Annamaria Biroccio | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

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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

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Researcher ID 

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.

Andrea Smidler | Gene Editing | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Andrea Smidler | Gene Editing | Best Researcher Award

University of California San Diego | United States

Dr. Andrea L. Smidler is an accomplished molecular entomologist and genetic engineer whose research focuses on innovative CRISPR-based tools for vector control, particularly in Anopheles gambiae, the primary malaria vector. According to her Scopus profile (Author ID: 36626227000), she has published 18 scientific documents, achieving an impressive h-index of 14 and accumulating over 2008 citations, reflecting her growing influence in genetic biocontrol research. Her recent high-impact works include “Engineering gene drive docking sites in a haplolethal locus in Anopheles gambiae” (Scientific Reports, 2025), “CRISPR technologies for the control and study of malaria-transmitting Anopheline mosquitoes” (Parasites and Vectors, 2025), and “Eliminating malaria vectors with precision guided sterile males” (PNAS, 2024). Through collaborations with leading scientists such as Omar Akbari, George Church, and Flaminia Catteruccia, Dr. Smidler has advanced CRISPR-mediated gene drive and sterilization systems that aim to eradicate malaria at its source. Her consistent publication record across top-tier journals—including Science, PNAS, and Cell—and her citation metrics underscore her pioneering contributions to synthetic biology, public health genetics, and entomological engineering. Dr. Smidler continues to be a key innovator in developing genetic solutions for vector-borne disease elimination.

Featured Publications

Smidler, A., Abernathy, D., Marrogi, E., Mameli, E., Akbari, O., Church, G., Esvelt, K., & Catteruccia, F. (2025, October 8). Engineering gene drive docking sites in a haplolethal locus in Anopheles gambiae. Scientific Reports.

Smidler, A., & Akbari, O. (2025, July 3). CRISPR technologies for the control and study of malaria-transmitting Anopheline mosquitoes. Parasites and Vectors.

Gendron, W. A. C., Raban, R., Mondal, A., Sánchez, C. H. M., Smidler, A., Zilberman, D., Ilboudo, P. G., D’Alessandro, U., Marshall, J. M., & Akbari, O. S. (2025, July 18). Evaluating the cost of malaria elimination by Anopheles gambiae precision guided SIT in the Upper River region, The Gambia. PLOS Global Public Health.

Smidler, A., Apte, R., Pai, J., Chow, M., Chen, S., Antoshechkin, I., & Akbari, O. (2024, June 25). Eliminating malaria vectors with precision guided sterile males. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

Smidler, A., Marrogi, E., Kauffman, J., Paton, D., Westervelt, K., Church, G., Esvelt, K., Shaw, W., & Catteruccia, F. (2024, February 19). CRISPR-mediated germline knockouts for genetic sterilization of male Anopheles gambiae. Scientific Reports.

Iwona Polak | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Iwona Polak | Molecular Biology | Best Researcher Award

University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn | Poland

Iwona Polak, M.Sc. Eng., is a researcher at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, specializing in the molecular biology of parasitic nematodes from the Anisakidae family. Her scientific contributions focus on unraveling the molecular and proteomic mechanisms of Anisakis simplex, a parasite of marine mammals that poses risks to human health. With 11 published journal papers indexed in Scopus and other scientific databases, she has developed a strong academic record supported by 75 citations on ResearchGate and 57 citations on Scopus, reflecting her growing influence in parasitology and molecular biology. Her h-index of 4 demonstrates the consistent impact of her research output within her field. Through advanced transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, particularly using NGS and LC-MS/MS approaches, Polak’s work provides key insights into host–parasite interactions and parasite adaptation mechanisms. She has collaborated internationally with the Marine Research Institute (IIM-CSIC) in Vigo, Spain, in proteomics research. With one ongoing research project and plans to defend her doctoral thesis in biological sciences, she continues to expand her scientific profile and contribute to developing innovative therapeutic and control strategies for anisakiasis.

Featured Publications

Polak, I., et al. (2025). Diversity, expression, and structural modeling of sugar transporters in Anisakis simplex s. s. L3 and L4 larvae: An in vitro and in silico study. BMC Genomics, 26, Article 12068.

Polak, I., et al. (2025). Coupled transcriptome and proteome analysis of L3 and L4 developmental stages of Anisakis simplex s. s.: Insights into target genes under glucose influence. BMC Genomics, 26, Article 12069.

Polak, I., et al. (2024). The response of Anisakis simplex (s. s.) to anthelmintics: Specific changes in xenobiotic metabolic processes. International Journal for Parasitology: Drugs and Drug Resistance, 19, 80–92.

