Vahid Rashedi | Alzheimer’s disease | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by sciencefather

Dr. Vahid Rashedi | Alzheimer’s disease | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Vahid Rashedi 👨‍⚕️, an esteemed Assistant Professor of Gerontology at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences 🇮🇷, has made outstanding global contributions in aging, cognition, and psychogeriatrics 🌍🧠. With a Ph.D. in Gerontology (2017) 🎓 and extensive editorial duties across high-impact journals 📚, he’s actively involved as a Senior Collaborator with the Global Burden of Disease Project at IHME, University of Washington 🇺🇸. Recognized as a Top 1% scientist by Stanford University in 2024 🏅, he combines academic excellence, innovation, and impactful research. His interdisciplinary work spans gerontology, rehabilitation, mental health, and cognitive science, cementing his status as a global leader in aging research 🌐💡.

Profile

Education 🎓

Dr. Rashedi began his academic path with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Sciences 🎓🦾, focusing on geriatric care and assistive technology. He earned his Ph.D. in Gerontology with distinction in 2017 🥇, building expertise in psychogeriatrics, mental health, and cognitive decline. His academic training was rooted in interdisciplinary frameworks linking medicine, psychology, and social work 🔬💬. This diverse education empowered him to bridge clinical insights with research, enabling innovative health solutions for elderly populations 👵👴. He complements formal education with global scientific memberships and ongoing collaborations with prestigious institutes, such as IHME 🌎, emphasizing lifelong learning and cutting-edge research.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Dr. Rashedi has over a decade of rich academic and research experience, currently serving as Assistant Professor at the University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences 🏫. Since 2019, he has been a Senior Collaborator at IHME, University of Washington, contributing to the Global Burden of Disease project 📊🌐. He has authored 126 indexed journal articles 📑, published a book 📖, and holds four patents, including rehabilitation innovations like the vibrating ankle-foot orthosis 🦿. He is a prolific editorial board member and associate editor for over 10 international journals 📘🖋️. His work in psychogeriatrics and cognition has garnered global recognition, highlighting his leadership and mentoring roles 👨‍🏫🏅.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Dr. Rashedi is recognized globally for his scientific excellence, notably ranked in the Top 1% of scientists worldwide by Stanford University in 2024 🌟📈. He holds editorial roles in Frontiers, CGJ, and the Journal of Gerontology, reflecting scholarly esteem 📚. He is a trusted reviewer for numerous high-impact journals and was honored with national and international awards 🥇. His patented inventions in geriatric rehabilitation demonstrate a blend of innovation and clinical value 💡🏥. His GSA, APA, and ISTAART memberships validate his international standing 👏🌐. These honors underscore his unwavering dedication to improving elderly lives through evidence-based science and collaboration 🤝

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Rashedi’s research delves into psychogeriatrics, mental health, and cognitive disorders in aging populations 🧠👴. As part of the Global Burden of Disease team at IHME 🌍, he contributes to global health analytics, shaping international aging policies 📊. His innovations include assistive devices with therapeutic functions, bridging technology and clinical rehabilitation 🛠️⚙️. With 63 research projects and over 26,000 citations 🔍📈, his scholarly output is extensive and impactful. He leads investigations on dementia, geriatric depression, and cognitive resilience, supported by his roles in editorial boards and scientific societies 🧬📘. His mission is to translate research into real-world health solutions for aging communities 🌟🩺.

Publications 

LUCIANO VITORINO | Cognitive Aging | Cognitive Aging Excellence

Posted on by sciencefather

Dr. LUCIANO VITORINO | Cognitive Aging | Cognitive Aging Excellence

Dr. Luciano Magalhães Vitorino, Ph.D., RN 🇧🇷 is a dedicated professor at the Faculty of Medicine of Itajubá, Brazil 🏥, with expertise in nursing, gerontology, spirituality, and health 🌱. He has built a multidisciplinary academic and research career blending healthcare, cognition, and spirituality 🧠🙏. With over 1,500 citations 📚 and extensive teaching roles in medicine and nursing 🩺, he leads the Research Center and the Assessment Center at FMIT, actively contributing to the Research Ethics Committee 👨‍🔬. His international academic collaborations, including the University of Alberta 🇨🇦, reflect his global engagement 🌍. A recognized academic voice, he served as Guest Editor for Frontiers in Psychiatry 📰 and holds memberships across academic platforms 📊. Through education, mentorship, and pioneering research, Dr. Luciano is influencing healthcare for the aging population 💡👴👵.

