Eugenia Messina | Cell Factory | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Biotechnology Scientist

Dr. Eugenia Messina | Cell Factory | Best Researcher Award

Research Fellow at University of Bari Aldo Moro | Italy

Dr. Eugenia Messina, a Research Fellow at the University of Bari “Aldo Moro,” Italy, specializes in industrial and environmental biotechnology with a focus on metabolic engineering of yeasts for sustainable bio-based production. Her research primarily explores the genetic and biochemical modification of Yarrowia lipolytica, aiming to optimize microbial systems for the bioconversion of plastic waste into valuable biochemicals. Dr. Messina’s scientific trajectory reflects strong interdisciplinary expertise spanning biochemistry, molecular genetics, and microbial biotechnology. She has collaborated with renowned research institutions such as INRAE (France) and has actively participated in EU-funded projects promoting circular economy models through biological innovation. Her publication record includes notable contributions to Bioresource Technology, Microbial Cell Factories, and Metabolic Engineering, focusing on mitochondrial transport mechanisms, fatty acid biosynthesis, and microbial platform development. She holds 8 Scopus-indexed publications, 110 citations, and an h-index of 6, underscoring her growing academic influence. Dr. Messina is also a co-inventor on a European patent related to metabolic engineering for isocitric acid production, highlighting her translational research impact. Her excellence has been recognized with the HERITAGE 2024 Award and multiple honors from scientific societies. By integrating molecular biology and sustainable bioprocessing, Dr. Messina’s work contributes significantly to advancing green biotechnology and industrial bioengineering, making her an outstanding nominee for the Best Researcher Award.

Profiles : Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

Messina, E., Lazar, Z., Barile, S., Moroz, P., Scarcia, P., Antonacci, Y., Fosso, B., Palmieri, L., Pisano, I., & Agrimi, G. (2026). Acetate co-feeding increases ethylene glycol assimilation and glycolic acid production in Yarrowia lipolytica. Bioresource Technology.

Castellani, S., Iaconisi, G. N., Tripaldi, F., Porcelli, V., Trapani, A., Messina, E., Guerra, L., Di Franco, C., Maruccio, G., Monteduro, A. G., Corbo, F., Di Gioia, S., & Trapani, G. (2024). Dopamine and Citicoline-Co-Loaded Solid Lipid Nanoparticles as multifunctional nanomedicines for Parkinson’s disease treatment by intranasal administration. Pharmaceutics.

Di Noia, M. A., Ocheja, O. B., Scarcia, P., Pisano, I., Messina, E., Agrimi, G., Palmieri, L., & Guaragnella, N. (2024). Lack of mitochondrial DNA provides metabolic advantage in yeast osmoadaptation. Biomolecules

Khozov, A. A., Bubnov, D. M., Plisov, E. D., Vybornaya, T. V., Yuzbashev, T. V., Agrimi, G., Messina, E., Stepanova, A. A., Kudina, M. D., Alekseeva, N. V., & Netrusov, A. I. (2023). A study on L-threonine and L-serine uptake in Escherichia coli K-12. Frontiers in Microbiology.

Yuzbasheva, E. Y., Scarcia, P., Yuzbashev, T. V., Messina, E., Kosikhina, I. M., Palmieri, L., Shutov, A. V., Taratynova, M. O., Amaro, R. L., & Palmieri, F. (2021). Engineering Yarrowia lipolytica for the selective and high-level production of isocitric acid through manipulation of mitochondrial dicarboxylate–tricarboxylate carriers. Metabolic Engineering.

Ning Zhang | Molecular biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ning Zhang | Molecular Biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Associate Professor at Liaocheng university | China

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ning Zhang, a distinguished neuroscientist of Mongolian ethnicity, is a member of the Communist Party and currently focuses her research on neuroinflammatory immunity and myelin regeneration. She earned her doctoral degree in Neuroscience from Tierärztliche Hochschule Hannover, Germany, in November 2015. Dr. Zhang’s research primarily investigates the regulatory mechanisms of neuroinflammation and immune responses in neurodegenerative diseases, emphasizing the processes of remyelination and neuronal repair. Her studies further explore the intricate interactions among glial cells in the central nervous system during both development and disease progression. She is also deeply engaged in identifying novel therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative conditions and developing bioactive interventions aimed at mitigating neuronal damage. Dr. Zhang has made substantial contributions to the field through her publications and scientific discoveries, advancing understanding of cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying neural repair. Her work bridges fundamental neuroscience with translational approaches to improve clinical outcomes in neurodegenerative disorders. According to her Scopus profile, Dr. Zhang has authored 62 scientific documents, which have collectively garnered 868 citations across 667 publications, reflecting a significant impact in the global neuroscience community. She maintains an h-index of 19, demonstrating both the depth and influence of her research contributions in neuroinflammatory and regenerative neuroscience.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Zhang, N., et al. (2025). Ketogenic diet attenuates microglia-mediated neuroinflammation by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation via HDAC3 inhibition to activate mitophagy in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Food & Function. 3 citations

