Obasanjo Bolarinwa | VR in Healthcare | Research Excellence Award

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 Dr. Obasanjo Bolarinwa | VR in Healthcare | Research Excellence Award 

York St John University | United Kingdom

Dr. Obasanjo Bolarinwa is an accomplished interdisciplinary global public health academic and demography specialist, recognised among Stanford/Elsevier’s Top 2% Scientists in public health and health services, with an extensive research portfolio of over 100 publications, multiple competitive research grants, and active editorial board memberships across leading international journals. He holds a PhD in Demography and Population Studies from the University of the Witwatersrand, an M.Sc. in Global Public Health (Distinction) from Canterbury Christ Church University, and both M.Sc. and B.Sc. degrees in Demography and Social Statistics from Obafemi Awolowo University. His professional qualifications include Senior Fellowship of the Higher Education Academy (SFHEA), and he serves as an External Examiner for MPH and DrPH programmes. Dr. Bolarinwa has secured prestigious awards such as the British Academy Small Grant (2025), NHS TEWV Joint Grant, Quality Related Funding from IHCI, UAPS–AIR Grant, the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Early Career Grant, and the AfRes-Data Fellowship. He has presented research at major global conferences, including the International Population Conference, Africa Population Conference, PAA, ESHD Conference, LSE Postgraduate Conference, and the International Conference on Family Planning. Professionally, he serves as Senior Lecturer and Programme Director in Public Health at York St. John University London, previously holding roles at the University of Chester and the University of Edinburgh, where he contributed to research design, data collection, analysis, and publication related to racially minoritised student experiences. His consultancy experience with Kent County Council further strengthened his expertise in research protocol development, statistical interpretation, and policy-relevant reporting. Dr. Bolarinwa’s publications centre on sexual and reproductive health, disability and sexuality, health inequalities, demographic behaviour, and AI in SRHR, with notable works in The Lancet, Reproductive Health, BMC Women’s Health, and International Journal for Equity in Health. He is an editorial member of SAGE, PLOS One, BMC, and Frontiers journals. His certifications span Good Clinical Practice, GDPR, digital and computational demography, COVID-19 research, and global health management. Highly skilled in statistical software (R, STATA, SPSS), data visualisation tools (Power BI, ODK, Kobo), spatial mapping (ArcGIS), and database management (SQL), he is recognised for innovative teaching, methodological expertise, and his commitment to equity-driven, interdisciplinary research that advances global public health, inclusive education, and population wellbeing.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Bolarinwa, O. A., Odimegwu, C., Babalola, B. I., & Mohammed, A. (2025). A qualitative study exploring the sexual experiences of women with disabilities in Lagos, Nigeria. Sexuality and Disability, 43(1), 1–25.

Bolarinwa, O. A., Odimegwu, C., & Tapera, T. (2024). Improving the sexual health of women with disabilities in sub-Saharan Africa: A scoping review of published studies. Reproductive Health, 21(1), 1–13.

Bolarinwa, O. A., Odimegwu, C., & Adebisi, Y. A. (2024). Leaving no one behind: Addressing the sexuality of people with disabilities. International Journal for Equity in Health, 23(1), 129.

Bolarinwa, O. A. (2024). Inequality gaps in modern contraceptive use and associated factors among women of reproductive age in Nigeria between 2003 and 2018. BMC Women’s Health, 24(1), 317.

Bolarinwa, O. A., Adebisi, Y. A., Ajayi, K. V., & Boutahar, R. (2024). Sexual and reproductive health rights in the era of artificial intelligence. The Lancet, 404(10448), 120–121.

Bolarinwa, O. A., Hajjar, J. M., Alawode, O. A., Ajayi, K. V., Roberts, A. T., & Yaya, S. (2023). Multiple high-risk fertility behaviours and children under five mortality survivors among ever-married women of reproductive age in Nigeria. Archives of Public Health, 81(1), 175.

