Joan-Lluis Vives Corrons | Health Sciences | Outstanding Scientist Award

Prof. Joan-Lluis Vives Corrons | Health Sciences | Outstanding Scientist Award

Academic Background

Prof. Joan-Lluis Vives-Corrons holds a Medical Doctor degree and is a specialist in Haematology from the University of Barcelona. He completed advanced training as a fellow at Hôpital Beaujon in Paris and as a visiting fellow at The Scripps Research Institute. He has served as a professor of Medicine at the University of Barcelona and has been deeply involved in education and mentorship in haematology throughout his career. According to Scopus and Google Scholar records, his work has been cited extensively, with over 1,467 documents citing his research, 81 documents authored, and an h-index of 21, reflecting his sustained influence in the field.

Research Focus

Prof. Joan-Lluis Vives Corrons research focuses on the study of rare and congenital anaemias, encompassing the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying red blood cell disorders. He has a strong interest in the standardization of haematology laboratory practices and in improving diagnostic approaches for haemoglobinopathies and enzymopathies. His work bridges clinical practice and translational research to advance patient care for rare anaemias.

Work Experience

Prof. Joan-Lluis Vives Corrons has held leadership roles in haematology laboratories and clinical departments, serving as head of the Haematology Laboratory and Red Cell Pathology Units at the Hospital Clinic of the University of Barcelona. He has also led the Red Cell Pathology and Haematopoietic Disorders Research Group at the Josep Carreras Institute for Leukemia Research and currently oversees the Clinical Centre for Ambulatory Medicine in Barcelona. He has coordinated large-scale networks for the diagnosis and follow-up of rare haematological disorders, contributing significantly to public health programs such as newborn screening for sickle-cell disease.

Key Contributions

Prof. Joan-Lluis Vives Corrons has pioneered the development of diagnostic methods for rare anaemias, implemented quality assessment schemes in haematology, and contributed to the standardization of automated laboratory analyzers. His research has led to the discovery of multiple novel mutations in genes responsible for red blood cell disorders, enhancing the understanding of their molecular basis. He has facilitated international collaboration through European networks for rare anaemias and supported education and training programs for haematologists and laboratory professionals.

Awards & Recognition

Recognized for his exceptional research and leadership, Prof. Vives-Corrons has been honored with the Outstanding Scientist Award for his groundbreaking contributions to the study of rare anaemias. His work is widely acknowledged for advancing clinical and laboratory haematology practice while fostering global collaborations in rare disease research.

Professional Roles & Memberships

Prof. Joan-Lluis Vives Corrons has held significant professional roles, including Secretary General of the International Society of Haematology and representative membership in the European Union Committee of Experts in Rare Diseases. He is affiliated with multiple national and international scientific societies and serves on editorial boards of leading journals in haematology. His work with ORPHANET, EURORDIS, and various standardization organizations underscores his commitment to improving rare disease diagnostics and care.

Profile

Scopus | Orcid 

Featured Publications

Vives-Corrons, J. L., et al. (2024). SARS-CoV-2 infection and anemia—A focus on RBC deformability and membrane proteomics—Integrated observational prospective study. Microorganisms.

Vives-Corrons, J. L., et al. (2023). The pyruvate kinase deficiency global longitudinal (Peak) registry: Rationale and study design. BMJ Open.

Vives-Corrons, J. L., et al. (2022). Haemoglobin Bristol-Alesha in a child with non-spherocytic severe haemolytic anaemia and marked anisochromic poikilocytosis with basophilic stippling and amorphous intracellular content. Blood Cells, Molecules and Diseases.

Vives-Corrons, J. L., et al. (2022). Concomitant hereditary spherocytosis and pyruvate kinase deficiency in a Spanish family with chronic hemolytic anemia: Contribution of laser ektacytometry to clinical diagnosis. Cells.

Vives-Corrons, J. L., et al. (2022). Red cell ektacytometry in two patients with chronic hemolytic anemia and three new α-spectrin variants. Annals of Hematology.

Impact Statement / Vision

Prof. Joan-Lluis Vives Corrons to advance the understanding and management of rare anaemias through innovative research, international collaboration, and the integration of molecular diagnostics into clinical practice. His vision emphasizes improving patient outcomes while promoting education and quality standards in haematology worldwide.

