Esmaeil Babaei | Genetics | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Esmaeil Babaei | Genetics | Best Researcher Award

University of Tabriz | Iran

Dr. Esmaeil Babaei is a Professor of Molecular Genetics at the University of Tabriz, Iran, specializing in human cancer genetics and bioinformatics. With an H-index of 21 and 1,640+ citations, he has made significant contributions to cancer research, drug development, and biomarker discovery. He has led 15+ national/international projects, mentored 12 PhD and 45 MSc students, and developed 4 biotech products, including BRIzol (RNA extraction kit) and Curcuden35 (anticancer nanocurcumin).

Professional profile👤

Google Scholar

ORCID

Scopus

Strengths for the Awards✨

  1. High Research Productivity & Impact
    • 95 publications (JCR-indexed), H-index: 21, Citations: 1640 (Google Scholar).
    • Recent publications in high-impact journals (Microchemical Journal, Frontiers in Immunology, Phytomedicine).
    • International collaborations (Germany, Austria, Iraq) enhancing research visibility.
  2. Innovative & Translational Research
    • Developed four biotech products (e.g., BRIzol RNA extraction kit, Covid-19 PCR kit, Curcuden35 anticancer capsule, EBST bioinformatics tool).
    • Expertise in nanoformulations (curcumin-based therapies) and CRISPR/Cas9 applications in cancer.
  3. Leadership in Research & Mentorship
    • Principal Investigator (PI) of 15 research projects (11 national, 4 international).
    • Supervised 12 PhD, 45 MSc, and 2 postdoc alumni, demonstrating academic leadership.
  4. Recognition & Awards
    • Best International Researcher Award (2024, University of Tabriz).
    • Research grants from DFG (Germany), University of Salzburg (Austria).
    • Young Investigator Awards (INCTR Congress, Turkey).
  5. Multidisciplinary Expertise
    • Combines wet-lab (molecular biology, drug development) and dry-lab (bioinformatics, RNA sequencing) skills.
    • Active in editorial roles (Frontiers) and peer review (Scientific Reports, Oncogene, etc.).

Education 🎓

  • PhD in Molecular Genetics (2007–2012), Tarbiat Modares University (Thesis: Anticancer effects of dendrosomal nanocurcumin).
  • MSc in Molecular Genetics (2002–2005), Tarbiat Modares University.
  • BSc in Biology (1998–2002), Shahid Beheshti University.

Experience 💼

  • Professor (2021–present), University of Tabriz.
  • Research Fellow (2023), University of Tübingen, Germany (NGS data analysis).
  • Guest Scientist (2017, 2011), University of Salzburg, Austria (Flow cytometry, miRNA studies).
  • Lecturer (2005–2007), University of Tabriz.

Research Interests On Genetics 🔍

  • Cancer genetics: Biomarker discovery, apoptosis, and drug resistance.
  • Nanomedicine: Curcumin-based therapies (e.g., Curcuden35).
  • Bioinformatics: miRNA-target prediction tools (EBST), CRISPR/Cas9 applications.
  • Molecular diagnostics: Circulating nucleic acids for early cancer detection.

Awards & Honors 🏆

  • Best International Researcher Award, University of Tabriz (2024).
  • DFG Research Grant (2021) for RNA-seq training in Germany.
  • Young Investigator Award, INCTR Congress (2009).
  • Top ranks in national MSc/PhD entrance exams (2002, 2006).

Publications 📜

  • Title: Dendrosomal curcumin significantly suppresses cancer cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo
    Authors: E Babaei, M Sadeghizadeh, ZM Hassan, MAH Feizi, F Najafi, …
    Year: 2012
    Citations: 182

  • Title: Dendrosomal curcumin nanoformulation downregulates pluripotency genes via miR-145 activation in U87MG glioblastoma cells
    Authors: M Tahmasebi Mirgani, B Isacchi, M Sadeghizadeh, F Marra, AR Bilia, …
    Year: 2014
    Citations: 152

  • Title: MgrB Alterations Mediate Colistin Resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae Isolates from Iran
    Authors: M Haeili, A Javani, J Moradi, Z Jafari, MM Feizabadi, E Babaei
    Year: 2017
    Citations: 113

  • Title: Curcumin-based nanoformulations: A promising adjuvant towards cancer treatment
    Authors: S Hafez Ghoran, A Calcaterra, M Abbasi, F Taktaz, K Nieselt, E Babaei
    Year: 2022
    Citations: 91

  • Title: The anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects of crocin on chemosensitive and chemoresistant cervical cancer cells
    Authors: H Mollaei, R Safaralizadeh, E Babaei, MR Abedini, R Hoshyar
    Year: 2017
    Citations: 73

