Konstantinos Gardikis | Dermatological Pharmacology | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr.  Konstantinos Gardikis | Dermatological Pharmacology | Best Researcher Award

University of Athens | Greece

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Konstantinos Gardikis is a distinguished pharmaceutical scientist whose career integrates advanced academic training, interdisciplinary laboratory expertise, and high-level industrial leadership in pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and biotechnological innovation. He completed his academic journey at the School of Pharmacy, University of Athens, earning a Bachelor of Science, a Master’s degree in Industrial Pharmacy with a thesis focused on dendrimer–lipid interactions studied through calorimetry and Raman spectroscopy, and a Ph.D. centered on the design and evaluation of chimeric nanosystems employing liposomes and dendrimers for targeted delivery of doxorubicin. His scientific foundation expanded through extensive postdoctoral and advanced laboratory training across leading European institutions, including specialized work in ethnobotany, phytochemical extraction, purification and characterization of oligosaccharides, bioinformatics for RNA-seq studies, microencapsulation, spray drying, thermodynamic analysis of nanosystems, fluorescence spectroscopy, toxicity assays, and GC-MS and GPC analytical techniques. His training also encompasses hands-on industrial experience in microalgae cultivation, extraction and distillation processes, and pharmaceutical research and development. Dr. Gardikis’ professional career is strongly defined by his long-standing leadership at APIVITA SA, where he currently serves as Director of Research & Development. In this role, he oversees multidisciplinary teams across R&D and Regulatory Affairs, guiding product formulation, innovation strategy, sustainability initiatives, development of novel raw materials, and the creation of next-generation nanoformulations. He manages the full lifecycle of product development, ensures regulatory compliance in more than fifty global markets, leads international product notifications, supervises cosmetovigilance operations, and steers scientific communication and technology transfer activities. His achievements include the formulation of over one hundred cosmetic and food supplement products, the reformulation of extensive product lines for global regulatory standards, successful execution of major research projects under European frameworks, and inventorship of multiple PCT and national patents on innovative natural raw materials and nanoscale delivery systems. Earlier, as Director of Scientific Affairs at APIVITA SA, he established research laboratories, coordinated multinational research consortia, optimized novel extraction processes, and contributed to the company’s scientific growth through pioneering patented technologies. With a strong background in pharmaceutical nanotechnology, natural products, and applied biotechnology, Dr. Gardikis continues to contribute to scientific advancement through innovation-driven research, cross-sector collaboration, and the development of sustainable, high-performance formulations that bridge academic expertise with industrial impact.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Athanasopoulou, S., Panagiotidou, E., Spanidi, E., Gkika, M., Georgiou, D., Anagnostopoulos, A. K., Ganos, C., Chinou, I., Beletsiotis, E., & Gardikis, K. (2025). Propolis extract with activity against _Cutibacterium acnes biofilm targeting the expression of virulence genes_. Antioxidants, 14(7), 849.

Athanasopoulou, S., Spanidi, E., Panagiotidou, E., Cavagnino, A., Bobier, A., & Gardikis, K. (2024). An advanced combinatorial system from _Vitis vinifera leaves and propolis enhances antioxidants’ skin delivery and fibroblasts functionality_. Pharmaceuticals, 17(12), 1610.

Katsogiannis, I., Naziris, N., Sarika, A., Gardikis, K., Hatziantoniou, S., Boukos, N., Dallas, P., Fikioris, N., & Demetzos, C. (2024). Development and in vitro evaluation of liposomal carnosine for dermatological and cosmeceutical applications. Journal of Drug Delivery Science and Technology, 84, 105654.

Letsiou, S., Bakea, A., Holefors, A., Rembiesa, J., Spanidi, E., & Gardikis, K. (2023). In vitro protective effects of _Paeonia officinalis var. mascula callus extract on human keratinocytes_. Scientific Reports, 13, 19213.

Letsiou, S., Kapazoglou, A., Tsaftaris, A., Spanidi, E., & Gardikis, K. (2023). Transcriptional and epigenetic effects of _Vitis vinifera L. leaf extract on UV‑stressed human dermal fibroblasts_. Molecular Biology Reports, 50, 5763–?.

Allison Hilberer | Dermatological Pharmacology | Best Researcher Award

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Mrs. Allison Hilberer | Dermatological Pharmacology | Best Researcher Award

Institute for In Vitro Sciences | United States

Mrs. Allison Hilberer is a distinguished toxicologist with a robust academic foundation and extensive expertise in in vitro toxicology, phototoxicity, and ocular and dermal safety assessments. She holds a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Toxicology from the University of Florida College of Pharmacy, a Master of Science in Biology from George Mason University, a Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Keuka College, and an Associate in Science in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Finger Lakes Community College. Additionally, she completed advanced toxicology training at the Mid-America Toxicology Course, further strengthening her scientific and regulatory proficiency in toxicological methods. As a Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology (DABT), she maintains high standards of professional competency and scientific rigor in her work.Mrs. Hilberer has built an exceptional career at the Institute for In Vitro Sciences, Inc. (IIVS), advancing from early roles as Biologist and Laboratory Supervisor to her current position as Senior Toxicologist, Study Director, and Program Leader, overseeing BCOP, Photosafety, and 96-well assays. Her leadership has extended to training biologists, coordinating complex toxicological studies, refining in vitro methodologies, and ensuring adherence to Good Laboratory Practices (GLPs). Throughout her career, she has successfully directed assays addressing phototoxicity, ocular and dermal irritation, photoallergy, and sensitization risks while implementing cutting-edge technologies to advance alternative testing strategies. She has represented the International Council on Animal Protection in OECD Programmes (ICAPO) for eye, skin, and phototoxicity assays, contributing to global scientific and regulatory dialogues on reducing animal testing through validated alternative methods.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Hilberer, A., Hoffman, L., Madrid, M., Labib, R., & Costin, G.-E. (2025). Assessment of phototoxicity potential of botanicals as cosmetic ingredients using the in vitro 3T3 neutral red uptake phototoxicity test. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology. Advance online publication.