 

Heng Zhang | Biomedical Research | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Heng Zhang | Biomedical Research | Best Researcher Award

Research Scientist at Versiti Blood Research Institute, United States

Dr. Heng Zhang is a Research Scientist specializing in integrin structure and signaling at the Blood Research Institute, Versiti, U.S. His expertise spans biochemical and structural biology, molecular genetics, and biotechnology. With a strong academic background from Waikato University and Shandong Normal University, he has contributed significantly to the fields of virology, protein interactions, and blood-related research. His work includes pioneering studies on integrins, viral receptors, and hemophilia mutations. Dr. Zhang has received numerous prestigious awards and serves as a reviewer for scientific journals. His research has led to patents and publications in high-impact journals, demonstrating his commitment to advancing biomedical science.

professional profiles📖

Scopus Profile

ORCID

Education 🎓

Dr. Zhang earned his Ph.D. in Biochemical and Structural Biology from Waikato University, New Zealand, in 2019, where he focused on protein structure and function, particularly in relation to bovine salivary proteins and microbial interactions. Before that, he obtained an M.Sc. in Molecular Genetics with First-Class Honors from Waikato University, specializing in genetic and biochemical approaches to understanding molecular pathways. His academic journey began at Shandong Normal University, China, where he completed a B.Sc. in Biotechnology in 2009, gaining foundational knowledge in biotechnology, molecular biology, and genetic engineering.

work Experience💼

Currently, Dr. Zhang serves as a Research Scientist at the Blood Research Institute, Versiti, where he investigates integrin structure and signaling. Previously, he worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow at the same institute from 2019 to 2023, focusing on molecular mechanisms in virology and blood coagulation. His experience also includes teaching molecular biology and biochemistry as a Teaching Assistant at Waikato University from 2013 to 2019, where he mentored students and supported laboratory research. Additionally, he worked as a Research Technologist at Waikato University from 2013 to 2014, conducting laboratory experiments related to protein structure and microbial interactions.

🏆 Awards and Honors

Dr. Zhang has received multiple accolades throughout his career. In 2024, he was honored with the Education Committee Award from Versiti Blood Research Institute. During his graduate studies, he earned the DairyNZ Graduate Student Award from AgResearch Ltd (2015-2019) and multiple internal awards from Waikato University in 2014 and 2012. His academic excellence was recognized early on with First and Second Class Scholarships from Shandong Normal University (2005-2009) and a Second Prize award in the China High School Biology Olympiad in 2003.

Skills

Dr. Zhang is highly skilled in structural biology, with expertise in X-ray crystallography, cryo-EM, and protein modeling. He has strong computational biology skills, using tools such as AlphaFold and molecular dynamics simulations. His biochemical expertise includes protein purification, enzyme kinetics, and cellular assays, while his genetic engineering experience covers CRISPR, recombinant protein expression, and cloning. As an active contributor to the scientific community, he serves as a reviewer for Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine and has been involved in patent development for antiviral receptor-based technologies.

Research Focus

Dr. Zhang’s research revolves around integrin structure and signaling, exploring mechanisms of cell adhesion and immune response regulation. He has made significant contributions to understanding hemophilia and blood disorders, utilizing computational modeling to study coagulation factors. His work in virology includes investigating cell-attachable viral receptors for infectious disease control. Additionally, he applies structural biology techniques, including cryo-EM and AlphaFold-based predictions, to study protein interactions. His research extends to biomedical engineering and drug development, with a focus on innovative therapeutic approaches for blood-related diseases.

Conclusion✅

Dr. Heng Zhang is an excellent candidate for the Best Researcher Award due to his substantial contributions to biomedical and structural biology research. His impressive publication record, patents, mentorship roles, and international collaborations make him a strong contender. However, further advancements in leading research projects, securing independent funding, and expanding his first-author publications in top journals could further bolster his qualifications for the award. Overall, he demonstrates outstanding research excellence with strong potential for future leadership in his field.

📚Publications to Noted

 

Predicting the effects of single pathological mutations in Hemophilia A and Type 2N Von Willebrand Diseases using AlphaFold2‐multimer and AlphaFold3

Authors: Not provided

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2025

Facilitating and restraining virus infection using cell‐attachable soluble viral receptors

Authors: Not provided

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2024

Integrin α 5 β 1 contributes to cell fusion and inflammation mediated by SARS‐CoV‐2 spike via RGD‐independent interaction

Authors: Not provided

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2023

Family‐wide analysis of integrin structures predicted by AlphaFold2.

Authors: Heng Zhang (assumed)

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2023

Intracellular tPA–PAI-1 interaction determines VLDL assembly in hepatocytes

Authors: Not provided

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2023

Coagulopathy in COVID‐19 and anticoagulation clinical trials

Authors: Not provided

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2022

The three dimensional structure of Bovine Salivary Protein 30b (BSP30b) and its interaction with specific rumen bacteria.

Authors: Heng Zhang (assumed)

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2019

A new method to extract and purify DNA from allophanic soils and paleosols, and potential for paleoenvironmental reconstruction and other applications

Authors: Heng Zhang (assumed)

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2016

What can the geographic distribution of mtDNA haplotypes tell us about the invasion of New Zealand by house mice Mus musculus?

Authors: Heng Zhang (assumed)

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2016

DNA adsorption by nanocrystalline allophane spherules and nanoaggregates, and implications for carbon sequestration in Andisols

Authors: Heng Zhang (assumed)

Citations: Not provided

Year: 2016