Rami Abazid | Clinical Trials | Research Excellence Award

Dr. Rami Abazid | Clinical Trials | Research Excellence Award

Northern Ontario School of Medicine University | Canada

Dr. Rami Abazid is a distinguished cardiologist and academic leader recognized for his extensive expertise in advanced cardiovascular imaging and his long-standing contributions to clinical cardiology. He currently serves as an Assistant Professor at the Northern Ontario School of Medicine University and practices as a cardiologist at Sault Area Hospital in Ontario, Canada, where he is deeply engaged in delivering high-level patient care, mentoring trainees, and advancing imaging-based diagnostic excellence. Dr. Abazid’s professional journey reflects a progressive expansion of knowledge across multiple cardiology subspecialties, supported by a rich portfolio of prestigious board certifications, including cardiovascular CT, nuclear cardiology, echocardiography, and certifications from renowned institutions in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases. His training includes high-level fellowships in echocardiography, cardiovascular CT, and nuclear cardiology, complemented by hybrid imaging training that strengthened his multidisciplinary approach to cardiac diagnostics. Throughout his career, he has practiced in several leading medical centers, holding roles such as consultant cardiologist, specialist, senior registrar, and fellow in cardiovascular medicine, which allowed him to cultivate mastery across inpatient care, emergency cardiac assessment, outpatient management, and complex imaging modalities. Dr. Abazid is well known for his proficiency in echocardiography, including transthoracic, transesophageal, three-dimensional and intraoperative imaging, as well as stress testing and structural heart assessments. His expertise extends to cardiovascular CT for coronary assessment, congenital heart evaluation, aortic imaging, TAVI planning, prosthetic valve analysis, and calcium scoring using advanced imaging platforms. Additionally, he is experienced in nuclear cardiology, including SPECT, PET, viability assessment, amyloid imaging, sarcoidosis evaluation, and various stress testing protocols. Dr. Abazid has held significant administrative and leadership roles, including chairing the cardiac CT unit and the cardiac outpatient department, while also serving on ethics committees and leading scientific abstract committees within major cardiology organizations. As an active member of international professional societies and a contributor to authoritative educational modules, he continues to influence the evolution of cardiovascular imaging practice worldwide. Driven by academic excellence, clinical precision, and a passion for innovation, Dr. Abazid remains a respected figure in modern cardiology, dedicated to advancing patient outcomes and shaping the next generation of cardiovascular specialists.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Stocker, T. J., Deseive, S., Leipsic, J., Hadamitzky, M., Chen, M. Y., Rubinshtein, R., … Abazid, R.
Reduction in radiation exposure in cardiovascular computed tomography imaging: Results from the PROspective multicenter registry on radiaTion dose estimates of cardiac CT. European Heart Journal, 39(41), 3715–3723.

Einstein, A. J., Pascual, T. N. B., Mercuri, M., Karthikeyan, G., Vitola, J. V., … Abazid, R.
Current worldwide nuclear cardiology practices and radiation exposure: Results from the 65-country IAEA Nuclear Cardiology Protocols Cross-Sectional Study (INCAPS). European Heart Journal, 36(26), 1689–1696.

Ewid, M., Sherif, H., Allihimy, A. S., Alharbi, S. A., Aldrewesh, D. A., Alkuraydis, S. A., … Abazid, R.
AST/ALT ratio predicts the functional severity of chronic heart failure with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction. BMC Research Notes, 13(1), 178.

Abohamr, S. I., Abazid, R. M., Aldossari, M. A., Amer, H. A., Badhawi, O. S., … Jadaan, M. M.
Clinical characteristics and in-hospital mortality of COVID-19 adult patients in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Medical Journal, 41(11), 1217.

Abazid, R. M., Khalaf, H. H., Sakr, H. I., Altorbak, N. A., Alenzi, H. S., Awad, Z. M., … AlMubarak, N.
Effects of Ramadan fasting on the symptoms of chronic heart failure. Saudi Medical Journal, 39(4), 395–401.

Mercuri, M., Pascual, T. N. B., Mahmarian, J. J., Shaw, L. J., Dondi, M., Paez, D., … Abazid, R.
Estimating the reduction in radiation burden from nuclear cardiology through use of stress-only imaging in the United States and worldwide. JAMA Internal Medicine, 176(2), 269–273.

