Frienson Pradhan | Invasive Plant Species | Young Researcher Award

Mr. Frienson Pradhan | Invasive Plant Species | Young Researcher Award

Kathmandu University | Nepal

Frienson Pradhan is a biotechnology undergraduate at Kathmandu University with strong training in molecular biology, microbiology, and sustainable biotechnology. His academic and research experience includes molecular diagnostics, miRNA biomarker analysis in dengue infection, phytochemical extraction, bio-pesticidal research, and nature-based enterprise projects. He has gained hands-on exposure through internships in clinical data analysis, immunological techniques, and biotechnology product development. Actively engaged in science communication and mentoring, he has represented Nepal at international research platforms. Frienson is a DAAD-funded global award recipient, winner of Falling Walls Lab Nepal, and an Asian Scientist 100 Honoree, aspiring to bridge scientific research with societal impact.

View Orcid Profile

Featured Publications

Shiva Vaheb Hosseinabadi | Genetics and Bioinformatics | Young Scientist Award

Ms. Shiva Vaheb Hosseinabadi | Genetics and Bioinformatics | Young Scientist Award

Zist Fanavari Novin biotechnology Institute | Iran

Dr. Shiva Vaheb Hosseinabadi is a molecular and cellular biologist and researcher currently serving as a molecular-techniques instructor and research supervisor at Zist Fanavari Novin Biotechnology Institute (since 2024). She earned her M.Sc. in Cellular and Molecular Sciences from Razi University (2019) and a B.Sc. in Molecular and Cellular Biology-Genetics from Islamic Azad University of Falavarjan. Her research and technical expertise span gene expression analysis, neurogenetics, cancer genomics, mutation analysis, next-generation sequencing (NGS), and bioinformatics. She has contributed to over a dozen peer-reviewed research articles — including studies on microRNA regulation in Parkinson’s disease models, co-frameshift mutations in acute myeloid leukemia, neurotoxicity attenuation via miR-361-5p, and exploration of lncRNA–miRNA networks in various cancers — with total publications exceeding 15 and cumulative citations in the low hundreds [exact citation count varies by database]. Dr. Hosseinabadi is proficient in molecular lab techniques (PCR/qPCR, cell culture, NGS), data analysis (R, Python, SPSS), and bioinformatics workflows. Her dual role as scientist and educator allows her to translate cutting-edge genetic research into practical training and application, contributing to advances in personalized medicine, neurogenetics, cancer biomarker discovery, and genomic diagnostics. Her ongoing work, including a 2025 book on cancer diagnostics and drug-resistance, underscores her commitment to bridging research and clinical translation.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Hosseinabadi, S. V., Tahamtan, H., Esfahani, M. M., Ghaedi-Heidari, R., Hashemi, M. S., Peymani, M., Sisakhtnezhad, S., Fahimi, H., & Ghaedi, K. (2025). Upregulation of miR-361-5p attenuates MPP+-induced neurotoxicity in dopaminergic SH-SY5Y cells as a Parkinson’s disease model. Journal of Biological Chemistry.

Roshani, H. R., Nasiri, A., Sattari, A., Rasaei, S., Karimian, P., Jannesari, F., … Hosseinabadi, S. V., & Azadeh, M. (2025). Uncovering an ADH1C–lncRNA regulatory axis linking alcohol metabolism to diagnostic potential in colorectal, breast, and gastric cancers.

Ghasroldasht, M. M., Hosseinabadi, S. V., Ebrahimi Askari, R., & Lotfalipour, R. (2025). Novel co-frameshift mutations in N- and C-terminal regions of CEBPA in acute myeloid leukemia: A case report. Cancer Genetics.

Esfahani, M. M., Mostashfi, M., Hosseinabadi, S. V., Hashemi, M. S., Peymani, M., & Nasr-Esfahani, M. H., et al. (2024). Unveiling the regulatory role of miR-101-3p on ZNF746 in a Parkinson’s disease cell model: Implications for therapeutic targeting. Neuroscience Research.

Mansoureh Azadeh | Genetics and Bioinformatics | Excellence in Research award

Prof. Dr. Mansoureh Azadeh | Genetics and Bioinformatics | Excellence in Research award

