Mario Flores | Computational Biology | Next-Generation Science Trailblazer Award

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Assist Prof Dr. Mario Flores | Computational Biology | Next-Generation Science Trailblazer Award

Biomedical, University of Texas at San Antonio, United States

Profile

Google Scholar

Short Bio

Dr. Mario A. Flores is an Assistant Professor at the University of Texas at San Antonio, specializing in artificial intelligence models for disease phenotype predictions, biomarker identification, and explainable mechanisms. His innovative research integrates various AI techniques to enhance our understanding of disease progression, particularly in oncology.

Education

Dr. Flores holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronics Engineering from the Metropolitan Autonomous University, a Master’s in Applied Mathematics, and a PhD in Electrical Engineering (Computational Biology) from the University of Texas at San Antonio. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), NIH.

Experience

Since 2020, Dr. Flores has served as an Assistant Professor with joint appointments in Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Biomedical Engineering (BME) at UTSA. His prior roles include NIH Postdoctoral Fellow at NCBI and Research Associate at the Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, showcasing his extensive experience in computational biology and bioinformatics.

Research Interests

Dr. Flores’s research focuses on developing AI tools for disease gene dependence prediction, utilizing spatially resolved transcriptomics, single-cell RNA sequencing, and Electronic Health Records (EHRs) to analyze tumor microenvironments. His work aims to bridge gaps in understanding disease mechanisms and improve patient outcomes through precision medicine.

Awards

Dr. Flores has received numerous awards for his research, including funding from the NIH for projects on neural circuits inhibiting pain, and recognition from the AIM-AHEAD Fellowship program, supporting his efforts to address health disparities in minority populations.

Publications Top Notes

Dr. Flores has authored several impactful publications, including:

New tools for spatial biology transcriptomics & proteomics in immuno-oncology, Immuno-Oncology Insights, 2023.

Deep learning tackles single-cell analysis—a survey of deep learning for scRNA-seq analysis, Brief in Bioinformatics, 2022.

Transformer for Gene Expression Modeling (T-GEM): An Interpretable Deep Learning Model for Gene Expression-Based Phenotype Predictions, Cancers, 2022.

 

Cinzia Volonté | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Cinzia Volonté | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Dirigente di Ricerca, CNR-Istituto Analisi dei Sistemi e Informatica, Italy

Dr. Cinzia Volonté is a distinguished neuroscientist and expert in microglia, currently ranked among the top 0.073% of global experts in the field. Her exceptional career includes being named a top Italian scientist in neurosciences and holding several prestigious appointments, including EU Expert and ANVUR GEV Expert Evaluator. 🌟

Publication Profile

Scopus

Strengths for the Award

  1. Distinguished Research Record:Dr. Volonté has a robust publication record with 141 total publications and high citation metrics (h-Index of 49 on Google Scholar, 43 on Web of Science, and 44 on Scopus). Her research in microglia and neurodegeneration is highly influential, reflected in her ranking as a top expert in the field and significant citations.
  2. Leadership and Recognition:She holds prominent positions, such as Research Director at CNR and Director of the Cellular Neurobiology Unit, indicating strong leadership and a long-standing commitment to her field.Her accolades include being ranked among the top Italian scientists in neurosciences and being nominated as an EU Expert, which underscores her recognition in the scientific community.
  3. Innovative Research Focus:Dr. Volonté’s research on purinergic and histaminergic signaling in neurodegenerative diseases like ALS and MS is cutting-edge. Her work involves developing novel therapeutic strategies, showcasing her contribution to advancing treatment options.
  4. Editorial and Evaluation Roles:Her extensive involvement in editorial boards and as a project evaluator highlights her influence and the trust placed in her expertise by various scientific and funding bodies.
  5. Patent Contributions:Dr. Volonté holds patents related to the prevention of cerebral ischemia and cytotoxicity, reflecting her practical impact on applied research and therapeutic development.

