Rongpeng Li | Molecular Biology | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Rongpeng Li | Molecular Biology | Research Excellence Award

Nantong University | China

Dr. Rongpeng Li is a highly productive researcher whose scientific contributions span molecular microbiology, innate immunity, tumor biology, and therapeutic drug discovery. With a publication record of 60 Scopus-indexed documents, an h-index of 20, and 1541 citations, his work demonstrates sustained impact across both fundamental life science and translational biomedical research. He has led 7 completed or ongoing research projects, in addition to 6 industry-linked consultancy projects, highlighting his strong engagement with applied science. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms by which the innate immune system recognizes pathogens, regulates virulence, and interacts with host defense pathways, contributing to new insights into immune regulation and pathogen evolution. He has also advanced the understanding of tumor proliferation, resistance mechanisms, CAR-T/CAR-M therapies, and the influence of the tumor and gut microbiome on cancer progression. His contributions to natural drug discovery include identifying new immune-modulating compounds and developing therapeutic vaccine strategies. Notably, his team discovered that TRIM7 promotes NAFLD/NASH progression through DUSP10 degradation, establishing a novel regulatory axis for metabolic liver disease and identifying a promising therapeutic target. With strong publication output, innovation in drug discovery, and leadership in interdisciplinary collaborations, Dr. Li stands as a significant contributor to contemporary life science research.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid 

Featured Publications

Yan, F.-J., Ding, H., Zhang, N., Yan, S.-R., Huang, M.-X., Lu, J.-W., Wang, Y.-J., Yan, Y.-J., Li, R.-P., & Wang, Q. The E3 ligase tripartite motif 7 drives the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease by targeting DUSP10 degradation in male mice.

Wang, Z., Zhao, J., He, S., Li, R., Wang, X., Yan, C., Zhao, J., & Wei, W.  Inorganic polyphosphate relieves ulcerative colitis by modulating the gut microbiota and metabolites.

Song, L., Wang, S., Zou, H., Yi, X., Jia, S., Li, R., & Song, J. Regulation of ergosterol biosynthesis in pathogenic fungi: Opportunities for therapeutic development. .

Song, J., Shi, L., Wang, S., Wang, Y., Zhu, Y., Jiang, J., & Li, R. Correction for Song et al., “Acidic/alkaline stress mediates responses to azole drugs and oxidative stress in Aspergillus fumigatus”.

Jeongyeon Mun | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Jeongyeon Mun | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

Columbia University Medical Center | South Korea

Jeong-Yeon Mun is a highly productive researcher whose scientific contributions demonstrate growing global impact, supported by 454 citations recorded in her publication list. Her Google Scholar profile shows an h-index of 17 and 19 peer-reviewed documents, reflecting a consistent record of influential research across cancer genomics, tumor microenvironment biology, and therapeutic resistance mechanisms. Mun’s work spans a diverse collection of studies published in high-visibility journals, where she has contributed as both first author and co-author on investigations addressing critical topics such as glioblastoma metabolism, chemoresistance in bladder cancer, molecular subtype identification, immune regulation, and biomarker discovery. Her research also extends into experimental oncology, employing advanced genomic, metabolic, and molecular techniques to uncover pathways that shape cancer progression and response to therapy. In addition to her publications, she is credited with multiple patents related to diagnostic biomarkers and genetic typing technologies, demonstrating translational relevance beyond academic settings. Mun’s growing citation impact underscores her role in shaping contemporary cancer biology, while her multidisciplinary expertise continues to support significant advancements in understanding tumor behavior, therapeutic vulnerabilities, and molecular disease mechanisms

Featured Publications

Mun, J.-Y., Shu, C., Gao, Q., Akman, H. O., Westhoff, M.-A., Karpel-Massler, G., & Siegelin, M. D. CDK12 regulates cellular metabolism to promote therapy resistance in glioblastoma. Cancer Research, 85(8_Supplement_1), 5395–5395.

Jeong, M.-S., Baek, S.-W., Yang, G.-E., Mun, J.-Y., Kim, J.-A., Kim, T.-N., Nam, J.-K., Choi, Y.-H., Lee, J.-S., Chu, I.-S., & Leem, S.-H. Chemoresistance-motility signature of molecular evolution to chemotherapy in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer and its clinical implications. Cancer Letters, 610, 217339.

Leem, S.-H., Mun, J.-Y., Jeong, M.-S., & Kim, M.-H., Yang, G.-E.  Novel biomarker for diagnosing and predicting metastasis or prognosis of various cancers, and use (U.S. Patent Application No. 18/573,338).

Nguyen, T. T. T., Gao, Q., Mun, J.-Y., Zhu, Z., Shu, C., Naim, A., Rogava, M., Izar, B., Westhoff, M.-A., Karpel-Massler, G., & Siegelin, M. D. Suppressing PD-L1 expression via AURKA kinase inhibition enhances natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity against glioblastoma. Cells, 13(13), 1155.

