Ageliki Karatza | Clinical Trials | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr. Ageliki Karatza | Clinical Trials | Best Researcher Award

University of Patras Medical School | Greece

Prof. Dr. Ageliki Karatza is a distinguished figure in the field of Paediatrics and Paediatric Cardiology, recognized for her exceptional academic achievements, clinical expertise, and research contributions spanning decades. Her journey began with her admission to the University of Patras Medical School through highly competitive national examinations, where she graduated with one of the top degrees in her class. Following her graduation, she completed her rural medical service before pursuing specialization in General Paediatrics, earning her board certification after extensive training and rigorous examinations.Her dedication to advancing paediatric care led her to prominent institutions in London, including Imperial College, Hammersmith and Queen Charlotte’s Hospitals, and the Royal Brompton Hospital, where she gained substantial clinical and research experience in Paediatric and Perinatal Cardiology. Her fellowship and registrar positions in Neonatal and Paediatric Cardiology enabled her to develop expertise in managing complex cardiovascular conditions in neonates, infants, and children. Upon returning to Greece, she held key positions in academic medicine at the University of Patras Medical School, progressing through roles as Clinical Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Associate Professor, and ultimately achieving the rank of Professor in Paediatrics-Paediatric Cardiology.In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she has been instrumental in organizing and delivering undergraduate and postgraduate education, serving as a tutor in multiple master’s programs and teaching medical students and trainees at various levels. Her role as the ERASMUS representative in Paediatrics has facilitated international academic collaborations and student exchanges, strengthening the global reach of the University of Patras Medical School. Clinically, she has been responsible for the Paediatric Cardiology outpatient clinic, providing daily consultations and urgent care services for the entire Southwestern Greece region, ensuring that paediatric patients receive timely and specialized cardiac care.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Karatza, A. A., Wolfenden, J. L., Taylor, M. J. O., Wee, L., Fisk, N. M., & Gardiner, H. M. (2002). Influence of twin-twin transfusion syndrome on fetal cardiovascular structure and function: Prospective case–control study of 136 monochorionic twin pregnancies. Heart, 88(3), 271–277.

Karatza, A. A., Bush, A., & Magee, A. G. (2005). Safety and efficacy of sildenafil therapy in children with pulmonary hypertension. International Journal of Cardiology, 100(2), 267–273.

Davlouros, P. A., Karatza, A. A., Gatzoulis, M. A., & Shore, D. F. (2004). Timing and type of surgery for severe pulmonary regurgitation after repair of tetralogy of Fallot. International Journal of Cardiology, 97, 91–101.

Gardiner, H. M., Taylor, M. J. O., Karatza, A., Vanderheyden, T., Huber, A., … (2003). Twin-twin transfusion syndrome: The influence of intrauterine laser photocoagulation on arterial distensibility in childhood. Circulation, 107(14), 1906–1911.

Fouzas, S., Karatza, A. A., Davlouros, P. A., Chrysis, D., Alexopoulos, D., … (2014). Neonatal cardiac dysfunction in intrauterine growth restriction. Pediatric Research, 75(5), 651–657.

Karatza, A. A., Giannakopoulos, I., Dassios, T. G., Belavgenis, G., Mantagos, S. P., … (2011). Periconceptional tobacco smoking and isolated congenital heart defects in the neonatal period. International Journal of Cardiology, 148(3), 295–299.

Tsintoni, A., Dimitriou, G., & Karatza, A. A. (2020). Nutrition of neonates with congenital heart disease: Existing evidence, conflicts, and concerns. The Journal of Maternal-Fetal & Neonatal Medicine, 33(14), 2487–2492.

Anthracopoulos, M., Karatza, A., Liolios, E., Triga, M., Triantou, K., & Priftis, K. (2001). Prevalence of asthma among schoolchildren in Patras, Greece: Three surveys over 20 years. Thorax, 56(7), 569–571.

Premal Thaker | Clinical Trials | Best Researcher Award

Premal Thaker | Clinical Trials | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Premal Thaker at Washington University School of Medicine, United States.

