Monia Orciani | Stem cells | Best Researcher Award

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Prof Dr. Monia Orciani | Stem cells | Best Researcher Award

 

Profile

Education

On January 23, 2004, she was awarded a PhD in Biomedical Biotechnology from the Università Politecnica delle Marche. In 2001, she obtained her qualification as a Professional Biologist from the same institution. She completed her degree in Biological Sciences on March 10, 2000, graduating with top honors (110/110 cum laude).

Her native language is Italian. She is also proficient in English at the C1 level across listening, reading, interaction, speaking, and writing. She achieved the LanguageCert Level 2 Certificate in ESOL International (Speaking) (Expert C1) on January 20, 2023.

Work experience

Since July 15, 2019, she has been serving as an Associate Professor in the scientific-disciplinary sector BIO/17 – Histology at the Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche. She obtained her qualification as a Second-Tier Professor in Applied Biology (SSD 05/F1) on April 4, 2017, and later achieved First-Tier Professor qualification in Histology (SSD 05/H2) on November 18, 2020. Previously, she was a confirmed Researcher in Histology at the same department from April 13, 2015, following an initial appointment as a non-confirmed Researcher from November 1, 2011, to April 13, 2015. Before that, she held a research fellowship from June 3, 2011, to November 1, 2011, focusing on the use of stem cells in regenerative medicine. From June 1, 2010, to May 31, 2011, she was a research grant holder investigating skin-derived stem cells and their clinical prospects in regenerative therapy at the Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine. Between November 1, 2003, and April 15, 2010, she conducted research on leukocyte ectoenzymes and their role in the pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment of selected human diseases at the Department of Molecular Pathology and Innovative Therapies – Histology. From July 16, 2001, to July 15, 2003, she held a research fellowship focused on monoclonal antibodies for in vivo applications at the Institute of Biology and Genetics. Her early experience includes an internship at the Institute of Biology, Genetics, and Biochemistry, University of Medicine and Surgery, Turin, from May 1, 2000, to December 1, 2000.

Teaching Experience

Since the academic year 2022/23, she has been the course leader for Histology in the Medicine and Surgery (MedTech) degree programme at the Università Politecnica delle Marche.

Since 2019/20, she has held the position of Histology lecturer within the integrated course Human Morphological Sciences for the Dental Hygiene degree programme at the same university.

She has also taught Histology within the integrated Histology-Anatomy-Physiology course for the Medical Radiology Techniques for Imaging and Radiotherapy degree programme during the academic years 2016/17–2018/19 and again in 2022/23.

Since 2022/23, she has been responsible for teaching Histology within the Morphology and Histology integrated course for the Midwifery degree programme.

Since 2017/18, she has been a Tutor for AFP (Basic Sciences and First Aid Area) in the Medicine and Surgery degree programme.

She has also been involved in structured and cross-disciplinary teaching for the PhD in Human Health and Biomedical Sciences since 2017/18.

Since 2017/18, she has led an elective teaching activity (ADE) titled “Biotechnologies for the Study of Normal Human Histology” in the Medicine and Surgery degree programme.

From 2019/20 to 2021/22, she taught Histology for the Dentistry and Dental Prosthetics degree programme.

Between 2016/17 and 2017/18, she was the English Language course leader for the Medical Radiology Techniques for Imaging and Radiotherapy degree programme.

She is proficient in Microsoft Office and holds an Expert C1 Level LanguageCert Certificate in ESOL International (Speaking), awarded on 20 January 2023.

In the academic year 2018/19, she taught Histology within the Biomedical Sciences 1 integrated course for the Physiotherapy degree programme.

Between 2017/18 and 2018/19, she led a seminar-based Histology course for the Dietetics degree programme.

Since 2016/17, she has been responsible for a seminar-based Histology course in the Nursing degree programme at the Fermo campus.

Between 2012/13 and 2018/19, she taught Histology within the Histology-Anatomy integrated course for the Biomedical Laboratory Techniques degree programme.

Since 2012/13, she has also been responsible for a seminar-based Histology course in the Nursing degree programme at the Macerata campus.

Research project

Professor Monia Orciani has been recognised with the ImmunoTools IT-FlowISiAM-Award 2024 for her research on “Searching for New Targets for Alzheimer’s Disease.” She is the Principal Investigator (PI) of the PRIN 2022 project titled “The Effects of Cortisol Excess on Neurogenesis in Alzheimer’s Disease: A Mandatory Footpath through Stem Cells (FORGETFUL)” (Project ID: 2022XF7XZF). In 2022, she secured funding from Boehringer-Ingelheim for a study on the “Role of Nintedanib on Mesenchymal Stem Cells Derived from Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF),” in collaboration with Professor Martina Bonifazi. Additionally, she received the Fondo di Finanziamento Attività di Base di Ricerca (FFABR) – FFO grant in 2017 for her research on “Inflammation and Stem Cells: New Associations.” Her work on stem cells also led to a strategic university project (2017–2019) investigating “The Role of Stem Cells in Cutaneous Repair Deficiency in Patients with Endogenous and Exogenous Cushing’s Syndrome.”