Zeyu Peng | Human–Computer Interaction | Research Excellence Award 

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Mr. Zeyu Peng | Human–Computer Interaction | Research Excellence Award 

Migu Culture Technology Co.,Ltd | China

Zeyu Peng is an accomplished Graphics AI Algorithm Engineer based in Shenzhen, Guangdong, with a strong academic foundation in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, earning an MSc from Wuhan University (2015–2018) specializing in Optimization Theory, Algorithms, and Applications, and a BSc from Central South University (2011–2015). Professionally, Zeyu has extensive experience in AI-driven graphics and operations research, currently contributing to Migu Culture Technology as a Graphics AI Algorithm Engineer since 2021, and previously serving as an Algorithm Engineer at China Southern Airlines IT Research Institute (2018–2021). His notable projects include developing a Speech-to-3D Facial Animation Generation engine, creating multi-style performance rule sets, and implementing both combination optimization and diffusion-based facial animation synthesis frameworks for digital humans. He has also engineered a Co-Speech Gesture Generation system leveraging language models, inverse kinematics, and diffusion models to produce contextually appropriate gestures synchronized with speech. Additionally, Zeyu has worked on FlowMatch and FastPitch-based AI voice conversion models for speech and singing applications, and contributed to large-scale aviation optimization projects such as flight pairing and crew scheduling, involving graph-based algorithms, branch-and-bound frameworks, and operations research algorithm libraries. He has developed a Facial Detection SDK with MTCNN for autonomous airport check-in systems and a luggage damage detection system utilizing object detection and classification techniques. Zeyu’s technical expertise spans C++, Python, Rust, and frameworks like PyTorch and ONNX, complemented by proficiency in LaTeX, Maya, Blender, and certifications including CET-6 and TOEFL. His research contributions are evidenced by publications in high-impact venues such as The Journal of Supercomputing and CGI2025, along with multiple patents in facial animation synthesis, video generation, and digital human animation technologies. Overall, Zeyu demonstrates a rare combination of deep theoretical knowledge, practical algorithmic implementation, and impactful contributions to AI-driven virtual reality, digital human animation, and optimization systems, establishing him as a leading engineer and innovator in graphics AI and virtual human technologies.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Peng, Z., Ma, D., & Lv, X. (2025, July). A two stage co-speech gesture generation method. Oral Presentation at CGI 2025.

Peng, Z., Li, H., & Wang, S. (2025, April). FaceImitate: Speech-driven 3D facial animation synthesis from imitation. The Journal of Supercomputing.

Peng, Z., & Wang, S. (2024, October 11). A video synthesis method, device, storage medium, and program product based on a classification model [Patent No. CN118764575A]. Migu Culture Technology Co., Ltd.; China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd.

Peng, Z., Wang, S., & Li, H. (2024, July 9). Facial motion prediction methods, devices, media, and computer program products [Patent No. CN118314614A]. Migu Culture Technology Co., Ltd.; China Mobile Communications Group Co., Ltd.

Venkatramanan | Automotive & Manufacturing VR | Best Experimental Research in Immersive Technologies Award 

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Dr. Venkatramanan | Automotive & Manufacturing VR | Best Experimental Research in Immersive Technologies Award 

Suguna College of Engineering, Coimbatore | India

Dr. Venkatramanan R is an accomplished Assistant Professor and researcher with extensive expertise in solar thermal applications and renewable energy systems, particularly in the design and performance optimization of evacuated tube solar air heaters for industrial process heating. He completed his Ph.D. at the Solar Energy Research Centre, Coimbatore Institute of Engineering and Technology (CIET), under a full-time DST-funded project, focusing on evacuated tube collector systems for low-temperature industrial applications. Dr. Venkatramanan holds a Master’s degree in Thermal Engineering from R.V.S. College of Engineering and Technology and a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Paavai Engineering College, consistently achieving first-class academic distinction. With over nine years of professional experience, he has contributed significantly as an Assistant Professor at Suguna College of Engineering and CIET, mentoring students, developing syllabi, coordinating departmental activities, and leading technical clubs and laboratories, including the Solar Energy Research Centre, Renewable Energy Club, and Thermal Engineering Lab. His research portfolio is impressive, encompassing numerous high-impact international journal publications, book chapters, and patents in solar energy technologies, energy efficiency, and IoT-based renewable energy solutions. Notable publications include studies on thermal and enviro-economic performance of evacuated tube solar air collectors and innovative designs such as twisted tape inserts, baffles, and jet impingement systems. He has been actively involved in funded research and consultancy projects, including DST and MSME-supported initiatives, and has served as a reviewer for reputed international journals like Energy Engineering, Scientific Reports, and Journal of Renewable Energy and Environment. Dr. Venkatramanan has also completed several professional certifications and MOOC courses, enhancing his expertise in energy auditing, waste-to-energy conversion, solar energy engineering, steam and gas power systems, and refrigeration and air conditioning. Recognized for his academic contributions, he has received certificates of recognition from Anna University for publishing in Q1 journals and has guided teams achieving awards in national design competitions. He maintains professional memberships with ISME, ISTE, SESI, WSSET, and the Institution of Engineers (India), reflecting his commitment to advancing mechanical and renewable energy engineering.

