Syed Kashif Ali | Analytical Chemistry | Analytical Chemistry Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Syed Kashif Ali | Analytical Chemistry | Analytical Chemistry Award

Jazan University | Saudi Arabia

Dr. Syed Kashif Ali, Associate Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Jazan University, KSA, is a distinguished researcher with over 15 years of experience in analytical, green, and pharmaceutical chemistry. His work focuses on nanomaterials synthesis, electrochemical analysis, environmental remediation, and the application of medicinal plants, combining fundamental research with practical solutions for societal challenges. He has successfully led multiple funded projects, including the development of transition metal-based nanocomposites for supercapacitors and batteries, novel green potentiometric sensors, and electrochemical detection of wastewater pollutants. His research encompasses the photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants, CO2 photoreduction, water purification, and design of hybrid supercapacitors, integrating advanced analytical techniques such as chromatographic, spectroscopic, and electrochemical methods. Dr. Ali’s work bridges experimental and computational approaches, employing molecular modeling, machine learning, and structure-based design to advance environmental and pharmaceutical applications. He has an extensive publication record in high-impact journals, reflecting his contributions to both fundamental science and applied chemistry. Additionally, he has mentored numerous undergraduate and postgraduate students, fostering the next generation of analytical chemists. His research exemplifies innovation, sustainability, and excellence in analytical methodologies, making him a leading figure in advancing green chemistry, nanotechnology, and environmental monitoring.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID 

Featured Publications

  1. Syed Kashif Ali, et al. (2025). Bifunctional schiff base copper complex catalyst for environmental remediation and antibacterial mechanism via docking studies. Journal of Molecular Structure.

  2. Syed Kashif Ali, et al. (2025). Eco-friendly synthesis of benzoxazole substituted chromene containing benzene sulfonamide derivatives: Antibacterial activity and molecular docking. Journal of Molecular Structure.

  3. Syed Kashif Ali, et al. (2025). Biosynthesis of zinc oxide nanostructures using leaf extract of Azadirachta indica: Characterizations and in silico and nematicidal potentials. Catalysts, 15(7), 693.

  4. Syed Kashif Ali, et al. (2025). Enhanced photo-Fenton degradation of ciprofloxacin using novel CuO/gC3N4/MXene ternary nanocomposite: Synthesis, characterization and mechanistic insights. Ceramics International.

  5. Syed Kashif Ali, et al. (2025). Unleashing the potential of bifunctional electrocatalyst: Designing efficient Ni@MnS/SGCN nanocomposite for clean energy conversion. Journal of Industrial and Chemical Sciences.

 

Rajwinder Kaur | Medicinal Chemistry | Outstanding Educator Award

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Dr. Rajwinder Kaur | Medicinal Chemistry | Outstanding Educator Award

Chitkara University | India

Dr. Rajwinder Kaur is a distinguished pharmaceutical chemist, academic leader, and researcher with over 16 years of experience in teaching, research, and academic administration. Currently serving as Assistant Dean (PharmD Program) and Professor, she has made significant contributions to pharmaceutical chemistry, drug design, and therapeutic innovation. Her research focuses on computer-aided drug design (CADD), the discovery of novel chemical entities as adenosine receptor ligands, and the development of therapeutic agents for asthma, inflammation, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and neuroprotection. She has also advanced the scientific understanding of natural products by identifying phytoconstituents with antidepressant, neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal potential. As Principal Investigator, she successfully completed a prestigious DST Women Scientist (WOS-A) project on thiophene derivatives. Dr. Kaur’s scholarly contributions include impactful publications in high-ranking international journals such as Chemistry Africa, Frontiers in Pharmacology, Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, Pharmaceutics, Pharmaceuticals, Polymers, CNS Medicinal Chemistry, and more. Her work spans synthetic chemistry, molecular modeling, nanocarrier-based drug delivery systems, biomarker discovery, and MAO-A inhibitor development. She has authored multiple books with NOVA Science Publishers, highlighting her multidisciplinary expertise. With a strong innovation portfolio, she holds several patents related to thiophene derivatives, novel drug-delivery devices, chemical catalyzers, and therapeutic compounds. Her excellence has been recognized through numerous honors, including the Best Faculty Award, Young Scientist Awards, Gold Medals, and several national accolades. She is also an active member of globally recognized professional bodies such as the ACS, HKCBEES, and APTI. Through her impactful research, innovation, mentoring, and leadership, Dr. Rajwinder Kaur continues to shape the future of pharmaceutical sciences and stands as an exemplary researcher and educator.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

1. Choudhary, D., Kaur, R., Rani, N., Kumar, B., Singh, T. G., Chandrasekaran, B., Rawat, R., & Eyupoglu, V. (2025). Insights into in silico analysis to explore the multitarget antidepressant role of Camellia sinensis. Journal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics, 1–13.