Professor Orciani has contributed to several national research initiatives, including PRIN 2017, where she collaborated on “The Impact of Glucocorticoid Circadian Rhythm Disruption on Cardiovascular Risk and Immune Dysfunction: Pathophysiology and Novel Biomarkers of Glucocorticoid Exposure in Hypercortisolism and Hypocortisolism (CHRONO-IMAGE),” led by Professor Rosario Pivonello (Project ID: 2017HRTZYA_005). Earlier in her career, she was involved in FIRB-funded projects, such as the 2011 study on “Molecular Markers for Diagnosis, Prognosis, and the Development of New Therapeutic Strategies for Adrenal Carcinoma” (PI: Professor Roberto Di Primio, Project ID: RBAP1153LS_004) and the 2010 preclinical evaluation of “Scaffolds for Skeletal Tissue Regeneration” (PI: Professor Roberto Giardino, Project ID: RBAP10MLK7_003). In 2010, she participated in a PRIN project examining “The Interaction between Glucose and Bone Metabolism for the Cardiometabolic Characterisation of a Population of Young Obese Individuals” (PI: Professor Roberto Di Primio, Project ID: 201098WFZ2_006). Her involvement in FIRB dates back to 2001, where she contributed to a study on “Leukocyte Ectoenzymes and Their Role in the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, and Therapy of Selected Human Diseases” (PI: Professor Fabio Malavasi, Project ID: RBNE01N4Z9_003).

Publication

  • 1. Pisciotta A, Di Tinco R, Bertani G, Orlandi G, Bertoni L, Pignatti E, Orciani M, Sena P,
    Bertacchini J, Salvarani C, Carnevale G. Human dental pulp stem cells (hDPSCs) promote the
    lipofibroblast transition in the early stage of a fibro-inflammatory process. Front Cell Dev Biol.
    2023;11:1196023
  • Preziuso A, Piccirillo S, Cerqueni G, Serfilippi T, Terenzi V, Vinciguerra A, Orciani M, Amoroso
    S, Magi S, Lariccia V. Exploring the Role of NCX1 and NCX3 in an In Vitro Model of
    Metabolism Impairment: Potential Neuroprotective Targets for Alzheimer’s Disease. Biology
    (Basel). 2023;12:1005.
  • Di Vincenzo M, Diotallevi F, Piccirillo S, Carnevale G, Offidani A, Campanati A, Orciani M.
    miRNAs, Mesenchymal Stromal Cells and Major Neoplastic and Inflammatory Skin Diseases:
    A Page Being Written: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24:8502.
  • Di Vincenzo M, Orciani M. Special Issue “The Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on
    Inflammatory and Fibrotic Diseases”. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24:8578.
  • Di Vincenzo M, Martino M, Lariccia V, Giancola G, Licini C, Di Benedetto G, Arnaldi G,
    Orciani M. Mesenchymal Stem Cells Exposed to Persistently High Glucocorticoid Levels
    Develop Insulin-Resistance and Altered Lipolysis: A Promising In Vitro Model to Study
    Cushing’s Syndrome. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2022;13:816229

Kawthar Diab | Biology and Life Science | Best Researcher Award

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Prof Dr. Kawthar Diab | Biology and Life Science | Best Researcher Award

 

Profile

Education

She holds a Ph.D. in Zoology from Ain Shams University, awarded in March 2009, with her research focusing on the protective role of medicinal plants against the genotoxic effects induced by hydrocortisone in mice. Prior to that, she earned an M.Sc. in Experimental Zoology from Zagazig University in May 2003, where she conducted cytogenetic and immunogenetic studies on cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil, with a particular focus on their effects on reproduction in rats. She completed her B.Sc. in Zoology from Al-Azhar University in May 1996, graduating with a “very good” grade. Her postdoctoral research includes a six-month fellowship at Tokai University, Japan, in the Department of Bioscience, School of Agriculture, from June to December 2014. Additionally, she pursued another six-month postdoctoral fellowship in the Cancer Pharmacology Division at the Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, India, from March to September 2012.

Work experience

She has actively participated in international workshops and conferences, including the Fluorescence Microscopy workshop “FluoMicro@ICGEB” at the International Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in New Delhi, India, from October 2nd to 4th, 2019. Additionally, she was a speaker at the 6th Rajabhat University National and International Research and Academic Conference, held virtually on August 17-18, 2020, where she presented her research on the Cancer Chemopreventive Activity of Himalayan Plants. In terms of academic supervision, she has guided Ph.D. student Amr Mohammed Abo-Elhamd Ahmed, an Assistant Researcher at the Department of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Pharmaceutical and Drug Industries Research Institute, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt. His research focuses on the biochemical and therapeutic evaluation of selected Lamiaceae family plants for prostate disease treatment.

