Yi Zhang | Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Yi Zhang | Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award 🏆

Director/Academic Vice President at Biotherapy Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University/Zhengzhou University School of Medical Sciences🎓

Prof. Yi Zhang is an internationally acclaimed expert in cell and tumor immunotherapy. Serving as Director of the Biotherapy Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, he also holds key leadership roles, including Academic Vice President of the Zhengzhou University School of Medical Sciences and Director of the Zhongyuan Cellular and Immunotherapy Laboratory. With 35 years of research experience across Belgium, the U.S., and China, Prof. Zhang has pioneered breakthrough therapies, such as genetically engineered CAR-T cells for solid tumors, and holds 16 patents. His work has made significant impacts in reducing immune suppression and improving cancer treatment efficacy worldwide.

Professional Profile 

Education 🎓:

Prof. Yi Zhang has a profound academic foundation in medical sciences, gained through decades of experience and study in Belgium, the United States, and China. His extensive education and training have built the groundwork for his pioneering research in cell and tumor therapy.

Work Experience 💼:

Prof. Zhang is the Director of the Biotherapy Center at The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, where he also serves as the Academic Vice President for Zhengzhou University’s School of Medical Sciences and Director of the Zhongyuan Cellular and Immunotherapy Laboratory. Over a 35-year career, he has developed innovative therapies and led cutting-edge research in cell therapy, accumulating extensive clinical and academic expertise.

 

Skills 🔍

Known for his skills in genetically engineered cell therapies, Prof. Zhang is a leader in cellular engineering, particularly CAR-T cell technology. His groundbreaking work includes discovering a therapeutic target for solid tumors and developing gene-editing techniques to improve immune responses. His practical expertise in cell culture, immune cell enhancement, and patent development make him a pioneer in clinical biotherapeutics.

Awards and Honors 🏆

Prof. Zhang has received acclaim globally, being listed among the world’s top 100,000 scientists and recognized by both domestic and international peers for his contributions to immunotherapy. He has successfully converted seven patents, raising over 80 million RMB in transfer amounts, and is frequently invited to international conferences as a distinguished chair or guest of honor.

🤝 Memberships:

Prof. Zhang holds numerous prominent roles, such as Chairman of the Committee on Tumor Immunity and Biotherapy, Chinese Society of Immunology, and Deputy Chairman of the Cancer Biological Therapy Committee under the China Anti-Cancer Association. He also plays leadership roles in the Henan Anticancer Association and Henan Immunological Society, reflecting his commitment to advancing cell therapy on a national and global scale.

Teaching Experience 👩‍🏫:

Prof. Zhang has contributed significantly to training the next generation of scientists, collaborating with international colleagues to co-train PhD students and mentor young researchers. His commitment to academic growth is evident through his regular academic exchanges and collaborative projects with institutions in Canada, the U.S., and Europe.

Research Focus 🔬:

Prof. Zhang’s research is concentrated on tumor immunotherapy and cellular therapy, focusing on advancing CAR-T cell therapies for cancer. His achievements include creating novel immune cell treatments, reducing PD-1 expression to combat immune suppression, and conducting over 52 clinical trials for new cancer therapies, with 29 specifically targeting solid tumors.

Conclusion 

Prof. Yi Zhang stands as an exemplary candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his substantial contributions to the field of cellular immunotherapy and cancer research. His achievements align closely with the award’s goals of recognizing innovation, impactful research, and contributions to society. With his strengths in pioneering therapy innovations and significant clinical applications, Prof. Zhang’s work exemplifies the award’s spirit, making him a distinguished candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

