Vanesa españa romero | Health Professions | Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Award

Mrs. Vanesa españa romero | Health Professions | Cross-Disciplinary Innovation Award 

Profesora titular at Universidad de cadiz, Spain

Vanesa España Romero is a Professor at the University of Cádiz, specializing in Exercise Physiology with a strong interdisciplinary research focus that integrates sports science, health promotion, aging, and psychological well-being. She has published over 80 academic works, including 58 peer-reviewed journal articles, and holds three patents related to isometric strength assessment and climbing-specific training technologies. Her extensive involvement in 24 research and educational projects—many of which are international collaborations funded by the EU and U.S.—demonstrates her ability to work across disciplines and borders. Notably, she has played key leadership roles in the International Rock Climbing Research Association and has contributed to widely recognized projects such as HELENA, SONRÍE, and INTERMAE. Her work has practical implications in both clinical and athletic settings, particularly in areas such as physical activity interventions for depression and aging. Vanesa’s contributions reflect a deep commitment to innovation, knowledge transfer, and cross-disciplinary impact in science and society.

Professional Profile 

Education

Vanesa España Romero holds a PhD in Exercise Physiology from the University of Granada, completed in 2008, with a focus on applied exercise physiology for health and performance enhancement. Her foundational academic training includes a Licenciatura in Physical Activity and Sports Science from the same university (2004), and a Diplomatura in Physical Education Teaching from the University of Huelva (2001). Her academic trajectory reflects a solid grounding in both the science of human movement and pedagogy, allowing her to bridge theoretical understanding with practical application. This multidisciplinary education has shaped her ability to conduct innovative research at the intersection of physical activity, health, and education. Her training has also provided the tools necessary to address diverse populations, including elite athletes, older adults, and individuals with mental health challenges, which she integrates in her cross-disciplinary research.

Professional Experience

Vanesa España Romero has served as a Profesora Titular de Universidad (Associate Professor) at the University of Cádiz since 2020, within the Department of Didactics of Physical Education, Plastic Arts, and Music. Her professional career includes more than a decade of involvement in high-level academic research, curriculum development, and international scientific collaboration. She has taken on leadership roles in numerous research projects, both as a principal investigator and team member, with experience managing large-scale European-funded initiatives such as HELENA, LIFEAGE, and ERASMUS+ Sport. Vanesa also boasts substantial experience in public speaking and knowledge dissemination, having served as a keynote speaker at international conferences, including those organized by the International Rock Climbing Research Association (IRCRA). Additionally, she contributes to research governance and mentorship, including co-directing PhD dissertations. Her professional journey reflects a strong commitment to multidisciplinary research and education in both academic and applied settings.

Research Interest

Vanesa España Romero’s research lies at the intersection of exercise physiology, public health, aging, and sports performance, with a special focus on rock climbing and functional fitness. She is particularly interested in how physical activity can influence mental health, cognitive function, and aging, evidenced by her leadership in projects like SONRÍE (focused on depression) and INTERMAE (targeting aging and frailty). Her work frequently incorporates psychological, physiological, and biomechanical dimensions, bridging clinical and athletic domains. She has a strong focus on innovation in measurement and training tools, as reflected in her patents related to isometric strength evaluation and climbing-specific performance devices. Vanesa’s cross-disciplinary collaborations extend internationally, including partnerships with U.S. institutions and participation in large-scale EU-funded programs. Her research not only advances scientific understanding but also offers practical applications in healthcare, sports, and community health initiatives.

Award and Honor

Vanesa España Romero’s scholarly excellence and leadership have been recognized through her roles in prestigious international organizations and high-impact projects. She has served as Vice Chair (2016–2021) and Chair (from 2021) of the International Rock Climbing Research Association (IRCRA), where she contributed to organizing major scientific congresses in Colorado, Chamonix, and Tokyo. Her research has attracted significant funding, including over €30 million through projects such as HELENA and LIFEAGE, and substantial grants from the Junta de Andalucía for health-focused studies. She has also led innovative research that resulted in three patents, showcasing her contribution to applied science and technology transfer. As an invited speaker at international conferences and a key figure in both clinical and athletic research initiatives, her work is respected globally. Her achievements highlight her influential presence in multidisciplinary fields, particularly those merging sports science, health, and technological innovation.

