Kaiyin Yang | Molecular Biology | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Kaiyin Yang | Molecular Biology | Research Excellence Award

North China University of Science and Technology | China

Dr. Kaiyin Yang is a pharmacologist with a Doctor of Medicine degree, specializing in protein structure-based drug discovery and small-molecule targeted protein degradation. His research focuses on the rational design, synthesis, and mechanistic evaluation of novel anticancer agents, particularly PROTACs and enzyme-targeting small molecules. As Principal Investigator of a Hebei Provincial Youth Science Fund project, he is developing innovative HK2-targeting degraders for colon cancer therapy. His work also includes kinase inhibitors, metabolic enzyme modulation, and natural product-derived anticancer compounds. Dr. Yang’s studies integrate medicinal chemistry, chemical biology, and pharmacological approaches to advance precision oncology and targeted cancer therapeutics.

Citation Metrics (Scopus)

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Citations
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h-index
11

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Featured Publications

Vijaya Sarangthem | Biochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Vijaya Sarangthem | Biochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Research Professor | Kyungpook National University | South Korea

Dr. Sarangthem Vijaya Devi is an innovative biomedical scientist with over twelve years of expertise in biopolymer-based drug delivery, regenerative medicine, and nanotechnology, focusing on the design and development of elastin-like polypeptide (ELP)–based biomaterials for targeted therapeutics. Her doctoral research at Kyungpook National University, South Korea, involved constructing IL-4 receptor–targeting ELP systems for precise drug delivery, laying the foundation for her pioneering work in tumor-targeted cancer therapy and gene delivery. As a postdoctoral fellow, she led the development of multivalent ELP nanoparticles and depot systems, optimizing pharmacokinetics and tissue biodistribution, and establishing platforms for enhanced therapeutic efficacy. At AIIMS, New Delhi, Dr. Vijaya Devi advanced regenerative medicine applications by developing self-assembling ELP hydrogels and 3D scaffolds for mesenchymal stem cell culture, differentiation, and tissue regeneration. She further integrated 3D bioprinting technologies to create artificial tissue models for high-throughput drug screening and preclinical evaluation. Her ongoing work as a visiting research professor at Kyungpook National University focuses on ELP-driven 3D culture platforms, enabling scalable and reproducible organoid and spheroid models for precision medicine. Dr. Vijaya Devi’s research portfolio includes over 16 high-impact publications, several as corresponding or first author, highlighting her contributions to nanoparticle engineering, biomaterial optimization, and translational therapeutics. She has contributed to patents on ELP-based hydrogels for tissue regeneration and nanocarriers for oncology drug delivery, demonstrating the translational potential of her work. Recognized with multiple awards, including the Best Article Award and DST Fellowship, her research bridges fundamental science with industry applications, emphasizing scalability, regulatory compliance, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Her expertise encompasses gene delivery systems, molecular imaging, biomaterials engineering, and organoid culture, making her a leading researcher in precision therapeutics. Dr. Vijaya Devi continues to drive innovations in ELP biomaterials for cancer therapy, tissue engineering, and high-throughput drug discovery, positioning her as a global leader in biomedical research and translational medicine.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID | Google Scholar | Research Gate

Featured Publications

  • Lee, Y.-J., Hong, J., Seo, B.-Y., Lee, B.-H., Sarangthem, V.*, & Park, R.-W. (2025). Strategic optimization of nanoparticle characteristics to enhance tumor targeting and doxorubicin delivery. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 20, 6357–6378.

  • Hong, J., Sim, D., Lee, B.-H., Sarangthem, V.*, & Park, R.-W. (2024). Multifunctional elastin-like polypeptide nanocarriers for efficient miRNA delivery in cancer therapy. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 22(1), 293.

  • Sarangthem, V., Sharma, H., Mendiratta, M., Sahoo, R. K., Park, R.-W., Kumar, L., Singh, T. D., & Mohanty, S. (2022). Application of bio-active elastin-like polypeptide on regulation of human mesenchymal stem cell behavior. Biomedicines, 10(5), 1151.

  • Sarangthem, V.*, Sharma, H., Goel, R., Ghose, S., Park, R.-W., Mohanty, S., Chaudhuri, T. K., Dinda, A. K., & Singh, T. D. (2022). Application of elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) containing extracellular matrix (ECM) binding ligands in regenerative medicine. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules.

  • Sarangthem, V., Yi, A., Kim, Y., Rehemtulla, A., Lee, B.-H., Jeon, Y. H., Singh, T. D., & Park, R.-W. (2021). Therapeutic effect of IL4 receptor targeting pro-apoptotic peptide (AP1-ELP-KLAK) in glioblastoma tumor model. International Journal of Nanomedicine, 16, 5039–5052.

 

Xiaofei Cheng | Molecular Biology | Best Research Article Award

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.

Songli Yuan | Biochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Songli Yuan | Biochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences | China

Dr. Songli Yuan is an Associate Researcher at the Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, specializing in the molecular biology of symbiotic nitrogen fixation in legumes, particularly soybean. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Bioscience from Huazhong Agricultural University and continued at the same institution for her Ph.D. in the State Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology. During her doctoral studies, she also trained at the State Key Laboratory of Plant Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, gaining additional experience in plant gene research. Dr. Yuan’s research primarily focuses on understanding the molecular physiology of legume-rhizobium symbiosis, including host-microbe specificity, signaling pathways, and functional gene discovery related to nodulation and nitrogen fixation. Her expertise spans microbiology, molecular biology, microbial biotechnology, signal transduction, and plant biochemistry. She has authored 43 scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals, including Plant Physiology, Journal of Experimental Botany, Frontiers in Plant Science, and Scientific Reports. Her work has been cited 1,272 times by 1,124 documents, reflecting her impact in the field of plant-microbe interactions. She holds an h-index of 18 (Scopus), demonstrating consistent scholarly influence and contribution. Dr. Yuan’s research is instrumental in breeding high-efficiency soybean cultivars and improving biological nitrogen fixation, aligning with sustainable agricultural goals. Her deep commitment to advancing symbiotic nitrogen-fixation biology positions her as a leading researcher in agricultural biotechnology and plant molecular physiology.

