Grigorios Markakis | Veterinary Medicine | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Cognitive Scientist Awards

Mr. Grigorios Markakis | Veterinary Medicine | Best Researcher Award

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki | Greece

Mr. Grigorios Markakis is a dedicated and accomplished veterinarian and researcher with a strong academic foundation from the School of Veterinary Medicine at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, where he pursued veterinary studies with excellence and is currently advancing his expertise as a PhD student focusing on haemosporidian infections in birds of prey in Greece. His education encompasses extensive training in exotic animal medicine, clinical pathology, therapeutics, anesthesia, diagnostic imaging, wildlife and zoo animal management, as well as specialized courses in avian, reptile, and small mammal medicine and surgery. Professionally, he has contributed as a veterinarian at multiple wildlife rehabilitation centers, zoos, and animal hospitals, actively participating in surgical procedures, animal care, and conservation initiatives, while also providing on-call veterinary services and engaging in voluntary programs for wildlife protection. His research interests center on wildlife parasitology, infectious diseases, and rehabilitation, demonstrated through publications on haemosporidian infections, Sarcocystis, Dirofilaria, and Coxiella burnetii, as well as contributions to wildlife rescue guidelines. Skilled in clinical procedures, first aid, emergency care, and laboratory investigations, he is proficient in research methodologies, wildlife health management, and veterinary forensics. Recognized for academic excellence and professional contributions, he has received scholarships, honorary awards, and travel grants. Overall, his work exemplifies a commitment to advancing veterinary science, wildlife conservation, and animal welfare through rigorous research, hands-on practice, and active knowledge dissemination.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Karin N Westlund | Chronic Pain Relief | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Cognitive Scientist Awards

Dr. Karin N Westlund | Chronic Pain Relief | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Karin N. Westlund High is a distinguished neuroscientist and physiologist, currently a Distinguished Professor at UNM School of Medicine and a Research Physiologist at NM VA Health Care. 🇺🇸 She is recognized for her groundbreaking work in pain mechanisms and translational neurobiology. 📚 Her leadership as Vice Chair for Research and longstanding academic contributions span over four decades, advancing the fields of anesthesiology, neuroscience, and chronic pain treatment. 🧠💉

Profile

Education 🎓

Dr. Westlund High earned a B.A. (Zoology) 🎓 from the University of Texas at Austin (1975), followed by an M.A. in Zoology (1976). She received her Ph.D. in Physiology & Biophysics from UTMB Galveston in 1981. 🧪 During her graduate and postdoctoral years, she developed strong expertise in pain pathways and biophysics. 🧬 Her education laid a solid foundation for her influential career in academic medicine and neuroscience research. 📖🧠

Experience 👨‍🏫

From 1982 to the present, Dr. Westlund High has held key roles: tenured professor at UTMB Galveston, University of Kentucky, and UNM. 🏫 She was also Vice Chair for Research at UNM Anesthesiology (2017–2024) and served in VA medical systems in KY & NM. 🏥🧪 She led cell biology graduate programs, taught extensively in medicine and dentistry, and contributed to national research ethics. 🧑‍🏫🧠

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Dr. Westlund High is the recipient of over 20 prestigious honors, including the Frederick W.L. Kerr Award (2008) 🏆, Innovator of the Year (2023), and multiple NIH awards. 💡 She’s been honored for teaching, research excellence, and innovation, including winning EQUALIZE Pitch Competition and a U.S. patent award (2025). 🇺🇸 She has served on editorial boards and grant panels globally, shaping pain research. 🌍🔬

Research Interests 🔬

Her research centers on pain neurobiology 🔍—investigating trigeminal nerve injury, chronic pain, neuroinflammation, and targeted therapeutic antibodies. 🧠💊 With deep NIH and VA support, she has led studies using translational animal models to discover novel pain relief methods. 🐭⚗️ Her work impacts both clinical and preclinical pain management, with over 40 years of translational insights and innovation. 💥📈

Publications 

  • Role of HDAC5 Epigenetics in Chronic Craniofacial Neuropathic Pain

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences
    2024-06 | Journal article | Author
    DOI: 10.3390/ijms25136889
    CONTRIBUTORS: Sifong Elise Hui; Karin N Westlund

  • Pluripotential GluN1 (NMDA NR1): Functional Significance in Cellular Nuclei in Pain/Nociception

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences
    2023-08 | Journal article | Author
    DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713196
    CONTRIBUTORS: Terry A. McNearney; Karin N Westlund

  • Rapid Generation and Molecular Docking Analysis of Single-Chain Fragment Variable (scFv) Antibody Selected by Ribosome Display Targeting Cholecystokinin B Receptor (CCK-BR) for Reduction of Chronic Neuropathic Pain

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences
    2023-07 | Journal article | Author
    DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311035
    CONTRIBUTORS: Adinarayana Kunamneni; Marena A. Montera; Ravi Durvasula; Dr Sascha Alles; Sachin Goyal; Karin N Westlund