Conclusion

Vanesa España Romero exemplifies the spirit of cross-disciplinary innovation through her work at the confluence of exercise science, health promotion, psychological well-being, and aging. With a robust academic foundation, a dynamic professional career, and an impressive portfolio of international research, she brings together diverse fields to address complex health and performance issues. Her ability to blend research, teaching, invention, and leadership makes her a strong candidate for recognition in disciplinary innovation. Her work has generated real-world impact—through both scientific contributions and practical applications such as patented devices and public health programs. Whether guiding global climbing research or developing interventions for vulnerable populations, Vanesa demonstrates an unwavering commitment to advancing knowledge across domains. She is a leading example of how science, when applied across disciplines, can enhance both individual well-being and societal outcomes.

Publications Top Notes

  • Title: Internet-Based Psycho-Physical Exercise Intervention Program in Mild-to-Moderate Depression: The Study Protocol of the SONRIE Randomized Controlled Trial
    Authors: Juan Manuel Escudier-Vázquez, Manuel Ruiz Muñoz, Inmaculada Garrido-Palomino, Sonia Ortega-Gómez, Eulalio Juan Valmisa Gómez de Lara, María del Mar Espinosa Nogales, Alicia Viglerio Montero, M.A. Rosety, David Jiménez-Pavón, Ana Carbonell-Baeza, Vanesa España-Romero, et al.
    Year: 2025
    Citation: Escudier-Vázquez JM, Ruiz Muñoz M, Garrido-Palomino I, et al. (2025). Internet-Based Psycho-Physical Exercise Intervention Program in Mild-to-Moderate Depression: The Study Protocol of the SONRIE Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22040540

  • Title: Cognitive Function of Climbers: An Exploratory Study of Working Memory and Climbing Performance
    Authors: Inmaculada Garrido-Palomino, David Giles, Simon Fryer, José Luis González-Montesinos, Vanesa España-Romero
    Year: 2024
    Citation: Garrido-Palomino I, Giles D, Fryer S, González-Montesinos JL, España-Romero V. (2024). Cognitive Function of Climbers: An Exploratory Study of Working Memory and Climbing Performance. The Spanish Journal of Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1017/SJP.2024.25

  • Title: Ultraviolet Sun Exposure and Sun Protection Behaviors in Outdoor Rock Climbers
    Authors: José V. Gutiérrez-Manzanedo, José Luis González-Montesinos, José Aguilera-Arjona, Alba Rodríguez-Martínez, Carmen Vaz-Pardal, Vanesa España-Romero, Francisco Rivas-Ruiz, Nuria Blázquez-Sánchez, María Victoria De Gálvez-Aranda, Magdalena De Troya-Martín
    Year: 2023
    Citation: Gutiérrez-Manzanedo JV, González-Montesinos JL, Aguilera-Arjona J, et al. (2023). Ultraviolet Sun Exposure and Sun Protection Behaviors in Outdoor Rock Climbers. Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1007/s43630-023-00488-0

  • Title: Role of Emotional Intelligence on Rock Climbing Performance
    Authors: Vanesa España-Romero
    Year: 2019
    Citation: España-Romero V. (2019). El rol de la inteligencia emocional en el rendimiento en escalada. Revista Internacional de Ciencias del Deporte. https://doi.org/10.5232/ricyde2019.05706

  • Title: Hemodynamic and Cardiorespiratory Predictors of Sport Rock Climbing Performance
    Authors: Fryer SM, Giles D, Palomino IG, de la O Puerta A, España-Romero V
    Year: 2018
    Citation: Fryer SM, Giles D, Palomino IG, de la O Puerta A, España-Romero V. (2018). Hemodynamic and Cardiorespiratory Predictors of Sport Rock Climbing Performance. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32(12), 3534–3541. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000001860

  • Title: Influence of a Self-Regulated Cognitive Dual Task on Time to Failure and Complexity of Submaximal Isometric Force Control
    Authors: Cruz-Montecinos C, Calatayud J, Iturriaga C, Bustos C, Mena B, España-Romero V, Carpes FP
    Year: 2018
    Citation: Cruz-Montecinos C, Calatayud J, Iturriaga C, et al. (2018). Influence of a Self-Regulated Cognitive Dual Task on Time to Failure and Complexity of Submaximal Isometric Force Control. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 118, 1767–1777. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-018-3936-6

  • Title: Correlates of Ideal Cardiovascular Health in European Adolescents: The HELENA Study
    Authors: Henriksson P, Henriksson H, Labayen I, Huybrechts I, Gracia-Marco L, Ortega FB, España-Romero V, Manios Y, González-Gross M, Marcos A, et al.
    Year: 2017
    Citation: Henriksson P, Henriksson H, Labayen I, et al. (2017). Correlates of Ideal Cardiovascular Health in European Adolescents: The HELENA Study. Nutrition, Metabolism & Cardiovascular Diseases, 28(5), 453–460. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2017.10.018

