Huifang Wang | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

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 Dr. Huifang Wang | Neuroscience | Best Researcher Award

Huifang Elizabeth Wang is a leading research engineer at INSERM U1106, Aix-Marseille University, France, specializing in computational neuroscience. Her career bridges robotics, brain modeling, and clinical neuroscience, with a primary focus on personalized brain simulations for neurological and psychiatric conditions, notably epilepsy. With over a decade of postdoctoral research across top French and Italian institutes, she has contributed to projects integrating physics-based modeling, large-scale neural dynamics, and effective connectivity. Her academic journey started in robotics and control theory in China and evolved into advanced brain modeling in Europe. She collaborates with renowned neuroscientists like Dr. Viktor Jirsa and has authored numerous high-impact publications in Science Translational Medicine, The Lancet Neurology, and NeuroImage. As PI and co-leader in several EU and national projects, she aims to bridge basic brain science with clinical translation. Wang’s work is pivotal in creating virtual brain twins to personalize epilepsy surgery and psychiatric interventions.

Profile

🎓 Education

Huifang Elizabeth Wang obtained her Ph.D. in Pattern Recognition and Intelligent Systems from Beijing University of Technology in 2008, focusing on optimization algorithms for robotic motion under Prof. Chen Yangzhou. She earned her M.S. from the same institution in 2003, researching advanced traffic control strategies. Her undergraduate degree (B.S.) in Electronic Engineering was awarded by Shandong Institute of Light Industry in 2000. Complementing her engineering foundation, she undertook a research visit at LAAS-CNRS in Toulouse in 2007, developing time-optimal trajectories for car-like robots. Currently, she is finalizing her HDR (Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches) at Aix-Marseille University (Nov 2024) under the supervision of Dr. Viktor Jirsa, with a thesis on “Virtual Brain Twins.” Her education spans multiple disciplines and institutions, combining engineering, neuroscience, and clinical modeling. This interdisciplinary background underpins her leadership in personalized neural modeling and translational neuroscience research.

🧪 Experience

Wang is a Research Engineer at INSERM U1106, Aix-Marseille University (2017–present), leading work on virtual brain twins for clinical use in epilepsy and psychiatry. Prior, she was a Postdoc at the Institut du Cerveau (ICM), Paris (2016–2017), studying human neuron behavior with Pr. Vincent Navarro. At École des Mines de Saint-Étienne (2016), she helped develop a physiological SEEG atlas. From 2012–2016, she worked at INSERM U1106 on brain connectivity under Drs. Bernard and Jirsa. Earlier, she researched robotic control and planning at the University of Pisa (2008–2010) in Prof. Antonio Bicchi’s group. Her expertise spans brain modeling, robotics, and neuroscience, with leadership in multi-institutional EU-funded projects. She has served as PI and co-leader in several major efforts like the Human Brain Project and EPINOV. Her interdisciplinary experience uniquely equips her to bridge theory, technology, and medicine in brain modeling applications.

🏅 Awards and Honors

Huifang Elizabeth Wang has earned prestigious research roles and leadership positions in major European and national initiatives. She is PI for the AMIDEX-funded HR-VEP project and WP4 leader in the Horizon RIA Virtual Brain Twin initiative (2024–2027). Her projects have been supported by the Human Brain Project, France 2030, and Horizon Europe. She served as co-task leader in HBP’s epilepsy-focused work packages and trial coordinator in EPINOV RHU, a national clinical modeling trial. Her work on brain modeling has been published in high-impact journals, underscoring her scientific excellence. She has collaborated with pioneers like Karl Friston and Viktor Jirsa, advancing the fields of functional connectivity and computational neuroscience. Additionally, she has been granted funding by institutions such as Fondation Recherche Médicale and Ligue Française contre l’Épilepsie, recognizing her contributions to translational neuroscience and computational modeling in clinical applications.