  • Title: Dendrosomal nano-curcumin, the novel formulation to improve the anticancer properties of curcumin
    Authors: BM TAHMASEBI, MV ERFANI, E Babaei, F NAJAFI, M Zamani, M Shariati, …
    Year: 2015
    Citations: 62

  • Title: New dendrimer-based nanoparticles enhance curcumin solubility
    Authors: MC Falconieri, M Adamo, C Monasterolo, MC Bergonzi, M Coronnello, …
    Year: 2017
    Citations: 58

  • Title: Development of curcumin-loaded gemini surfactant nanoparticles: Synthesis, characterization and evaluation of anticancer activity against human breast cancer cell lines
    Authors: M Karimpour, MAH Feizi, M Mahdavi, B Krammer, T Verwanger, F Najafi, …
    Year: 2019
    Citations: 50

  • Title: Survivin as a potential target for cancer therapy
    Authors: E Soleimanpour, E Babaei
    Year: 2015
    Citations: 47

  • Title: Survivin-deltaEx3: a novel biomarker for diagnosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma
    Authors: S Vandghanooni, M Eskandani, V Montazeri, M Halimi, E Babaei, …
    Year: 2011
    Citations: 44

Conclusion 🌟

Dr. Babaei is a pioneer in molecular oncology, blending wet-lab expertise with bioinformatics to advance cancer therapeutics. His work on nanocurcumin, CRISPR-based diagnostics, and miRNA biomarkers highlights his interdisciplinary impact. With 95+ publications and leadership in international collaborations, he continues to drive innovation in genetics and personalized medicine.

Marlin Touma | Genetics | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Marlin Touma | Genetics | Best Researcher Award

Faculty | UCLA – David Geffen School of Medicine | United States

Dr. Marlin Touma is an esteemed physician-scientist specializing in neonatal-perinatal medicine, congenital heart defects, and cardiovascular research. She currently serves as an Associate Professor-in-Residence at the David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA. With extensive experience in both clinical and research settings, Dr. Touma has contributed significantly to understanding congenital heart disease, neonatal cardiovascular development, and regenerative medicine. She is the Director of the UCLA Congenital Heart Defects Research Program and the UCLA Congenital Heart Defects-BioCore.

Profile👤

Google Scholar

ORCID

Scopus

Strengths for the Awards✨

  • Extensive Research and Leadership

    • Founder and Principal Investigator of the UCLA Congenital Heart Defects-BioCore since 2013.
    • Director of the UCLA Congenital Heart Defects Research Program since 2020.
    • Multiple leadership roles at David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

  • Significant Contributions to Cardiovascular Research

    • Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology from UCLA.
    • Research on genetics and genomics of congenital heart defects, a critical area in neonatal-perinatal medicine.
    • Involvement in NIH research programs and review panels, demonstrating national recognition.

  • Recognition and Awards

    • Outstanding Research Award (Mead Johnson, 2011, American Academy of Pediatrics).
    • Finalist Award (2021 Mid-Career Research Scholar Award, International Society for Heart Research).
    • Multiple invited speaker and session chair roles at AHA, ISHR, and UCLA cardiovascular symposia.
    • Travel and research awards from AHA, NIH, and other prestigious institutions.

  • Educational and Clinical Excellence

    • Trained at Harvard Medical School, UCLA, and Damascus University.
    • Board-certified in General Pediatrics and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine.
    • Director of programs that integrate cutting-edge research with clinical applications.

🎓 Education

  • M.D. (1992) – Damascus University School of Medicine, Syria
  • Pediatrics Residency (1992-1996) – Children’s Hospital of Damascus University, Syria
  • Senior Pediatric Residency (1995-1996) – Children’s Hospital of Damascus University, Syria
  • Master’s Degree (Postgraduate Diploma) (1997) – Damascus University, Syria
  • Pediatrics Residency (2005-2008) – Dell Children’s Medical Center, University of Texas Medical Branch, USA
  • Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship (2008-2011) – Harvard Medical School, USA
  • Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology (2015) – University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA

💼 Experience

  • Current Positions:
    • Associate Professor-in-Residence, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA
    • Director, UCLA Congenital Heart Defects-BioCore
    • Director, UCLA Congenital Heart Defects Research Program
  • Previous Positions:
    • Clinical Instructor in Pediatrics, UCLA (2011-2014)
    • Assistant Professor-in-Residence, UCLA (2014-2021)
    • Fellow in Neonatology, Harvard Medical School (2008-2011)
    • Pediatric Resident, Dell Children’s Medical Center, University of Texas Medical Branch (2005-2008)
    • Senior Pediatrician, Al Obaid General Hospital, Saudi Arabia (2000-2002)

📝 Research Interests On Genetics

Dr. Touma’s research focuses on congenital heart defects, neonatal cardiovascular development, and gene-environment interactions in heart disease. She is particularly interested in molecular mechanisms regulating heart development, regenerative therapies, and translational approaches to improve pediatric cardiovascular health.

