. (2020). Impacts of CO2 elevation on the physiology and seed quality of soybean. Plant Diversity, 42(1), 44-51.

  • Zheng, G., Luo, S., Li, S., Hua, J., Li, W., & Li, S. (2018). Specialized metabolites from Ageratina adenophora and their inhibitory activities against pathogenic fungi. Phytochemistry, 148, 57-62.

  • Zheng, G., & Li, W. (2017). Profiling membrane glycerolipids during gamma-ray-induced membrane injury. BMC Plant Biology, 17(1), 203.

  • Chen, J., Zheng, G., Zhang, Y., Aisa, H. A., & Hao, X. (2017). Phytotoxic Terpenoids from Ligularia cymbulifera Roots. Front Plant Sci, 7, 2033.

  • Zheng, G., Li, L., & Li, W. (2016). Glycerolipidome responses to freezing- and chilling-induced injuries: examples in Arabidopsis and rice. BMC Plant Biology, 16, 70.

  • Tang, T., Liu, P., Zheng, G., & Li, W. (2016). Two phases of response to long-term moderate heat: Variation in thermotolerance between Arabidopsis thaliana and its relative Arabis paniculata. Phytochemistry, 122, 81-90.

🔚 Conclusion

Dr. Guowei Zheng is a leading researcher in medicinal plant biology, with expertise in plant stress adaptation and bioactive compound biosynthesis. His contributions to plant sciences and phytochemistry continue to advance our understanding of medicinal herbs, making a significant impact on the field of traditional Chinese medicine and agricultural biotechnology.