Rebecca Muhunuza Nalule | Infectious Diseases | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Rebecca Muhunuza Nalule | Infectious Diseases | Best Researcher Award 

Senior Lecturer | Busitema University | Uganda

Dr. Rebecca Muhumuza Nalule is an accomplished Ugandan academic and senior lecturer in Mathematics with a distinguished career dedicated to advancing applied statistics, stochastic processes, and mathematical modeling in research and education. Her scholarly contributions span areas of Bayesian inference, spatio-temporal analysis, and meta-analytic methodologies, reflecting a deep commitment to using mathematical frameworks to interpret complex data structures and support evidence-based decision-making across multidisciplinary domains. She has co-authored several peer-reviewed publications in reputable international journals, often collaborating with renowned statisticians and researchers from global institutions such as Örebro University in Sweden and Makerere University, Uganda. Her academic journey demonstrates a continuous pursuit of excellence, integrating mathematical rigor with practical applications that inform both the scientific community and policy-oriented research. Dr. Nalule has actively participated in international conferences and workshops across Europe and Africa, enhancing collaborative research networks and contributing to the global discourse on the role of mathematics in societal development. Beyond research, she has shown strong leadership in advancing women’s participation in science through her roles in regional and international organizations such as the Uganda Women Mathematicians and the Eastern Africa Network for Women in Basic Sciences. Her teaching portfolio encompasses undergraduate and postgraduate mathematics, emphasizing critical thinking, analytical skills, and research-driven pedagogy. Through her mentorship and outreach, Dr. Nalule continues to inspire a new generation of scientists and educators. Her work bridges theory and application, reflecting an enduring vision of mathematics as a transformative tool for innovation, problem-solving, and sustainable development within academia and society at large.

Profiles: Google Scholar | ORCID

Publications

1. Skiadas, C. H., & Skiadas, C. (2020). Demography of population health, aging and health expenditures. Springer International Publishing.

2. Batiibwe, M. S. K., Nannyonga, B. K., Taliba, C., Nalule, R., & Puglia, C. (2020). Investigating math self-efficacy and math anxiety regarding gender, A-level math entry grade and mathematics achievement. Journal of Education and Practice

3. Bodnar, O., Muhumuza, R. N., & Possolo, A. (2020). Bayesian inference for heterogeneity in meta-analysis. Metrologia

4. Mbabazi, F. K., Osman, S., Kweyunga, E. H., Abubakar, M., Keikara, M. A., & others. (2023). An optimal control for Ebola virus disease with a convex incidence rate: Imputing from the outbreak in Uganda. Qeios.

5. Muhumuza, A. K., Mbabazi, F. K., Nalule, R. M., Mwasa, A., & others. (n.d.). Enhancing research output in higher institutions of learning: A case study of Busitema University research model. The Uganda Higher Education Review.

Mohammad Mehdi Akbarin | Virology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Akbarin | Virology | Best Researcher Award 

Postdoctoral Fellow | UNAM | Mexico

Dr. Mohammad Mehdi Akbarin is a distinguished Iranian immunologist and molecular virologist whose academic and research pursuits bridge medical immunology, viral oncology, and immunogenetics. Currently serving as a Postdoctoral Fellow in Virology at the Facultad de Estudios Superiores Cuautitlán, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (FESC–UNAM), his work focuses on understanding genetic variations that influence susceptibility and resistance to Bovine Leukemia Virus infection in cattle, contributing to translational advancements in comparative immunovirology. He earned his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Medical Immunology from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, where his pioneering research on HTLV-1 molecular pathogenesis, recombinant antigen development, and immunotherapeutic target design laid a foundation for novel diagnostic and therapeutic strategies against viral-associated malignancies such as Adult T-cell Leukemia/Lymphoma. Dr. Akbarin has authored and co-authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in high-impact international journals, covering areas such as cell signaling, host-virus interactions, and immune regulatory mechanisms, while also contributing to scientific books on human T-lymphotropic viruses and related diseases. His interdisciplinary collaborations span institutions across Iran, South Korea, and Mexico, underscoring his global engagement in biomedical research. Beyond his scholarly output, he has played instrumental roles in organizing international scientific congresses and mentoring medical and laboratory science students in immunology, bacteriology, and molecular diagnostics. His contributions to immunogenetics and translational virology have advanced the understanding of viral immune modulation and disease progression, reinforcing the link between molecular research and public health applications. Dr. Akbarin’s scientific vision centers on developing integrative molecular approaches for infectious disease control, cancer immunotherapy, and system biology-driven therapeutic innovation, embodying a commitment to advancing medical science and improving global health outcomes through precision immunology. He has 120 citations from 19 documents with an h-index of 7.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID

Publications

1. Tarokhian, H., Rahimi, H., Mosavat, A., Shirdel, A., Rafatpanah, H., Akbarin, M. M., et al. (2018). HTLV-1–host interactions on the development of adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma: Virus and host gene expressions.

2. Akbarin, M. M., Rahimi, H., HassanNia, T., Razavi, G. S., Sabet, F., & Shirdel, A. (2013). Comparison of HTLV-I proviral load in adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL), HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM-TSP) and healthy carriers.

3. Ramezani, S., Shirdel, A., Rafatpanah, H., Akbarin, M. M., Tarokhian, H., et al. (2017). Assessment of HTLV-1 proviral load, LAT, BIM, c-FOS and RAD51 gene expression in adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma. Medical Microbiology and Immunology

4. Akbarin, M. M., Shirdel, A., Bari, A., Mohaddes, S. T., Rafatpanah, H., Karimani, E. G., et al. (2017). Evaluation of the role of TAX, HBZ, and HTLV-1 proviral load on the survival of ATLL patients. Blood Research.

5. Jafarian, M., Mozhgani, S. H., Patrad, E., Vaziri, H., Rezaee, S. A., Akbarin, M. M., et al. (2017). Evaluation of INOS, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 gene expression: A study of adult T cell leukemia malignancy associated.