Hamad Al Thani | Life Sciences Innovation | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Hamad Al Thani | Life Sciences Innovation | Best Researcher Award

Hamad Al Thani is an aviation professional, academic, and business leader with extensive experience in both civil and military aviation. He holds advanced degrees in global management and airline efficiency and has served in leadership roles within family businesses, investment groups, and national tourism initiatives. A former fighter pilot and qualified flying instructor, he has been recognized with multiple distinctions for his excellence in aviation training. His passion for advancing the aviation industry extends to both scholarly contributions and community engagement, where he actively promotes aviation among young people.

Dr. Hamad Al Thani | Durham University UK | Qatar

Profile

ORCID


Education

Hamad Al Thani has attained a doctorate in business administration with a focus on airline efficiency through studies at Emlyon in France and Durham University in the United Kingdom. He also holds a master’s degree in global management from Salford University, Manchester. His earlier aviation training was completed through the Royal Air Force in the United Kingdom, where he became a qualified flying instructor and graduated from the Royal Air Force Staff College, Bracknell. He also trained with the Royal Jordanian Air Force on Mirage F1 aircraft, and received specialized recognition from the French Air Force. These combined academic and professional credentials have provided him with advanced expertise in airline competitiveness, global management, and aviation operations.

Experience

He serves as Managing Director of his family companies and has been actively engaged in leading investments and projects within Qatar and internationally. He has held positions as a board member in public companies including Qatar Tourism and Leisure Projects Company, later acquired by the government of Qatar. Within Qatar Investment Group, a brokerage company, he has contributed as a shareholder, deputy chairman, and board member. His career is deeply rooted in aviation and strategic business leadership, combining both military and civil aviation insights with corporate governance and investment expertise.

Awards and Recognition

Throughout his aviation and academic journey, Hamad Al Thani has been recognized with multiple awards that highlight his excellence in both flight performance and scholarly achievement. These include recognition as Best Overseas Student at RAF College Cranwell, Best Student Pilot and multiple navigation trophies at RAF training bases, and the title of Best Promising Fighter Pilot. He was also a first-place winner in his class at the Royal Jordanian Air Force and honored with a diploma distinction by the French Air Force. These distinctions demonstrate his exceptional talent, discipline, and dedication to aviation.

Skills and Expertise

His areas of expertise span management, tendering, business writing, project management, and branding, along with specialized knowledge in airline efficiency and competitiveness. He is also a qualified flying instructor, tactical instructor, aerobatic pilot, and holds both European and Qatari private pilot licenses. His ability to blend business acumen with deep technical aviation expertise makes him uniquely positioned as both an industry leader and aviation promoter.

Research Focus 

Hamad research is centered on global airline efficiency, competitiveness, and the strategic evolution of the aviation industry. His work applies both theoretical and quantitative approaches to assess airline performance, explore the role of Gulf carriers in reshaping international aviation, and evaluate the implications of advanced technologies such as single-pilot operations on safety and public trust. His research provides valuable insights for policymakers, industry leaders, and academics seeking to understand the dynamics of global air transport.

Research Projects

His doctoral research applied the strategy tripod perspective, integrating institutional, industrial, and resource-based views to examine the determinants of airline efficiency. He has investigated the rise of Gulf airlines as “super connectors,” analyzing their role in transforming global connectivity. Another project revisited the debate on subsidization disputes between US and Gulf carriers, offering a fresh perspective on competition and geopolitical significance. Most recently, his work assessed public attitudes toward single-pilot operations, highlighting both risks and benefits of adopting advanced aviation technologies in commercial air travel.

Publications

Public perceptions of safety and trust in single-pilot operations: assessing advanced aviation technology’s risks and benefits in commercial air travel
Author: Hamad Al Thani
Journal: Human-Intelligent Systems Integration

Strategy Tripod Perspective on the Determinants of Airline Efficiency in A Global Context: An Application of DEA and Tobit Analysis
Author: Hamad Al Thani
Journal: Durham University Durham e-Theses

A Century of the Global Airline Industry and the Emergence of the Gulf’s Super Connectors
Author: Hamad Al Thani
Journal: Journal of Air Transport Studies

Conclusion

Bridging academia, aviation, and business, Hamad Al Thani combines practical expertise with scholarly depth to address key challenges facing the global airline industry. His leadership experience, international exposure, and research contributions position him as a thought leader advancing knowledge in airline efficiency and competitiveness. His work not only strengthens the understanding of aviation dynamics but also inspires the next generation of aviators in Qatar and beyond.