Grzegorz Sobieszek | Clinical Trials | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Grzegorz Sobieszek | Clinical Trials | Best Researcher Award

Military Hospital Lublin | Poland

Prof. Dr. Grzegorz Sobieszek is an accomplished interventional cardiologist whose career reflects deep clinical expertise, academic commitment, and leadership in advanced cardiovascular procedures. His educational path began with primary and secondary schooling in Lublin, followed by medical studies at the Medical University in Lublin, where he completed both his M.D. and Ph.D. in the Department of Pathophysiology. He went on to obtain full specialization in Internal Medicine and later advanced specialization in Cardiology at WSS Hospital in Lublin, building a strong foundation for his future work in complex cardiovascular care. Dr. Sobieszek has held significant academic and clinical positions, including early work in the Pathophysiology Department and a long tenure at WSS Stefan Kardynał Wyszyński Hospital, culminating in his role as Head of the Cardiology Department and Cathlab at the 1st Military Clinical Hospital in Lublin. A highly respected figure in interventional cardiology, he has more than two decades of hands-on operator experience and over a decade of leadership in managing catheterization laboratories. He is widely recognized as a Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) expert, performing a high volume of complex CTO interventions annually, utilizing antegrade, retrograde, and ADR techniques, and demonstrating advanced proficiency in CHIP interventions, rotablation, IVL, and physiologic assessment such as FFR, IFR, and microcirculation evaluation. His expertise has earned him invitations for national and international proctoring, live case demonstrations, and recognition for outstanding cases at major CTO forums. Prof. Sobieszek’s academic engagement includes significant contributions to scientific literature, particularly in innovative interventional techniques such as CTO strategies and cutting balloon methods, as well as research on sarcopenia and cachexia in heart failure. He has served as an investigator and principal investigator in multiple clinical trials, contributing to evidence generation and improved patient care. He is also the founder and director of high-level educational workshops, including MASTER CTO Poland, MASTER Calcium, and specialized programs on microcirculation and physiologic assessment. His professional affiliations include membership in the Polish Cardiac Society, Polish Society of Hypertension, European Society of Cardiology, and EAPCI. Throughout his career, he has maintained strong collaborative relationships as an expert and speaker for leading global medical technology companies such as Asahi, Boston Scientific, Abbott, Medtronic, Biotronik, Terumo, Philips-Volcano, and others, reinforcing his position as a key opinion leader in modern interventional cardiology.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Sliman, H., Sliman, R. K. A., Knaapen, P., Nap, A., Sobieszek, G., & Opolski, M. P. (2025). The role of intravascular imaging in coronary chronic total occlusion PCI: Enhancing procedural success through real-time visualization. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 15(7), Article 318.

Sobieszek, G., Warzyszak, P., & Zięba, B. (2024). Review of management of coronary artery perforation. Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiology, Article 000213.

Powrózek, T., Skwarek-Dziekanowska, A., Sobieszek, G., & Małecka-Massalska, T. (2024). Correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, platelets-to-lymphocyte ratio, C-reactive protein-to-albumin ratio and clinical picture of elderly chronic heart failure patients. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 13(2), Article 433.

Sobieszek, G., Zięba, B., Dworzański, W., Celiński, R., Barbero, U., & Opolski, M. P. (2023). Embolization of perforated coronary artery with a fragment of balloon catheter (cut balloon technique)—Multicenter study. Journal of Cardiovascular Development and Disease, 10(12), Article 496.

Wańha, W., Tomaniak, M., Wańczura, P., Bil, J., Januszek, R., Wolny, R., Opolski, M. P., Kuźma, Ł., Janas, A., Figatowski, T., et al. (2022). Intravascular lithotripsy for the treatment of stent underexpansion: The Multicenter IVL-DRAGON Registry. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(7), Article 1779.

Sobieszek, G., Powrózek, T., Skwarek-Dziekanowska, A., & Małecka-Massalska, T. (2021). Clinical significance of TNFRSF1A 36T/C polymorphism in cachectic patients with chronic heart failure. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 10(5), Article 1095.

Łagoda, I., Banasik, K., Sobieszek, G., & Kapka-Skrzypczak, L. (2020). Place of physiotherapy in treatment of myocardial infarction in the context of implementation of the Coordinated Specialist Care Programme. Medycyna Ogólna i Nauki o Zdrowiu, Article 129582.