Research project

She has actively contributed to several local and international research projects, playing key roles in various studies. From 2005 to 2008, she was a member of a National Research Centre (NRC) project investigating the genotoxic effects of environmental pollution and veterinary drugs (Project No. 7110613). Between 2010 and 2013, she participated in an NRC-funded project on the production and evaluation of bioactive metabolites and hypolipidemic agents derived from marine sponge and coral endophytic microorganisms against carcinogenic pathogens, liver, and colon cancer (Project No. 9100302).

Her research extended to environmental toxicology, where she contributed to a Science & Technology Development Fund (STDF) project (2012-2014) evaluating mango byproducts as antioxidants against genetic damage caused by lead pollution (Project No. 4782). From 2017 to 2019, she served as a Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) on an NRC project studying the anti-hepatotoxic and antigenotoxic properties of plant extracts and their safety for use (Project No. 11010345). During the same period, she was also a member of an NRC project exploring the effects of nanoparticles in tissue culture applications (Project No. 11030108).

Her expertise further contributed to projects applying OMICS technology to enhance food safety in Egypt (2020-2022, Project No. 12050305) and exploring new pharmaceutical raw materials for prostate disease treatment (2020-2022, Project No. 12060108). Additionally, she collaborated with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences on a research project (2020-2022) focused on improving the production of therapeutic ingredients in Lamiaceae plants for prostate disease treatment using biotechnology techniques.

Publication

 

  • Zaied FA, Zabal M, Diab KA (2003): Cytogenetic and Imuunogenetic studies of cisplatin and 5-Fluorouracil in rats. Zagazig University Journal, (IX):133–156.
  • Fahmy MA,Diab KA (2009): In vivo genotoxicity studies of cefotaxime.Cytologia, 74 (4):417–425.
  • Diab KA, Hassan ZM. (2011): Assessment of the antigenotoxic activity of white sesame extract (Sesamum indicum) against vincristine induced genotoxicity in mice. Comunicata Scientiae, 2(3)126-134.
  • Diab KA and Aboul-Ela E I (2012): In vivo comparative studies on antigenotoxicity of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) pits extract against DNA damage induced by N-Nitroso-N-methylurea in mice. Toxicology International, 19 (3):279-286.
  • Diab KA,Elmakawy AI, Abd El-Moneim OM, Sharaf HA (2012): Assessment of genotoxicity and histopathological changes induced by polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) in male mice.  Journal of Cytology & Histology, 3(5): 153.
  • Khalil WKB, Ghal IS, Diab KA,Elmakawy AI (2014): Antitumor activity of Moringaoleifera leaf extract against Ehrlich solid tumor. International Journal of Pharmacy, 4(3): 68-82.
  • Elmakawy AI, Abd El-Moneim OM, Diab KA,Sharaf HA (2014) Evaluation of male-mediated reproductive toxicity induced by polyethylene glycol in mice. World Applied Sciences Journal, 31 (8): 1478-1487.

 

Shilpa Kumari | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

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Ms.Shilpa Kumari | Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

 

Sharda University, India

Profile

Education

She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Sharda University since 2020, having completed her coursework with an impressive 84.5%. She holds an M.Sc. in Biotechnology from Chandigarh University, where she secured 79.6% in 2019. Prior to that, she earned her B.Sc. from HNB Garhwal Central University, Srinagar, in 2017 with a score of 66.7%. She completed her 12th grade in the Medical stream under CBSE in 2014 with 74.4% and her 10th grade in General Science in 2012, securing 75.5%.

 

Awards

She has been awarded the Sharda University Research Scholarship (SURS) by Sharda University since February 2021. She received a Silver Medal at the 8th Annual Meeting of the International Association of Zoologists and the 5th International Conference on Recent Trends in Life Sciences and Biotechnology held at Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Haryana, in December 2024. Additionally, she was granted International Travel Support from the Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, to present her research at the University Malay, Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, in August 2024. She secured 2nd Prize at the Anveshan International Convention 2023-2024 (North Zone), organized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) in January 2024. Furthermore, she won the Best Oral Presentation Award at the National Conference on Disease Diagnosis and Drug Development Against Human Pathogens, sponsored by DBT and organized by Muthyammal College of Arts and Science in November 2023.

Book chapters

1. Shilpa Kumari, Neha Verma, Anil Kumar, Sunita Dalal, and Kanu Priya. “Functional
overrepresentation analysis and their application in microbial pathogenesis.” In Systems Biology
Approaches for Host-Pathogen Interaction Analysis, pp. 171-179. Academic Press, 2024.
2. Neha Verma, Shilpa Kumari, Anil Kumar, and Kanu Priya. “Advancements in systems biologybased analysis of microbial pathogenesis.” In Systems Biology Approaches for Host-Pathogen
Interaction Analysis, pp. 181-190. Academic Press, 2024

Publication