Areas for Improvement

  1. Broader Impact and Interdisciplinary Work:While Dr. Volonté’s work is highly specialized, expanding her research to interdisciplinary fields or more diverse areas of neuroscience could enhance her impact and applicability across different scientific and medical domains.
  2. Public Engagement and Outreach:Increasing efforts in public science communication and outreach could help in making her research more accessible to a broader audience, including non-specialists and policymakers.
  3. Collaborative Research Initiatives:Building more collaborative projects with researchers outside her primary field of expertise could lead to new insights and innovations, fostering interdisciplinary approaches.

 

Education

Dr. Volonté earned her qualifications as a Full Professor in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from MIUR ASN-DD in 2013. Her academic journey has been marked by significant contributions to the fields of neuroscience and molecular biology. 🎓

Experience

Dr. Volonté has extensive experience as a Project Evaluator for various international research agencies, including the European Science Foundation and Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft. She has served as a scientific committee member and organizer for multiple conferences and has been involved in editorial responsibilities for leading journals. 🧠

Research Focus

Her research delves into the molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation in ALS and MS. Dr. Volonté is particularly focused on purinergic and histaminergic signaling pathways, aiming to develop novel therapeutic strategies using advanced models and cell cultures. 🔬

Awards and Honours

Dr. Volonté has received several notable awards, including the Luca Barone Award from the Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei in 1984 and 1983. She was also honored with the Young Scientist Lectureship Award by the International Society for Neurochemistry in 1993. 🏆

Publication Top Notes

Skaper SD, Volonté C. MiRNAcles in the Brain: What to Wish and What to Fear. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets., 14(2), 155-156 (2015). DOI: 10.2174/187152731402150305113941

Volonté C, Apolloni S, Parisi C. MicroRNAs: Newcomers into the ALS Picture. CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets., 14(2), 194-207 (2015). DOI: 10.2174/1871527314666150116125506

Volonté C, Parisi C, Apolloni S. New kid on the block: Does histamine get along with inflammation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis? CNS Neurol Disord Drug Targets., 14(5), 677-86 (2015). DOI: 10.2174/1871527314666150225143921

Conclusion

Dr. Cinzia Volonté is a highly qualified candidate for the Research for Best Research Award due to her significant contributions to neuroscience, particularly in understanding neurodegeneration and developing novel therapeutic approaches. Her extensive publication record, high citation metrics, and leadership roles reflect her exceptional expertise and influence in her field. While there are opportunities to enhance the broader impact of her work and increase public engagement, her accomplishments and ongoing research make her a strong contender for this prestigious award.

Oksana Mandrikova | Neural Networks | Best Researcher Award

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Prof Dr. Oksana Mandrikova | Neural Networks | Best Researcher Award

Chief Researcher, Federal State Budget Research Institution Institute of Cosmophysical Research and Radio Wave Propagation, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IKIR FEB RAS), Russia

Oksana V. Mandrikova was born in 1972. She graduated from Shevchenko Kyiv National University in 1995 and was awarded the title of Doctor of Technical Science in 2009. Currently, she serves as the Chief Researcher and Head of the Laboratory of System Analysis at the Institute of Cosmophysical Research and Radio Wave Propagation, Far Eastern Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Additionally, she is a Professor at the Control System Department of Kamchatka State Technical University. Her scientific interests encompass intelligent techniques for geophysical data analysis, wavelets, neural networks, the ionosphere, the magnetosphere, and signal anomalies. She has authored over 150 publications, including books and papers. 📚

Profile

Orcid

Publications Top Notes 🏆

  1. Hybrid Neural Network Approaches
  2. Generalized Multicomponent Model (GCCM)
  3. Hybrid Model for Non-Stationary Time Series
  4. Nonlinear Approximating Scheme
  5. Neural Network Methods for Galactic Cosmic Rays
  6. Geomagnetic Disturbance Detection