Agota Apati | Stem Cell Based Disease Modelling | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Agota Apati | Stem Cell Based Disease Modelling | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Ágota Apáti, PhD, DSc, is a distinguished Hungarian molecular biologist and Senior Research Associate at the Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Research Centre for Natural Sciences. She leads the Pluripotent Stem Cell Laboratory and is renowned for establishing Hungary’s first human pluripotent stem cell lab. With over 70 publications and an H-index of 25, her work is widely recognized internationally. Dr. Apáti’s research encompasses human iPSC-derived disease models, membrane transporters, and cellular signaling pathways, with implications in schizophrenia, diabetes, and rare syndromes. She has supervised numerous PhD students and maintains active roles in both national and international scientific societies. Her commitment to translational stem cell research and ethical scientific practice positions her as a leading figure in the field of regenerative medicine and cellular therapeutics.

Profile

🎓 Education

Dr. Ágota Apáti holds a Master of Science (MSc) degree in Chemistry from Eötvös Loránd University of Sciences, Budapest (1984–1989). She later pursued doctoral studies and earned her PhD from Semmelweis Medical University (1998–2003), focusing on molecular and cellular aspects of hematology and immunology. Her academic training blends rigorous biochemical education with advanced medical sciences, establishing a solid foundation for her research career in stem cell biology and cellular therapeutics. Through continuous engagement in teaching and supervising graduate students, she has also remained an integral part of academic development at Hungary’s premier institutions. Her strong interdisciplinary background supports her work on complex cellular processes and disease modeling, and she is also a Doctor of Science (DSc, 2024) from the Hungarian Academy of Sciences—an honor awarded for substantial contributions to biomedical research in Hungary.

🧪 Experience

With over three decades of research experience, Dr. Ágota Apáti began her scientific career as a Research Fellow at Semmelweis Medical University (1989–1993). She progressed through multiple institutions, including the National Institute of Haematology and Immunology (1993–2004) and the National Blood Service (2005–2013), where she led various molecular biology projects. Between 2013 and 2023, she was a Senior Research Associate and lab head at the Institute of Enzymology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Since 2023, she continues her leadership as Laboratory Head at the Institute of Molecular Life Sciences under HUNREN. She has consistently taught and mentored postgraduate students in biochemistry, hematology, immunology, and membrane biology. Dr. Apáti’s collaborative and interdisciplinary projects have helped develop multiple disease models and cellular assays. Her scientific leadership has been instrumental in expanding Hungary’s role in cutting-edge stem cell research and molecular diagnostics.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Dr. Ágota Apáti has been recognized both nationally and internationally for her contributions to biomedical research. Early in her career, she received the prestigious UNIDO award during the ICRO course on RNA structure and function in Trieste, Italy (1994). In 2024, she was awarded the Doctor of Science (DSc) degree by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences—a distinguished title granted to researchers with a substantial, impactful body of scientific work. Her membership in renowned scientific organizations, such as the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR), Hungarian Society of Biology, Hungarian Society of Biochemistry, and the Hungarian Medical Research Council’s Ethical Board for Human Reproduction, underscores her stature in the field. These accolades not only reflect her scientific excellence but also her contributions to ethical research practice, public health, and mentoring within the scientific community, cementing her reputation as a key contributor to molecular life sciences.

🔬 Research Focus

Dr. Apáti’s research centers on pluripotent stem cells, disease modeling, and cellular signaling. She specializes in generating and differentiating human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) into neuronal, cardiac, mesenchymal, and endothelial lineages. Her work extends into disease modeling for schizophrenia, arteriosclerosis, diabetes, DiGeorge syndrome, and Frank-Ter Haar syndrome using patient-derived iPSC lines and CRISPR-based genome editing. She has developed cellular reporter systems to study membrane transporter function and calcium signaling pathways, significantly advancing understanding in neuropsychiatric and cardiovascular disorders. Through integrative omics and 3D organoid models, Dr. Apáti’s lab explores metabolic and genetic dysregulation in human pathologies. Her translational research aims to identify drug targets and therapeutic strategies using patient-specific cell lines. She also investigates multidrug resistance in stem cells and cancer, contributing to better clinical interventions. Her multidisciplinary projects bridge fundamental biology with clinical relevance, making her a vital contributor to regenerative medicine and personalized therapy.

