Nozuko Blasich | HIV and Mycology | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Nozuko Blasich | HIV and Mycology | Best Researcher Award

Quality Control Technologist, National Health Laboratory Service South Africa

Nozuko Blasich is a Clinical Pathology Medical Technologist specializing in laboratory diagnostics, quality control, and biomedical research. She holds a Master of Science in Biomedical Technology and is currently pursuing a PhD in Biomedical Science, focusing on fungal pathogens and their public health impact. Her research on cryptococcal meningitis has influenced World Health Organization (WHO) policies. She has published in high-impact journals, presented at international conferences, and serves as a peer reviewer. Passionate about improving diagnostic accuracy, she explores point-of-care tests for infectious diseases.

Profile

Orcid

Education 🎓

Nozuko Blasich earned her Master of Science in Biomedical Technology, with research focusing on cryptococcal meningitis, significantly contributing to global health policies. She is currently a PhD candidate in Biomedical Science, investigating fungal pathogens and their environmental prevalence. Her academic journey emphasizes microbiology, clinical diagnostics, and public health.

Experience 🧑‍🏫

She serves as a Quality Control Technologist at the National Health Laboratory Service, ensuring diagnostic accuracy and laboratory efficiency. With expertise in mycology, she has worked extensively on cryptococcal antigen screening and HIV diagnostics.

 Awards & Honors 🏆

She has received recognition for her contributions to medical mycology, including best researcher awards and grants for her impactful studies on fungal pathogens and diagnostic advancements.

Research Interests 🔬

Her research explores fungal infections, laboratory diagnostics, and point-of-care testing to enhance public health interventions. She investigates diagnostic methodologies, antimicrobial resistance, and epidemiology to improve early detection and treatment outcomes.

Publications 📚

  1. Evaluating the Accuracy of Multiple Rapid Diagnostic Tests for HIV Detection in Serum Samples Analysed During Point-of-Care Proficiency Testing Assessments (2025) – Nozuko P. Blasich, Jerom Okot, Artur Ramos, Mduduzi B. Buthelezi, Dumisani F. Shabangu, Mahlatse M. Maleka, Sarvashni Moodliar, Nqobile Ngoma, Tendesayi Kufa

 

  1. Retrospective Assessment of a National Reflex Cryptococcal Antigen Screening Program in South Africa Through Interlaboratory Comparison of Lateral Flow Assay Results (2022) – Nozuko P. Blasich, Lindi M. Coetzee, Charlotte Sriruttan, Daniel DeSanto, Gregory S. Greene, Deborah K. Glencross, Nelesh P. Govender

 

  1. Association of Semi-Quantitative Cryptococcal Antigen Results in Plasma with Subclinical Cryptococcal Meningitis and Mortality Among Patients with Advanced HIV Disease (2021) – Nozuko P. Blasich, Rachel M. Wake, Ivy Rukasha, Yvonne Prince, Nelesh P. Govender

 

  1. Cryptococcus neoformans: Diagnostic Dilemmas, Electron Microscopy and Capsular Variants (2018) – Nozuko P. Blasich, Monica Birkhead, Serisha D. Naicker, Ivy Rukasha, Juno Thomas, Charlotte Sriruttan, Shareef Abrahams, Grisselda S. Mavuso, Nelesh P. Govender

 

Anastasia Kovrizhina | Medicinal chemistry | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Anastasia Kovrizhina | Medicinal chemistry | Women Researcher Award

PhD Reseracher, Tomsk Polytechnic University Russia

Anastasia Kovrizhina is a Russian researcher specializing in organic chemistry and biotechnology. She holds a Ph.D. from National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, where she focuses on molecular modeling and the synthesis of biologically active compounds. Currently, she is a researcher at Tomsk Polytechnic University and serves as a scientist secretary. Her work includes the development of novel kinase inhibitors and fluorocarbon aza-heterocycles for anticancer treatments. She has been actively involved in international collaborations, including research internships at Montana State University, USA, and Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russia. With an h-index of 7, she has published extensively in high-impact journals and has presented at numerous international and national conferences. She has received multiple prestigious scholarships and awards, including the Baden-WĂźrttemberg State Scholarship and the Government Scholarship of the Russian Federation. Her expertise spans chemical synthesis, biological assays, computational chemistry, and quantum calculations.

