Chunsong Cheng | Medicinal Plants | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chunsong Cheng | Medicinal Plants | Best Researcher Award

Lushan Botanical Garden, CAS & Jiangxi Province | China

Cheng Chunsong, Ph.D., is a researcher at the Lushan Botanical Garden of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), specializing in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and medicinal plant resources. He currently leads the Traditional Chinese Medicine Research Group and serves as the Director of the Lushan Botanical Garden’s Southern Branch, while also holding leadership roles in several key laboratories and institutes dedicated to TCM research and the sustainable utilization of medicinal plant resources. Dr. Cheng has participated in over 20 research projects funded by national and provincial agencies, including the National Natural Science Foundation and Jiangxi Provincial Key R&D Programs. His research focuses on the sustainable utilization of medicinal plant resources, with particular emphasis on genetic breeding and quality control of TCM materials. He has published more than 80 academic papers, including over 30 SCI-indexed articles in journals such as Food Chemistry, Chinese Journal of Natural Medicines, and Biochemical Pharmacology. His work contributes significantly to advancing TCM research and the development of sustainable practices in medicinal plant utilization. Dr. Cheng’s research interests include sustainable utilization of medicinal plant resources, genetic breeding, and quality control of TCM materials. He has been recognized as a Jiangxi Province “Double Thousand Talent,” an overseas talent in short supply, and a visiting scholar under the “Western Light” program of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee. Overall, Dr. Cheng Chunsong’s extensive research, publications, and leadership roles underscore his pivotal contribution to advancing sustainable practices, quality control, and innovation in the field of traditional Chinese medicine and medicinal plant resources.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Cheng, C. (2025). Association between high jugular bulb and sudden sensorineural hearing loss: A computed tomography based study. International Journal of General Medicine.

Cheng, C. (2025). Ecological risk assessment of future suitable areas for Piper kadsura under the background of climate change. Frontiers in Plant Science.

Cheng, C. (2025). Identification and classification of Aquilaria (Thymelaeaceae): Inferences from a phylogenetic study based on matK sequences. PeerJ.

Cheng, C. (2025). MYB polymorphism molecular marker: A novel molecular marker for authenticity and geographical origin identification of Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium. Chinese Herbal Medicines.

Cheng, C. (2025). Phytochemical profile of stem extract of Carthamus oxycantha and identification of herbicidal and antimicrobial constituents. Plant Protection Science.

Junkang Zhao | Nutritional epidemiology | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Junkang Zhao | Nutritional epidemiology | Best Researcher Award

Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan | China

Dr. Junkang Zhao is a nutritional epidemiologist and health statistician affiliated with Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University. He earned his Ph.D. in Epidemiology and Health Statistics from Shanxi Medical University in 2022. Dr. Zhao’s research primarily focuses on the application of advanced statistical methods in nutritional and medical research, with particular emphasis on dietary pattern analysis, chronic disease epidemiology, and population health. Over the course of his career, including the highly cited review “A Review of Statistical Methods for Dietary Pattern Analysis” (Nutrition Journal, 2021), and has contributed to three National Natural Science Foundation projects while leading two provincial-level research initiatives. His work has garnered significant recognition, including a third prize in a national-level competition. Dr. Zhao actively serves on multiple professional committees, including the Medical and Biostatistics Committee of the China Field Statistics Research Association, Clinical Research and Transformation Committee of the Shanxi Physicians Association, and the Clinical Trials Professional Committee of the Shanxi Anti-Cancer Association. With an H-index reflecting his impactful contributions, and numerous citations and publications to his credit, Dr. Zhao continues to advance evidence-based approaches in nutrition and health research, fostering the translation of statistical insights into clinical and public health applications.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Wang, J., Chen, S., Zhao, J., Liang, J., Gao, X., Gao, Q., He, S., & Wang, T. (2022). Association between nutrient patterns and hyperuricemia: Mediation analysis involving obesity indicators in the NHANES. BMC Public Health.

Wang, J., Chen, S., Zhao, J., Liang, J., Gao, X., Gao, Q., He, S., & Wang, T. (2022). Association between nutrient patterns and hyperuricemia: Mediation analysis involving obesity indicators for NHANES study .

Zhao, J., Guo, W., Wang, J., & Wang, T. (2022). Exploring the association of dietary patterns with the risk of hypertension using principal balances analysis and principal component analysis. Public Health Nutrition.

Zhao, J., Li, Z., Gao, Q., Zhao, H., Chen, S., Huang, L., Wang, W., & Wang, T. (2021). A review of statistical methods for dietary pattern analysis. Nutrition Journal.

Liang, J., Zhao, J. K., Wang, J. P., & Wang, T. (2020). Association between animal source foods consumption and risk of hypertension: A cohort study. European Journal of Nutrition.