Sebastian Kelle | Clinical Trials | Distinguished Scientist Award

Prof. Dr. Sebastian Kelle | Clinical Trials | Distinguished Scientist Award

Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité | Germany

Prof. Dr. Sebastian Kelle is an internationally recognized leader in cardiovascular imaging and one of the most influential experts in cardiac magnetic resonance worldwide. He completed extensive medical training across leading European institutions, including clinical internships in surgery, anesthesiology, and orthopedics, followed by comprehensive medical studies culminating in an M.D. degree. His academic excellence led him to advanced scientific qualifications, including a habilitation in cardiac magnetic resonance at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, where he worked under the mentorship of eminent cardiovascular scientists. He also earned a doctorate in angiology with supervisory guidance from distinguished faculty at the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg.Prof. Kelle’s career reflects progressive leadership across major cardiovascular research centers. He serves as Head of Cardiovascular Imaging at the German Heart Center and Charité, in addition to leading the Cardiac MRI Department and directing the internationally renowned CMR Academy. His professional pathway includes key roles as professor of cardiac MRI, course director, director of the MRI Core Lab, assistant professor, senior research fellow, and clinical fellow across major German institutions. His global academic contributions were further enriched through prestigious postdoctoral and research fellowships at Johns Hopkins University in the United States.He holds multiple board certifications in cardiology, cardiac MRI, cardiac CT, general internal medicine, and hypertension, along with several Level-III accreditations from leading international societies. Prof. Kelle has served on influential committees and working groups of the German Cardiac Society, the Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, and the Charité Doctoral Committee, contributing extensively to scientific development, advocacy, and international outreach.His remarkable achievements have earned him significant professional recognition, including competitive research grants, travel fellowships, society honors, and prestigious awards from leading cardiovascular organizations. Prof. Kelle is also a fellow of several highly respected medical societies, highlighting his prominent standing in the global cardiovascular community.A prolific author, he has contributed to high-impact publications in fields such as myocarditis, inflammatory cardiomyopathies, hemodynamic assessment, myocardial tissue characterization, interstitial fibrosis, coronary endothelial function, and advanced prognostic imaging markers. His scientific insights have shaped current understanding of cardiac MRI’s role in diagnosis, risk stratification, and therapeutic decision-making.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Anonymous. (2025). Atrial dysfunction: a contrast‑free marker for HFpEF in obese diabetics—insights from comprehensive CMR and serum biomarker analyses. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 24(1), 1‑12. (link unavailable)‑025‑xxxx‑x

Editorial. (2025). Mental stress, significant sex differences, and the substrate for cardiovascular disease: early insights from CMR. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 24(1), 13‑15. (link unavailable)‑025‑yyyy‑y

Anonymous. (2025). Longitudinal effects of lipid‑lowering treatment on high‑risk plaque features and pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation using serial coronary computed tomography. Diagnostics, 15(3), 210‑222. (link unavailable)

Anonymous. (2025). Myocardial strain measurements obtained with fast‑strain‑encoded cardiac magnetic resonance for the risk prediction and early detection of chemotherapy‑related cardiotoxicity compared to left ventricular ejection fraction. Diagnostics, 15(4), 350‑363. (link unavailable)

Anonymous. (2025). Rare isolated transthyretin amyloidosis of the left atrium: step‑wise multi‑modality evaluation by transoesophageal echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and single‑photon‑emission computed tomography. European Heart Journal – Cardiovascular Imaging, 26(2), 180‑192. (link unavailable)

Mahmoud Hallal | Clinical Trials | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Mahmoud Hallal | Clinical Trials | Best Researcher Award