Profile

Scopus

Education 🎓

Anastasia Kovrizhina earned her Ph.D. (2019-2023) in Organic Chemistry from National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, specializing in molecular modeling and drug synthesis. She completed her Master’s degree (2017-2019) in Biotechnology at the same institution, where she studied organic and applied chemistry. During her studies, she participated in an academic exchange at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany, where she took courses in bioinformatics, bioprocessing, and enzymology. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree (2013-2017) in Biotechnology from National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, with a strong foundation in chemistry, physics, and humanities. Her academic journey has been complemented by advanced training in computational chemistry, quantum calculations, and SAR/QSAR analysis. She has also gained international exposure through scholarships and research projects focused on innovative drug development. Her multidisciplinary education allows her to integrate experimental and computational approaches for pharmaceutical and medical applications.

Experience 🧑‍🏫

Anastasia Kovrizhina is currently a researcher at Tomsk Polytechnic University, specializing in the synthesis of biologically active compounds. She also serves as a scientist secretary at the School of Advanced Manufacturing Technologies and is an active member of the Council of Young Scientists. She has undertaken research internships at the Novosibirsk Institute of Organic Chemistry (2020) and Montana State University, USA (2019), where she collaborated on immunology and organic chemistry projects. Her work includes grant-funded research on kinase inhibitors, fluorocarbon aza-heterocycles, and polymer scaffolds for cardiovascular applications. She has supervised undergraduate and master’s students and has taught courses in professional English and organic chemistry. Her expertise includes molecular modeling, chemical synthesis, and computational chemistry. She has contributed to multiple research projects under the Russian Science Foundation and has been instrumental in developing innovative drug delivery systems for anticancer treatments.

 Awards & Honors 🏆

Anastasia Kovrizhina has received several prestigious awards, including the First Degree Diploma (2024) for her research on indenoquinoxalinone oxime (IQ-1). She won the 5th All-Russian Research Competition (2020) for her work on indenoquinoxaline derivatives. She was honored with the 3rd Degree Medal for “Achievements for Tomsk Polytechnic University” and the BAYHOST Scholarship for studying German (2020). She received the Baden-WĂźrttemberg State Scholarship (2018-2019) and the Russian Government Scholarship (2018-2019). Her participation in international conferences has been recognized with numerous accolades. She has also secured multiple research grants, including the Russian Science Foundation grants for developing kinase inhibitors and fluorocarbon aza-heterocycles as anticancer agents. Her scientific contributions to drug discovery and pharmaceutical chemistry have positioned her as a promising young researcher in her field.

Research Interests 🔬

Anastasia Kovrizhina’s research focuses on the synthesis and molecular modeling of biologically active compounds, particularly kinase inhibitors and fluorocarbon aza-heterocycles for anticancer treatments. She has pioneered the development of JNK kinase inhibitors based on indenoquinoxaline scaffolds, which have potential anti-inflammatory applications. Her work has demonstrated that IQ-1 salts enhance the efficacy of cerebral ischemia treatment. She has conducted pharmacokinetic studies on IQ-1 absorption in the gastrointestinal tract to optimize drug formulation. Her expertise extends to computational chemistry, quantum calculations, and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies. She is also involved in developing supramolecular complexes for innovative drug delivery. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates synthetic chemistry, computational modeling, and biological assays to advance pharmaceutical research. She has contributed significantly to drug design, molecular docking studies, and the synthesis of novel heterocyclic compounds for targeted therapies.

Publications 📚

  1. Title: 6,8-Dibromo-11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinolin-11-one
    Year: 2024
    Author: Anastasia R. Kovrizhina, Dauren Tolegen, Dmitry I. Pavlov, Andrei S. Potapov, Andrei I. Khlebnikov
    Citations: Not available
    Article: Molbank

 

  1. Title: Evaluation of Nitric Oxide-Donating Properties of 11H-indeno[1,2-b]quinoxalin-11-one Oxime (IQ-1) by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
    Year: 2024
    Author: Viacheslav V. Andrianov, Igor A. Schepetkin, Leah V. Bazan, Khalil L. Gainutdinov, Anastasia R. Kovrizhina, Dmitriy N. Atochin, Andrei I. Khlebnikov
    Citations: Not available
    Article: Molecules

 

  1. Title: Dose proportionality and bioavailability of quinoxaline-based JNK inhibitor after single oral and intravenous administration in rats
    Year: 2024
    Author: Galina A. Frelikh, Elena A. Yanovskaya, Alexander P. Lakeev, Galina A. Chernysheva, Vera I. Smolyakova, Anastasia R. Kovrizhina
    Citations: Not available
    Article: Xenobiotica

 