Profiles: Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Kumar, A. V., Arjunan, T. V., Seenivasan, D., Venkatramanan, R., & Vijayan, S. (2021). Thermal performance of an evacuated tube solar collector with inserted baffles for air heating applications. Solar Energy, 215, 131–143.

Veera Kumar, A., Arjunan, T. V., Seenivasan, D., Venkatramanan, R., & Vijayan, S. (2021). Techno-economic evaluation of an evacuated tube solar air collector with inserted baffles. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering, 235(4), 1027–1038.

Kumar, A. V., Arjunan, T. V., Seenivasan, D., Venkatramanan, R., Vijayan, S., & Matheswaran, M. M. (2021). Influence of twisted tape inserts on energy and exergy performance of an evacuated tube-based solar air collector. Solar Energy, 225, 892–904.

Venkatramanan, R., Arjunan, T. V., Seenivasan, D., & Kumar, A. V. (2022). Parametric study of evacuated tube collector solar air heater with inserted baffles on thermal network for low-temperature applications. Journal of Cleaner Production, 350, 132941.

Venkatramanan, R., Arjunan, T. V., Seenivasan, D., Veerakumar, A., Vijayan, S., & Matheswaran, M. M. (2025). Energetic and enviro-economic performance of medium-scale evacuated tube solar air heating system for industrial applications. Journal of Power and Energy, 239(2), 388–399.

Karthickmunisamy, T., Veerakumar, A., Vijayan, S., & Venkatramanan, R. (2025). Experimental investigation of an evacuated tube solar air heater with baffles and perforated twisted tapes for air heating applications. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering. (Accepted for publication).

Dejenie Mengistie | Animal Biotechnology | Research Excellence Award

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Mr. Dejenie Mengistie | Animal Biotechnology | Research Excellence Award 

 Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research | Ethiopia

Dejenie Mengistie Yirsaw is an experienced researcher in Animal Molecular Breeding and Genetics with more than nine years of progressive expertise in genomic analysis, molecular biology, and livestock genetic improvement. His work spans selection signature analysis, GWAS, QTL mapping, SNP discovery, molecular characterization, and advanced bioinformatics. Since 2023, he has been coordinating the Animal Biotechnology Research Program at the Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research (EIAR–NABRC), where he leads multidisciplinary teams, manages laboratory resources, and drives national-level research collaborations in animal biotechnology. Dejenie holds an MSc in Animal Biotechnology from Addis Ababa University (2019–2021), where he completed a highly rated thesis on Genome-wide Signature of Positive Selection, Breed-Specific SNPs, and Linkage Disequilibrium in Ethiopian and European Beef Cattle. He also holds a BSc in Biotechnology from the University of Gondar (GPA 3.61/4.0). His laboratory and computational skills include DNA/RNA extraction, PCR and qPCR optimization, SDS-PAGE, gel electrophoresis, molecular marker analysis, cell culture techniques, and advanced statistical and bioinformatics analysis using R, Linux, SPSS, TASSEL, Haploview, Structure, and MapChart. He has led projects on both animal and plant biotechnology, including developing in vitro propagation techniques for fruit crops (apple, plum, peach) and potato varieties. Dejenie has published widely in peer-reviewed journals on topics such as genetic diversity, selection signatures, growth trait genetics, SNP identification, embryosex determination, DGAT1 gene variation, and egg quality traits, contributing significant insights into livestock improvement. His publications appear in Animal Gene, BMC Genomic Data, Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, Global Journal of Animal Scientific Research, and others, with additional manuscripts under review. He has received advanced professional training in bioinformatics, epigenetics, genetic mapping, animal DNA isolation, experimental design, R-software, and participated in the 2024 Juncao Industry Seminar in China. Dejenie is an active member of the Ethiopian Society of Biotechnology (ESoB) and the Ethiopian Society of Animal Production (ESAP), contributing to national research development in genomics and animal breeding. His research interests include molecular and evolutionary genetics, epigenetics, genome editing, computational genomics, and sustainable livestock improvement. Fluent in Amharic and English, he is committed to advancing innovative genetic and molecular solutions to improve productivity, resilience, and sustainability in Ethiopian livestock systems.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Mengistie, D., Kefale, B., Seyoum, B., Kelebesa, S., Girmay, G., & Arega, B. (2025). Egg quality difference evaluation of indigenous, synthetic, and exotic chicken under same management. Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 2025, Article 7924659.

Samuel, B., Mengistie, D., Assefa, E., Kang, M., Park, C., Dadi, H., & Dinka, H. (2022). Genetic diversity of DGAT1 gene linked to milk production in cattle populations of Ethiopia. BMC Genomic Data, 23(1), 64.

Mengistie, D., Edea, Z., Tesema, T. S., Dejene, G., Dessie, T., Jemal, J., & Dadi, H. (2023). Genome-wide signature of positive selection in Ethiopian indigenous and European beef cattle breeds. Animal Gene, Article 200151.

Mengistie, D., Kelbessa, S., Seyoum, B., Arega, B., Ali, S., Dire, M., Girmay, G., Bedassa, A., & Tegegne, D. T. (2025). PCR-based embryo sex-determination assay in cattle based on the amelogenin gene. Journal of Agrovet, 9, 26–33.

Shibru, T., Mengistie, D., Wondossen, A., Shelema, K., Biruk, A., & Geremew, T. (2024). Genetic characterization of selected Ethiopian indigenous chickens using simple sequence repeat markers. Journal of Emerging Technologies, 15, 35–44.

 

Moussa Ezzeddine | VR in Sports Science | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Moussa Ezzeddine | VR in Sports Science | Research Excellence Award 

Universitate Autonoma de Barcelona/Melon Coin | France

Moussa Ezzeddine is an accomplished academic, consultant, and entrepreneur specializing in football finance, sports analytics, economics, and strategic management, with extensive experience across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. As a Lecturer at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), the Johan Cruyff Institute, and Sciences Po, he integrates deep expertise in football business, financial management, and data-driven decision-making to mentor future professionals while shaping modern sports education through curriculum development, research guidance, and innovation-led teaching. His academic work is rooted in his PhD in Economics from the University of Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, where his doctoral thesis, “Pricing Football Transfers: Determinants, Inflation, Sustainability, and Market Impact,” examined the complexities of the global transfer market, influencing his continued contributions to football economics. Beyond academia, Moussa serves as Head Consultant at Melon Coin, advising football club owners, sporting directors, agents, and managers by delivering advanced sports analytics, football finance insights, asset pricing—including player contracts and transfer valuations—and business intelligence solutions that drive on- and off-field performance. His long-standing role as Financial Football Advisor to Dreams FC in the Ghana Premier League further reflects his ability to integrate financial strategy, scouting insights, market analysis, and talent management to facilitate successful transfers, optimize operations, and support club development. With a career foundation in senior leadership positions—including Managing Director and General Manager of EZZY Manufacturing Ghana Ltd—he brings strong managerial, organizational, and strategic planning capabilities, complemented by proficiency in data analysis tools such as Stata, Python, Power BI, and Excel. Moussa’s versatility is reinforced by his postgraduate training in football business from the Johan Cruyff Institute, an Executive MBA, and specialized certifications in football tactical analysis and sports marketing. Fluent in English and French and a native Arabic speaker, he leverages multicultural communication skills to build international networks and foster collaborations with football clubs, federations, financial institutions, and top industry figures such as Leonardo, Luis Campos, and Fabrizio Romano through event organization at La Sorbonne. Known for his analytical mindset, leadership, and ability to bridge academic knowledge with real-world football industry practice, Moussa continues to contribute to the evolving sports ecosystem through teaching, consulting, research, and strategic advisory roles that support the modernization, financial sustainability, and competitive advancement of football organizations.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publication