Profile

Education 🎓

Dr. Luciano holds a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cognition, Spirituality, and Aging from UFJF (2017–2019) 🧘‍♂️🧠, a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Quality of Life & Spiritual Health from UNIFESP (2012–2016) 📖, and a B.Sc. in Nursing from Faculty of Nursing Wenceslau Braz (2006) 🩺. He specialized in Urgency and Emergency Care (2008–2010) ⛑️. His Ph.D. work was guided by experts from UNIFESP and the University of Alberta 🇨🇦, exploring spiritual/religious coping among older adults. His dissertation and thesis focused on quality of life and religious coping in nursing homes and community settings 🙏🏘️. His postdoctoral project assessed spirituality’s influence on cognitive decline in aging populations 🧓. This unique education, combining nursing, public health, and spirituality, positions him as a thought leader in holistic geriatric care

Experience 👨‍🏫

Dr. Luciano is a full-time assistant professor at FMIT since 2018 👨‍🏫. He coordinates both the Research Center (since 2022) and Assessment Center (since 2022), and is a long-standing member of the Research Ethics Committee (since 2019) 🧪📋. He previously taught at Faculty of Nursing Wenceslau Braz (2007–2012), Medical School of Itajubá (2013–2014), and Federal University of São Paulo (2013) 👨‍⚕️📘. He’s also guided health residency programs and coordinated caregiver training for elderly individuals 👵👨‍⚕️. As Guest Editor of Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022–2023), he shaped international discussions on spirituality and health 🗞️🕊️. His teaching subjects include Epidemiology, Geriatrics, Medical Semiology, and Spirituality & Health 🧬🩻. His roles reflect a passion for interdisciplinary health sciences and dedication to ethical, evidence-based care 🌟.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Dr. Luciano’s impactful research and teaching have earned him numerous citations across Scopus (h-index 13, 525 citations), Web of Science (h-index 11, 454 citations), Google Scholar (h-index 20, 1,506 citations) 📈, and ResearchGate (h-index 16, 864 citations) 🧑‍🔬. His inclusion as Guest Editor for Frontiers in Psychiatry (2022–2023) showcases recognition in global academic communities 🌍. He’s contributed to leading Brazilian and international institutions like UNIFESP, UFJF, and the University of Alberta 🇧🇷🇨🇦. Through strong publication records and global collaborations, he’s established himself as an authority on spiritual health in aging 🚀📚. His profile on Google Scholar, ORCID, and LinkedIn reflects international engagement and scholarly distinction 🌐🎖️.

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Luciano’s research bridges Geriatrics, Gerontology, Spirituality and Mental Health, and AI in Healthcare 🧓🧠💻. His central interest lies in understanding how spirituality and religiosity affect cognitive aging and quality of life 🌿🧘‍♂️. His postdoctoral research—a 4-year longitudinal study—explored how spiritual coping impacts cognitive decline in community-dwelling elders 🧪🕯️. He also investigates medical education, primary healthcare, and interdisciplinary training 🩺📘. As AI transforms healthcare, he examines its integration with geriatric care and spiritual health frameworks 🤖❤️. Through mixed-methods research and international collaboration, he aims to personalize elderly care and mental wellness using both humanistic and data-driven approaches 📊✨.

Publications 

Aynur Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez | Neurodevelopmental Disorders | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by sciencefather

Prof Dr. Aynur Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez | Neurodevelopmental Disorders | Best Researcher Award

Asst. Prof. Aynur Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez is a neuroscientist at İstanbul Nişantaşı University, specializing in neurodegenerative diseases, neuroprotection, and the gut-brain axis. She completed her Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Istanbul University in 2013 and has been a faculty member since 2014. Her research spans Alzheimer’s, autism, and Parkinson’s disease, focusing on stem cell therapies and functional foods for cognitive enhancement. She has led TÜSEB-approved projects and holds patents on bioactive functional foods. Aynur teaches Neurology, Cognitive Neurophysiology, and Industrial Biotechnology. She actively contributes to cutting-edge innovations, particularly in prebiotic-microbiota interactions.