📚 Publilcation

  • “LFA-1 regulated by IL-2/STAT5 pathway boosts antitumor function of intratumoral CD8 + T cells for improving anti-PD-1 antibody therapy”
    • Year: 2024-12-31
    • Journal: OncoImmunology
  • “Characteristics and mechanisms of T‐cell senescence: A potential target for cancer immunotherapy”
    • Year: 2024-11
    • Journal: European Journal of Immunology
  • “CAR T Cells Engineered to Secrete IFNκ Induce Tumor Ferroptosis via an IFNAR/STAT1/ACSL4 Axis”
    • Year: 2024-10-03
    • Journal: Cancer Immunology Research
  • “A single-cell RNA-seq dataset describing macrophages in NSCLC tumor and peritumor tissues”
    • Year: 2024-10-01
    • Journal: Scientific Data
  • “Allogeneic CAR-T cells for cancer immunotherapy”
    • Year: 2024-09-24
    • Journal: Immunotherapy
  • “IL-24 improves efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy by targeting stemness of tumor cells”
    • Year: 2024-05-03
    • Journal: British Journal of Cancer
  • “Current advances in bacteria‐based cancer immunotherapy”
    • Year: 2024-02
    • Journal: European Journal of Immunology
  • “Emerging roles of plasmacytoid dendritic cell crosstalk in tumor immunity”
    • Year: 2023-10-09
    • Journal: Cancer Biology & Medicine
  • “Immunosenescence: molecular mechanisms and diseases”
    • Year: 2023-05-13
    • Journal: Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy
  • “Overcoming resistance to immunotherapy by targeting GPR84 in myeloid-derived suppressor cells”
    • Year: 2023-04-28
    • Journal: Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy

Layla J.R Al-Mansoori | Biomedical | Best Research Award

 Layla J.R Al-Mansoori | Biomedical | Best Research Award 🏆

Biomedical Research CenterThis link is disabled., Doha, Qatar🎓

Dr. Layla J.R Al-Mansoori is a Research Assistant Professor at the Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science from Qatar University and a Master of Science in Biochemistry from King Saud University. Layla earned her PhD in Medicine from Groningen University, Netherlands, focusing on targeted cancer treatments and long-acting protein therapeutics. Her research expertise includes cancer therapy, insulin resistance, stem cell differentiation, and bioengineering. Layla is an active researcher and supervisor, contributing to multiple national and international projects and grants. She is also involved in teaching and mentoring MSc and PhD students in biomedical sciences

 

Professional Profile 

Education 🎓:

Layla J.R Al-Mansoori has a distinguished academic background. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Science from Qatar University in 1999. She further advanced her studies by completing a Master of Science (MSc) in Biochemistry from King Saud University, Saudi Arabia, in 2010, where she focused on the molecular mechanisms of Ukrain and Taxotere in breast cancer cells. Her academic journey continued with a PhD program in Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology at the University of Toronto, Canada, where she researched embryonic stem cells and their differentiation into osteogenic lineage. Layla completed her PhD in 2020 at Groningen University in the Netherlands, with a project on “Ligand Directed Enzyme Prodrug Therapy and Production of Long-Acting Protein Therapeutics for Targeted Cancer Treatment.”

Work Experience 💼:

Dr. Layla J.R Al-Mansoori currently serves as a Research Assistant Professor at the Biomedical Research Center at Qatar University. Her work focuses on biomedical research, particularly in the field of cancer treatment and therapeutics. She has worked extensively in various research labs, including her PhD research, which focused on enzyme prodrug therapy and targeted cancer treatments. She has also been involved in multiple research projects, including supervising MSc and PhD students, and contributing to national and international research grants.

Skills 🔍

Layla possesses a strong set of laboratory and research skills, particularly in the fields of molecular biology, biochemistry, and stem cell research. Her expertise extends to stem cell maintenance, differentiation, enzyme prodrug therapies, and the development of long-acting protein therapeutics. She is also highly skilled in grant writing, project management, and research supervision.

Awards and Honors 🏆

Throughout her career, Layla has been the recipient of numerous grants and honors, including multiple QU Student Grants, UREP grants from QNRF, and participation in national capacity building projects. She has been recognized for her innovative research on cancer therapies, insulin resistance, and bioactive glass scaffolds for bone regeneration. Her involvement in high school research programs also highlights her contribution to nurturing young talent in the biomedical sciences.

🤝 Memberships:

Dr. Al-Mansoori is an active member of several professional research organizations. Her collaborations extend across national and international research communities, where she contributes to projects on cancer therapy, diabetes, and bioengineering.

Teaching Experience 👩‍🏫:

Layla has significant teaching experience, particularly in supervising MSc and PhD students. She serves as a committee member for MSc students working on epigenetic regulation and obesity treatments, and she co-supervises PhD students investigating cancer biomarkers. Her teaching role is integral to the development of future scientists in Qatar.