Ezzeddine, M. (2025). Pricing football transfers using video gaming data. Journal of Sports Analytics.

yuanyuan Liu | VR in Arts & Media | Women in VR Research Award

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Ms. yuanyuan Liu | VR in Arts & Media | Women in VR Research Award 

China University of Petroleum | China

Dr. Yuanyuan Liu, an Associate Professor and postgraduate supervisor at the China University of Petroleum (East China), is an accomplished scholar whose work spans cultural communication, public opinion governance, media convergence, and clinical data research. With a strong foundation in humanities and social sciences, she has led major national and ministerial-level research projects, including a 2025 National Social Science Foundation project on emotional governance in online political spaces and a 2024 Ministry of Education project addressing multimodal deepfake dissemination and regional security. Her extensive portfolio includes over 15 completed or ongoing research projects covering international communication, tourism culture, teaching reform, digital resource development, big-data-driven media analysis, and interdisciplinary cultural studies. Dr. Liu has published widely across SCI, SSCI, CSSCI, and AMI-indexed journals, producing high-impact work such as bibliometric analyses in developmental disabilities, scholarly governance in the age of AI, deepfake mitigation strategies, and applications of ChatGPT in clinical and academic settings. Her research contributions bridge technology, communication, and societal development, particularly addressing contemporary challenges such as misinformation, digital media behavior, and cross-cultural public opinion dynamics. She has also authored multiple academic monographs and undergraduate textbooks with reputable presses including Shanghai Jiao Tong University Press, Xi’an Jiaotong University Press, Peking University Press, and CUP Press. Her innovation-driven outputs include a utility model patent for portable English-teaching display technology, software copyright for a multimodal emotion recognition and intervention system, and an ongoing invention patent related to blocking deepfake dissemination. Dr. Liu’s academic influence is reflected in her participation in national research translation projects, involvement in provincial cultural and tourism development initiatives, and her recognized contributions through five provincial and municipal awards for excellence in humanities and social sciences. A council member of the International Society for Chinese Rhetoric and an editorial appointee for Major Country Diplomatic Communication, she actively collaborates across institutional and disciplinary boundaries.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Zhang, H., Wang, Y., Yin, G., Liu, K., Liu, Y., & Yu, T. (2023). Learning language-guided adaptive hyper-modality representation for multimodal sentiment analysis. arXiv:2310.05804.

Liu, Y., Wang, W., Feng, C., Zhang, H., Chen, Z., & Zhan, Y. (2023). Expression snippet transformer for robust video-based facial expression recognition. Pattern Recognition, 138, Article 109465.

Zhu, Y., He, X., Tang, C., Liu, X., Liu, Y., & He, K. (2024). Multi-view adaptive fusion network for spatially resolved transcriptomics data clustering. IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering.

Yin, G., Liu, Y., Liu, T., Zhang, H., Fang, F., Tang, C., & Jiang, L. (2024). Token-disentangling mutual transformer for multimodal emotion recognition. Engineering Applications of Artificial Intelligence, 133, 108348.

