Hou-Qun Ying | Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | Research Excellence Award

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Prof. Hou-Qun Ying | Toxicology and Pharmaceutical Science | Research Excellence Award 

The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University | China

Dr. Hou-Qun Ying, PhD, born on July 18, 1985, in Shangrao, Jiangxi Province, China, is an accomplished clinical scientist specializing in cancer biomarkers, inflammation-related indices, molecular epidemiology, and therapeutic response prediction. He currently serves as the Vice Director of the Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine at The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, where he plays a leading role in translational research, diagnostic innovation, and clinical laboratory management. Dr. Ying earned his Ph.D. in Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis from Southeast University (2013–2016), after completing his Master of Medicine in Pathogenic Biology at Dali University and his Bachelor of Medicine in Medical Laboratory Science from Tianjin Medical University. His academic and professional journey reflects strong expertise in cancer diagnostics, genetic polymorphisms, biomarker development, and precision medicine. Dr. Ying has successfully led multiple competitive research grants, including the National Natural Science Foundation of China Youth Fund (2018–2020), exploring Hippo-pathway-related genetic variations and EGFR-TKI resistance in non-small cell lung cancer, and the 2024–2027 Regional Fund focusing on SP1 transcription factor–related genetic variations as biomarkers for bevacizumab resistance in metastatic colorectal cancer. His research contributions span more than 70 peer-reviewed publications, with many as first, co-first, or corresponding author in high-impact journals such as Scientific Reports, Oncotarget, Cancer Medicine, Therapeutic Advances in Medical Oncology, Frontiers in Oncology, Pharmacological Research, Biomarkers, Future Oncology, and J Inflammation Research. His studies have provided pivotal insights into inflammatory markers such as fibrinogen-to-pre-albumin ratio, albumin-to-fibrinogen ratio, dNLR, PLR, and novel composite biomarkers for cancer prognosis, treatment response prediction, early diagnosis, and recurrence risk stratification. He has also made influential contributions to colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, gallbladder carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and NSCLC through biomarker innovation, clinical prediction models, and meta-analytic evaluations. As a corresponding author, Dr. Ying has developed and validated numerous inflammation-based and genetic biomarker signatures, such as FPR, ADS score, MLPAS, CCMLP, and chronic inflammation indices, improving precision therapeutic decisions for chemotherapy, bevacizumab, 5-FU–based regimens, and TKIs. Additionally, his collaborative work extends to machine learning applications in early gastric cancer prediction, molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression, and multi-omics approaches. With a distinguished record of scientific leadership, grant success, and impactful publications, Dr. Ying continues to advance clinical oncology diagnostics and personalized treatment strategies through rigorous research, innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Peng, Y., Shang, R., Wang, Z.-J., Ye, Q.-Y., Tang, X.-Y., Cheng, X.-X., & Ying, H.-Q. (2025). Chronic inflammatory comprehensive signature predicts oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil benefit in early colorectal cancer. Drug Design, Development and Therapy. https://doi.org/10.2147/DDDT.S556619

Lu, Y., Ye, Q.-Y., Mei, O., Li, Y.-N., Peng, Y., Ying, H.-Q., & Cheng, X.-X. (2025). Chronic inflammation index-based tumor subsite classification correlated with chemotherapy benefit and survival outcomes in stage II–III colorectal cancer. Journal of Inflammation Research. https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S517378

Ye, Q.-Y., Wang, Y.-Y., Wang, Z.-J., Lu, M., Peng, H.-X., Wang, X., Cheng, X.-X., & Ying, H.-Q. (2025). Robust predictive performance of MLPAS and CCMLP for clinical outcome and risk stratification in patients with colorectal cancer. Journal of Inflammation Research. https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S498028

Tian, H., Liu, Z., Zhang, Z., Zhang, L., Zong, Z., Liu, J., Ying, H., & Li, H. (2023). Clinical significance of fibrinogen and platelet to pre-albumin ratio in predicting the prognosis of advanced gastric cancer. Journal of Inflammation Research. https://doi.org/10.2147/JIR.S412033

Ying, H.-Q., Liao, Y.-C., Luo, Y.-R., Xiong, G., Huang, Y., Nie, R.-W., Xiong, C.-F., & Cheng, X.-X. (2021). Cancer-elicited inflammation attenuates response and outcome in tyrosine kinase inhibitor naïve patients with advanced NSCLC. Pharmacological Research, 105734. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2021.105734

Ying, H.-Q., You, X.-H., Liao, Y.-C., Sun, F., & Cheng, X.-X. (2021). High-grade inflammation attenuates chemosensitivity and confers poor survival of surgical stage III CRC patients. Frontiers in Oncology, 11, 580455. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2021.580455

Liao, Y.-C., Ying, H.-Q., Huang, Y., Luo, Y.-R., Xiong, C.-F., Nie, R.-W., Li, X.-J., & Cheng, X.-X. (2021). Role of chronic inflammatory ratios in predicting recurrence of resected patients with stage I–III mucinous colorectal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Management and Research, 13, 303758. https://doi.org/10.2147/CMAR.S303758

Wei-Hong Lin | Environmental Science | Excellence in Research Award

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Dr. Wei-Hong Lin | Environmental Science | Excellence in Research Award 