Profiles : Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Jin, F., Ke, D., Lu, L., Hu, Q., Zhang, C., Li, C., Liang, W., Yuan, S., & Chen, H. (2025). Suppression of nodule formation by RNAi knock-down of Bax inhibitor-1a in Lotus japonicus. Genes, 16(1), 58.

Yuan, S., Ke, D., Liu, B., Zhang, M., Li, X., Chen, H., Zhang, C., Huang, Y., Sun, S., Shen, J., Yang, S., Zhou, S., Leng, P., Guan, Y., & Zhou, X. (2023). The Bax inhibitor GmBI-1α interacts with a Nod factor receptor and plays a dual role in the legume-rhizobia symbiosis. Journal of Experimental Botany, 74(18), 5820–5839.

Wu, P., Feng, Y., Zou, Z., Cao, Y., & Yuan, S. (2021). Critical role of cysteine-266 of SIE3 in regulating the ubiquitination and degradation of SIP1 transcription factor in Lotus japonicus. Planta, 253, 126.

Feng, Y., Wu, P., Fu, W., Peng, L., Zhu, H., Cao, Y., Zhou, X., Hong, Z., Zhang, Z., & Yuan, S. (2020). The Lotus japonicus ubiquitin ligase SIE3 interacts with the transcription factor SIP1 and forms a homodimer. Frontiers in Plant Science, 11, 795.

Yuan, S., Zhu, H., Gou, H., Fu, W., Liu, L., Chen, T., Ke, D., Kang, H., Xie, Q., Hong, Z., & Zhang, Z. (2012). A ubiquitin ligase of symbiosis receptor kinase involved in nodule organogenesis. Plant Physiology, 160(1), 106–117.

 

Huanhuan Song | Biochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Huanhuan Song | Biochemistry | Best Researcher Award

Fujian Medical University, China

👨‍🎓Profiles

🌍 Impact and Influence

Dr. Song’s research is reshaping our understanding of neuroimmune interactions. By leveraging translocator protein (TSPO)-targeted live imaging and advanced cellular models, she has revolutionized the study of microglial metabolism. Her work has broad implications, not only for MS but also for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative conditions where lipid metabolism and neuroinflammation play critical roles. Her findings have been widely cited in immunology and neuroscience literature, reflecting their significance in the field. She has presented at international immunology conferences, contributing valuable insights into novel therapeutic strategies for neuroimmune diseases.

📚 Academic Citations and Recognition

Her research findings have gained international recognition, with citations in high-impact journals focusing on immunology, neuroscience, and lipid metabolism. She actively participates in scientific conferences and symposia, sharing her insights with the global scientific community and collaborating with fellow researchers to drive progress in neuroimmune therapeutics.

🛠️ Technical Skills

Dr. Song possesses a diverse set of technical skills, including molecular and cellular immunology, animal modeling (EAE, MS models), live imaging techniques for immune responses, flow cytometry, transcriptomic analysis, CRISPR-based gene editing, lipidomics, and metabolomics in neurodegeneration research. These skills have allowed her to conduct high-impact research that bridges fundamental science with translational applications.

🎓 Teaching and Mentorship

As part of her academic role, Dr. Song is actively involved in mentoring undergraduate and master’s students in immunological techniques and experimental neuroscience. Her guidance has helped shape young researchers, fostering innovation in the field of neuroimmunology. She is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and encouraging interdisciplinary research approaches.

🚀 Legacy and Future Contributions

Dr. Song is committed to advancing precision medicine in neuroinflammation, with future work aimed at developing novel drug interventions targeting lipid metabolism pathways. By translating fundamental research into clinical applications, she envisions creating more effective and personalized treatments for patients suffering from MS and other chronic neuroinflammatory conditions. Her pioneering research on CYP7B1 is set to leave a lasting impact on immunotherapy and neuropharmacology, making her a trailblazer in the intersection of lipid metabolism and neuroimmune regulation. With her continued contributions, Dr. Song is shaping the future of neuroinflammation research and therapeutic development.

📖Notable Publications

CYP7B1 Deficiency Impairs Myeloid Cell Activation in Autoimmune Disease of the Central Nervous System
Authors: Huanhuan Song, Aowei Lv, Zhibao Zhu, Runyun Li, Qiuping Zhao, Xintong Yu, Junyi Jiang, Xiang Lin, Cunjin Zhang, Rui Li, et al.
Journal: PNAS Nexus
Year: 2024

Tanshinone IIA Alleviates Brain Damage in a Mouse Model of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder by Inducing Neutrophil Apoptosis
Authors: Ye Gong, Ya-ling Zhang, Zhen Wang, Huanhuan Song, Yuan-chu Liu, Aowei Lv, Li-li Tian, Wen-li Zhu, Ying Fu, Xiao-li Ding, et al.
Journal: Journal of Neuroinflammation
Year: 2020