Dr. Anna Iwan | Medicine | Research Excellence Award
Featured Publications
BKPyV—Co-Architect of the Fate of a Renal Transplant During a One-Year Observation Period
– International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2026
Prof. Wei Wu | Director | Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention | China
Dr. Wei Wu is a distinguished public health scientist specializing in labor and environmental hygiene, microbial epidemiology, and health data analytics. His research primarily explores the intersection of gut microbiota, metabolic diseases, and public health, employing advanced population cohort and multi-omics data analysis to uncover novel biomarkers and disease risk genes. Dr. Wu’s studies contribute significantly to understanding nutrient–gut flora–host interactions, guiding innovative therapeutic targets for metabolic and infectious diseases. He has also made substantial contributions to vaccine health economics and hygiene assessment in rail transit systems. As a postgraduate supervisor and active member of multiple national scientific committees, Dr. Wu plays a vital role in shaping public health policy and research in China. His impactful scientific output has earned recognition in leading journals, including Nature Medicine and Microbiome. According to Scopus, he has published 35 documents with over 1,577 citations, an h-index of 13, and his work is widely cited across 1,498 documents. On Google Scholar, his publications have similarly received extensive academic engagement, underscoring his global research influence in environmental and preventive health sciences.
He, Y., Wu, W., Zheng, H. M., Li, P., McDonald, D., Sheng, H. F., et al. (2018). Regional variation limits applications of healthy gut microbiome reference ranges and disease models. Nature Medicine, 24(10), 1532–1535.
He, Y., Wu, W., Wu, S., Zheng, H. M., Li, P., Sheng, H. F., et al. (2018). Linking gut microbiota, metabolic syndrome and economic status based on a population-level analysis. Microbiome, 6(1), 172.
Guo, X., Yan, M., Huang, D., Chen, S., Zhang, D., Li, Z., Yang, X., & Wu, W. (2023). A large scale 16S ribosomal RNA gene amplicon dataset of hand, foot and mouth patients and healthy individuals. Scientific Data, 10(48), 1–6.
Yan, M., Guo, X., Ji, G., Huang, R., Huang, D., Li, Z., Zhang, D., Chen, S., Cao, R., Yang, X., & Wu, W. (2023). Mechanism-based role of the intestinal microbiota in gestational diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Frontiers in Immunology, 13(3), 1–13.
Wang, H., Luo, L., & Wu, W. (2023). SAS statistical analysis and applications from introduction to mastery (2nd ed.). Posts & Telecom Press.
Catedrática de Universidad, Universitat de Valencia, Spain
👩🔬 Maria A. Aguilar (also known as Maria Asunción Aguilar) is a Full Professor at the University of Valencia in the Department of Psychobiology. With a research focus on psychopharmacology and physiological psychology, she has made significant contributions to understanding the brain mechanisms underlying addiction and stress resilience. Since November 2017, she has held the prestigious position of Catedrático at the University of Valencia.
🎓 Maria A. Aguilar completed her specialization in Psychopharmacology and Physiological Psychology, with a focus on understanding the neural circuits involved in addiction and behavior. Her doctoral thesis was supervised by renowned experts Jose Miñarro and Vicente Simón.
💼 Maria A. Aguilar has had a distinguished academic career, starting as a Professor Titular at the University of Valencia in 2002 and later being promoted to Full Professor in 2017. Her teaching and research primarily focus on psychobiology, particularly studying addiction, drug abuse, and neuroplasticity.
🔬 Her research explores the neurobiological mechanisms of addiction and stress, especially focusing on drug-seeking behavior, neuroplasticity, and the role of glutamatergic receptors. She has conducted extensive studies on the effects of cocaine, MDMA, and cannabidiol on the brain’s reward systems.
🏅 Professor Aguilar has received various accolades throughout her career, including recognition for her groundbreaking research in psychopharmacology and neurobiology. She is a member of several professional organizations and continues to contribute to advancing the understanding of brain mechanisms in behavior.
📝 Top Publications:
Inhibition of Nitric Oxide Synthesis Prevents the Effects of Intermittent Social Defeat on Cocaine-Induced Conditioned Place Preference in Male Mice (2024). Published in Pharmaceuticals DOI: 10.3390/ph17091203. Cited by: 6 articles.
Intermittent voluntary wheel running promotes resilience to the negative consequences of repeated social defeat in mice (2022). Published in Physiology & Behavior DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2022.113916. Cited by: 12 articles.
Cannabidiol prevents priming- and stress-induced reinstatement of the conditioned place preference induced by cocaine in mice (2021). Published in Journal of Psychopharmacology DOI: 10.1177/0269881120965952. Cited by: 20 articles.
Role of NMDA and AMPA glutamatergic receptors in the effects of social defeat on the rewarding properties of MDMA in mice (2019). Published in European Journal of Neuroscience DOI: 10.1111/ejn.14190. Cited by: 15 articles.
María A. Aguilar is a highly suitable candidate for the Research for Women Award due to her extensive contributions to psychobiology, particularly in the study of drug addiction and stress-related behaviors. Her long academic career, leadership roles, and prolific publication record highlight her dedication to advancing research in neuroscience. To increase her chances of winning, focusing more on the gender-specific implications of her work and enhancing public outreach could further align her profile with the award’s goals.
Associate Professor, University of Washington, United States
Dr. Sandhya R. Panch, MD, MPH, is an esteemed Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Washington and the Medical Director of Transfusion at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. With a rich background in hematology and transfusion medicine, Dr. Panch has significantly contributed to both academic and clinical fields. Her extensive experience includes roles at the National Institutes of Health and various prestigious institutions, making her a leading expert in her specialty.
Dr. Panch earned her MBBS from Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute in India. She furthered her education with a Master’s in Public Health (Epidemiology and Biostatistics) from the University of Minnesota. Her postdoctoral training includes a residency in Internal Medicine at Georgetown University Hospital, followed by a Clinical Fellowship in Transfusion Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, where she also completed a Post-doctoral Research Fellowship in Molecular Hematopoiesis under the mentorship of Dr. Cynthia E. Dunbar.
Dr. Panch has held numerous prestigious positions throughout her career. Currently, she serves as an Associate Professor at the University of Washington and Medical Director of Transfusion at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. Her previous roles include Assistant Research Physician at the NIH Clinical Center and Medical Director at the Center for Cellular Engineering. She has also served as an Attending Physician at NHLBI, NIH, and INOVA SCHAR Cancer Institute, contributing to both clinical practice and research.
Dr. Panch’s research interests are deeply rooted in hematology and transfusion medicine. She focuses on improving hematopoietic progenitor cell mobilization, understanding the impact of manufacturing-related parameters on CAR T-cell product quality, and exploring the safety and efficacy of various treatments for hematologic conditions. Her work aims to enhance patient outcomes through innovative therapeutic approaches and clinical trials.
Dr. Panch has received numerous awards and grants throughout her career, including the National Blood Foundation Early Career Award and the NIH Clinical Center Research Award for Staff Clinicians Program. She has been recognized for her contributions to hematology and transfusion medicine, reflecting her dedication to advancing medical research and patient care.