Chengfang Tang | Newborn Screening | Best Researcher Award

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Mrs. Chengfang Tang | Newborn Screening | Best Researcher Award

Guangzhou Medical University | China

Chengfang Tang, a supervising technician at Guangzhou Newborn Screening Center, Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, holds a Master’s degree from Sun Yat-sen University with specialization in instrumental analysis in Pharmaceutical Analysis. With extensive professional experience, she has dedicated her career to clinical and research work on tandem mass spectrometry for newborn screening of multiple genetic metabolic diseases, contributing significantly to early detection and management of rare disorders. She also serves as Secretary of the Genetic Metabolism Group of the Rare Disease Branch of the Guangdong Medical Association, reflecting her leadership in the field. Her research interests center on newborn screening, with notable contributions in advancing diagnostic techniques for genetic metabolic conditions. She has published impactful research in high-quality journals, including International Journal of Neonatal Screening and Clinica Chimica Acta, and has conducted studies on newborn screening for adrenoleukodystrophy. Skilled in advanced laboratory techniques, mass spectrometry applications, and clinical data interpretation, her expertise supports precision medicine and improved child health outcomes. Recognized for her commitment, she has earned professional honors through memberships and leadership roles in scientific associations. Overall, Chengfang Tang’s work exemplifies excellence in research and innovation, strengthening global newborn screening efforts and improving pediatric healthcare.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Emmanuel Chona | Public Health | Young Researcher Award

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Mr. Emmanuel Chona | Public Health | Young Researcher Award

Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences | Tanzania

Emmanuel Z. Chona is a registered nurse and emerging research scientist with a strong foundation in academic teaching, clinical practice, and public health research. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences (MUHAS) and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health in Implementation Science at the same institution, supported by the EMPOWER-TZ Scholarship from Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health. His professional journey includes service as an Intern Nurse at Tumbi Regional Referral Hospital, where he gained comprehensive clinical experience, and subsequent roles as Tutorial Assistant at St. Joseph University in Tanzania and later at MUHAS, contributing to teaching, curriculum development, research, and consultancy. His research interests lie in public health, implementation science, nursing education, and chronic disease management, evidenced by twelve peer-reviewed publications, including five as first author. Skilled in SPSS, STATA, NVivo, and teaching methodologies, he combines analytical ability with strong communication and teamwork. He has also undertaken specialized training in pediatric hematology, pediatric oncology, teaching methodology, and human subjects research. Recognized for his excellence, he has received the Early Career Research Grant, an Excellence Performance Certificate, and a master’s scholarship. Emmanuel’s academic dedication, clinical competence, and research productivity highlight his commitment to advancing healthcare delivery and public health outcomes in Tanzania and beyond.

Profile: Googlescholar

Featured Publications

Faye Taxman | Implementation Science | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Faye Taxman | Implementation Science | Best Researcher Award

George Mason University | United States

Prof. Faye Taxman is a distinguished scholar in criminology and public policy, widely recognized for her influential contributions to correctional reform, implementation science, and justice-health integration. She earned her B.A. with honors in Political Science and Criminal Justice from the University of Tulsa, followed by an M.A. and Ph.D. in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University, where she was awarded graduate fellowships. Currently, she serves as a University Professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, and directs the Center for Advancing Correctional Excellence!, while also holding affiliate professorships at Florida State University, Griffith University, and Howard University. Her research interests center on evidence-based practices, reentry programs, and justice system reforms, with projects funded by the National Institutes of Health and the National Institute of Justice focusing on digital tools for justice-involved populations and reentry interventions. She is skilled in program evaluation, randomized controlled trials, implementation strategies, and cross-sector collaboration. Prof. Taxman has received numerous prestigious honors, including the 2023 Vollmer Award, ASC Fellowship, the Joan McCord Award, and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Society of Criminology. Her work bridges scholarship and practice, advancing correctional excellence and improving justice and health outcomes. In conclusion, Prof. Taxman’s career exemplifies academic rigor, leadership, and transformative impact on criminology and correctional policy.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Phillips, L. C., Mackey, B. J., & Taxman, F. S. (2025, October). Tackling the issue of limited dialogue and strengthening collaboration among court actors for improving the condition-setting process. Criminal Justice and Behavior. Advance online publication.

Smith, L. R., Faragó, F., Blue, T., Witte, J. C., Gordon, M. S., & Taxman, F. S. (2025, September 3). Are operations backed by best practices in American problem-solving courts? Journal of Substance Use.

Faulkner, R. N., Arnold, A., Sarapas, C., Ryan, M. E., Sichel, C. E., Wasserman, G. A., Taxman, F. S., Dennis, M. L., & Elkington, K. S. (2025, August 1). Exploring the impact of juvenile probation officer’s individual and organizational characteristics on e-Connect performance. Journal of Correctional Health Care.

Sarapas, C., Sichel, C. E., Dennis, M. L., Wasserman, G. A., Taxman, F. S., Auerbach, R. P., Mroczkowski, M. M., Ryan, M. E., & Elkington, K. S. (2025, May). Predictive validity of the e-Connect suicide risk classification algorithm in youth on probation.

Taxman, F. S., Clark, K. J., Kushmerick-McCune, B., Hulsey, J., & Sheidow, A. (2025, May 20). Engagement, dissemination, and implementation: A review of the correctional health studies funded by the National Institute of Health’s HEAL Initiatives. Victims & Offenders.

Ramezani, N., Taxman, F., Mackey, B., Viglione, J., & Johnson, J. E. (2025, April 16). Implementation mechanisms used in national efforts to improve community services to keep individuals with mental illness out of local jails [Preprint].

