Weihui Liang | Organic Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Weihui Liang | Organic Chemistry | Best Researcher Award

Nanjing University, China

Profiles

Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Weihui Liang began her academic journey with a strong foundation in architectural science and building performance. She pursued her doctoral studies in Building Science at one of China’s top institutions, where her research centered on environmental control, building energy efficiency, and indoor air quality (IAQ). Her rigorous academic training equipped her with multidisciplinary expertise in architecture, environmental health, and engineering simulations, laying the groundwork for her later contributions in both research and standardization.

Professional Endeavors

Currently serving as an Associate Professor at the School of Architecture and Urban Planning, Nanjing University, Dr. Liang is actively engaged in both academic research and industry consultation. She is a respected figure in the domain of indoor environmental quality, contributing to national and international projects focused on sustainable and healthy buildings. Her involvement spans academic collaborations, technical consulting, and participation in professional working groups, emphasizing her commitment to bridging research and practice in building science.

Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Liang’s research focuses on indoor air quality, building pollutant emissions—especially volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde—heat-air-moisture transfer mechanisms in building envelopes, and green building system optimization. She has contributed significantly to the understanding of energy-efficient ventilation and air quality management through simulation-based design approaches and empirical studies. Her work addresses both technical depth and policy-level relevance, impacting how building environments are designed and managed for occupant health and sustainability.

Impact and Influence

A prolific researcher, Dr. Liang has authored 26 articles in high-impact SCI journals and played a pivotal role in drafting two Chinese national standards on IAQ. She is also a contributor to the internationally respected Handbook of Indoor Air Quality, which synthesizes global expertise on indoor environmental issues. Her role as China’s representative in the IEA EBC Annex 86 project underscores her international recognition and leadership in the field. She was awarded the Best Paper Award by the journal Building and Environment, reflecting peer recognition of her research excellence.

Academic Citations and Editorial Appointments

Dr. Liang’s work has been cited in numerous academic publications, contributing to a citation index of 14 and growing. She holds editorial roles in top-tier journals such as Building and Environment and Building Simulation, where she serves as a Young Editorial Board Member. These positions highlight her expertise and influence in shaping current and future research directions in the field of building science and environmental sustainability.

Technical Skills

Dr. Liang’s technical proficiencies include building environmental simulation (heat-air-moisture modeling), pollutant dispersion analysis, energy-efficient HVAC system design, and data analysis related to building performance. She integrates field measurements with computational simulations to derive insights that inform both design strategies and building codes.

Teaching and Mentorship Experience

As an academic mentor and educator, Dr. Liang is actively involved in teaching at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She guides students through interdisciplinary projects on sustainable architecture and building performance, nurturing a new generation of scholars and practitioners committed to improving the built environment.

Legacy and Future Contributions

Dr. Liang’s legacy lies in her scientific contributions to indoor environmental quality and her leadership in international collaborations such as IEA EBC Annex 68, 86, and 92. Looking ahead, she aims to further advance energy-efficient IAQ management technologies and integrate health-oriented design strategies into urban planning and green building frameworks. Her work continues to influence policy, research, and practice in environmental architecture, underscoring her role as a key contributor to the global discourse on sustainable urban living.

Notable Publications

An Occupational Dimethylacetamide Poisoning Incident Responded Efficiently in Health Emergency Response Network – Zhuhai City, Guangdong Province, China, August 2023
Authors: Jiang, JX; Huang, J; (…); Liu, XY
Journal: China CDC Weekly
Year: 2024

A literature review investigating the impact of temperature and humidity on volatile organic compound emissions from building materials
Authors: Zhu, YR; Guo, S; Liang, WH
Journal: Building and Environment
Year: 2024

Volatile organic compounds and odor emissions from typical building materials and air sample storage time analysis
Authors: Liang, WH; Hu, YB; (…); Xu, YL
Journal: Building and Environment
Year: 2024

Occupational exposure to methyl acetate resulting in methanol poisoning
Authors: Li, XY; Zhang, X; (…); Hu, SJ
Journal: Clinical Toxicology
Year: 2024

Volatile organic compounds and odor emissions characteristics of building materials and comparisons with the on-site measurements during interior construction stages
Authors: Guo, S; Liang, WH
Journal: Building and Environment
Year: 2024

 

Eva Choong | Analytical Chemistry | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Eva Choong | Analytical Chemistry | Women Researcher Award

CHUV – Hôpital Universitaire, Switzerland

👨‍🎓Profiles

🎓 Early Academic Pursuits

Dr. Eva Choong began her academic journey at the University of Lausanne, where she earned her Swiss Federal Diploma in Pharmacy from the Lausanne School of Pharmacy, Department of Sciences (1997–2002). Her interest in the interplay between pharmacology and patient care led her to pursue a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Geneva (2006–2011), with a thesis on “Clinical and pharmacogenetic studies on response and side effects of psychotropic drugs.” Supervised by Prof. C.B. Eap and co-supervised by Prof. J-L. Veuthey, her doctoral work was honored with highest distinctions, showcasing her early dedication to clinical research and analytical chemistry.