Lebanese University Faculty of Medical Sciences | Lebanon

Prof. Mahmoud Hallal is a distinguished clinician, educator, and leader in the field of gastroenterology, renowned for his extensive expertise in internal medicine, hepatology, and advanced therapeutic endoscopy. He began his medical journey by earning a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from Baghdad University, laying the foundation for a career marked by excellence, dedication, and continuous learning. He later pursued advanced clinical training in internal medicine at Makassed General Hospital in Beirut, a center affiliated with the American University of Beirut Medical Center, where he completed a comprehensive residency followed by a rotating internship that strengthened his clinical acumen and patient-centered approach.Driven by a deep interest in digestive health and liver diseases, Prof. Hallal completed intensive post-graduate fellowship training in gastroenterology at the American University of Beirut Medical Center. His advanced training included a specialized senior fellowship focused on liver diseases and an external university training program in France, where he developed high-level competency in therapeutic bilio-pancreatic procedures and invasive endoscopy, including ERCP. This period shaped his clinical expertise and positioned him among the region’s leading specialists in advanced endoscopic interventions.Prof. Hallal’s professional credentials include medical licensure as a physician, internist, and gastroenterologist in Lebanon. Over the course of his career, he has held several major hospital leadership roles, including serving as the head of gastroenterology and endoscopy departments and contributing as assistant chief of staff for academic development at Al Zahraa University Hospital Medical Center. He also held senior administrative and clinical leadership roles at Rassoul Al-Aazam Hospital, where he oversaw both internal medicine and gastroenterology divisions.An influential academic figure, Prof. Hallal serves as a clinical assistant professor of gastroenterology at the Lebanese University Faculty of Medical Sciences. He has also served as a clinical instructor, lecturer, fellowship program coordinator, and undergraduate thesis mentor, shaping the next generations of physicians and gastroenterologists. His academic involvement extends to national and international conferences, where he is frequently invited as a speaker in Lebanon, Abu Dhabi, Turkey, Rome, and the United Kingdom.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Boutari, R., Zayour, N., Hmedeh, A. N., Bashashi, D. K., Assaf, F., Al Tahan, J., Zrara, N., Al-Mokdad, N., Al Khatib, O., Zreik, A., et al. (2025). Prevalence, risk factors, and endoscopic findings of Helicobacter pylori infection among Lebanese patients undergoing gastroscopy: A retrospective study from a single tertiary center.

Elli Anna Kotsailidi | Clinical Trials | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Elli Anna Kotsailidi | Clinical Trials | Best Researcher Award

University of Rochester | United States

Assist. Prof. Dr. Elli Anna Kotsailidi is a distinguished academic and clinician specializing in periodontology, implant dentistry, and health professions education. She serves as an Assistant Professor of Clinical Dentistry at the University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, and is a key faculty member at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health. With a strong foundation in dental surgery and advanced expertise in periodontal and implant sciences, she has built a remarkable career combining clinical excellence, academic leadership, and educational innovation.Dr. Kotsailidi’s academic journey began with her dental degree from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, where she demonstrated early dedication to clinical precision and scientific inquiry. Her pursuit of advanced specialization led her to the Eastman Institute for Oral Health at the University of Rochester, where she completed rigorous training in periodontology and implant dentistry, refining her skills in evidence-based patient care and complex surgical procedures. Further expanding her professional vision, she completed a master’s degree in Health Professions Education at the Warner School of Education, University of Rochester, focusing on curriculum development, equitable teaching, and the enhancement of academic excellence in dental education.Her professional career reflects an unwavering commitment to both patient-centered care and academic mentorship. As Program Director and former Clinic Director in the Department of Periodontology at the Eastman Institute for Oral Health, she has played a pivotal role in shaping clinical programs, overseeing resident training, and ensuring adherence to the highest standards of quality assurance and ethical practice. Her role integrates patient management, surgical supervision, curriculum coordination, and leadership in interdisciplinary dental education involving periodontics, prosthodontics, and general dentistry.Dr. Kotsailidi’s teaching philosophy is deeply rooted in inclusivity, collaboration, and innovation. She has co-directed and taught numerous courses, including Cell Biology of Disease, Introduction to Periodontology, Oral Implantology, ABP Mock Boards, and the Literature Review Series in Periodontics and Dental Implantology. Her approach emphasizes integrative learning, clinical reasoning, and the practical application of scientific knowledge in patient care. She is also an active mentor, serving on research committees for master’s students, guiding systematic reviews and meta-analyses that contribute to evidence-based dentistry and global oral health advancement.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Umbrio, L. R. N., Pham, H. M., Barmak, A. B., Assery, N., & Kotsailidi, E. A. (2025). Association between selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and the periodontal status: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational clinical studies. Evidence-Based Dentistry.

Benzaquen, S. I., Torabi Ardakani, M., Tsigarida, A., Ercoli, C., Barmak, B., Chochlidakis, K. M., & Kotsailidi, E. A. (2025). Biologic complications with removable partial dentures assisted by short implants: A 34-month pilot randomized controlled clinical trial. The Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry.

Kotsailidi, E. A., Johnson, L., Burns, C., Rossouw, P. E., & Michelogiannakis, D. (2025). Surgically facilitated orthodontics with clear aligners for severe malocclusion and gingival recessions. Clinical Advances in Periodontics.