  • Title: Prevalence of Ideal Cardiovascular Health in European Adolescents: The HELENA Study
    Authors: Henriksson P, Henriksson H, Gracia-Marco L, Labayen I, Ortega FB, Huybrechts I, España-Romero V, Manios Y, Widhalm K, Dallongeville J, et al.
    Year: 2017
    Citation: Henriksson P, Henriksson H, Gracia-Marco L, et al. (2017). Prevalence of Ideal Cardiovascular Health in European Adolescents: The HELENA Study. International Journal of Cardiology, 248, 211–217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijcard.2017.03.022

  • Title: Differences in Forearm Strength, Endurance, and Hemodynamic Kinetics Between Male Boulderers and Lead Rock Climbers
    Authors: Fryer S, Stone KJ, Sveen J, Dickson T, España-Romero V, Giles D, Baláš J, Stoner L, Draper N
    Year: 2017
    Citation: Fryer S, Stone KJ, Sveen J, et al. (2017). Differences in Forearm Strength, Endurance, and Hemodynamic Kinetics Between Male Boulderers and Lead Rock Climbers. European Journal of Sport Science, 17(10), 1231–1240. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2017.1353135

Salma Younes | Biomedical Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Salma Younes | Biomedical Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Salma Younes, Qatar University, Qatar

Profile

Google Scholar

Short Bio 🌟

Salma Younes, MSc, MLS (ASCP)CM, is a dedicated and accomplished Ph.D. candidate in Biomedical Science at Qatar University. With an impressive portfolio of 42 peer-reviewed publications and significant contributions to cancer research and biomedical nanotechnology, Salma is committed to advancing healthcare through innovative scientific solutions. Her exceptional academic performance and research efforts have earned her numerous awards and recognitions, marking her as a leader in her field. Currently, she serves as a Graduate Research Assistant while actively mentoring undergraduate and master’s students.

Education 🎓

Salma completed her Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences at Qatar University, graduating with a GPA of 3.65/4.00 in 2020. Her dissertation focused on the anticancer activity of guggulsterone in human leukemic cells. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from the same institution in 2017, achieving a GPA of 3.10/4.00. Her undergraduate dissertation investigated the effects of iron chelation therapy on zebrafish models.

Experience 💼

Currently in her second year as a Ph.D. candidate and Graduate Research Assistant at Qatar University, Salma has extensive research experience. Previously, she worked as a Research Assistant at the Women’s Wellness and Research Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, and at the Biomedical Research Center of Qatar University. Salma also held a role as a Graduate Teaching Assistant, where she honed her teaching and mentoring skills, and served as a Lab Technologist at Qatar Biobank.

Research Interests 🔬

Salma’s research focuses on biomedical nanotechnology, particularly the synthesis and evaluation of novel 2D diphosphate nanocrystalline hydrogels for applications in skin infections and treatments. She is also deeply involved in cancer research, investigating molecular pathways and therapeutic strategies for chronic myeloid leukemia. Her commitment to public health is reflected in her studies on SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses and vaccine effectiveness.

Awards 🏆

Salma’s exceptional work has garnered several prestigious awards, including the Distinction in Academic Excellence from Qatar University in 2024 and the SIEED Innovation Pre-Incubation Program Award in both 2022 and 2023, where she received substantial funding for her research project. Additionally, she was recognized as the First Place Winner in the Graduate Research Award in Doha and was honored as a “Distinguished Graduate Student” by Qatar University in 2020, showcasing her dedication and impact in the field.

Publications 📚

Salma has contributed significantly to scientific literature, publishing in high-impact journals. Her key publications include:

