Cheng Ji | Regenerative Medicine | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Life Science

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cheng Ji | Regenerative Medicine | Best Researcher Award

Jiangsu University | China

Dr. Cheng Ji, an Associate Professor at Jiangsu University Medical College, has established a strong research foundation in the field of stem cell extracellular vesicles (EVs) and renal tissue regeneration. With an h-index of 23, he has authored 30 SCI-indexed publications that have collectively garnered over 1,200 citations, reflecting his impactful contributions to regenerative medicine and translational nanobiotechnology. His ongoing investigations center on the mechanistic roles of mesenchymal stem cell-derived EVs in mitigating acute and chronic kidney injury, focusing on fibrosis prevention through ubiquitination pathways. Dr. Ji has successfully completed two research projects and continues work on three ongoing studies, complemented by five industry collaborations that bridge academic discovery with clinical application. His book, Extracellular Vesicles: From Bench to Bedside, exemplifies his leadership in knowledge dissemination, while six patents highlight his commitment to innovation. As a member of the International Society for Extracellular Vesicles (ISEV), Dr. Ji actively contributes to global collaborative research networks. His integrative work on magnetically modified dual-targeted stem cell EVs to combat chronic kidney fibrosis positions him as a frontrunner for the Best Researcher Award, with a research vision that unites molecular insight and therapeutic advancement.

Featured Publications

Jin, C., Wu, P., Wu, W., Chen, W., Liu, W., Zhu, Y., Wu, Q., Chen, B., Ji, C., & Qian, H. Therapeutic role of hucMSC-sEV-enriched miR-13896 in cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury through M2 macrophage polarization. Cell Biology and Toxicology.

Wang, M., Yang, D., Li, L., Wu, P., Sun, Y., Zhang, X., Ji, C., Xu, W., Qian, H., & Shi, H.  A dual role of mesenchymal stem cell derived small extracellular vesicles on TRPC6 protein and mitochondria to promote diabetic wound healing. ACS Nano.

Ji, C., Zhang, J., Shi, L., Shi, H., Xu, W., Jin, J., & Qian, H. Engineered extracellular vesicle-encapsulated CHIP as novel nanotherapeutics for treatment of renal fibrosis. npj Regenerative Medicine.

Zhang, J., Gu, J., Wang, X., Ji, C., Yu, D., Wang, M., Pan, J., Santos, H. A., Zhang, H., & Zhang, X. Engineering and targeting neutrophils for cancer therapy. Advanced Materials.

Zhang, J., Yu, D., Ji, C., Wang, M., Fu, M., Qian, Y., Zhang, X., Ji, R., Li, C., & Gu, J. Exosomal miR-4745-5p/3911 from N2-polarized tumor-associated neutrophils promotes gastric cancer metastasis by regulating SLIT2. Molecular Cancer.

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.