Keebaugh, A. J., Steele, M. L., Islas-Robles, A., Phillips, J., Hilberer, A., Cantrell, K., Chushak, Y. G., Mattie, D. R., Clewell, R. A., & Merrill, E. A. (2025). Development of preliminary candidate surface guidelines for Air Force-relevant dermal sensitizers using new approach methodologies. Toxics, 13(8), 660. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics13080660

Ruparel, N., Islas-Robles, A., Hilberer, A., Cantrell, K., Madrid, M., Ryan, C., Gerberick, G. F., & Persaud, R. (2024). Deriving a point of departure for assessing the skin sensitization risk of wearable device constituents with in vitro methods. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 114, 725. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2024.114725

Use of alternative test methods in a tiered testing approach to address photoirritation potential of fragrance materials.

Iwona Golonka | Dermatological Pharmacology | Women Researcher Award

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Iwona Golonka | Dermatological Pharmacology | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Iwona Golonka, Medical University of Wrocław, Poland

Dr. Iwona Golonka is an assistant professor at the Wroclaw Medical University, specializing in physical chemistry and biophysics. With a Ph.D. in chemical sciences from the University of Wrocław (2006), she has authored 16 scientific papers (IF: 67.162, H-index: 9) and contributed to numerous research projects and patents, including innovations in flotation tablets. Her work spans antimicrobial peptides, membrane biophysics, and EPR spectroscopy. A recipient of multiple national awards and scholarships, Dr. Golonka is also actively involved in international conferences and academic collaborations in pharmaceutical sciences.

Publication Profile

Orcid

Education

Dr. Iwona Golonka 🎓 has been an Assistant Professor at Wroclaw Medical University’s Faculty of Pharmacy since 2003, working in the Department of Physical Chemistry and Biophysics. She earned her Ph.D. in chemical sciences in 2006 from the University of Wrocław, specializing in coordination chemistry ⚗️. Her academic journey began with an M.Sc. in Environmental Chemistry in 1999. Dr. Golonka is a co-author of several research projects and a teaching script 📘, and has published 16 scientific papers with a total impact factor of 67.162 and an H-index of 9, including a notable 2020 paper with an IF of 9.381.

Awards

Dr. Iwona Golonka 🏅 has received numerous honors for her outstanding scientific contributions. In 2022, she was awarded a diploma by the Rector of the Medical University of Gdańsk for her team’s research on antimicrobial compounds and fluorescent dyes 🧫✨. She earned multiple individual awards (2020–2024) for high-impact publications in JCR journals 📚. Notable achievements include a 2016 1st degree team award for physicochemical methods in drug research 💊 and a national Eureka! MZD distinction for an innovative flotation tablet. She also received scholarships (2011, 2004) and several team awards (2006–2010) for creative and environmentally focused scientific work 🌱🔬.

Experience

Dr. Iwona Golonka 💡 has contributed significantly to pharmaceutical innovation and research. In 2014, she participated in the Lower Silesian Innovation Voucher project, working on innovative cosmetics using active marine collagen 🌊🧴. She co-invented a flotation tablet for prolonged therapeutic activity on the stomach lining, leading to a European patent application in 2015 📄🔬. This innovation was officially patented in 2020 under Polish patent number 235144, emphasizing its impact in pharmaceutical sciences 💊📘. Her work showcases a strong focus on translational research and product development, bridging the gap between scientific discovery and real-world application.

Research Focus

Dr. Iwona Golonka’s research centers on biophysical and pharmaceutical sciences, particularly focusing on lipid monolayers, antimicrobial peptides, antioxidants, and nano-formulations. Her work explores the interactions of bioactive compounds—such as ascorbic acid and quercetin—with model membranes, as well as the development of innovative drug delivery systems using materials like bacterial cellulose, alginate, and chitosan. With applications in dermatology, photoprotection, and nutraceutical delivery, her studies integrate physicochemical characterization, nanotechnology, and molecular modeling to enhance therapeutic effectiveness. 🧫🌡️🧴 Her contributions support advancements in formulation stability, antioxidant efficacy, and antibacterial activity.

Publication Top Notes

The Role of Temperature and Subphase Components in Shaping Selected Physicochemical Properties of the Phosphatidylinositol Monolayer
The Influence of the Amphiphilic Properties of Peptides on the Phosphatidylinositol Monolayer in the Presence of Ascorbic Acid
Evaluation of Decay Kinetics of Black Elderberry Antioxidants from Fruits and Flowers
Oddziaływanie peptydu (C12)2-KKKK-NH2 Z monowarstwą fosfatydyloinozytolu
Effect of Newly Synthesized Structures of Peptides on the Stability of the Monolayers Formed

Evaluation of the Effect of Antibacterial Peptides on Model Monolayers

Effect of structures of newly synthesized peptides on the stability of the formed monolayers
Evaluation of the monolayer properties of the model cell membrane produced with antibacterial peptides
Assessment of the Influence of the Selected Range of Visible Light Radiation on the Durability of the Gel with Ascorbic Acid and Its Derivative
Ocena wpływu wybranego zakresu promieniowania światła widzialnego na trwałość preparatów hydrożelowych zawierających kwas askorbinowy i jego pochodną