Ahmet Seven | VR in Healthcare | Research Excellence Award

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Assist. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Seven | VR in Healthcare | Research Excellence Award 

Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University | Turkey

Ahmet Seven, currently serving as an Assistant Professor at Kahramanmaras Sutcu Imam University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Nursing, Turkiye, is an academic specializing in palliative care, chronic disease management, symptom management, death, and grief studies. With active research involvement in areas such as diabetes, hypertension, and internal medicine nursing, he has completed or is engaged in 30 research projects and has contributed significantly to scientific literature with 35 journal publications indexed in SCI and Scopus, 10 Web of Science–indexed publications, and an H-index of 3 based on Web of Science Core Collection metrics. His academic portfolio further includes the publication of 9 books with ISBN numbers, editorial service as Editor of the Online Turkish Journal of Health Sciences, and professional membership in the Turkish Nurses Association. While he has not yet participated in consultancy or industry-linked projects, he remains committed to advancing healthcare research and contributing to the scientific community. His ongoing work highlights the critical role of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies in easing the workload of nurses and improving the overall efficiency of healthcare systems. He identifies a significant gap in Türkiye regarding nurses’ attitudes toward AI, their adoption levels, and their concerns and expectations about technology integration. His study aims to address these gaps by producing evidence that will guide the development of AI integration strategies in clinical nursing practice, support curriculum enhancements for nursing education, and facilitate smoother technology adaptation processes among healthcare professionals. These insights are expected to inform policymakers and contribute to national strategies for AI-enabled healthcare transformation. Ahmet Seven’s academic and professional engagement is supported by verifiable research profiles, including his Google Scholar account and Web of Science author record, which document his scholarly contributions. He has no patents or formal collaborations to date but continues to develop his expertise through independent academic work and editorial responsibilities. Through his nomination for the Excellence Research Award under the Global VR Research Awards, he certifies that all provided information is accurate and complete and agrees to the terms, conditions, and policies of the awards. His dedication to research, education, and the future of healthcare technology positions him as a noteworthy contributor to the scientific and nursing communities, with ongoing efforts aimed at shaping the future of AI integration in clinical settings.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Semerci Cakmak, V., Seven, A., & Sonmez Sari, E. (2025). Death anxiety and death literacy among patients with chronic diseases: A cross-sectional study. BMC Psychiatry, 25(1), 299.

Seven, A., Adadioglu, O., & Danc, E. (2021). How do nurses perceive workplace incivility: A cross-sectional study. Journal of Health and Nursing Management, 8(3), 388–396.

Seven, A., & Sert, H. (2021). Nursing care of a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma according to the Watson Human Care Model: A case report. Turkish Journal of Science and Health, 2(1), 118–123.

Sert, H., Dogan, S. G., Cetinkaya, S., Pelin, M., & Seven, A. (2019). Health status of patients hospitalized in the infection unit and information needs of caregivers: A pilot study. Journal of Intensive Care Nursing, 23(2), 57–63.

Seven, A. (2018). Effects of nursing care based on Watson’s Human Care Model on dyspnea management, anxiety, and quality of life in palliative care patients (Master’s thesis). Sakarya University.

Seven, A., & Dulger, H. (2020). Compassion levels of healthcare and care services students and influencing factors. Social Sciences Studies Journal, 6(54), 28–34.

Dulger, H., & Seven, A. (2019). Determination of health perception levels of vocational school of health services students and influencing factors: A cross-sectional study. EJONS International Journal on Mathematics, Engineering and Natural Sciences.

Guanghao Wu | biomaterials | Research Excellence Award

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Prof. Guanghao Wu | biomaterials | Research Excellence Award 