Research Focus 🔬:

Dr. Al-Mansoori’s research focuses on cancer therapeutics, with particular interest in ligand-directed enzyme prodrug therapy, protein therapeutics, and insulin resistance. She has also explored the role of exosomes in cancer biomarkers and the use of bioactive glass scaffolds for bone regeneration. Her work aims to improve targeted treatments for cancer, enhance drug delivery systems, and further understand metabolic disorders like diabetes.

Conclusion 

Dr. Layla J.R Al-Mansoori demonstrates a compelling case for the Best Researcher Award due to her pioneering research in cancer therapy, her leadership in academic mentorship, and her contributions to the scientific community. With her dedication to advancing medical treatments and improving health outcomes, she is a deserving candidate for this prestigious award

📚 Publilcation 

  • MLIP and Its Potential Influence on Key Oncogenic Pathways
    • Authors: Hamwi, M.N., Elsayed, E., Dabash, H., Al-Mansoori, L., Burgon, P.G.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: Cells
    • Volume: 13(13), 1109
  • The Association between Lifestyle Factors and COVID-19: Findings from Qatar Biobank
    • Authors: Akbar, Z., Kunhipurayil, H.H., Saliba, J., Shi, Z., Shaito, A.A.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: Nutrients
    • Volume: 16(7)
  • Impact of Obesity-Related Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress on Cancer and Associated Molecular Targets
    • Authors: AlBashtawi, J., Al-Jaber, H., Ahmed, S., Al-Mansoori, L.
    • Year: 2024
    • Journal: Biomedicines
    • Volume: 12(4), 793
  • The Role of Apolipoproteins in the Commonest Cancers: A Review
    • Authors: Darwish, N.M., Al-Hail, M.K., Mohamed, Y., Al-Mansoori, L., Pedersen, S.
    • Year: 2023
    • Journal: Cancers
    • Volume: 15(23), 5565
  • Evaluation of the Influence of Eggshell (ES) Concentration on the Degradation Behavior of Mg-2.5Zn Biodegradable Alloy in Simulated Body Fluid
    • Authors: Radwan, A.B., Okonkwo, P.C., Murugan, S., Shakoor, R.A., Abdullah, A.M.
    • Year: 2023
    • Journal: ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering
    • Volume: 9(5), pp. 2376–2391
  • Effect of Sera from Elite Athletes on Cytokine Secretion and Insulin Signaling in Preadipocytes and Skeletal Muscle Cells
    • Authors: Alheidous, S., Al-Muraikhy, S., Rizk, N., Al-Mansoori, L., Elrayess, M.A.
    • Year: 2022
    • Journal: Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences
    • Volume: 9, 943034
  • In Vitro and In Vivo Validation of GATA-3 Suppression for Induction of Adipogenesis and Improving Insulin Sensitivity
    • Authors: Al-Jaber, H., Mohamed, N.A., Govindharajan, V.K., Al-Mansoori, L., Elrayess, M.A.
    • Year: 2022
    • Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
    • Volume: 23(19), 11142
  • Role of Inflammatory Cytokines, Growth Factors, and Adipokines in Adipogenesis and Insulin Resistance
    • Authors: Al-Mansoori, L., Al-Jaber, H., Prince, M.S., Elrayess, M.A.
    • Year: 2022
    • Journal: Inflammation
    • Volume: 45(1), pp. 31–44
  • Bio-vehicles of Cytotoxic Drugs for Delivery to Tumor Specific Targets for Cancer Precision Therapy
    • Authors: Al-Mansoori, L., Elsinga, P., Goda, S.K.
    • Year: 2021
    • Journal: Biomedicine and Pharmacotherapy
    • Volume: 144, 112260
  • Age and Sport Intensity-dependent Changes in Cytokines and Telomere Length in Elite Athletes
    • Authors: Sellami, M., Al-Muraikhy, S., Al-Jaber, H., Botre, F., Elrayess, M.A.
    • Year: 2021
    • Journal: Antioxidants
    • Volume: 10(7), 1035