Mackey, B. J., Johnson, J. E., Ramezani, N., Hailemariam, M., Rosen, R. K., Thurman, T., Viglione, J., & Taxman, F. S. (2025, January). The who, what, and how of interagency criminal justice–behavioral health teams: Developing and sustaining collaborations. Criminal Justice and Behavior.

Mackey, B. J., Ramezani, N., Viglione, J., Thurman, T., Johnson, J. E., & Taxman, F. S. (2024, November 16). Implementing reform: Approaches to alter the use of local jail for people with behavioral health conditions. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology.

Pettus, C., Kennedy, S. C., Renn, T., Tripodi, S., Herod, L., Rudes, D., & Taxman, F. S. (2024, April). Behavioral health literacy: A new construct to improve outcomes among incarcerated individuals. International Journal of Social Welfare.

Smith, L. R., Faragó, F., Blue, T., Witte, J. C., Gordon, M. S., & Taxman, F. S. (2023, November 10). Viewing then doing?: Problem-solving court coordinators’ perceptions of medications for opioid use disorders from a nationally representative survey in the United States. Substance Use & Misuse.

Valeria Azevedo de Almeida | Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Valeria Azevedo de Almeida | Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Valéria Azevedo de Almeida is a Brazilian physiotherapist and researcher with expertise in neuroengineering, maternal and child health, and neonatal care. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Physiotherapy at the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), where she also completed her undergraduate studies. Valéria holds a Master’s in Neuroengineering from the Edmond and Lily Safra International Institute of Neurosciences and has extensive experience in hospital and academic settings. Her research contributions focus on neonatal neural activity and pediatric urological sequelae linked to congenital infections like Zika virus. She has served in both clinical and academic roles across various Brazilian institutions, including UFRN, ISD, HU-UFGD, and HRG. Fluent in Portuguese and proficient in English, she also acts as a journal referee and participates in numerous collaborative health projects. Valéria has earned distinctions for her dedication to education and contributions to neonatal physiotherapy research and care.

Profile

Education 🎓

Valéria Azevedo de Almeida is completing her Ph.D. in Physiotherapy (2021–2025) at UFRN, under Dr. Silvana Alves Pereira. She earned a Master’s in Neuroengineering (2018–2020) at the Edmond and Lily Safra Institute, supervised by Dr. Reginaldo Freitas Jr., with a CAPES scholarship. Previously, she completed a specialization in Maternal and Child Health through a multiprofessional residency at UFRN (2016–2018), also under Dr. Pereira. Her undergraduate degree in Physiotherapy (2011–2015) was completed at UFRN with CNPq scholarship support. Complementary education includes over 20 short courses in areas like public health, intensive care, clinical pilates, neonatal care, and professional development, offered by institutions such as FIOCRUZ, CEDEP, UFMG, and the Albert Einstein Institute. These reflect her commitment to continuous learning and interdisciplinary training in health care and leadership. She also completed a 240-hour English language course and has participated in multiple training programs since 2009, enhancing her clinical and academic capacities.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Valéria has accumulated rich experience in public health, academic research, and clinical physiotherapy. Since 2022, she works at the University Hospital of Grande Dourados (HU-UFGD/Ebserh) as a government-employed physiotherapist. She has concurrently held research and academic roles at UFRN since 2021. Her past positions include clinical roles at Hospital Rio Grande, Hospital Municipal de Campanha, and UPA Esperança, and academic/research posts at Instituto Santos Dumont (ISD), where she contributed to projects on Zika-related pediatric sequelae. From 2016 to 2018, she was a research fellow at the Regional Hospital Dr. Mariano Coelho. Her early experience includes a scholarship-based position at Hospital Universitário Ana Bezerra. She’s also an active participant in ongoing projects at Instituto Fernandes Figueira and ISD. Valéria’s work combines hands-on physiotherapeutic care with clinical research, specializing in neonatal, neurological, and urological rehabilitation, making her a key contributor in multidisciplinary health teams.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Valéria received an Honorable Mention in 2018 from the Escola Multicampi de Ciências Médicas do RN for her contribution to the first class of the multiprofessional residency in maternal and child health. In 2015, she won first place in the area of Neonatal and Pediatric Physiotherapy at the III Northeastern Congress of Cardiorespiratory and Intensive Care Physiotherapy (CONEFIR), highlighting her excellence as a student-researcher. These awards recognize her early and continued dedication to improving clinical physiotherapy practice in neonatal and pediatric populations, as well as her commitment to rural health education and service delivery. Her leadership in education and practical training programs, especially in underserved areas, has been widely acknowledged. These honors underscore her impact on both the academic and practical dimensions of physiotherapy and affirm her growing reputation as a committed clinician, researcher, and mentor in Brazil’s evolving healthcare landscape.

Research Interests 🔬

Valéria’s research focuses on neonatal neurophysiology, pediatric rehabilitation, and health impacts of congenital infections such as the Zika virus. At UFRN, her Ph.D. work investigates the relationship between neural activity and visual processing in premature newborns. Through the Instituto Santos Dumont and Instituto Fernandes Figueira, she has contributed to long-term studies on urinary and intestinal dysfunctions in children with congenital Zika syndrome. She integrates neuroengineering principles into pediatric physiotherapy to enhance diagnostic and rehabilitative outcomes. Her interdisciplinary approach includes neurodevelopmental monitoring, urological sequelae analysis, and intervention design for affected children. In addition to field research, she is involved in designing care protocols, training health professionals, and evaluating public health strategies. Her work bridges neuroscience, physiotherapy, and maternal-child care, aiming to improve outcomes for vulnerable pediatric populations. She also serves as a peer reviewer, contributing to the advancement of evidence-based practices in neurorehabilitation and child health.

Publications