Beijing Institute of Technology | China

Dr. Guanghao Wu, Associate Professor at the Beijing Institute of Technology, is an emerging leader in biomimetic micro/nano delivery systems, advanced imaging materials, and cell-based therapeutics for cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. His academic training spans a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and Technology from the Beijing Institute of Technology and earlier degrees in biochemistry, molecular biology, and biological sciences from Hebei Normal University, followed by postdoctoral research focused on functional nanomedicine. Dr. Wu’s contributions integrate cell membranes, extracellular vesicles, micro/nanomotors, NIR-II emissive materials, and hybrid cell platforms to achieve precise diagnosis and intervention for stroke, atherosclerosis, and intracerebral hemorrhage. His funded projects include major grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Beijing Natural Science Foundation, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation special and general programs, international academic exchange initiatives, and multiple national key laboratory open projects, reflecting strong recognition of his research leadership. He has authored 32 documents, accumulated Citations by 1,184 documents, with a total of 1,326 citations and an h-index of 16, demonstrating growing academic influence. His publications appear in top-tier journals such as Progress in Materials Science, ACS Nano, ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Soft Robotics, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Biomaterials, Journal of Nanobiotechnology, Nano Research, and International Journal of Pharmaceutics, covering advancements in inflammation-responsive nanotherapies, hybrid stem cell–platelet systems, imaging-guided intervention platforms, soft actuators, and nanomedicine for fibrosis and vascular disease. His patented technologies further support his translational focus. Dr. Wu also serves on the Early-Career Editorial Boards of Acta Materia Medica, Biomedical Technology, Nano-Micro Letters, Interdisciplinary Medicine, and Biomedical Sciences, highlighting his standing in the scientific community. His innovations in biomimetic probes, NIR-II integrated hybrid cell therapy, and magnetic biomimetic cilia for real-time hemodynamic sensing contribute significantly to precision diagnostics and minimally invasive treatment strategies, positioning him as a competitive candidate for the Research Excellence Award.

Profile:  Scopus

Featured Publications

Wu, G., Yin, G., Zheng, Y. F., Li, M., & Luo, Y. M. (2025). Breaking through barrier: The emerging role of nucleic acids-based drug delivery in stroke. Progress in Materials Science, 151, 101436.

Song, J. C., Li, Y., Xu, B. Q., Wu, G.*, & Guo, Y. B. (2025). Centimeter-scale bulk liquid crystal elastomer artificial muscle with strong mechanical properties and designable complex shape-morphing. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 17(21), 31476–31486.

Xu, B. Q., Xiao, X., Song, J. C., Zeng, X. B., Li, L., Duan, R., Jiang, M. D., Yin, Y., & Wu, G.* (2025). Multifunctional origami-inspired bimodal wireless pneumatic soft actuator. Soft Robotics.

Wu, G., & Xie, H., et al. (2023). Enhanced proliferation of visualizable mesenchymal stem cell−platelet hybrid cell for versatile intracerebral hemorrhage treatment. ACS Nano, 17(8), 7352–7365.

Wu, G., & Xie, H., et al. (2020). Molecularly engineered macrophage-derived exosomes with inflammation tropism and intrinsic heme biosynthesis for atherosclerosis treatment. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 59(10), 4068–4074.

Wu, G., & Xie, H., et al. (2020). A self-driven bioinspired nanovehicle by leukocyte membrane-hitchhiking for early detection and treatment of atherosclerosis. Biomaterials, 250, 119963.

Wu, G., Su, Q., Ge, H., et al. (2023). NAMPT encapsulated by extracellular vesicles from young adipose‑derived mesenchymal stem cells treated tendinopathy in a “one-stone-two-birds” manner. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 21, 7.

Zheng, M., & Wu, G.* (2024). Traditional Chinese medicine inspired dual-drugs loaded inhalable nano-therapeutics alleviated idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis by targeting early inflammation and late fibrosis. Journal of Nanobiotechnology, 22, 14.

Fita Dehnie | Simulation & Training | Research Excellence Award

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Mr. Fita Dehnie | Simulation & Training | Research Excellence Award 

