Minu Ponnamma Mohan | Public Health | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by Cognitive Scientist Awards

Dr. Minu Ponnamma Mohan | Public Health | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Minu P. Mohan is an accomplished clinician-researcher with an interdisciplinary background in dental surgery, prosthodontics, and public health. Currently serving as a Research Scientist at the University at Buffalo, she contributes significantly to multi-site studies on cystic fibrosis, cancer psycho-oncology, and health disparities. A recipient of multiple academic honors, she earned her BDS and MDS from the University of Kerala, India, and her MPH from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. With over 15 years of experience, Dr. Mohan has held academic positions in India and Saudi Arabia and has managed NIH-funded public health research projects in the U.S. Her expertise spans clinical research management, big data analytics, oral oncology, and machine learning applications in healthcare. She has published extensively, presented at international conferences, and is known for her contributions to understanding health outcomes among vulnerable populations. Her multidisciplinary work reflects a commitment to integrating research and clinical excellence to advance health equity.

Profile

🎓 Education

Dr. Minu P. Mohan holds three distinguished degrees. She completed her Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) in 2004 from the Government Dental College, Trivandrum, under the University of Kerala, India. She went on to pursue her Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) in Prosthodontics and Crown & Bridge at the same institution from 2007 to 2010. To expand her global healthcare insight, she earned a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Healthcare Management from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (2020–2021), where she also received a Graduate Assistantship, the Tri Alpha Honors, and a Provost’s Fellowship. Her education combines rigorous clinical training, academic excellence, and research-focused public health knowledge, enabling her to transition seamlessly between dentistry, public health, and clinical research. She also participated in training on health policy and implementation science, solidifying her reputation as a well-rounded healthcare professional bridging research, policy, and clinical care.

🧪 Experience

Dr. Mohan’s career spans clinical practice, academia, and research leadership across India, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. She currently works as a Research Scientist at the University at Buffalo on multi-institutional projects related to cystic fibrosis and psycho-oncology. Previously, she served as a Clinical Research Coordinator III at Boston Medical Center, managing liver and inflammatory bowel disease trials. Earlier, she held academic roles including Assistant Professor at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia (2015–2019), and Mar Baselios Dental College, India (2011–2015), teaching prosthodontics and coordinating implantology and education quality initiatives. Her public health research roles include Graduate Research Assistant, Research Analyst, and Policy Intern at the University of Massachusetts Lowell, contributing to HIV care equity and organizational readiness initiatives. Her unique blend of clinical, academic, and analytical skills enables her to lead complex, interdisciplinary research while maintaining a patient-centered approach to healthcare innovation and education.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Dr. Minu Mohan has received numerous accolades across academic, clinical, and research domains. In 2021, she was nominated for Best Poster Award at the 14th Annual Dissemination & Implementation Science Conference. Her MPH studies were supported by the Provost’s Graduate Fellowship, Graduate Assistantship, and Tri Alpha Honors from the University of Massachusetts Lowell. During her dental residency, she won Best Scientific Paper for her work on silicone digital prostheses and Best Poster for clinical prosthetic rehabilitation cases at the 42nd Kerala State Dental Conference in 2009. Her research has since been spotlighted in global conferences such as ASCO, MASCC, and the National Ryan White Conference. She has authored or co-authored over 35 peer-reviewed journal articles and multiple conference abstracts. Her interdisciplinary projects involving AI, psycho-oncology, and public health disparities have positioned her as an award-winning thought leader in translational healthcare research.

🔬 Research Focus

Dr. Mohan’s research bridges clinical dentistry, oncology, and public health, with a strong emphasis on healthcare disparities, psycho-oncology, and data-driven health analytics. Her current projects involve the use of machine learning (ML) and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) to predict suicidal ideation and cachexia in cancer patients. She also investigates opioid dependence, mental health screening, and emerging treatment toxicities using big data in hospitalized cancer cohorts. Her earlier public health research at the University of Massachusetts focused on Black Women with HIV, contributing to policy briefs and NIH-funded interventions. Additionally, she has explored prosthodontics innovations, digital prostheses, and quality-of-life outcomes post maxillofacial rehabilitation. Dr. Mohan’s work exemplifies an integrated approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research, AI applications in health, and a commitment to vulnerable populations. Her projects regularly feature in high-impact journals and global oncology conferences, contributing to evidence-based strategies in both clinical and population health domains.

âś… Conclusion

Dr. Minu P. Mohan exemplifies a unique blend of clinical acumen, academic rigor, and research innovation, with a proven record in dental prosthetics, oncology-related public health, and AI-integrated healthcare analytics.

Publications

  • Counties with Low Employment and Education Status Are Associated with Higher Age-Adjusted Cancer Mortality

    Cancers
    2025-06-19 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.3390/cancers17122051
    CONTRIBUTORS: Minu Ponnamma Mohan; Joel B. Epstein; Kapil S. Meleveedu; Roberto Pili; Poolakkad S. Satheeshkumar

  • Hospitalized Cancer Patients with Opioid Management for Chemo-Induced Ulcerative Mucositis Lessens the Patients’ Overall Burden of Illness

    Pharmaceuticals
    2025-04-06 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.3390/ph18040536
    CONTRIBUTORS: Minu Ponnamma Mohan; Joel B. Epstein; Kapil S. Meleveedu; Parikshit Padhi; Roberto Pili; Poolakkad S. Satheeshkumar

  • A CBCT based study evaluating the degenerative changes in TMJs among patients with loss of posterior tooth support visiting Qassim University Dental Clinics, KSA: A retrospective observational study.