🏆 Awards & Honors

  • Award for Excellence (Top Ten Students in Country) – Syrian Ministry of Higher Education
  • Best Resident in Pediatrics Award – Damascus University
  • Outstanding Research Award – American Academy of Pediatrics National Conference (2011)
  • UCLA STAR Award for Doctoral Scholarship Admission (2011)
  • Finalist Award – Mid-Career Research Scholar Award – International Society for Heart Research (2021)
  • International Abstract Travel Award – International Society for Heart Research (2022)
  • Distinguished Speaker & Session Chair – Multiple conferences, including AHA and ISHR

📚 Publications

Dr. Touma has authored numerous research articles in high-impact journals. Some selected publications include:

  • Repression of Sox9 by Jag1 is continuously required to suppress the default chondrogenic fate of vascular smooth muscle cells

    • Authors: A Briot, A Jaroszewicz, CM Warren, J Lu, M Touma, C Rudat, JJ Hofmann, …
    • Year: 2014
    • Citations: 81

  • COVID-19: molecular diagnostics overview

    • Author: M Touma
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 76

  • Nkx2-5 suppresses the proliferation of atrial myocytes and conduction system

    • Authors: Y Nakashima, DA Yanez, M Touma, H Nakano, A Jaroszewicz, …
    • Year: 2014
    • Citations: 68

  • Whole genome sequencing identifies SCN2A mutation in monozygotic twins with Ohtahara syndrome and unique neuropathologic findings

    • Authors: M Touma, M Joshi, MC Connolly, P Ellen Grant, AR Hansen, O Khwaja, …
    • Year: 2013
    • Citations: 63

  • Decoding the long noncoding RNA during cardiac maturation: a roadmap for functional discovery

    • Authors: M Touma, X Kang, Y Zhao, AA Cass, F Gao, R Biniwale, G Coppola, …
    • Year: 2016
    • Citations: 48

  • Improved pulmonary vascular reactivity and decreased hypertrophic remodeling during nonhypercapnic acidosis in experimental pulmonary hypertension

    • Authors: H Christou, OM Reslan, V Mam, AF Tanbe, SH Vitali, M Touma, E Arons, …
    • Year: 2012
    • Citations: 38

  • Ppp1r1b-lncRNA inhibits PRC2 at myogenic regulatory genes to promote cardiac and skeletal muscle development in mouse and human

    • Authors: X Kang, Y Zhao, G Van Arsdell, SF Nelson, M Touma
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 36

  • p38 Mitogen-activated protein kinase regulates chamber-specific perinatal growth in heart

    • Authors: T Yokota, J Li, J Huang, Z Xiong, Q Zhang, T Chan, Y Ding, C Rau, …
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 34

  • Maternal calorie restriction causing uteroplacental insufficiency differentially affects mammalian placental glucose and leucine transport molecular mechanisms

    • Authors: A Ganguly, M Touma, S Thamotharan, DC De Vivo, SU Devaskar
    • Year: 2016
    • Citations: 30

  • Wnt11 regulates cardiac chamber development and disease during perinatal maturation

    • Authors: M Touma, X Kang, F Gao, Y Zhao, AA Cass, R Biniwale, X Xiao, …
    • Year: 2017
    • Citations: 27

  • Echocardiographic markers of pulmonary hemodynamics and right ventricular hypertrophy in rat models of pulmonary hypertension

    • Authors: F Spyropoulos, SH Vitali, M Touma, CD Rose, CR Petty, P Levy, …
    • Year: 2020
    • Citations: 23

  • A path to implement precision child health cardiovascular medicine

    • Authors: M Touma, B Reemtsen, N Halnon, J Alejos, JP Finn, SF Nelson, Y Wang
    • Year: 2017
    • Citations: 17

📄 Conclusion

Dr. Marlin Touma is a renowned expert in neonatal cardiovascular research with an impressive track record of clinical excellence, academic achievements, and innovative research. As a leading scientist in congenital heart defects and pediatric cardiology, her work continues to shape the future of neonatal medicine and cardiovascular health worldwide.