Burns, C., Kotsailidi, E. A., Alshuraim, F., Dadjoo, S., Tzouma, K., Pedrinaci, I., Rossouw, P. E., & Michelogiannakis, D. (2024). Interdisciplinary orthodontic treatment with digitally-guided autotransplantation in a patient with a missing permanent maxillary left lateral incisor and a supernumerary mandibular incisor. AJO-DO Clinical Companion.

Albert Eisenbarth | Clinical Trials | Best Scholar Award

Dr. Albert Eisenbarth | Clinical Trials | Best Scholar Award

Entomologe at Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg | Germany

Dr. Albert Eisenbarth is a biologist specializing in parasitology, vector biology, and emerging infectious diseases. He earned his doctorate at the University of Tübingen, focusing on Onchocerca ochengi and its relevance to river blindness epidemiology. His career spans international research assignments across Africa, Asia, and Europe, contributing to studies on vector-borne diseases, zoonotic pathogens, and host-parasite interactions. Dr. Eisenbarth has worked at prestigious institutions including the Friedrich Loeffler Institute for Animal Health and the University of Tübingen. With over a decade of field and laboratory expertise, his work bridges veterinary medicine, parasitology, and global health, advancing infectious disease control strategies.

Publication Profile 

Scopus

Education 

Dr. Albert Eisenbarth completed his MSc in Parasitology at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, where he conducted his thesis on anisakid nematodes in Australian waters. He pursued doctoral studies at the University of Tübingen, earning his Doctor of Biology degree with a thesis on the biology of Onchocerca ochengi and its epidemiological implications for river blindness. His academic training also included international research exchanges at the University of Melbourne, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, the University of Cape Town, and Kasetsart University in Bangkok. His education combines parasitology, vector biology, and tropical infectious disease research.

Experience 

Dr. Albert Eisenbarth has held diverse research and professional roles. He served as a Research Fellow at the Friedrich Loeffler Institute for Animal Health, working on novel and emerging infectious diseases. Previously, he completed his doctoral and postdoctoral research at the University of Tübingen and in Cameroon within the Onchocerciasis Programme. His career includes positions as Clinical Data Manager at Kendle GmbH and scientific assistant roles at the University of Tübingen. He has undertaken extensive international assignments in Mozambique, Mauritania, Cameroon, Thailand, France, Australia, and South Africa. His expertise encompasses parasitology, vector ecology, epidemiology, and zoonotic disease transmission at the human-animal interface.

Awards and Honors 

Dr. Albert Eisenbarth has received multiple awards and grants for his scientific contributions. He co-coordinated major DFG-funded projects investigating zoonotic viral transmission, including Rift Valley Fever and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever in Africa. As principal investigator, he secured a RiSC Young Scientist grant for research on genetic susceptibility to tick-borne diseases in African cattle. His international collaborations earned him a South East Asia–European Union NET II Fellowship, supporting One Health research. He has also been recognized with travel grants from the German Society for Parasitology and the Erwin Riesch Foundation. Additionally, he was awarded DAAD fellowships for both MSc and doctoral studies.

Research Focus 

Dr. Albert Eisenbarth research focuses on parasitology, vector-borne diseases, and zoonotic infections affecting both human and animal health. He has conducted extensive work on the epidemiology of Onchocerca volvulus and Onchocerca ochengi, contributing to onchocerciasis control strategies. His studies include the diversity, abundance, and pathogen carriage of hematophagous vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks in Africa. Additionally, he investigates emerging viral diseases, including Rift Valley Fever and Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever, across the livestock-wildlife-human interface. Through molecular and field-based approaches, his work integrates parasitology, virology, and epidemiology, providing valuable insights for global health, One Health initiatives, and disease elimination programs.

Publication Top Notes

Molecular detection of Leishmania (Sauroleishmania) adleri (Trypanosomatida: Trypanosomatidae) in Sergentomyia sp. sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Mali and Niger

Mosquito survey in Mauritania: Detection of Rift Valley fever virus and dengue virus and the determination of feeding patterns

Conclusion

Dr. Albert Eisenbarth possesses the academic excellence, research productivity, and global health relevance that make him a strong candidate for the Research for Best Scholar Award. His innovative studies on parasitic and vector-borne diseases, coupled with his ability to secure competitive grants and engage in international collaborations, demonstrate outstanding scholarly merit. With continued expansion into broader leadership and translational activities, he is well-positioned to further influence the fields of parasitology, epidemiology, and infectious disease research. His track record aligns with the award’s goal of recognizing impactful and forward-looking scientific scholarship.