2. Rani, A., Kaur, R., Aldahish, A., Vasudevan, R., Balaji, P., Dora, C. P., Chandrasekaran, B., Singh, T. G., & Sharma, R. (2025). Nanostructured lipid carriers (NLC)-based topical formulation of hesperidin for effective treatment of psoriasis. Pharmaceutics, 17(4), 478.

3. Choudhary, D., Kumar, B., Chandrasekaran, B., Singh, T. G., Kaur, R., Aldahish, A., Vasudevan, R., & Balaji, P. (2025). Microwave-assisted synthesis of morpholine-based chalcones as reversible MAO-A inhibitors in the management of mental depression. Pharmaceuticals, 18(3), 309.

4. Singh, J. K., Kaur, S., Chandrasekaran, B., Kaur, G., Saini, B., Kaur, R., Silakari, P., Kaur, N., & Bassi, P. (2024). A QbD-navigated approach to the development and evaluation of etodolac–phospholipid complex containing polymeric films for improved anti-inflammatory effect. Polymers, 16(17), 2517.

5. Singh, R., Rani, N., Kaur, R., Chahal, G., Kumar, P., & Kaur, G. (2024). Exploring the therapeutic potential of alkaloids in Alzheimer’s disease management. Central Nervous System Agents in Medicinal Chemistry, 24(2), 206–218.

Xiaofei Cheng | Molecular Biology | Best Research Article Award

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Prof. Dr. Xiaofei Cheng | Molecular Biology | Best Research Article Award

Vice Dean | Northeast Agricultural University | China

Professor Xiaofei Cheng is a distinguished molecular plant pathologist and biochemist at the College of Agriculture, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China. His research focuses primarily on the molecular mechanisms underlying plant-virus interactions, with a particular emphasis on host immune modulation, viral pathogenicity, and RNA virus replication and movement. Through extensive collaborative research with national and international institutes, including Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the National Centre for Biotechnology (CSIC, Spain), Professor Cheng has made pioneering contributions to understanding how plant viruses exploit host cellular machinery to establish successful infections. A central theme of Cheng’s research involves elucidating how RNA viruses manipulate plant immunity. His team discovered that plant viruses can hijack host phosphatases to attenuate MAPK-mediated immunity, enabling robust infection. Moreover, his studies revealed the existence of pathogen protease-activated molecular decoys, offering potential for engineering customized resistance in plants. Cheng also uncovered viral strategies to target NPR1, a master regulator of salicylic acid (SA)-mediated defense, thereby suppressing antiviral immunity. His research extends to virus-encoded small proteins, viral replication vesicle formation, and intercellular virus movement. Earlier, Cheng’s work demonstrated that sumoylation of viral RNA polymerase promotes infection by subverting NPR1-mediated immunity, and that viral suppressor proteins such as VPg can degrade key host silencing factors via autophagy pathways. With over 96 publications, 1,635 citations, and an h-index of 23 (Scopus), Professor Cheng has established himself as a leading figure in molecular plant virology and biotechnology. His findings not only deepen our understanding of host-pathogen molecular interplay but also pave the way for developing virus-resistant crop varieties, contributing significantly to global agricultural sustainability.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar | Research Gate

Featured Publications

  • Luan, Y., Jiang, X., Wang, Y., Chai, M., Li, F., Wang, A., Wu, X., & Cheng, X. (2025). A plant RNA virus hijacks a membrane-anchored dual-specificity phosphatase to attenuate MAPK-mediated immunity for robust infection. The Plant Cell.

  • Fan, X., Zhao, Y., Ji, W., Rodamilans, B., Simón-Mateo, C., García, J. A., Wu, X., & Cheng, X.* (2025). A pathogen protease-activated molecular decoy for customized resistance in plant. Plant Biotechnology Journal, 23, 2403–2405.

  • Jiang, X., Yang, Y., Li, Y., Wang, Y., Rodamilans, B., Ji, W., Wu, X., García, J. A., Wu, X., & Cheng, X. (2025). Plant viruses convergently target NPR1 with various strategies to suppress salicylic acid-mediated antiviral immunity. Journal of Integrative Plant Biology, 67(5), 1395–1412.