National Health Research Institutes| Taiwan

Dr. Wei-Hong Lin is an accomplished environmental engineering researcher specializing in the fate, behavior, and ecological risks of microplastics and emerging contaminants. With a strong interdisciplinary foundation bridging environmental science, physical chemistry, and bioenvironmental engineering, Dr. Lin completed his Ph.D. at the National Taiwan University (2025), following an M.S. from National Sun Yat-sen University (2017) and a B.S. from National Pingtung University of Science and Technology (2015). His research trajectory spans microplastic weathering, heavy metal adsorption, environmental toxicology, groundwater remediation, and wetland ecosystem management. Dr. Lin’s academic and professional journey includes roles as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, a Visiting Scholar at the University of California, Merced, and a Research Assistant at Academia Sinica. His work has resulted in multiple high-impact publications in journals including Environmental Pollution, Chemosphere, and Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. During his doctoral training under the mentorship of Prof. Shang-Lien Lo, Dr. Lin pioneered an economical solar simulation system to study the environmental aging of microplastics, proposing one of the early mechanistic pathways explaining polymer degradation under environmental stressors. He further investigated heavy-metal interactions with both conventional and biodegradable plastics in marine and freshwater systems, while mentoring graduate students and contributing to national policy development through Taiwan’s Chemical Substance Management Capacity Enhancement Project. At UC Merced, he secured competitive funding from Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) to study synergistic interactions between dissolved organic matter, weathered microplastics, and calcium ions, producing new insights now drafted for journal submission. Earlier work at Academia Sinica contributed to advancing mechanistic understanding of Criegee intermediates using laser-based spectroscopic techniques. Dr. Lin’s technical expertise spans analytical platforms including SEM, FTIR, ICP-OES, dynamic light scattering, flow cytometry, and advanced chromatography techniques for PFAS detection. He also possesses extensive experience in laboratory and project management and has contributed to environmental fieldwork, remediation system design, and teaching environmental experimentation. His research advances global understanding of plastic pollution pathways and informs science-based environmental governance, making him a rising contributor to environmental engineering, pollutant behavior research, and sustainability science.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Cheng, P. K., Ponnusamy, V. K., Lin, W.-H., Chinnadurai, J., Tsai, P. C., Chen, C. Y., Chang, W. T., & Huang, P. C. (2025). Association between urinary metabolites of 1,3‐butadiene and toluene exposure with kidney function indices in Taiwanese school‐aged children living near a petrochemical complex. Environmental Pollution, 127400.

Lin, W.-H., Wang, H.-Y., Kuo, J., & Lo, S.-L. (2023). Adsorption and desorption characteristics of heavy metals onto conventional and biodegradable plastics. Chemosphere, 333, 138920.

Lin, W.-H., Kuo, J., & Lo, S.-L. (2021). Effect of light irradiation on metal adsorption onto microplastics. Chemosphere, 285, 131457.

Chao, W., Lin, Y. H., Yin, C., Lin, W.-H., Takahashi, K., & Lin, J. J. M. (2019). Temperature and isotope effects in the reaction of CH₃CHOO with methanol. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 21(25), 13633–13640.

Lin, Y. H., Yin, C., Lin, W.-H., Li, Y. L., Takahashi, K., & Lin, J. J. M. (2018). Criegee intermediate reaction with alcohol is enhanced by a single water molecule. The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters, 9(24), 7040–7044.

Kao, C. M., Lin, W.-H., Lien, P. J., Sheu, Y. T., & Tu, Y. T. (2018). Application of a multi‐function constructed wetland for stream water quality improvement and ecosystem protection: A case study in Kaohsiung City Taiwan. In Artificial or Constructed Wetlands (1st ed., pp. 126–141). CRC Press.

Hongmei Zhang | Neutoxicology | Best Researcher Award

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Mrs. Hongmei Zhang | Neutoxicology | Best Researcher Award

Shanxi Medical University | China

Dr. Hongmei Zhang is a distinguished Professor at the School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, China. She is internationally recognized for her pioneering research on the neurotoxicity of environmental pollutants. Her primary focus is on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals, exploring how these substances affect brain development and function. Dr. Zhang has extensively investigated the mechanisms through which early-life exposure to PBDEs and PAHs results in irreversible neurodevelopmental toxicity. A central theme of her work is the ROS/RNS-calpain-cdk5/p25-Prxs-ROS/RNS feedback loop, which she has identified as a key pathway in pollutant-induced neuronal damage. Her studies also highlight the role of microglial activation in neuroinflammation, linking it to cognitive deficits caused by environmental toxins. She has uncovered important insights into BDNF gene methylation as a mediator of PAHs-induced cognitive dysfunction. Dr. Zhang has contributed over 50 peer-reviewed articles to high-impact journals, significantly advancing the field of environmental neurotoxicology. Her work has been cited approximately 795 times, reflecting the influence and relevance of her research. She holds an h-index of 18, indicating sustained scholarly impact. In addition to her research, she has trained numerous graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Dr. Zhang broadened her academic perspective as a visiting scholar at the University of Cincinnati in 2013–2014. She was promoted to full professor in 2019, recognizing her outstanding contributions to science and education. Her work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and other leading institutions. Beyond laboratory research, she actively collaborates with national and international scholars. Her studies bridge molecular mechanisms with public health implications. Dr. Zhang is a frequent speaker at conferences, sharing insights on environmental risk assessment. She is committed to translating scientific findings into policies that protect vulnerable populations. Her research integrates neuroscience, toxicology, and epigenetics for a holistic understanding of environmental hazards. Through her career, Dr. Zhang has established herself as a leader in environmental neurotoxicity research, shaping the next generation of scientists.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

“The effect and mechanism of NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy in aluminum-induced ferroptosis of PC12 cells”.

“A novel ecological risk assessment method of potentially toxic elements based on soil nematode communities”.

“MiR-134-5p/BDNF/TrkB/CREB signaling pathway involved in the depression-like behaviors in mice following exposure to benzo[a]pyrene”.

“Sources and health risks of heavy metal(loid) contamination in farmland near Shanxi coal mines”.