Profile

Education 🎓

Aynur Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Istanbul University in 2013. Her academic journey emphasized neurobiology, neurodegenerative disease mechanisms, and innovative therapeutic strategies. Her doctoral research focused on neuroprotective compounds in Alzheimer’s disease. Before her Ph.D., she pursued studies in molecular biology and biotechnology, refining her expertise in cellular neuroscience. Throughout her education, she collaborated on interdisciplinary projects, integrating neurophysiology with pharmacological advancements. Her postdoctoral research extended into translational neuroscience, bridging laboratory findings with clinical applications. Aynur’s academic foundation laid the groundwork for her extensive research on cognitive function, stem cell therapy, and the gut-brain axis.

Experience 👨‍🏫

With over a decade of experience, Aynur Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez has been an Assistant Professor at İstanbul Nişantaşı University since 2014. She has led multiple national and international neuroscience projects, including TÜSEB-approved research on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Aynur has played a pivotal role in developing functional foods aimed at cognitive enhancement and has secured patents for novel bioactive compounds. She actively collaborates with industry and academia, integrating neuroscience with biotechnology. Her teaching portfolio includes Neurology, Cognitive Neurophysiology, and Industrial Biotechnology. She has also mentored numerous graduate students in neuropharmacology and neurodegenerative research.

Research Interests 🔬

Aynur Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez’s research focuses on neurodegenerative diseases, neuroprotection, and the gut-brain axis. She explores innovative therapies for Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and autism, with a strong emphasis on stem cell applications. Her work investigates the neuroprotective potential of bioactive compounds and functional foods, aiming to enhance cognitive function. She has pioneered research on the microbiota-brain relationship, particularly the role of prebiotics in neurodegeneration. Aynur’s projects also include SNP-based qPCR diagnostic tools for Alzheimer’s risk assessment. Through interdisciplinary collaborations, she integrates neuroscience with biotechnology, advancing the understanding of cognitive disorders and potential therapeutic interventions.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Aynur Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez has received multiple awards for her contributions to neuroscience, including national research grants and innovation awards for her work on functional foods for neuroprotection. She was honored by TÜSEB for her groundbreaking research in stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s disease. Her patented functional chocolate enriched with bioactive compounds received recognition for its cognitive benefits. Aynur has also been awarded project grants from TÜBİTAK for her research on neurodegeneration. She has been invited as a keynote speaker at international neuroscience conferences and has been recognized for her contributions to cognitive science.

Publications 📚

  • Attila Altunel, Aynur Muduroglu-Kirmizibekmez, Alparslan Onder, Ozlem Altunel, Ali
    Sever, Ihsan Kara, Efficacy of ACTH therapy in children with Landau-Kleffner Syndrome
    and Autism Spectrum Disorder: A retrospective analysis, Epilepsy & Behavior,Vol
    165,2025,110308, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yebeh.2025.11030
  • Muduroglu-Kirmizibekmez A, Cati C, Onder A, Aydin S, Kara I. Investigation of the acute
    impact of rosemary consumption on brain activity in healthy volunteers. Nutr
    Neurosci. 2024 Jul 6:1-12. doi: 10.1080/1028415X.2024.2370729. Epub ahead of print.
    PMID: 38970803.
  • Biliz Y, Hasdemir B, Başpınar Küçük H, Zaim M, Şentürk AM, Müdüroğlu Kırmızıbekmez
    A, Kara İ. Novel N-Acyl Hydrazone Compounds as Promising Anticancer Agents:
    Synthesis and Molecular Docking Studies. ACS Omega. 2023 May 20;8(22):20073-
    20084. doi: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02361. PMID: 37305237; PMCID: PMC10249086.
  • Aydin S, Erözden AA, Tavşanlı N, Müdüroğlu A, Çalışkan M, Kara İ. Anthocyanin
    Addition to Kefir: Metagenomic Analysis of Microbial Community Structure. Curr
    Microbiol. 2022 Sep 20;79(11):327. doi: 10.1007/s00284-022-03017-x. PMID:
    36125585
  • Altunel Atilla, Müdüroğlu Kirmizibekmez Aynur, Altunel Emine Özlem (2022).
    Hypsarrhythmia Paroxysm Intensities that Initiate and Render Physical & Mental
    Retardation Irreversible in West Syndrome. International Journal of Neuroscience,
    DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2022.2078208 (Publication No: 7685958)

Jeevitha Gowda R | Cognitive impairment | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by sciencefather

Ms. Jeevitha Gowda R | Cognitive impairment | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor, Alliance University, United Kingdom