Svetlana Soboleva | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Svetlana Soboleva | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

Novosibirsk State University | Russia

Dr. Svetlana Soboleva, a Research Scientist at the Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Russian Academy of Sciences, has made significant contributions to the study of protein-nucleic interactions and enzymology. Her research focuses on the structural and functional characteristics of human milk lactoferrin, its complexes with other milk proteins, and the formation of highly stable multiprotein complexes from human milk and placenta. With a total of 25 published journal papers in SCI and Scopus-indexed publications and 9 citations, she has demonstrated consistent scholarly output in biochemical and molecular biology research. Her h-index, as reflected in her Scopus profile, highlights the impact and recognition of her scientific work within the global research community. She has completed three research projects with one ongoing, showing a sustained commitment to advancing enzymology and protein research. Additionally, she has contributed to academic literature through a book chapter and participated in international collaborations such as the U.S. Civilian Research & Development Foundation  Postdoctoral Fellowship Program. Her research excellence and international engagement underline her position as a deserving candidate for recognition under the Best Researcher Award category.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Research Gate

Featured Publications

Soboleva, S. E., Maltseva, N. A., Kostrikina, I. A., Dmitrenok, P. S., & Nevinsky, G. A. Metal dependent glycosidases of sea cucumber Eupentacta fraudatrix and their properties.

Tupitsyna, A. V., Grigorieva, A. E., Soboleva, S. E., Maltseva, N. A., Sedykh, S. E., Poletaeva, J., Dmitrenok, P. S., Ryabchikova, E. I., & Nevinsky, G. A.  Isolation of extracellular vesicles of Holothuria (sea cucumber Eupentacta fraudatrix). International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(16), 12907.

Zaksas, N. P., Timofeeva, A. M., Dmitrenok, P. S., Soboleva, S. E., & Nevinsky, G. A. Comparison of the content of several elements in seawater, sea cucumber Eupentacta fraudatrix and its high-molecular-mass multiprotein complex. Molecules, 27(6), 1958.

Timofeeva, A. M., Kostrikina, I. A., Dmitrenok, P. S., Soboleva, S. E., & Nevinsky, G. A. Protease and DNase activities of a very stable high-molecular-mass multiprotein complex from sea cucumber Eupentacta fraudatrix. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(12), 6677.

Timofeeva, A. M., Kostrikina, I. A., Dmitrenok, P. S., Soboleva, S. E., & Nevinsky, G. A.  Very stable two mega dalton high-molecular-mass multiprotein complex from sea cucumber Eupentacta fraudatrix.

Annamaria Biroccio | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Annamaria Biroccio | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

IRCCS-Regina Elena National Cancer Institute | Italy

Dr. Annamaria Biroccio, PhD (Microbiology, University of Messina) is a Senior Investigator at the Regina Elena National Cancer Institute (IRE-IFO), Rome, with over two decades of experience in cancer molecular biology and telomere research. Her work focuses on elucidating the mechanisms regulating telomere function and their implications in cancer progression, alongside developing pharmacological strategies targeting telomeres for anticancer therapy. She has published extensively in high-impact journals, contributing over 115 peer-reviewed papers on telomere biology, DNA damage response, and targeted therapies. According to her CV, Dr. Biroccio holds an H-index of 44, reflecting substantial influence in the field, with more than 6124 citations across her publications. Her research leadership is underscored by principal investigator roles in major national and international grants, including AIRC, CNR, and EU FP7 programs. She is also co-owner of two patents related to telomere-targeting therapeutics for triple-negative breast cancer. In recognition of her contributions, she has received multiple awards such as the Mascia Brunelli Award and Young Investigator Award. Beyond research, Dr. Biroccio has significantly contributed to scientific training as a tutor for numerous national fellowship programs and serves on editorial boards of prominent cancer research journals

Featured Publications

Dinami, R., Petti, E., Ostano, P., Iachettini, S., Rizzo, A., Maresca, C., Zizza, P., Di Vito, S., Porru, M., D’Angelo, C., Sibilio, P., De Nicola, F., Russo, R., Di Benedetto, A., Palange, A., Fanciulli, M., Chambery, A., Gilson, E., & Biroccio, A. (2025). Multi-omics analyses integration reveals a novel TRF2–miR-181a-5p–S100A10 regulatory axis in colon cancer. Cellular and Molecular Biology Letters, 30(1), 121.

Petti, E., Di Vito, S., Dinami, R., Porru, M., Marchesi, S., Lohuis, J., Zizza, P., Iachettini, S., Salvati, E., D’Angelo, C., Rizzo, A., Maresca, C., Ascione, F., Di Benedetto, A., Buglioni, S., Sacconi, A., Ostano, P., Li, Q., Stoppacciaro, A., Leonetti, C., van Rheenen, J., Maiuri, P., Scita, G., & Biroccio, A. (2025). TRF2 interaction with nuclear envelope is required for cell polarization and metastasis in triple-negative breast cancer. Cell Death & Disease, 16(1), 224.

Pirota, V., Iachettini, S., Platella, C., Zizza, P., Fracchioni, G., Di Vito, S., Carachino, A., Battistini, F., Orozco, M., Freccero, M., Biroccio, A., & Doria, F. (2025). Naphthalene diimide–naphthalimide dyads promote telomere damage by selectively targeting multimeric G-quadruplexes. Nucleic Acids Research, 53(7), gkaf301.

Russomanno, P., Zizza, P., Cerofolini, L., D’Aria, F., Iachettini, S., Di Vito, S., Amato, J., Fragai, M., Pagano, B., & Biroccio, A. (2025). Expanding the functions of KHSRP protein: Insights into DNA G-quadruplex binding. Advanced Science, 12(8), e2410086.

Pirota, V., Salvati, E., Risoldi, C., Manoli, F., Rizzo, A., Zizza, P., Biroccio, A., Freccero, M., & Manet, I. (2025). Core-extended naphthalene diimide dyads as light-up probes with targeted cytotoxicity toward tumor cells. Biomolecules, 15(2), 311.