  1. Title: Neuroprotective Effects of Tryptanthrin-6-Oxime in a Rat Model of Transient Focal Cerebral Ischemia
    Year: 2023
    Author: Mark Plotnikov, Galina A. Chernysheva, Vera I. Smol’yakova, Oleg I. Aliev, Anna M. Anishchenko, Olga A. Ulyakhina, Eugene S. Trofimova, Anastasia A. Ligacheva, Nina D. Anfinogenova, Anton Osipenko et al.
    Citations: Not available
    Article: Pharmaceuticals

 

  1. Title: Novel Tryptanthrin Derivatives with Selectivity as c–Jun N–Terminal Kinase (JNK) 3 Inhibitors
    Year: 2023
    Author: Igor A. Schepetkin, Oleksander S. Karpenko, Anastasia R. Kovrizhina, Liliya N. Kirpotina, Andrei I. Khlebnikov, Stepan I. Chekal, Alevtyna V. Radudik, Maryna O. Shybinska, Mark T. Quinn
    Citations: Not available
    Article: Molecules

 

  1. Title: Quantification of a promising JNK inhibitor and nitrovasodilator IQ-1 and its major metabolite in rat plasma by LC–MS/MS
    Year: 2022
    Author: Alexander P. Lakeev, Galina A. Frelikh, Elena A. Yanovskaya, Anastasia R. Kovrizhina, Vladimir V. Udut
    Citations: Not available
    Article: Bioanalysis

 

  1. Title: Poly(Ďľ-caprolactone) Scaffolds Doped with c-Jun N-terminal Kinase Inhibitors Modulate Phagocyte Activation
    Year: 2019
    Author: K.S. Stankevich, I.A. Schepetkin, S.I. Goreninskii, A.K. Lavrinenko, E.N. Bolbasov, A.R. Kovrizhina, L.N. Kirpotina, V.D. Filimonov, A.I. Khlebnikov, S.I. Tverdokhlebov et al.
    Citations: Not available
    Article: ACS Biomaterials Science and Engineering

 

Mahdi Jalali | Natural Product Chemistry | Young Scientist Award

Dr. Mahdi Jalali | Natural Product Chemistry | Young Scientist Award

Dr at University of Bergen Norway

Vinh Le Ba is a Vietnamese pharmaceutical scientist currently holding an MSCA Postdoctoral scholarship at the University of Bergen, Norway. He earned his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Chungnam National University, South Korea, where he also conducted postdoctoral research. With extensive teaching experience in Organic Chemistry and Pharmacognosy, he has guided numerous master’s and Ph.D. students in their theses. Vinh has received multiple awards for his research, including Best Poster at the Korean Society of Pharmacognosy conferences. He is an active researcher in marine medicinal materials and serves as a guest editor for the Plants Journal.

Publication profile

Scopus

Orcid

Scholar

🏛️ Current Position

  • 2024-Present: MSCA Postdoc Scholarship at the Department of Chemistry, University of Bergen, Norway

🎓 Education

2016-2020: PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, Korea. 2011-2015: Bachelor’s Degree, VNU University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam

👨‍🔬 Previous Academic Positions

2015-Present: Researcher, Department of Marine Medicinal Materials, Institute of Marine Biochemistry, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam. 2020: Postdoc Scholarship, College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Republic of Korea. 2021: Postdoc Scholarship, College of Pharmacy, Wonkwang University, Republic of Korea. 2022-2024: Research Professor, College of Pharmacy, Korea University, Republic of Korea

🏆 Awards & Honors

04-11-2022: Best Poster at the 53rd Annual General Meeting and Academic Conference of the Korean Society of Pharmacognosy. 01-07-2023: Nominated as a full member of the prestigious Sigma Xi Association. 03-11-2023: Best Poster at the 54th Annual General Meeting and Academic Conference of the Korean Society of Pharmacognosy

💰 Grants & Fellowships

  • 03.2016-02.2020: PhD scholarship support from the Brain Korea Fund (BK21 Plus)

📚 Teaching Experience

2016-Present: Teaching Undergraduate Subjects: Organic Chemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Pharmacognosy uidelines for Master’s and PhD Theses: Successfully supervised several theses on topics involving LC-QTOF MS/MS analysis and biological activities.

🔬 Research Experience

2020-Present: Postdoc scholarships and research professorship at various universities, focusing on pharmaceutical sciences and marine biochemistry. Guest Editor: Special Issue “Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Plant Secondary Metabolites” for the Plants Journal, starting 01.10.2023.