✅ Conclusion

Dr. Ágota Apáti is a trailblazing scientist whose pioneering work in human stem cell research, disease modeling, and membrane biology continues to shape translational medicine, with a sustained commitment to research excellence, scientific mentorship, and ethical innovation in biomedical sciences.

Publications

  • Haloperidol, Olanzapine, and Risperidone Induce Morphological Changes in an In Vitro Model of Human Hippocampal Neurogenesis

    Biomolecules
    2024-06 | Journal article | Author
    CONTRIBUTORS: Bálint Jezsó; Sára Kálmán; Kiara Gitta Farkas; Edit Hathy; Katalin Vincze; Dzsenifer Kovács-Schoblocher; Julianna Lilienberg; Csongor Tordai; Zsofia Nemoda; László Homolya et al.
  • Partial Disturbance of Microprocessor Function in Human Stem Cells Carrying a Heterozygous Mutation in the DGCR8 Gene

    Genes
    2022-10 | Journal article | Author
    CONTRIBUTORS: Dóra Reé; Ábel Fóthi; Nóra Varga; Orsolya Kolacsek; Tamas Orban; Agota Apat
  • A Novel Cell-Based Model for a Rare Disease: The Tks4-KO Human Embryonic Stem Cell Line as a Frank-Ter Haar Syndrome Model System

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences
    2022-08 | Journal article | Author
    CONTRIBUTORS: Loretta László; Hédi Maczelka; Tamás Takács; Anita Kurilla; Álmos Tilajka; László Buday; Vas Virag; Agota Apati
  • Synthesis and Systematic Investigation of Lepidiline A and Its Gold(I), Silver(I), and Copper(I) Complexes Using In Vitro Cancer Models and Multipotent Stem Cells

 

Shilpa Kumari | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Ms.Shilpa Kumari | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

 

Sharda University, India

Profile

Education

She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Sharda University since 2020, having completed her coursework with an impressive 84.5%. She holds an M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Chandigarh University, where she secured 79.6% in 2019. Prior to that, she earned her B.Sc. from HNB Garhwal Central University, Srinagar, in 2017 with a score of 66.7%. She completed her 12th grade in the Medical stream under CBSE in 2014 with 74.4% and her 10th grade in General Science in 2012, securing 75.5%.

 

Awards

She has been awarded the Sharda University Research Scholarship (SURS) by Sharda University since February 2021. She received a Silver Medal at the 8th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Zoologists and the 5th International Conference on Recent Trends in Life Sciences and Biotechnology held at Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Haryana, in December 2024. Additionally, she was granted International Travel Support from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, to present her research at the University Malay, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, in August 2024. She secured 2nd Prize at the Anveshan International Convention 2023-2024 (North Zone), organized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) in January 2024. Furthermore, she won the Best Oral Presentation Award at the National Conference on Disease Diagnosis and Drug Development Against Human Pathogens, sponsored by DBT and organized by Muthyammal College of Arts and Science in November 2023.

Book chapters

1. Shilpa Kumari, Neha Verma, Anil Kumar, Sunita Dalal, and Kanu Priya. “Functional
overrepresentation analysis and their application in microbial pathogenesis.” In Systems Biology
Approaches for Host-Pathogen Interaction Analysis, pp. 171-179. Academic Press, 2024.
2. Neha Verma, Shilpa Kumari, Anil Kumar, and Kanu Priya. “Advancements in systems biologybased analysis of microbial pathogenesis.” In Systems Biology Approaches for Host-Pathogen
Interaction Analysis, pp. 181-190. Academic Press, 2024

Publication