Zhang, N., et al. (2025). Exogenous ketogenic supplements can mitigate the susceptibility to Alzheimer’s disease induced by chronic sleep deprivation: Emerging role of Sirt1 in ferroptosis. Food Science and Human Wellness. 0 citations

Zhang, N., et al. (2025). Cetirizine platinum(IV) complexes with antihistamine properties inhibit tumor metastasis by suppressing angiogenesis and boosting immunity. Journal of Inorganic Biochemistry. 3 citations

Zhang, N., et al. (2024). Dynamic effects of ketogenic diet on autophagy and cell cycle in a mouse model of CT26+ colon cancer. Pakistan Journal of Zoology. 0 citations

Zhang, N., et al. (2024). Phase separation investigation of Axitinib in supersaturated solution. Crystals. 0 citations

Yu Fang | Molecular biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Yu Fang | Molecular biotechnology | Best Researcher Award

Full Professor at Fujian Institute of Research on the Structure of Matter | China

Dr. Yu Fang is a distinguished chemist whose research lies at the interface of materials chemistry and supramolecular science, particularly in the design and synthesis of Porous Coordination Cages (PCCs) and Metal–Organic Frameworks (MOFs). His work focuses on developing advanced porous materials for applications in catalysis, gas storage, molecular recognition, and energy conversion. Dr. Fang has made significant contributions to understanding host–guest chemistry, self-assembly mechanisms, and structure–property relationships in coordination materials. His innovative research has been widely recognized in leading journals such as Nature Communications, Angewandte Chemie International Edition, Journal of the American Chemical Society, and Chemical Society Reviews. Through collaborative projects and pioneering insights, Dr. Fang’s studies have bridged molecular design and functional materials engineering, influencing both academic and industrial research in advanced materials. He has published extensively, contributing to the development of next-generation coordination architectures with tailored porosity and dynamic behavior for chemical and environmental applications. With 7132 citations and an h-index of 26 according to his Scopus profile, Dr. Fang’s scientific impact reflects both productivity and quality, positioning him as a leading figure in coordination chemistry and materials innovation.

Profile: Google Scholar | Orcid

Featured Publications

Liang, Y., Yang, X., Wang, X., Guan, Z.-J., Xing, H., & Fang, Y. (2023). Nature Communications, 14, 5223.

Su, Z., Liu, K.-K., Xu, Y.-Q., Yan, B., Wang, S., Guan, Z.-J., Zou, Y., & Fang, Y. (2024). Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 64(9), e202420945.

Peng, Y., Yuan, L., Liu, K.-K., Jin, S., & Fang, Y. (2024). Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 64(12), e202423055.

Liang, Y., Xie, G., Liu, K.-K., Jin, M., Chen, Y., Yang, X., Guan, Z.-J., Xing, H., & Fang, Y. (2024). Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 64(1), e202416884.

He, H.-H., Yuan, J.-P., Cai, P.-Y., Wang, K.-Y., Feng, L., Kirchon, A., Li, J., Zhang, L.-L., Zhou, H.-C., & Fang, Y. (2023). Journal of the American Chemical Society, 145, 17164–17175.

Fang, Y., Powell, J., Li, E., Wang, Q., Perry, Z., Kirchon, A., Yang, X., Xiao, Z., Zhu, C., Zhang, L., Huang, F., & Zhou, H.-C. (2019). Chemical Society Reviews, 48(17), 4707–4730.

Liang, Y., Li, E., Wang, K., Guan, Z.-J., He, H.-H., Zhang, L.-L., Zhou, H.-C., Huang, F., & Fang, Y. (2022). Chemical Society Reviews, 51, 8378–8405.