Supraja R Prasad | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Supraja R Prasad | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Researcher Award

Kuvempu University | India

Ms. Supraja R. Prasad is a passionate researcher and educator specializing in organic synthesis, computational chemistry, and the design of biologically active heterocycles. Her academic and professional journey reflects a deep dedication to the integration of sustainable chemical methodologies with modern computational tools to advance the field of drug discovery. She is particularly recognized for her innovative work on the green synthesis of heterocyclic compounds, utilizing eco-friendly multicomponent reactions and natural catalysts to create molecular frameworks with promising therapeutic potential.Her research portfolio spans multiple interrelated areas, including mechanochemical synthesis of heterocyclic derivatives, density functional theory (DFT) studies, and spectral characterization of synthesized compounds. She has also explored the anti-diabetic activity of synthesized derivatives, focusing on developing safer and more efficient alpha-glucosidase inhibitors for managing type 2 diabetes mellitus. By combining experimental synthesis with computational modeling and molecular docking analyses, Ms. Prasad bridges the gap between theoretical chemistry and practical pharmacological applications.Her recent publication in the Journal of the Indian Chemical Society highlights her contributions to the synthesis and evaluation of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, further strengthening her position within the scientific community. Through her work, she demonstrates how green chemistry can drive meaningful advancements in pharmaceutical sciences while minimizing environmental impact.Ms. Prasad’s academic mission is rooted in the belief that collaborative, interdisciplinary research can accelerate innovation. She emphasizes teamwork, creativity, and knowledge sharing as the cornerstones of impactful scientific progress. Her approach integrates sustainability, molecular insight, and therapeutic relevance — a combination that continues to shape her vision for future research.Her ongoing studies and contributions to organic synthesis, bioactivity assessment, and computational modeling position her as an emerging leader in sustainable chemistry and computational drug discovery, striving to make scientific research both environmentally responsible and socially beneficial.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Clay catalyzed dihydropyrimidinone synthesis: α-glucosidase inhibition and chemoinformatics. Journal of the Indian Chemical Society.

Ruby Anto | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Ruby Anto | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Researcher Award

Centre of Excellence in Nutraceuticals | India

Dr. Ruby Anto is a distinguished biochemist and cancer researcher with an extensive career dedicated to advancing the fields of molecular oncology, bioimmunotherapy, and nutraceutical science. She currently serves as Chief Scientist at the Centre of Excellence in Nutraceuticals, KSCSTE, Government of Kerala, Thiruvananthapuram, and Honorary Scientist at the Institute of Advanced Virology, Thiruvananthapuram. Over her accomplished career, she has held numerous scientific positions at the Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, progressing from Research Associate to Scientist G, reflecting her consistent contributions and leadership in biomedical research.Dr. Anto earned her PhD in Biochemistry from Amala Cancer Research Centre, Thrissur, following her postgraduate studies in Chemistry and Education. Her multidisciplinary academic background—combining chemistry, biochemistry, and pedagogy—has been central to her innovative approach to cancer biology and molecular medicine. Her early academic achievements and later professional experiences at prestigious institutions such as the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, provided a strong foundation for her research on targeted cancer therapies, chemopreventive agents, and the role of natural products in disease modulation.Recognized nationally and internationally for her scientific excellence, Dr. Anto has received several prestigious honors, including the Young National Women Bio-Scientist Award from the Department of Biotechnology, Government of India, and fellowships from the National Academy of Sciences, India, and the Academy of Sciences, Thiruvananthapuram. Her professional journey also includes global training experiences, such as her participation in the Clinical Trials Traineeship Program at INSERM, Paris, which broadened her expertise in translational research and clinical validation of nutraceutical interventions.As a mentor, Dr. Anto has nurtured a generation of young scientists, with her students and postdoctoral fellows earning numerous national and international awards for their work in cancer biology and nutraceutical research. Her leadership has fostered a thriving academic environment focused on the discovery and characterization of bioactive compounds from natural sources with therapeutic potential.Dr. Anto’s scientific publications have advanced understanding in areas such as natural compound-mediated cancer prevention, signaling pathway modulation, and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of nutraceuticals. Through her research, she continues to bridge the gap between basic biochemistry and applied health sciences, promoting nutraceutical innovation as a cornerstone of preventive and personalized medicine. Her lifelong dedication to scientific inquiry and mentorship underscores her status as one of India’s leading voices in biochemistry and nutraceutical research.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Ruby, A. J., Kuttan, G., Babu, K. D., Rajasekharan, K. N., & Kuttan, R. (1995). Anti-tumour and antioxidant activity of natural curcuminoids. Cancer Letters, 94(1), 79–83.

Anto, R. J., Mukhopadhyay, A., Denning, K., & Aggarwal, B. B. (2002). Curcumin (diferuloylmethane) induces apoptosis through activation of caspase-8, BID cleavage and cytochrome c release: Its suppression by ectopic expression of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xl. Carcinogenesis, 23(1), 143–150.

Anto, R. J., Sukumaran, K., Kuttan, G., Rao, M. N. A., Subbaraju, V., & Kuttan, R. (1995). Anticancer and antioxidant activity of synthetic chalcones and related compounds. Cancer Letters, 97(1), 33–37.