👩‍⚕️ Professional Endeavors

Dr. Choong’s post-doctoral career commenced at the Pharmacogenetics Unit within the Department of Physiology and Pharmacology (2011–2014), where she explored the genetic basis of drug metabolism. From 2015 to mid-2016, she held the role of Senior Scientist (Maître-Assistante) at the University of Geneva’s Pediatric Oncology and Hematology Research Platform, working with Prof. M. Ansari. Since August 2016, she has served as Laboratory Deputy and Scientific Expert in the Laboratory of Clinical Pharmacology at CHUV (Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois), under the leadership of Prof. L.A. Decosterd, contributing to both operational oversight and high-impact research.

🧪 Contributions and Research Focus

Dr. Choong has made significant contributions to the field of clinical pharmacology, with particular emphasis on therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), analytical method development, and pharmacogenetics. Her research focuses on optimizing drug therapies for various conditions, notably in infectious diseases and cystic fibrosis, by measuring drug concentrations in biological matrices using LC-MS/MS methods validated to ISO15189:2022 standards. At CHUV, her laboratory is responsible for monitoring over 130 drugs for clinical application and research across Swiss university hospitals.

🌍 Impact and Influence

Dr. Choong’s work has had a lasting impact in bridging the gap between clinical pharmacology and personalized medicine. Her role in developing mass spectrometry-based drug monitoring protocols has influenced treatment paradigms for cystic fibrosis and HIV. She is also a key contributor to collaborative projects such as the Swiss HIV Cohort Study, and has worked with major pharmaceutical entities like Incyte Biosciences to ensure external quality controls in TDM assays. Her expertise is widely recognized within the Swiss medical research community.

📚 Academic Citations and Recognitions

Dr. Choong is the recipient of several prestigious grants and awards, including: Principal Investigator, Cystic Fibrosis Switzerland Foundation Grant (2022, 30,000 CHF); Partner, Swiss National Science Foundation Grant (2022, 643,365 CHF); Lead recipient, Incyte Biosciences grant (2019–2021, 80,000 CHF); Awardee, Lundbeck Institute Prize in Psychiatry (2014); Grantee, NCCR Synapsys (2013); and recipient of two Early Postdoc.Mobility fellowships (2012 & 2013, combined over 65,000 CHF). These accolades attest to her scientific excellence, thought leadership, and the high citation value of her research in peer-reviewed domains.

🛠️ Technical Skills

Dr. Choong is proficient in a range of analytical and clinical methodologies, including: LC-MS and LC-MS/MS in ISO15189-accredited environments; validation of bioanalytical methods for therapeutic monitoring; pharmacokinetics and pharmacogenetics analysis; biostatistics, clinical epidemiology, and regulatory compliance under Swissethics. Her training includes completion of management programs for medical professionals, allowing her to seamlessly integrate leadership and science in hospital and academic settings.

👩‍🏫 Teaching Experience and Mentorship

Throughout her career, Dr. Choong has demonstrated a strong commitment to mentoring junior researchers and medical professionals. Her involvement in training programs, supervision of postgraduates, and contribution to interdisciplinary education at CHUV and the University of Geneva underscores her dedication to the academic and clinical advancement of future professionals in pharmacology and biomedicine.

🌟 Legacy and Future Contributions

With a career rooted in precision medicine, analytical innovation, and translational research, Dr. Choong continues to play a central role in transforming clinical pharmacology in Switzerland. Her ongoing projects aim to expand the utility of mass spectrometry for real-time therapeutic monitoring, develop novel biomarkers, and refine treatment regimens for complex patient populations such as those affected by cystic fibrosis and HIV. As a respected scientific leader, her legacy will be marked by both the technical excellence of her lab and her unwavering commitment to patient-centered innovation.

📖Notable Publications

A Liquid Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry Method for the Quantification of Cystic Fibrosis Drugs (Caftors) in Plasma and Its Application for Therapeutic Monitoring
Authors: Valentina D’Atri, Fabrizio Corrado, François Versace, Susana Alves Saldanha, Thomas Mercier, Guidi Monia, Paul Thoueille, Sylvain Blanchon, Angela Koutsokera, Michael Vogeser et al.
Journal: Molecules
Year: 2025

Population Pharmacokinetics of Cabotegravir Following Oral Administration and Long-Acting Intramuscular Injection in Real-World People with HIV
Authors: Thoueille P., Saldanha S.A., Schaller F., Choong E., Veuve F., Munting A., Cavassini M., Braun D., Günthard H.F., Duran Ramirez J.J. et al.
Journal: Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics
Year: 2024

Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) Methods for the Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Cytotoxic Anticancer Drugs: An Update
Authors: Briki M., Murisier A., Guidi M., Seydoux C., Buclin T., Marzolini C., Girardin F.R., Thoma Y., Carrara S., Choong E. et al.
Journal: Journal of Chromatography B
Year: 2024

Real-World Trough Concentrations and Effectiveness of Long-Acting Cabotegravir and Rilpivirine: A Multicenter Prospective Observational Study in Switzerland
Authors: Thoueille P., Saldanha S.A., Schaller F., Choong E., Munting A., Cavassini M., Braun D., Günthard H.F., Kusejko K., Surial B. et al.
Journal: The Lancet Regional Health – Europe
Year: 2024

Development and Validation of a Multiplex HPLC-MS/MS Assay for the Monitoring of JAK Inhibitors in Patient Plasma
Authors: Tachet J., Versace F., Mercier T., Buclin T., Decosterd L.A., Choong E., Girardin F.R.
Journal: Journal of Chromatography B
Year: 2023