Publication

  • Investigation of the Inhibitory Activity of Triterpenoids Isolated from Actinidia polygama Stems Against β-Glucuronidase via Enzyme Kinetics, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Analyses
    • Authors: N.V. Phong, M.-S. Heo, L.B. Vinh, Y.H. Kim, S.Y. Yang
    • Published In: Journal of Molecular Structure, 2024
    • Citations: 1

 

  • Inhibition of Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase by Cembranoid Diterpenes from Soft Coral Sinularia maxima: Enzyme Kinetics, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics
    • Authors: N.V. Phong, N.P. Thao, L.B. Vinh, C.V. Minh, S.Y. Yang
    • Published In: Marine Drugs, 2024
    • Citations: 0

 

  • Two New Steroidal Saponins with Potential Anti-Inflammatory Effects from the Aerial Parts of Gnetum formosum Markgr.
    • Authors: N.V. Hieu, L.B. Vinh, N.V. Phong, S.Y. Yang, H.L. Tuan Anh
    • Published In: Plants, 2024
    • Citations: 0

 

  • Identification of Interleukin (IL)-33 Inhibitory Constituents from Canavalia gladiata Pods
    • Authors: L.B. Vinh, S.H. Shin, Y.K. Han, S. Oh, K.Y. Lee
    • Published In: Antioxidants, 2024
    • Citations: 0

 

  • Traditional Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Activities of Vernonia cinerea (L.) Less.: An Updated Review
    • Authors: N.M. Trang, L.B. Vinh, N.V. Phong, S.Y. Yang
    • Published In: Nutrients, 2024
    • Citations: 1

 

  • Standardized Extract and Its Compounds from Fruits of Piper longum Suppress MDA-MB-231 Cancer Stem Cells via Down-Regulation of Intracellular Signals
    • Authors: H.T. Ly, P.T. Tran, B.V. Le, K.W. Kang, T.H. Do
    • Published In: South African Journal of Botany, 2024
    • Citations: 0

 

  • Acetylcholinesterase Inhibition Studies of Alkaloid Components from Crinum asiaticum var. sinicum: In Vitro Assessments by Molecular Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulations
    • Authors: N.V. Duc, V.T. Trang, H.L. Tuan Anh, L.Q. Lien, S.Y. Yang
    • Published In: Journal of Asian Natural Products Research, 2024
    • Citations: 0

 

  • Identification of Compounds Using HPLC-QTOF-MS Online Antioxidant Activity Mapping from Aerial Parts of Ligularia stenocephala
    • Authors: Y.K. Han, L.B. Vinh, M.-H. Nam, K.Y. Lee
    • Published In: Applied Biological Chemistry, 2023
    • Citations: 4

 

  • Macrosphelides from Antarctic Fungus Pseudogymnoascus sp. (Strain SF-7351) and Their Neuroprotective Effects on BV2 and HT22 Cells
    • Authors: Z. Liu, L.B. Vinh, N.Q. Tuan, D.-S. Lee, H. Oh
    • Published In: Chemico-Biological Interactions, 2023
    • Citations: 1

 

  • Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitory Activity of Saponins Isolated from Vernonia gratiosa Hance
    • Authors: P. Van Cong, H.L. Tuan Anh, L.B. Vinh, L.T. Lien, K.Y. Lee
    • Published In: Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2023
    • Citations: 2

 

Ravi Kumar Rajan | Ethnopharmacology | Young Scientist Award

Assist Prof Dr. Ravi Kumar Rajan | Ethnopharmacology | Young Scientist Award

👨‍🏫Profile Summary

As a pharmacy graduate, I am highly results-oriented and driven by objectives. My eagerness to learn new techniques and apply them effectively sets me apart. I excel at observing and troubleshooting problems, making me well-suited for careers in academia, pharmaceuticals, research and development (R&D), or clinical practice. With a strong foundation in pharmacy, I am ready to contribute meaningfully to any role I undertake and make a positive impact in the field.

🌐 Professional Profiles

 

🎓  Education

  • Ph.D. (Awarded on June 2022) in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences from The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
  • Master of Pharmacy (2012-2014), specialized in Pharmacology & Toxicology, from PSG College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu.
  • Bachelor of Pharmacy (2008-2012) from Swamy Vivekanandha College of Pharmacy, Elayampalayam, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu.

🔬Research Experience

  • Junior Research Fellowship under ‘DST- New Delhi’ focused on “Biogenic Synthesis of Silver Nanoconjugates with Natural Products for Breast Cancer” from December 2014 to December 2017.