🔬 Research Focus

Wang’s research centers on developing personalized virtual brain models to understand and treat brain disorders such as epilepsy and psychiatric conditions. She specializes in large-scale neural modeling using neural mass and field models, enabling individual-specific simulations—a concept known as “virtual brain twins.” Her work integrates multimodal neuroimaging data (e.g., SEEG, MRI) with computational frameworks to predict surgical outcomes and guide interventions. As part of projects like VEP Atlas, EPINOV, and EBRAINS, she builds anatomical-functional atlases for clinical use. She also advances Bayesian techniques for parameter estimation in brain modeling. Her research bridges basic neuroscience with translational applications, using virtual brains to delineate epileptogenic zones and simulate drug-resistant epilepsy spread. In psychiatric disorders, her focus includes simulating and analyzing network dysfunction to support precision psychiatry. By blending machine learning, dynamical systems, and neuroinformatics, Wang’s work pioneers a new frontier in personalized medicine using brain simulations.

✅ Conclusion

Dr. Huifang Elizabeth Wang is an interdisciplinary researcher transforming clinical neuroscience through virtual brain modeling, combining engineering precision with neuroscientific insight. Her pioneering work in virtual brain twins supports individualized diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy and psychiatric disorders, representing a significant advance in precision medicine. With extensive experience, numerous publications, and leadership in high-impact research projects, she bridges theory and practice. Her scientific vision and collaborative leadership continue to shape the future of computational neuroscience and neurotechnology for patient care worldwide.

Publications

Michael Greenfield | Animal Communication | Lifetime achievement Award

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Prof. Michael Greenfield | Animal Communication | Lifetime achievement Award

Michael D. Greenfield is an acclaimed evolutionary and behavioral biologist 🐞, renowned for pioneering research on animal communication, sexual selection, and sensory ecology 🌍; his distinguished academic path spans UCLA, University of Kansas 🇺🇸, Université de Tours 🇫🇷, and CNRS, shaping minds and advancing knowledge in evolutionary biology through fieldwork across continents 🌿; naturalized French citizen 🇫🇷 and US native 🇺🇸, Dr. Greenfield’s global scientific contributions blend research, teaching, and leadership, inspiring generations in bioacoustics and evolutionary ecology 🎓🔬.

Profile

Education 🎓

Michael D. Greenfield earned his Ph.D. in 1978 from the University of Wisconsin–Madison 🎓, focusing on evolutionary and behavioral biology, following a B.A. from New York University in 1973 🏙️; his education laid the foundation for a lifelong exploration of animal communication, acoustic signaling 📡, and sexual selection, fostering bilingual scientific excellence in both English and French 🇺🇸🇫🇷, with academic roots inspiring worldwide field research and collaborations in behavior, ecology, and evolutionary genetics 🔍🦋.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Dr. Greenfield’s career spans decades of teaching and research: UCLA Assistant-Professor (1981–87) & Associate-Professor (1987–93) 🎓, Kansas Professor (1991–2007) 🌾, Université de Tours Professeur Classe Exceptionnelle (2005–2018) 🇫🇷, and CNRS researcher 🔬; additionally, he held roles as NSF Program Director (2002–2004) 🏛️, Entomology Chair at Kansas (1995–1999) 🪲, and remains Adjunct Professor at KU and Professeur Invité in France, with vast international fieldwork in Costa Rica, France, Africa, and the U.S., enriching behavioral ecology globally 🌍🧪.

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Michael D. Greenfield’s scientific excellence earned him Fellow status with the Animal Behavior Society in 2002 🐝, a Smithsonian Institution Fellowship (1978–79) 📜, and memberships in Sigma Xi, Phi Beta Delta, and Gamma Sigma Delta 🎖️; he secured numerous NSF, EPA, and ANR grants for cutting-edge research on insect acoustic signals 🎶, reproductive behavior 🦗, and evolutionary ecology, highlighting his global influence through invited symposia, mentorship, and contributions to international ethology and neuroethology communities 🧠🌟.

Research Interests 🔬

Dr. Greenfield’s research probes the evolutionary genetics of sexual selection and animal signaling 🎧, especially acoustic and chemical communication in moths 🦋, grasshoppers 🦗, frogs 🐸, and fireflies ✨; he dissects mating systems, lekking behavior, bioluminescence, signal evolution, sensory ecology 🌿, and alternative reproductive tactics, blending empirical fieldwork with experimental neuroethology 🧠, creating insights into biodiversity, adaptation, and communication systems, and bridging entomology with broader evolutionary theory across global ecosystems 🌍🔍.

