Rasha Elsabagh | Oncology | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Rasha Elsabagh | Oncology | Research Excellence Award

Researcher | Animal Health Research Institute(AHRI) | Egypt

Rasha H. Elsabagh is a multidisciplinary immunology specialist and cancer stem cell researcher with extensive expertise spanning stem cell biology, immuno-oncology, translational cancer research, and veterinary biomedical sciences. She currently serves as a researcher at the Animal Health Research Institute, where her work integrates advanced immunological diagnostics, molecular biology, and national livestock immunization programs that directly contribute to animal health surveillance and disease control. Her academic training culminated in a doctoral degree in cancer immunology from Cairo University, where her research focused on circulating cancer stem cells and photothermal nanotherapy as predictive and monitoring tools for tumor response. She has conducted advanced international research training at University of California San Francisco, gaining high-level proficiency in flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and human stem cell analysis, and later expanded her translational oncology experience as a visiting research fellow at the Cancer Institute of Montpellier, working on nanoparticle-mediated RNA delivery to tumor-infiltrating immune cells. Her scientific output includes multiple peer-reviewed publications in high-impact journals and international conference proceedings, with her work receiving sustained scholarly citations and global academic recognition. Her research collaborations span institutions in North America, Europe, and the Middle East, reflecting her active role in international scientific networks in stem cell biology, cancer immunology, and nanomedicine. Beyond laboratory research, she contributes to national capacity building through scientific training, quality assurance in diagnostic immunology, and public health–oriented animal disease control programs. Her work has direct societal impact through improvements in cancer diagnostics, advancement of immunotherapeutic strategies, and strengthening of zoonotic disease surveillance, positioning her as a globally engaged scientist at the intersection of experimental research, translational medicine, and public health. She has 2 citations from 2 documents with an h-index of 1.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

1. Xiao, T., Eze, U. C., Charruyer-Reinwald, A., Weisenberger, T., Khalifa, A., … (2024). Short cell cycle duration is a phenotype of human epidermal stem cells. Stem Cell Research & Therapy, 15(1), 76.

2. Elsabagh, R. H., Farghali, H. A. M., Emam, I. A., Ragab, E., … (2021). Quantitative flow cytometry assessment of feline circulatory breast cancer stem cells. Advances in Animal and Veterinary Sciences, 9(12), 2201–2215.

3. Elsabagh, R. H., Farghali, H. A. M., Emam, I. A., Abdelrahman, H. H., Ragab, E., … (2025). Gold nano-rod (AuNR)-mediated plasmonic photothermal therapy in feline mammary carcinoma: Assessing metastatic and nonmetastatic outcomes. Veterinary Oncology, 2(1), 33.

4. Elsabagh, R. H., Farghali, H. A. M., Emam, I. A., Abdelrahman, H., Ragab, E., … (2022). Prevention of in situ recurrence and distant metastasis in feline mammary carcinoma treated with plasmonic photothermal therapy.

 

Virginie Guastella | Oncology | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Virginie Guastella | Oncology | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor | University Hospital Clermont-ferrand | France

Dr. Virginie Guastella is a distinguished physician and researcher specializing in palliative care and pain management. She holds a Doctorate in Medicine and an Habilitation à Diriger des Recherches (HDR) focused on opioid analgesics and cancer pain. She currently serves as Head of the Palliative Care Unit at CHU Clermont-Ferrand and as Associate Professor in Palliative Medicine at the University Clermont Auvergne, leading the UIC “Douleur, qualité de vie et maladie grave” within the GRUIC “Douleurs chroniques et thérapeutiques.” Her clinical work emphasizes optimizing pain management, end-of-life care, and therapeutic support for patients with advanced illness, while her research explores critical areas including opioid misuse, the integration of virtual reality and music care in palliative settings, and early detection of chemotherapy-induced neuropathies. She has supervised over 24 medical theses and numerous master-level projects, contributing significantly to clinical education, and is a prolific author with 20 international peer-reviewed publications, multiple national articles, and several book chapters addressing topics from opioid prescribing practices to patient and caregiver experiences in palliative care. Beyond research and clinical responsibilities, she actively participates in national and regional committees, contributes to guideline development, and advocates for palliative medicine education and ethics. Through her combined contributions in research, education, and clinical practice, she has played a pivotal role in advancing patient-centered care, promoting evidence-based practices, and improving the quality of life for patients facing serious illness, establishing herself as a leading figure in palliative care and pain management. She has 485 citations from 41 documents with an h-index of 9.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

1. Lawton, G., Calvel, L., Perceau-Chambard, E., Guastella, V., Economos, G., & Evin, A. (2025). Career trajectories after palliative care training: A national e-survey of medical interns in France.

2. Klaeyle, D., Calvel, L., Perceau-Chambard, E., Guastella, V., Economos, G., & Evin, A. (2025). Teaching palliative medicine in the medical school clerkship in France: A national e-survey.

3. Guastella, V., Lambert, C., Lafforgue, A., Metretin, P., Verstreate, A., Watelet, S., Perceau-Chambard, É., & Lautrette, A. (2024). Withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments in the COVID-19 pandemic.

4. Guastella, V., Delorme, J., Chenaf, C., & Authier, N. (2022). The prevalence of off-label prescribing of transmucosal immediate-release fentanyl in France. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management.

5. Preux, C., Bertin, M., Tarot, A., Authier, N., Pinol, N., Brugnon, D., Pereira, B., & Guastella, V. (2022). Prevalence of opioid use disorder among patients with cancer-related pain: A systematic review.