  1. Younes, S., Nicolai, E., Pieri, M., Bernardini, S., Daas, H., Al-Sadeq, D., Younes, N., Shurrab, F., Nizamuddin, P., Humaira, F., Al-Dewik, N., Yassine, H., Abu-Raddad, L., Ismail, A. and Nasrallah, G. (2024). Follow-Up and Comparative Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 IgA, IgG, Neutralizing, and Total Antibody Responses After BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273 Heterologous Booster Vaccination. Influenza Other Respi Viruses, 18: e13290. DOI: 10.1111/irv.13290.
  2. Younes, S., Nicolai, E., Al-Sadeq, D.W., Younes, N., Al-Dewik, N., Abou-Saleh, H., et al. (2023). Follow-up and comparative assessment of IgG, IgA, and neutralizing antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 between mRNA-vaccinated naïve and unvaccinated naturally infected individuals over 10 months. Journal of Infection and Public Health, 16(11): 1729-1735. DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.08.009.
  3. Younes, S., Zein, N., Abunasser, S., Kamareddine, L., Kirienko, N.V., Nasrallah, G.K. (2023). Editorial: Unconventional animal models in infectious disease research, volume II. Front Cell Infect Microbiol, 13: 1225129. DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1225129.
  4. Younes, S., Ismail, M.A., Al-Jurf, R., Ziyada, A., Nasrallah, G.K., Abdulrouf, P.V., et al. (2023). Management of chronic myeloid leukemia: current treatment options, challenges, and future strategies. Hematology, 28(1): 2196866. DOI: 10.1080/16078454.2023.2196866.
  5. Shurbaji, S., Al Tamimi, F., Al Ghwairi, M.M., El Chaar, D., Younes, S., Majdalawieh, A.F., et al. (2023). High-sensitive detection and quantitation of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) from capillary/fingerstick and venepuncture whole-blood using fluorescence-based rapid lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA). Heliyon, 9(10): e20589. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e20589.
  6. Al-Dewik, N., Samara, M., Younes, S., Al-Jurf, R., Nasrallah, G.K., Al-Obaidly, S., et al. (2023). Prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of major congenital anomalies: A population-based register study. Sci Rep, 13(1): 2198. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-27935-3.

Sherrie Wallington | Social Determinants of Health | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Sherrie Wallington | Social Determinants of Health | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor, George Washington University School of Nursing & Milken Institute School of Public Health, United States

Short Bio 📜

Dr. Sherrie Wallington is a distinguished scholar in the field of mass communication and media studies, with a particular focus on public health communications. With extensive academic training from prestigious institutions and significant contributions to research, Dr. Sherrie Wallington has become a leading voice in the intersection of media and health disparities. Their work has been recognized through numerous awards and published in high-impact journals.

Profile

Scopus

Education 🎓

Dr. Sherrie Wallington completed a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Harvard School of Public Health, Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, MA (2006-2009), mentored by Drs. Howard Koh, K. (Vish) Viswanath, and Karen Emmons. Their PhD in Mass Communication and Media Studies was earned from Howard University School of Communications, Washington, DC in 2006, with a dissertation advised by Carolyn Stroman, PhD. Dr. [Name] also holds an MA in Speech Communication/Public Relations (1990) and a BSHE in Communication Arts (1984) from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.

Experience 🧑‍🏫

Dr. Sherrie Wallington has a robust teaching portfolio, including facilitating HPV Vaccine Provider Training courses across various institutions in Washington, DC. They have also taught doctoral-level courses at George Washington University School of Nursing, such as NURS-8451—DE Research Practicum and Determinants of Health—NURS 8430-DE, consistently receiving high evaluation scores from students.

Research Interest 🔬

Dr. Sherrie Wallington’s research interests lie at the intersection of public health communication, health disparities, and cancer prevention. They focus on understanding and improving health literacy, evaluating public health interventions, Social Determinants of Health and developing strategies to address health disparities among underserved populations.

Awards 🏆

Dr. Sherrie Wallington has been recognized with numerous awards, including the George Washington Cancer Center Community Engagement Award (2023), Peer Mentor Award from the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation (2019), and the Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Award from the American Association for Cancer Research (2008). They have also received several teaching and research awards throughout their career.

Publications 📚

Dr.Sherrie Wallington has contributed significantly to academic literature. Key publications include:

Evaluating a virtual flipped classroom approach to nurse practitioner telehealth competency development (Journal of Nursing Education, in press).

Racial/ethnic reporting differences in cancer literature regarding Machine Learning vs. A radiologist: A systematic review and meta-analysis (Journal of Medical Artificial Intelligence, 2023)

Self-regulatory coping among community dwelling older adults with multiple chronic conditions (J Multimorb Comorb, 2023)

Prevalence of Food Insecurity Among Cancer Survivors in the United States: A Scoping Review (J Acad Nutr Diet, 2023)

Paid Leave for Fathers: Policy, Practice, and Reform (Milbank Q, 2022)

Faith, family, and social networks: Effective strategies for recruiting Brazilian Immigrants in maternal and child health research (J Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, 2020)