Zist Fanavari Novin Biotechnology Institute | Iran

Dr. Mansoureh Azadeh Jouneghani is a seasoned molecular and cellular biologist, currently CEO of PreventiGene — a startup she launched in 2023 to promote cancer prevention through advanced genetic testing. With a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology, she also founded and leads Zist Fanavari Novin Biotechnology Institute since 2011, and has taught at the university level for 20 semesters at Azad University. Over her career she has led and managed substantial research initiatives in cancer genomics, drug-resistance mechanisms in cancer (especially breast cancer), genomic biomarkers for multiple sclerosis and cardiovascular disease, athlete genomics for performance and injury prevention, and personalized medicine. She is proficient in gene expression analysis, RNA sequencing, CRISPR, bioinformatics, and high-throughput data analytics, and has supervised training in numerous molecular-biology lab techniques (PCR, qRT-PCR, ELISA, cell culture, Western blot). Her research output includes over 100 publications, covering peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, and laboratory-technique handbooks; her work has contributed significantly to genomic medicine and translational biotechnology. As a leader and educator she bridges academia, industry, and clinical research — advancing personalized medicine, improving genomic diagnostics, and fostering vocational biotech education. Her dedication continues to contribute to better health outcomes, scientific innovation, and capacity-building in biotechnology.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Azadeh, M., Salehzadeh, A., Ghaedi, K., & Talesh Sasani, S. (2022). NEAT1 can be a diagnostic biomarker in breast cancer and gastric cancer patients by targeting XIST, hsa-miR-612, and MTRNR2L8: Integrated RNA targetome… Genes and Environment.

Fattahi Dolatabadi, N., Dehghani, A., Shahand, E., Yazdanshenas, M., et al. (2020). The interaction between MALAT1 target, miR-143-3p, and RALGAPA2 is affected by functional SNP rs3827693 in breast cancer.

Adami, B., Tabatabaeian, H., Ghaedi, K., Talebi, A., Azadeh, M., & Dehdashtian, E. (2019). miR-146a is deregulated in gastric cancer. Journal of Cancer Research and Therapeutics.

Assad Samani, L., Javadirad, S. M., Parsafar, S., Tabatabaeian, H., Ghaedi, K., et al. (2019). TP53 rs1625895 is related to breast cancer incidence and early death in Iranian population. Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry.

Dehghan, Z., Sadeghi, S., Tabatabaeian, H., Ghaedi, K., Azadeh, M., Fazilati, M., et al. (2017). *ESR1 single nucleotide polymorphism rs1062577 (c.3804T>A) alters the susceptibility of breast cancer risk in Iranian population. Gene.

Sonia Malik | Plant Biotechnology | Excellence in Plant Tissue Culture

Prof. Dr. Sonia Malik | Plant Biotechnology | Excellence in Plant Tissue Culture

Baba Farid Group of Institutions | India

Dr. Sonia Malik, Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology, is an accomplished researcher and academic leader currently serving as Professor and Dean of Research and Development at the Baba Farid Group of Institutions, India. She has produced more than 65 research publications (documents), which have collectively received over 1660 citations and earned her a strong h-index of 23, demonstrating her significant global scientific impact. Dr. Malik earned her PhD from the CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology & Guru Nanak Dev University in 2009, specializing in in vitro culture systems and secondary metabolite production. She has held prestigious research and teaching positions in India, Brazil, Australia, the UK, the Czech Republic, France, and South America, contributing to major projects in plant metabolic engineering, hairy root cultures, hydroponic and aeroponic systems, phytochemical profiling, and nanoparticle-mediated elicitation. Her research focuses on the biotechnological production of high-value bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. She has received notable awards, including the Fellow Award from the Society for Plant Research (2025), along with competitive grants and fellowships from FAPESP, FAPEMA, and CNPq. Dr. Malik continues to advance interdisciplinary scientific progress worldwide through her roles as an editor, reviewer, symposium organizer, and invited speaker.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Jacinto, C., Javed, Y., Lavorato, G., Tarraga, W. A., Conde, B. I. C., Orozco, J. M., Picco, A. S., Garcia, J., Dias, C. S. B., Malik, S., et al. (2025). Biotransformation and biological fate of magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles for biomedical research and clinical applications. Nanoscale Advances.

Luz, T. R. S. A., Serejo, A. P. M., Moraes, M. B. C., Oliveira, J. A. R. N., Heena, Kumaraguru, G., Shanmugam, G., Malik, S., Amaral, F. M. M., & Coutinho, D. F. (2025). Essential oils to treat insomnia: Clinical-based studies. In Essential Oil-Bearing Plants.

Jacinto, C., Silva, W. F., Garcia, J., Zaragosa, G. P., Ilem, C. N. D., Sales, T. O., Santos, H. D. A., Conde, B. I. C., Barbosa, H. P., Malik, S., et al. (2025). Nanoparticles-based image-guided thermal therapy and temperature feedback. Journal of Materials Chemistry B.

Malik, S., Salvatore, M. M., Bauchet, L., Bruat, M., Roubinet, B., Carpin, S., Andolfi, A., Cimmino, A., Landemarre, L., Masi, M., et al. (2025, November). Hydroponic cultivation technique in Populus nigra (L.) for the sustainable production of root metabolites with antimicrobial and prebiotic potential for skin microbiota. Industrial Crops and Products.

Heena, Sharma, P., Shaveta, Sharma, D., Pawan, R., Coutinho, D. F., Arroo, R., & Malik, S. (2025, June 20). Exploring the bioactive components of Stevia essential oil and their versatile applications in the food, cosmetic, and agricultural domains. Chemistry & Biodiversity.