🧠 Dr. Jeevitha Gowda R is a dedicated research scholar specializing in cognitive neuroscience and public health, with a strong focus on dementia prevention. She has expertise in developing cognitive screening tools, conducting neuropsychological assessments, and designing neuroscience-based interventions to enhance brain health. Currently serving as a Guest Faculty and Research Associate, she is passionate about bridging research with real-world applications. With proficiency in EEG, ERP, and data analysis, her work emphasizes cognitive aging, behavioral psychology, and mental well-being. Her research contributions include multiple conference presentations, publications, and cognitive training programs. She has received prestigious recognitions, including Best Paper Awards and research fellowships. Her commitment extends to community mental health programs, where she collaborates with NGOs and research institutions. Through her work, she aims to advance cognitive neuroscience and improve public health outcomes. 📚🔬

Profile

Education 🎓

🎓 Dr. Jeevitha Gowda R holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Neuroscience and Public Health from Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru (Thesis Submitted), focusing on developing cognitive tools for early dementia detection in primary healthcare settings. She earned a Master’s in Cognitive Neuroscience from JSS Academy of Higher Education, Mysuru (2018), ranking among the top 3 students, with coursework in neural cognition, psychological assessment, and clinical interventions. Her dissertation explored mental fatigue due to sleep deprivation using EEG and ERP. She completed her Bachelor’s in Life Sciences from JSS College for Women, Mysuru (2016), excelling in biochemistry, microbiology, and environmental psychology. Additionally, she trained at the Defence Institute of Psychological Studies (DRDO) and Narayana Health, Bengaluru, gaining hands-on experience in EEG, neuropsychological assessments, and cognitive therapy. Her interdisciplinary education combines neuroscience, psychology, and public health, preparing her for impactful research and innovation in brain health. 🧠📖

Experience 👨‍🏫

💼 Dr. Jeevitha Gowda R has extensive experience as a Research Associate at the Centre for Integrative Health and Well-Being (2020–Present), where she develops neuropsychological intervention tools and conducts cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) programs. She also serves as a Senior Research Associate at Brighter Minds, focusing on cognitive enhancement and neuroscience-based training programs. As a Guest Lecturer at Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (2021–Present), she teaches biostatistics, neurophysiology, and psychology. Her past clinical internships at DRDO and Narayana Health provided her with hands-on expertise in EEG, ERP, and neuropsychological assessments. She has conducted research on cognitive impairment, dementia screening, and sleep deprivation’s effects on cognition. Additionally, she has authored 50+ neuroscience articles, presented at international conferences, and collaborated with NGOs for mental health awareness. Her diverse experience integrates academic, clinical, and research-based expertise to advance cognitive neuroscience and public health. 🏥📊

Research Interests 🔬

🔬 Dr. Jeevitha Gowda R’s research bridges cognitive neuroscience, psychology, and public health, focusing on early dementia detection, cognitive aging, and neuropsychological interventions. She specializes in developing culturally relevant cognitive screening tools for primary healthcare, improving accessibility to dementia diagnostics. Her work explores neuropsychological assessments, EEG-based cognitive analysis, and behavioral interventions for enhancing mental well-being. She has conducted studies on sleep deprivation, cognitive impairment, and neurofeedback therapy. She collaborates with institutions like DRDO, Narayana Health, and Brighter Minds to implement neuroscience-driven programs. Her research extends to the psychological well-being of dementia caregivers, neurocognitive training for brain health, and integrating technology into mental health solutions. Through interdisciplinary studies and global research collaborations, she aims to advance early dementia detection methods and improve cognitive health strategies. Her work contributes to policy-making, clinical psychology, and public health initiatives. 🏥📊

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

🏆 Dr. Jeevitha Gowda R has received multiple accolades for her contributions to cognitive neuroscience and public health research. She won the Best Paper Award at the Epidemiology Foundation of India Conference (2023, Goa) for her groundbreaking work on dementia screening. Her research paper on cognitive tool validation earned a Special Mention at the International Dementia Conference (DEMCON-2024, IISC Bangalore). During her master’s, she ranked among the top 3 dissertations at JSS Academy of Higher Education. She was awarded the Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) by Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences (2022–2024) for her Ph.D. research. She has also secured research grants for projects on dementia detection and cognitive enhancement. Recognized for her impactful contributions, she collaborates with prestigious institutions, including DRDO and Narayana Health, to advance neuropsychological research. Her work continues to shape innovations in mental health and aging. 🎖️🧠

