Orquidia G Mendez-Flores | Cognition | Best Faculty Award

Dr. Orquidia G Mendez-Flores | Cognition | Best Faculty Award

Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco | Mexico

Dr. Orquidia G. Méndez Flores is a genetics and molecular biology researcher and professor whose academic foundation includes a biology degree followed by advanced training in molecular neuroscience, emphasizing glial transport systems and glutamate regulation. Her professional experience spans teaching and research roles in universities and scientific institutions, contributing to postgraduate programs, thesis supervision, and academic coordination. She has developed expertise in neurochemistry, molecular nutrition, metabolic dysfunction, and neurodegeneration, while her early work explored the protective and nutritional potential of medicinal plants. Her research focuses on mechanisms linking neurotransmission, metabolic imbalance, brain energetics, and neurodevelopment, applying cellular, animal, and human models to understand how metabolic diseases contribute to neurological deterioration. She is skilled in molecular biology techniques, cell culture, biochemical assays, bioinformatics tools, scientific communication, and mentoring emerging scientists. With numerous scientific publications, active participation in national and international congresses, and membership in research systems, she contributes to advancing neuroscience and biomedical knowledge in Mexico. Her honors include recognition as a national researcher and participation in specialized international training programs that strengthen her academic leadership. Overall, Dr. Méndez Flores represents a dedicated scholar committed to integrating molecular research with health sciences education, fostering innovation in understanding and preventing neurodegenerative and metabolic conditions.

Profile: ORCID

Featured Publications

Méndez-Flores, O. G., Costa, A. C. R., de Aguiar, A. F. L., Paes-Colli, Y., Batista, C. M., Ribeiro-Resende, V. T., Ortega, A., & de Melo Reis, R. A. (2025). Extracellular matrix proteins differentiate postnatal mouse retina neurospheres into neurons or glia profiles. Neurochemical Research.

Cigarroa-Durán, J., López-Ramírez, G., Martínez-López, M. C., Castro-Quezada, I., Ortega Soto, A., & Méndez-Flores, O. G. (2025). In young adult males, bitterness perception is associated with excess body mass and metabolic dysregulation. Endocrinología, Diabetes y Nutrición.

Méndez-Flores, O. G., Hernández-Kelly, L. C., Olivares-Bañuelos, T. N., López-Ramírez, G., & Ortega, A. (2024). Brain energetics and glucose transport in metabolic diseases: role in neurodegeneration. Nutritional Neuroscience.

LUCIANO VITORINO | Cognitive Aging | Cognitive Aging Excellence

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