Dr. Premal Thaker is a renowned gynecologic oncologist and professor at Washington University, St. Louis. With a medical degree from Allegheny University and advanced training at MD Anderson Cancer Center, she has led impactful clinical research in ovarian and endometrial cancers 🧪. As Director of Gynecologic Oncology Clinical Research and Division Chief (2025–present), her leadership is pivotal in advancing cancer therapies. A respected speaker, grant recipient, and editorial board member 📚, Dr. Thaker has earned numerous accolades including “Best Doctors in America” and “Castle Connolly Top Doctor” 🏅. Her dedication to women’s health continues to inspire globally.

Publication Profile 

Scopus

Education

Dr. Premal Thaker’s illustrious academic journey began with a BA in Biology from Villanova University 🎓, followed by an MD from Allegheny University and an MS in Cancer Biology from the University of Texas 🧬. She completed specialized training in gynecologic oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center and recently attended a leadership course at Harvard 🏛️. Dr. Thaker has held esteemed positions at Washington University, advancing from Assistant Professor to Division Chief of Gynecologic Oncology 👩‍⚕️. A distinguished researcher and educator, she is also the David and Lynn Mutch Distinguished Professor and Director of Clinical Research.

Awards

Dr. Premal Thaker has received numerous accolades throughout her distinguished career in gynecologic oncology 🎖️. Beginning with academic honors such as the Dean’s List and Alpha Epsilon Delta Honor Society in the early 1990s 📚, she went on to earn prestigious awards for scientific presentations and publications, including the J.G. Moore Award 🧪 and GCF/Eli Lilly Fellow Award 🧬. Recognized as one of the Best Doctors in St. Louis (2013–2025) and America (2020–2024) 👩‍⚕️, she was also named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and Fellow of AGOS. In 2025, she joined Avant-Garde Health’s Research All-Stars.

Research Focus 

Dr. Premal Thaker’s research primarily centers on gynecologic oncology, with a strong focus on ovarian and endometrial cancers 🧫. Her work explores immune checkpoint inhibitors, personalized gene therapy, molecular profiling, and health disparities in clinical trial enrollment, particularly in Hispanic and Asian populations 🌍. She also investigates novel immunotherapy combinations, real-world treatment outcomes, and genomic biomarkers for therapy response and survival 🧪. Her multidisciplinary efforts contribute to precision medicine and the advancement of targeted therapies for women’s reproductive cancers, driving impactful, patient-centered innovations in oncology care.

Publication Top Notes

  • Improving diverse patient enrollment in clinical trials, focusing on Hispanic and Asian populations: recommendations from an interdisciplinary expert panel
  • OVATION-2: A randomized phase I/II study evaluating the safety and efficacy of IMNN-001 (IL-12 gene therapy) with neo/adjuvant chemotherapy in patients newly-diagnosed with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer
  • Impact of adding the immune checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab to first-line chemotherapy on progression-free survival in poor-prognosis ovarian cancer: A retrospective analysis from the IMagyn050 trial
  • Genomic alterations, molecularly targeted therapy, and survival: a real-world Endometrial Cancer Molecularly Targeted Therapy Consortium cohort study
  • Diverse case series of granulomatous peritonitis mimicking advanced ovarian cancer
  • Platinum-free interval and response to platinum retreatment or lenvatinib/pembrolizumab in patients with recurrent endometrial cancer: A real-world endometrial cancer molecularly targeted therapy consortium cohort study
  • Exploring the differences between BRCA mutated and HRwild-type high grade serous ovarian cancer: A multiomic analysis
  • Update on safety and feasibility of the combination of pembrolizumab and pelvic chemoradiation in locally advanced cervical cancer
  • Not all uterine carcinosarcomas are created equal: Survival outcomes according to molecular characterization of uterine carcinosarcoma
  • Characteristics and real-world outcomes of patients with epithelial ovarian cancer who received niraparib plus bevacizumab first-line maintenance therapy in the COMB1NE study