Oommen, S., Anto, R. J., Srinivas, G., & Karunagaran, D. (2004). Allicin (from garlic) induces caspase-mediated apoptosis in cancer cells. European Journal of Pharmacology, 485(1–3), 97–103.*

Anto, R. J., Mukhopadhyay, A., Shishodia, S., Gairola, C. G., & Aggarwal, B. B. (2002). Cigarette smoke condensate activates nuclear transcription factor-κB through phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα: Correlation with induction of cyclooxygenase-2. Carcinogenesis, 23(9), 1511–1518.*

Bava, S. V., Puliappadamba, V. T., Deepti, A., Nair, A., Karunagaran, D., & Anto, R. J. (2005). Sensitization of taxol-induced apoptosis by curcumin involves down-regulation of nuclear factor-κB and the serine/threonine kinase Akt and is independent of tubulin polymerization. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 280(8), 6301–6308.*

Srinivas, G., Anto, R. J., Srinivas, P., Vidhyalakshmi, S., Senan, V. P., & Karunagaran, D. (2003). Emodin induces apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells through poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage and activation of caspase-9. European Journal of Pharmacology, 473(2–3), 117–125.*

Song Guo Zheng | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Song Guo Zheng | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Researcher Award

Chair Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine | China

Prof. Song Guo Zheng, M.D., Ph.D., is an internationally renowned immunologist and clinician-scientist specializing in rheumatology, molecular immunology, and translational medicine. He currently serves as Chair Professor and Dean of the School of Cell and Gene Therapy at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. With academic leadership roles across prestigious institutions in the U.S. and China, his pioneering work spans autoimmunity, cell therapy, and immunoregulation. A prolific author with over 110 peer-reviewed publications in top-tier journals, Prof. Zheng is also a highly decorated researcher and active leader in global immunology societies. His contributions continue to shape modern immunotherapy and precision medicine.

Publication Profile 

Google Scholar

Orcid

Education 

Prof. Zheng earned his Ph.D. in Molecular Immunology from the University of Orleans, France (2011), and a Master’s in Pathology and Immunology from Shanghai Medical University (1992). He completed his M.D. at Anhui Medical University (1984). His clinical training included a residency in surgery at Chizhou City Hospital (1984–1989) and an internship at Shanghai Zhabei Hospital (1983–1984). He further pursued a pathology fellowship at Shanghai Medical University Cancer Hospital (1989–1993). These academic and clinical foundations laid the groundwork for a distinguished career in immunology, clinical research, and translational medicine across both China and the United States.

Experience 

Prof. Zheng currently serves as Chair Professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University and Dean of the School of Cell and Gene Therapy (2023–Present). He previously held senior positions including the Ronald L. Whisler Chair in Rheumatology and Immunology at Ohio State University (2018–2022) and Director at Penn State University’s College of Medicine (2013–2018). His U.S. academic journey began at the University of Southern California as an assistant and associate professor (2004–2013), after postdoctoral work at USC and UCLA. With leadership in research, teaching, and clinical science, he has become a global authority in immunological therapeutics and rheumatology.

Awards

Prof. Zheng has received numerous prestigious honors, including the Outstanding Scientist Award (2023, USA) and the Distinguished Clinical Immunologist Award (2019, China). He was awarded the Edmund L. Dubois Award (2019), NIH STAR Award (2016–2021), and was Chair of NIH MOSS Study Section (2016). Notably, he earned the James R. Klinenberg Award for best immunologist in Southern California (2007) and the Freda Newton Memorial Scholar Award (2006). He is an elected member of The Henry Kunkel Society (2012) and a recipient of the ACR Investigator Award (2008–2010), reflecting his impactful and sustained contributions to clinical immunology.

Research Focus 

Prof. Zheng’s research centers on molecular immunology, particularly in autoimmune diseases, Treg/Th17 cell modulation, and immune tolerance mechanisms. He investigates immunometabolism, gene and cell therapy, and inflammatory signaling pathways with an emphasis on clinical translation. His studies on cytokines, nanomedicine, and immune checkpoint regulation aim to advance precision therapeutics for rheumatic and inflammatory diseases. He integrates cutting-edge techniques including single-cell sequencing, CRISPR-based modulation, and nano-drug delivery systems. His innovative research is highly cited and supports next-generation treatments for autoimmunity, cancer immunotherapy, and organ-specific inflammation, shaping global trends in immune-based medical interventions.

Publication Top Notes

Natural and induced CD4+ CD25+ cells educate CD4+ CD25− cells to develop suppressive activity: the role of IL-2, TGF-β, and IL-10

IL-2 is essential for TGF-β to convert naive CD4+ CD25− cells to CD25+ Foxp3+ regulatory T cells and for expansion of these cells

Role of vitamin A in the immune system

Generation ex vivo of TGF-β-producing regulatory T cells from CD4+ CD25− precursors

Vitamin D and chronic diseases

TGF-β requires CTLA-4 early after T cell activation to induce FoxP3 and generate adaptive CD4+ CD25+ regulatory cells

Natural and TGF-β–induced Foxp3+ CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells are not mirror images of each other

Role of TNF–TNF receptor 2 signal in regulatory T cells and its therapeutic implications

Cutting edge: Foxp3+ CD4+ CD25+ regulatory T cells induced by IL-2 and TGF-β are resistant to Th17 conversion by IL-6

Hall of fame among pro-inflammatory cytokines: interleukin-6 gene and its transcriptional regulation mechanisms

The ubiquitin ligase Stub1 negatively modulates regulatory T cell suppressive activity by promoting degradation of the transcription factor Foxp3

The role of the combination of IL-2 and TGF-β or IL-10 in the generation and function of CD4+ CD25+ and CD8+regulatory T cell subsets

Conclusion

Given his outstanding scientific productivity, leadership in global immunology communities, and groundbreaking research on immune regulation, Prof. Song Guo Zheng is highly suitable for the Best Researcher Award. His body of work demonstrates not only scientific depth and innovation but also sustained impact on the field of immunology and clinical medicine. With ongoing contributions and strategic improvements, he remains a central figure in advancing immune-based therapies and education worldwide.