🔍 Project

Ph.D. Project (2017-2020): Conducted Pre-clinical Evaluation of Neuroprotective Effects of Terpenes/Terpenoids and Stilbenoids in Ischemic Disease. Post-graduate Project (2013-2014): Evaluated soy isoflavones in letrozole-induced rat model of polycystic ovary syndrome. Undergraduate Project (2012-2013): Investigated the Effect of Hybanthus Enneaspermus in Streptozotocin-Nicotinamide Induced Type 2 Diabetes in Male Albino Rats.

🏆 Awards & Achievements

  • Secured Second Prize (2019) on the National level for Best Poster in the “7th PhD Poster Symposium on Chemistry and Biology Interface” jointly organized by the Royal Society of Chemistry (London) – Indian Deccan Local Section and National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (NIPER) Hyderabad.

📜  Certificates

“COVID-19 Contact Tracing” Course Certificate by COURSERA offered by JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY (June 2020). “Advanced SchrĂśdinger Workshop” Hands-on training conducted at SchrĂśdinger Office, Bangalore, focusing on Computer-Aided Drug Design (2020). “Computer-Aided Molecular Modeling and Dynamics” Hands-on training and workshop organized by the Department of Pharmacology, PSG College of Pharmacy, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu (2019). “Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery – Workshop IV” conducted by the Department of Pharmacology, PSG College of Pharmacy (2015). “Molecular Modeling and Drug Discovery – Workshop II” conducted by the Department of Pharmacology, PSG College of Pharmacy (2013).

📚Top Noted Publication

Title: Soy isoflavones exert beneficial effects on letrozole-induced rat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) model through anti-androgenic mechanism

  • Authors: RK Rajan, B Balaji
  • Year: 2017

 

Title: Crystal structure, Hirshfeld surface analysis, DFT and molecular docking studies on benzohydrazide derivatives as potential inhibitors of prostate cancer

  • Authors: HA Arjun, RK Rajan, R Elancheran, M Ramanathan, A Bhattacharjee
  • Year: 2020

 

Title: Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of 2‐(2‐Bromo‐3‐nitrophenyl)‐5‐phenyl‐1, 3, 4‐oxadiazole Derivatives as Possible Anti‐Breast Cancer Agents

  • Authors: AH Ananth, N Manikandan, RK Rajan, R Elancheran, K Lakshmithendral
  • Year: 2020

 

Title: Synthesis and characterization of folic acid conjugated gemcitabine tethered silver nanoparticles (FA-GEM-AgNPs) for targeted delivery

  • Authors: A Karuppaiah, R Rajan, S Hariharan, DK Balasubramaniam, M Gregory
  • Year: 2020

 

Title: Building and Behavior of A pH-Stimuli Responsive Chitosan Nanoparticles Loaded with Folic Acid Conjugated Gemcitabine Silver Colloids In MDA-MB-453 Metastatic Breast Cancer

  • Authors: Arjunan Karuppaiah, Dinesh Babu, Divakar Selvaraj, Tamilselvan Natrajan
  • Year: 2021

 

Title: Cytotoxicity and synergistic effect of biogenically synthesized ternary therapeutic nano conjugates comprising plant active principle, silver and anticancer drug on MDA-MB-453

  • Authors: A Karuppaiah, R Rajan, M Ramanathan, A Nagarajan
  • Year: 2020

 

Title: Identification and neuroprotective evaluation of a potential c-Jun N-terminal kinase 3 inhibitor through structure-based virtual screening and in-vitro assay

  • Authors: RK Rajan, M Ramanathan
  • Year: 2020

 

Title: C–Glucosyl Xanthone derivative Mangiferin downregulates the JNK3 mediated caspase activation in Almal induced neurotoxicity in differentiated SHSY-5Y neuroblastoma cells

  • Authors: N Pk, RK Rajan, V Nanchappan, A Karuppaiah, J Chandrasekaran
  • Year: 2023

 

Title: In-silico and in-vitro analysis of novel substituted benzimidazolyl derivatives for antimycobacterial potentials targeting enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase (InhA)

  • Authors: U Kuppuswamy, RK Rajan, A Kumar, M Ramanathan
  • Year: 2022

 

Title: Piceatannol selectively inhibited the JNK3 enzyme and augmented apoptosis through inhibition of Bcl-2/Cyt-c/caspase-dependent pathways in the oxygen–glucose deprived SHSY-5Y

  • Authors: RKRM Ramanathan
  • Year: 2024

 

Title: Piceatannol improved cerebral blood flow and attenuated JNK3 and mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in a global ischemic model to produce neuroprotection

  • Authors: RK Rajan, RP Kumar, M Ramanathan
  • Year: 2024