Publications 

Jolanta Dorszewska | Neurobiology | Women Researcher Award

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Dr. Jolanta Dorszewska | Neurobiology | Women Researcher Award

Professor Jolanta Dorszewska is a globally recognized neuroscientist and pharmacologist based at Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland 🧠🇵🇱. She leads the Laboratory of Neurobiology, exploring the molecular and genetic basis of neurodegenerative diseases 🧬. With over 35 years of academic experience, her work spans neurochemistry, clinical neurology, and genetic research in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease 🧪. A prolific author, she has contributed to 80+ research papers, 50+ reviews, and 30+ book chapters 📚. She serves on editorial boards of top neuroscience journals and holds leadership roles in national and international neurological societies 🌍.

Profile

Education 🎓

Prof. Dorszewska earned her M.Sc. in Pharmacy with distinction from Poznan University of Medical Sciences in 1987 🏅. She completed board certifications in Pharmaceutical Analytics (1990 & 1997) and received her Ph.D. in 1996 🧪. In 2004, she qualified as an Associate Professor and achieved full Professorship in 2016 🎓. Her academic growth includes training in medical genetics from 2012 to 2020 🧬. Her education reflects an evolving blend of pharmacy, neurobiology, and genetics, forming the foundation of her current research excellence 💡.

Experience 👨‍🏫

Prof. Dorszewska began as an Assistant in the Dept. of Pharmacy (1987-88), then in Clinical Neurochemistry (1988-96) at PUMS 👩‍🔬. She was a Research Scientist in New York (1999–2000) 🗽 and has led the Laboratory of Neurobiology since 2004 🧠. She became Full Professor in 2022 🏛️. She also lectured at the National High Medical School in Pila (2012–2018) 📖. Her career blends hands-on research, global collaboration, and dedicated academic leadership 📚. She continues to mentor, publish, and drive innovations in neurology and neurochemistry 🚀

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Awards and Honors:
Prof. Dorszewska is a Local Honorary Member of the 12th World Congress on Controversies in Neurology (2018) 🌐. She has served as Guest Editor for 6 prestigious theme issues and holds editorial roles in top-tier journals like Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience and Current Alzheimer Research 📘. A section and associate editor for journals across the USA, UK, and Poland 🌍, she’s a key figure in scientific publishing 🖋️. She’s affiliated with the Polish Academy of Sciences and international neurological societies and has co-edited 5 books 📚.

Research Interests 🔬

Research Focus:
Her research spans lipid metabolism in hypoxia 🧫, cerebral sterols 🧠, neurotransmitters (serotonin, dopamine) 🧪, apoptosis in aging and disease (Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s) 💔, and gene polymorphisms (MTHFR, MAO-B, PARK) 🧬. She investigates homocysteine metabolism, catecholamine pathways, and molecular changes in neurodegeneration 🧠. Since 2009, she’s focused on genetic mutations (PARK, APOE), biomarkers (ASN, microRNAs), and migraine genetics ⚙️. She uses advanced techniques like HPLC, PCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemistry 🔍. Her interdisciplinary work integrates neurobiology, pharmacogenomics, and molecular neuroscience in tackling brain diseases 🚀.

Publications 

  • Genetic variants of ZNF746 and the level of plasma Parkin, PINK1, and ZNF746 proteins in patients with Parkinson’s disease

    IBRO Neuroscience Reports
    2025-06 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.1016/j.ibneur.2025.01.016
    CONTRIBUTORS: Jolanta Dorszewska; Jolanta Florczak-Wyspiańska; Bartosz Słowikowski; Wojciech Owecki; Oliwia Szymanowicz; Ulyana Goutor; Mateusz Dezor; Paweł P. Jagodziński; Wojciech Kozubski

  • Kinesiotherapeutic Possibilities and Molecular Parameters in Multiple Sclerosis

    Sclerosis
    2025-04-03 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.3390/sclerosis3020013
    CONTRIBUTORS: Katarzyna Wiszniewska; Małgorzata Wilk; Małgorzata Wiszniewska; Joanna Poszwa; Oliwia Szymanowicz; Wojciech Kozubski; Jolanta Dorszewsk