Publications 📚

  • Jeevitha Gowda R, Anish Mehta, Krishnamurthy Jayanna. (2025).
    Dementia: A Public Health Challenge in India. South Eastern European
    Journal of Public Health, 29–43. Retrieved from
    hps://www.seejph.com/index.php/seejph/article/view/3295 (Scopus)

  • Jeevitha Gowda R. The Impact of Cultural Beliefs and Stigma on
    Dementia Care and Diagnosis: A Scoping Review, 25 November 2024,
    PREPRINT (Version 1) available at Research Square
    hps://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5519592/v1
  • Jeevitha Ramesh, Parimala Guruprasad (2024) Factors Affecting the
    Psychological Well-Being of Caregivers of Dementia Patients: A
    Thematic Review. Journal of Neurology Research Reviews & Reports.
    SRC/JNRRR-260
  • Development and Validation of Cognitive Screening Tools for
    Dementia Detection in Primary Care Seings: An Exploratory Pilot
    Study – Under review at International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
    (Corresponding Author)
  • Burden of Cognitive Impairment Including Dementia, and Associated
    Risk Factors Among the Rural Population of South Karnataka, India –
    Under review at Journal of Public Health Research. (Corresponding
    Author)
  • Impact of Training Module on Lifestyle and Healthy Behaviours: An
    Exploratory Pilot in India – Under review at Journal Explore.
    (Co-Author)

Wei Jiang | Cognitive and neuropathology | Women Researcher Award

Posted on by sciencefather

 Dr. Wei Jiang | Cognitive and neuropathology | Women Researcher Award

Medical University of South Carolina , United States

Her academic focus includes microbiome, B cell/autoantibody interactions, and disease pathogenesis, with particular emphasis on HIV, addictive drugs, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She is involved in several clinical and translational research projects, including R01DA059854 (Jiang & Sheng), investigating the impacts of drug abuse on autoantibodies and immune reconstitution in HIV. She also works on CSRD Merit I01 CX002422, exploring B cell-mediated immunological failure in HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy. Additionally, she contributes to NIDA-funded studies, such as R01DA055523, examining the oral microbiome’s effect on cognition in HIV-infected cannabis users, and R01DA059538, investigating HIV persistence in cocaine users. Furthermore, she collaborates on a Translational Science Award project exploring the oral microbiome’s impact on cognition in Alzheimer’s disease.

 

 

Profile

Education:

She earned her M.S. in Epidemiology and Biostatistics from Case Western Reserve University, Medical School, Cleveland, USA, in 2012. Prior to that, she completed a Postdoctoral fellowship at Case Western Reserve University, Medical School, Cleveland, USA, in 2008. She holds an M.S. in Immunology from Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, which she completed in 2001. She also received her M.D. in Internal Medicine from Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, in 1997.

BRIEF RESEARCH INTEREST STATEMENT:

She has 8 years of clinical experience in infectious diseases and 22 years of translational research experience in disease immunopathogenesis. As a corresponding author, she has published 52 peer-reviewed articles on microbiome and disease immunopathogenesis in high-profile journals like Microbiome, Arthritis & Rheumatology, J Autoimmunity, and EbioMedicine, bringing her total number of peer-reviewed publications to 101. As a physician-scientist, she has served as Principal Investigator on five R01 grants from NIAID or NIDA, along with a VA clinical merit grant, focusing on microbiomes, drug abuse, autoimmunity, and HIV immunopathogenesis. Her research primarily focuses on two major areas. The first is understanding the role of B cell perturbation and autoantibodies in disease pathogenesis, particularly in HIV and SLE. In 2017, her team first determined that autoimmunity impacts antiretroviral therapy outcomes in HIV without inducing autoimmune disease. This concept was later corroborated in studies on COVID-19. Her team is currently developing monoclonal autoantibodies and inhibitors to prevent anti-CD4 autoantibody binding, aiming to improve CD4+ T cell recovery and reduce morbidity in HIV patients. The second area of focus is the role of microbiomes in disease pathogenesis, including HIV, SLE, and drug abuse. She has identified the impact of disease-associated pathobionts on immune perturbations and disease progression, with findings validated in animal models. Her microbiome research is supported by R01DA055523.