Dilla University | Ethiopia

 Fita Ayalew is an experienced education professional with over two decades of progressive leadership roles across Ethiopia’s TVET and higher education sectors. He is currently a PhD candidate in Education Policy and Leadership at Dilla University, building on an MA in Management of Vocational Education from Addis Ababa University , a Bachelor’s Degree in Office Administration and Office Technology from Jimma University , and a Diploma in Business Education from Addis Ababa University . Since 2016, he has served as Faculty Dean and Satellite Campus Coordinator at the Ethiopian Technical University, where he oversees project planning, education policy formulation, budgeting, academic supervision, research support, and technology incubation. His earlier career includes serving as a Human Resource Development Expert at SNNPR State TVET Bureau and Wolkite Polytechnic College, vocational counselor, construction campus coordinator, vice principal, department head, and trainer—roles through which he contributed to teacher recruitment, academic supervision, curriculum review, cooperative training, student counseling, program evaluation, and institutional quality improvement. His responsibilities have spanned academic planning, staff appraisal, data management, stakeholder coordination, and leadership of both human and material resources. Known for strong leadership, multitasking, communication, and active listening, he is fluent in Amharic and Afan Oromo, with very good English proficiency. He is recognized for professionalism and work ethics, reflected in certifications such as the ILO Key Facilitator certificate, BDS training, computer maintenance and networking, and commendations from KFW (IP Consult). Throughout his career, he has demonstrated commitment to advancing vocational education, fostering institutional excellence, and supporting students’ academic and career development across various administrative and instructional roles.

Profile: Orcid

Featured Publications

Ayalew, F. (2025). Cooperative training as a mediator between training materials and graduates’ employability in the Ethiopian vocational education. International Journal of Training and Development.

Ayalew, F. (2025). Employers’ perception of hiring graduates of vocational education. The Ethiopian Journal of Higher Education.

Ayalew, F. (2024). Policy analysis on Ethiopian Technical and Vocational Education and Training program: Emphasis on relevance and quality. Ethiopian Journal of Teacher Education and Leadership, 1(2).

Ayalew, F. (2014). Assessment of the implementation of industry extension services and challenges (Master’s thesis). Addis Ababa University.

Albert “Skip” Rizzo | VR Therapy & Mental Health | Lifetime Achievement in Virtual Reality Award

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Prof. Albert “Skip” Rizzo | VR Therapy & Mental Health | Lifetime Achievement in Virtual Reality Award

USC-Institute for Creative Technologies | United States

Albert “Skip” Rizzo, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized clinical psychologist and neuropsychologist who founded one of the world’s first Clinical Virtual Reality laboratories at USC in 1995 and currently serves as Director of Medical VR at the USC Institute for Creative Technologies, where he has spent three decades designing, developing, and evaluating over 60 VR and Virtual Human systems for clinical diagnosis, treatment, and research across domains such as PTSD, anxiety, depression, autism, ADHD, stroke, traumatic brain injury, cerebral palsy, and other health conditions; best known for his groundbreaking BRAVEMIND PTSD therapy used with veterans and trauma survivors, he has collaborated extensively with computer scientists, engineers, artists, and medical leaders to advance the field, earning widespread recognition including being named one of Polygon’s top 25 VR innovators, Ozy’s “Godfather of Virtual Reality,” recipient of the 2018 Michael Dell “Engine of Human Progress” award, the ISTSS Trauma Innovation Award, the International Society on Virtual Rehabilitation Distinguished Service Award, the Best Paper Award for his VR ADHD classroom study involving 700 children, and the 2023 IEEE VR Lifetime Achievement Award; his team also secured second place and $1M funding in the VA Mission Daybreak competition for the Battle Buddy suicide-prevention system, while his career research portfolio exceeds $60M in funding—$30M specifically in Virtual Humans—with major grants from the Department of Defense, DARPA, VA, Army Research Lab, and leading industry partners including HP, Nvidia, Google, Dell, Intel, Samsung, HTC/Valve, AMD, Magic Leap, and many others; with more than 350 peer-reviewed publications, 31 chapters, 10 books, over 1000 professional presentations, 41 awards, and over 1000 media appearances, Dr. Rizzo’s influential body of work continues to shape and expand the global impact of clinical VR in healthcare and rehabilitation.

Profiles:  Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Rizzo, A. S. (2025). Relationships between parent ratings of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder behaviors and the Virtual Reality Attention Tracker in school-aged children: Cross-sectional study. Journal of Medical Internet Research.

Rizzo, A. S. (2025). Virtual reality exposure for treating PTSD due to military sexual trauma. Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Rizzo, A. S. (2025). Expert consensus best practices for the safe, ethical, and effective design and implementation of artificially intelligent conversational agent (i.e., chatbot/virtual human) systems in health care applications. Journal of Medical Extended Reality.

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