  • Unraveling the Role of Proteinopathies in Parasitic Infections

    Biomedicines
    2025-03-03 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines13030610
    CONTRIBUTORS: Mikołaj Hurła; Damian Pikor; Natalia Banaszek-Hurła; Alicja Drelichowska; Jolanta Dorszewska; Wojciech Kozubski; Elżbieta Kacprzak; Małgorzata Paul

  • Expression of Neuronal Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor and Early Oxidative DNA Damage in Aging Rat Brain—The Effects of Memantine

    International Journal of Molecular Sciences
    2025-02-14 | Journal article
    DOI: 10.3390/ijms26041634
    CONTRIBUTORS: Małgorzata Anna Lewandowska; Agata Różycka; Teresa Grzelak; Bartosz Kempisty; Paweł Piotr Jagodziński; Margarita Lianeri; Jolanta Dorszewska

Elsa Pittaras | Neuroscience | Women Researcher Award

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Dr. Elsa Pittaras | Neuroscience | Women Researcher Award

Elsa Pittaras is a Basic Life Research Scientist at Stanford University, specializing in neuroscience, cognition, and sleep research. With expertise in molecular biology, neuroanatomy, pharmacology, and behavior, she has extensively studied decision-making processes in mice. Her research has contributed significantly to understanding sleep deprivation’s effects on cognition and memory in Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease models. She has published multiple papers as both first and last author, showcasing her leadership in neuroscience. Elsa’s goal is to advance research on mood disorders, cognition, and neurochemistry, aspiring to become an independent researcher in the U.S. 🇺🇸🔬🧠

Profile

Education 🎓

Elsa Pittaras earned a B.S. in Physiology from the University of Caen (2010), an M.S. in Neuroscience from the University of Paris Sud and ENS Cachan (2012), and a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from Neuro-PSI and the Biomedical Research Unit of the French Army (2016). Her multidisciplinary foundation in biology, physics, chemistry, and mathematics from Châtelet, Douai (2009) laid the groundwork for her neuroscience expertise. Throughout her education, she focused on decision-making, sleep deprivation, and neurochemical mechanisms in cognition. 🧠📚🎓

Experience 👨‍🏫

Elsa Pittaras has been a Basic Life Research Scientist at Stanford University since 2022, focusing on cognitive enhancement in Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease models. She was a Postdoctoral Fellow at Stanford (2017-2022), investigating sleep and circadian rhythms’ effects on memory. Previously, she conducted research at the Biomedical Research Unit of the French Army (2016-2017) and completed her Ph.D. at Neuro-PSI. Her career includes internships in neuroscience at Neuro-PSI (2011-2012) and clinical observations at CHU Caen (2010). 🏛️🧬🧪

Research Interests 🔬

Elsa’s research explores decision-making, memory, and sleep in neurodevelopmental disorders. She pioneered the Mouse Gambling Task, revealing individual decision-making strategies. Her Ph.D. identified neurochemical markers of decision-making behaviors and the effects of sleep deprivation. At Stanford, she investigates sleep’s impact on cognition in Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s models, aiming to improve memory and sleep quality through pharmacological interventions. Her work bridges behavioral neuroscience with neurochemistry to enhance cognitive function. 🧠💡🛌

Awards & Recognitions 🏅

Elsa has received prestigious grants, including the Jerome Lejeune Research Grants (2019, 2020), the Fyssen Foundation Research Grant (2017), and travel awards for conferences such as T21RS (2021) and Advances in Sleep and Circadian Science (2019). She was also recognized by the French Society for Research and Sleep Medicine (2014) and received a European Neuroscience Federation travel award (2016). 🏅

Publications 

  • Selectively Blocking Small Conductance Ca2+-Activated K+ Channels Improves Cognition in Aged Mice.

  • Short-term γ-aminobutyric acid antagonist treatment improves long-term sleep quality, memory, and decision-making in a Down syndrome mouse model

  • Behavioral and Neuronal Characterizations, across Ages, of the TgSwDI Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease.

  • Inter-individual differences in cognitive tasks: focusing on the shaping of decision-making strategies

  • Handling, task complexity, time-of-day, and sleep deprivation as dynamic modulators of recognition memory in mice

  • Enhancing sleep after training improves memory in down syndrome model mice