    The Saudi dental journal
    2022-09-27 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1016/j.sdentj.2022.09.002
    PMID: 36570571
    PMC: PMC9767831
    CONTRIBUTORS: AlKhairAllah HA; Mohan MP; AlSagri MS

  • Association between palliative care referral and burden of illness among cancers of the lip, oral cavity and pharynx

    Supportive Care in Cancer
    2021-12-22 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1007/s00520-021-06370-y
    CONTRIBUTORS: Poolakkad S. Satheeshkumar; Mohammed El-Dallal; Y. Raita; Minu P. Mohan; E. Adjei Boakye

  • Feature selection and predicting chemotherapy-induced ulcerative mucositis using machine learning methods

    International Journal of Medical Informatics
    2021-10 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2021.104563
    CONTRIBUTORS: Poolakkad S. Satheeshkumar; Mohammed El-Dallal; Minu P. Mohan

 

 

 

 

 

Nastaran Zamani | Exercise – Appetite – Obesity | Best Researcher Award

Posted on by Cognitive Scientist Awards

Assist. Prof. Dr. Nastaran Zamani | Exercise – Appetite – Obesity | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Nastaran Zamani is a distinguished Iranian neuroscientist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Biology at Payame Noor University, Tehran. With a research career grounded in neurophysiology and Alzheimer’s disease models, she has made valuable contributions to understanding the effects of neuroprotective agents like memantine, vitamin D, folic acid, and DHA on cognitive function. Her expertise spans from electrophysiological recordings of hippocampal neurons to behavioral studies in rodent models. Dr. Zamani has actively collaborated with renowned researchers and co-authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles published in leading journals in neuroscience, physiology, and pharmacology. Her work bridges cellular neurobiology and therapeutic research, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach. Dr. Zamani is also known for her participation in national and international scientific congresses. Through her teaching and mentoring roles, she fosters academic growth and promotes scientific inquiry among students and young researchers in Iran. Her commitment to neuroscience research and education continues to inspire many in the field.

Professional Profile

Googlescholar

Education

Dr. Nastaran Zamani earned her Ph.D. in Animal Physiology from Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz in 2019, with a doctoral thesis focused on the electrophysiological and behavioral effects of memantine and DHA on hippocampal CA1 neurons and spatial memory in Alzheimer’s disease rat models, under the supervision of Prof. Ahmad Ali Moazedi. She completed her MSc in Animal Physiology from Razi University, Kermanshah, in 2004, where her thesis explored the hematological effects of sodium nitrate in mice, co-supervised by Dr. Syrus Shamili and Dr. Syrus Ghobadi. Her academic foundation was built at the University of Isfahan, where she received her BSc in Biology with a focus on Animal Sciences in 1999. Her education reflects a consistent and deep interest in the physiological and biochemical mechanisms underlying cognitive and neurodegenerative disorders, forming the basis of her current research in neuroscience and therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer’s disease and related neurological conditions.

Experience

Dr. Zamani began her academic career as a faculty instructor in the Department of Biology at Payame Noor University from 2011 to 2019. Since 2019, she has held the position of Assistant Professor in the same department. She has over a decade of teaching experience, mentoring undergraduate and graduate students in physiology, neurobiology, and experimental research techniques. Her research focuses on Alzheimer’s disease models, involving electrophysiology, behavioral neuroscience, and pharmacological interventions. Dr. Zamani has presented her findings in more than ten national and international conferences and has authored over 20 peer-reviewed journal articles in neuroscience and physiology. In addition to teaching and research, she has participated in various academic development workshops on molecular biology, drug delivery, data analysis using MATLAB, and scientific writing. Her continuous contributions to neuroscience research and education have strengthened her role as a dedicated academic professional in the Iranian scientific community.

Research Interests

Dr. Zamani’s research centers on the neurophysiological and therapeutic mechanisms underlying Alzheimer’s disease, with a primary focus on hippocampal CA1 neuron activity, memory, and learning. She explores the pharmacological effects of memantine, folic acid, vitamin B12, DHA, and vitamin D in rodent models of neurodegeneration, using electrophysiological recordings and behavioral assessments such as maze tests. Her investigations examine how these compounds influence spatial learning, memory deficits, neuroinflammation, and oxidative stress in Alzheimer’s models. She has expanded her research to include studies on motor coordination, depression, anxiety, and thermal dysregulation related to neurological disorders, as well as broader physiological effects of exercise and natural antioxidants. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates neuroscience, pharmacology, and physiology, supported by collaborations with international researchers and active engagement in congresses and workshops. By bridging cellular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies, Dr. Zamani’s work contributes significantly to preclinical efforts targeting Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive disorders.

Awards

While formal award titles are not explicitly listed, Dr. Nastaran Zamani’s consistent scholarly productivity and academic recognition are evident through her extensive peer-reviewed publications, conference participations, and workshop invitations. She has been selected to present at prestigious neuroscience congresses, such as the Congress of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, and has contributed to multiple multidisciplinary international collaborations, demonstrating her recognition within the academic community. Her research contributions to Alzheimer’s disease models have earned her collaborative roles in high-impact studies published in journals like Frontiers in Physiology, Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, and Cytotherapy. She has also participated in professional development programs hosted by Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Elsevier Research Academy, and the International Brain Research Organization, further reflecting her ongoing commitment to academic excellence. Dr. Zamani’s profile highlights the high regard she holds among peers and institutions for her active role in advancing neurophysiological research in Iran and beyond.

Conclusion:

Dr. Nastaran Zamani is a dedicated neuroscientist whose innovative research on neurodegeneration and therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer’s disease has significantly advanced our understanding of cognitive function, making her a valuable contributor to the global neuroscience community.

 

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