TRAINING, PROFESSIONAL APPOINTMENTS

She currently serves on the Appointment, Promotion & Tenure (APT) committee in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina, a position she has held since 2024. She was promoted to Full Professor with tenure in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine at the same institution in 2023. She has been a Faculty Senator for the College of Medicine and a Research Health Scientist at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center since 2022. Additionally, she is a member of the Translational Science Laboratory IAC (2020-2022) and the MUSC College’s Curriculum Committee (2019-Present). She has held various positions at MUSC, including Associate Professor (2018-2022) and Assistant Professor (2012-2018) in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Since 2018, she has been a member of the Hollings Cancer Center at MUSC and has served on the award committee for the Advancement, Recruitment, and Retention of Women in Science. Her academic career began as an Instructor (2008-2012) and Research Associate (2002-2008) at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, OH.

AWARDS

She received her Chinese Board of Internal Medicine certification in Infectious Diseases in July 1997 and was certified as an Attending Medical Doctor in Infectious Diseases in November 1999 (No: 10203C089758). In July 1997, she also earned a Teacher Qualification from the Educational Institute, National Educational Committee in China (No: 971100071069382). Her licensure is from Beijing, China.

She has received several awards throughout her career, including the Laboratory Travel Grant from the American Association of Immunologists (AAI) in 2019, the MUSC High Impact Research Publication Award in 2019, and multiple travel grants from AAI for various international immunology congresses. She was awarded the Early Career Faculty Travel Grant by AAI and ECI in 2018 and 2017, and received the Travel Award and HIV Section Chair recognition at the 2016 International Congress of Immunology. In 2015, she was honored with the MUSC Foundation Developing Scholar Award and an Early Career Faculty Travel Grant from AAI. Her earlier achievements include multiple Young Investigator Awards from the 13th and 15th Conferences on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (2006, 2008) and the Keystone Meeting on HIV Pathogenesis (2006, 2008). Additionally, she was recognized as an Outstanding Student Leader for five consecutive years during her medical school years from 1986 to 1991.

OTHER EXPERIENCE AND PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

She has held several key professional roles and memberships throughout her career. Since 2024, she has been serving as a mentor for the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) Future Leaders Mentorship Fellowship (FLMF) Program. She is a member of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology 2024 committee and has been a Treasurer Elect for the Association of Chinese Virologists in America from 2022 to 2024. She has been a member of the American Society for Microbiology (ASM) since 2021 and the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) since 2020. She has also been serving on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Neuroimmune Pharmacology since 2019 and is a member of the Society on NeuroImmune Pharmacology. Additionally, she has been part of the Society of Chinese Bioscientists in America (SCBA) and the American College of Rheumatology since 2018. She has contributed as an award committee member for the Advancement, Recruitment, and Retention of Women in Science at the Medical University of South Carolina since 2017 and is an associate member of the Hollings Cancer Center at MUSC.

She is also an active member of the MUSC Oral Health Center, College of Dental Medicine, and the Medical University of South Carolina College of Graduate Studies. Her previous memberships include being part of the American Association of Immunologists from 2011 to 2021, the Center for AIDS Research from 2008 to 2012, and the AIDS Clinic Trial Group since 2008. Her certification in Chinese Board of Internal Medicine in Infectious Diseases dates back to 1997, along with her teacher qualification from the Educational Institute, National Educational Committee, China.

CURRENT RESEARCH PROJECTS

She is currently leading several impactful research projects. As the Principal Investigator (PI) on R01DA059854 (9/30/2024-5/31/2029), funded by NIDA with a total of $3,924,302, she is studying the impacts of drug abuse-mediated inflammatory perturbations on affinity maturation of anti-CD4 autoantibodies and poor immune reconstitution from ART in HIV. This project aims to understand the role of cocaine in autoimmunity and immune recovery in HIV patients. Her role in this project is as PI (25% effort).

She is also a multiPI on R01DA059538 (9/30/2023-7/31/2028), with a total of $1,724,585 from NIDA, investigating host gene isoforms contributing to HIV persistence in cocaine users. The study focuses on identifying gene isoforms associated with HIV infection in elite controllers and its implications for cocaine users. Her role is PI (25% effort).

In addition, she is the PI on I01CX002422 (3/1/2022-2/28/2026), funded by the VA Medical Center CSRD Merit with a total of $1,195,899. This project examines the mechanism of autoreactive B cell-mediated immunological failure in HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy despite virologic suppression. She is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms of anti-CD4 IgG-producing B cells and the pathologic effects of anti-CD4 autoantibodies. Her role is PI with 62.5% effort.

Additionally, she is involved as multiPI on R01DA055523 (9/30/2022-7/31/2027), with a total funding of $1,731,992, where she is working alongside Fitting to investigate the effects of microbiome-related mechanisms on H

 Publication