  • Chai, M., Li, L., Li, Y., Yang, Y., Wang, Y., Jiang, X., Luan, Y., Li, F., Cui, H., Wang, A., Xiang, W., Wu, X., & Cheng, X.* (2024). The 6-kilodalton peptide 1 in plant viruses of the family Potyviridae is a viroporin. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 121(21), e2401748121.

  • Liu, J., Wu, X., Fang, Y., Liu, Y., Bello, E. O., Li, Y., Xiong, R., Li, Y., Fu, Z. Q., Wang, A., & Cheng, X.* (2023). A plant RNA virus inhibits NPR1 sumoylation and subverts NPR1-mediated plant immunity. Nature Communications, 14, 3580.

Rosaria Saletti | Chemical Biology | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Rosaria Saletti | Chemical Biology | Best Researcher Award

University of Catania | Italy

Prof. Rosaria Saletti is an Associate Professor of Organic Chemistry at the University of Catania, where she leads the Organic Mass Spectrometry Laboratory within the Department of Chemical Sciences. Graduating cum laude in Chemistry from the same university, Prof. Saletti has established herself as an expert in mass spectrometry, proteomics, and protein structural characterization. Her research is centered on the application of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) techniques for the analysis of proteins in various biological and food matrices. Her investigations have contributed significantly to the comparative proteomics of cereal kernels, characterization of milk proteins, and the study of VDAC (Voltage-Dependent Anion Channel) proteins. Notably, her work has helped clarify the molecular underpinnings of allergenicity in milk and advanced the understanding of disulfide bonding and post-translational modifications in mitochondrial proteins. Prof. Saletti has participated in numerous national and European research projects, including the Italian Human ProteomeNet (FIRB), SAMOTHRACE, and multiple PRIN projects (2006, 2022). She also contributes to international networks such as the European Network CHRX CT94-0425 and FAIR CT96-1170. Her industry collaborations include partnerships with SIFI SpA, Wyeth-Lederle, and Zoetis Manufacturing Italia. She is the author of over 100 publications indexed in Scopus, with 2,008 citations and an h-index of 29 (Scopus) and 2,650 citations with an h-index of 31 on Google Scholar. Prof. Saletti has also co-authored several book chapters on mass spectrometry and proteomics and holds editorial roles in journals like Foods and Current Clinical Pharmacology. Her international collaborations span renowned institutions such as the University of Mainz, Technical University of Denmark, and Rothamsted Research, UK. She is an active member of the Italian Chemical Society, Italian Proteomic Association, and European Proteomics Association. Prof. Saletti’s scientific rigor and contributions to analytical chemistry have made her a respected figure in proteomic research worldwide.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid | Google scholar

Featured Publications

Pittalà, M. G. G., Cucina, A., Conti-Nibali, S., Cunsolo, V., Di Francesco, A., Saletti, R., & Reina, S. (2025). Structural characterization of intra- and intermolecular disulfide bonds in voltage-dependent anion channel 3 (VDAC3) protein from Rattus norvegicus by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 1–16.

Di Francesco, A., Lanzoni, A., De Santis, M. A., Pittalà, M. G. G., Saletti, R., Cunsolo, V., & Righetti, P. G. (2025). In-depth shotgun proteomic characterization of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.): A case study on the genotype Pascià grown using two water regimes. ACS Agricultural Science & Technology.

Pittalà, M. G. G., Reina, S., Cucina, A., Cunsolo, V., Guarino, F., Di Francesco, A., Saletti, R., & De Pinto, V. (2024). Intramolecular disulfide bridges in voltage-dependent anion channel 2 (VDAC2) protein from Rattus norvegicus revealed by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, 35(7), 1422–1433.

Di Francesco, A., De Santis, M. A., Lanzoni, A., Pittalà, M. G. G., Saletti, R., & Cunsolo, V. (2024). Mass spectrometry characterization of the SDS-PAGE protein profile of legumins and vicilins from chickpea seed. Foods, 13(6), 887.

Pittalà, M. G. G., Di Francesco, A., Cucina, A., Saletti, R., Zilberstein, G., Zilberstein, S., Cappellini, E., & Righetti, P. G. (2023). Count Dracula resurrected: Proteomic analysis of Vlad III the Impaler’s documents by EVA technology and mass spectrometry. Analytical Chemistry, 95(34), 12732–12744.

Punginelli, D., Catania, V., Vazzana, M., Mauro, M., Spinello, A., Barone, G., Cunsolo, V., Saletti, R., Di Francesco, A., Arizza, V., & Schillaci, D. (2022). A novel peptide with antifungal activity from red swamp crayfish Procambarus clarkii. Antibiotics, 11(12), 1792.