Nadia Daskalova | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nadia Daskalova | Plant Breeding | Best Researcher Award

Technical University of Varna, Department Plant Production | Bulgaria

Dr. Nadia Georgieva Daskalova is an Associate Professor of Plant Breeding at the Technical University of Varna, with over 26 years of professional experience, including 17 years in research and 14 years in teaching. She earned her Master’s degree in Plant Protection from the Agricultural University of Plovdiv and completed her Ph.D. in Plant Breeding in 2015. Dr. Daskalova’s research focuses on cereals, particularly wheat, rye, and triticale, with special emphasis on genetic variability, disease resistance, and hybridization using embryo rescue techniques. She has successfully developed synthetic amphiploids and identified new genes in hexaploid wheat, contributing to grain quality improvement in bread wheat varieties. She has authored 16 peer-reviewed publications (2020–2024), multiple monographs, textbooks, and is engaged in national and international collaborative projects, including with Ukraine’s National Academy of Agrarian Sciences. Her work is widely recognized, with a citation record indexed in Scopus (h-index: 4) and multiple patents under process. Dr. Daskalova has served as an editorial reviewer for Springer Nature journals and actively participates in scientific committees and professional memberships. Her contributions advance sustainable cereal breeding and agricultural biotechnology, combining practical applications with academic excellence. She is a recipient of the International Plant Scientist Awards, reflecting her commitment to innovation and global impact in plant breeding and genetics.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Daskalova, N., & Spetsov, P. (2025). Variation in rye (Secale cereale L.) inbred lines with different type of glaucousness. Journal of Crop Science and Biotechnology. Advance online publication.

Daskalova, N., Georgieva, M., Angelova, R., & Spetsov, P. (2023). Agronomic performance of introgression lines derived from a cross of common wheat with synthetic hexaploid amphiploid 530-1. Journal of Central European Agriculture.

Spetsov, P., & Daskalova, N. (2023). Genetic basis of pest resistance in wheat-rye and triticale stocks. Cytology and Genetics.

Spetsov, P., & Daskalova, N. (2022). Resistance to pathogens in wheat-rye and triticale genetic stocks. Journal of Plant Pathology.

Daskalova, N., Doneva, S., & Spetsov, P. (2021). Characterization of triticale (× Triticosecale Wittmack) accessions and reciprocal hybrids possessing wheat 1D chromosome. Agriculturae Conspectus Scientificus.

Shivshankar Gunjegaonkar | Plant Hormones | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Shivshankar Gunjegaonkar | Plant Hormones | Best Researcher Award

ASPM’s K. T. Patil College of Pharmacy | India

Dr. Gunjegaonkar Shivshankar M. is an accomplished academician and researcher in Pharmacology with over 15 years of experience, including 1.5 years in industry and more than 13 years in academia. He currently serves as Associate Professor at ASPM’s K. T. Patil College of Pharmacy, Osmanabad, and has previously held leadership roles as HOD, NAAC Coordinator, IQAC Coordinator, and Academic Audit Coordinator across reputed pharmacy institutions. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmacology from Vels University, Chennai, M. Pharm. from Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, and B. Pharm. from Pune University. His research interests focus on pharmacological evaluation of medicinal plants, methyl jasmonate mechanisms, immunotherapy, and experimental pharmacology. Dr. Shivshankar has contributed significantly to research with 35 publications, 3 books, 5 book chapters, and 3 patents. His work has received 55 citations, an h-index of 5, and 11 Scopus-indexed documents. He has guided more than 70 students, delivered talks, and served as editorial board member for reputed journals. With 18 awards, including the Research Excellence Award (2022) and multiple recognitions for teaching and peer reviewing, Dr. Shivshankar continues to contribute actively to pharmaceutical education and research, striving to bridge traditional knowledge with modern drug discovery.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Gunjegaonkar, S. M., Sasane, D. R., Shaikh, S. A., Joshi, A. A., & Sapkale, G. N. (2024). Cefotaxime-induced allergic reaction in a 4 years old boy: Case presentation and management strategies. Indian Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology.

Gunjegaonkar, S. M., Nargund, S. L., Joshi, A. A., & Bhalerao, A. V. (2023). Hinokitiol attenuates LPS-induced arthritic inflammation: A preclinical perspective. In Computational intelligence for clinical diagnosis (pp. 545–561).

Gunjegaonkar, S. M., Khakal, V. R., Joshi, A. A., Nargund, S. L., Shinde, S. D., & Khan, N. S. (2022). Cardio-protective effect of Cocculus hirsutus in experimental hypertension in rats. Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine,

Shinde, S. D., Jain, P. G., Cheke, R. S., Surana, S. J., & Gunjegaonkar, S. M. (2021). Abrogation of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in rats and HEK-293 cell lines by formononetin: In vivo and in vitro study. Comparative Clinical Pathology.

Gunjegaonkar, S. M., Wankhede, S. B., Shanmugarajan, T. S., & Shinde, S. D. (2020). Bioactive role of plant stress hormone methyl jasmonate against lipopolysaccharide induced arthritis. Heliyon.