Prof. Ho Joon Im | Pediatric hematology and oncology | Best Researcher Award

Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine | South Korea

Dr. Ho Joon Im is a distinguished professor of pediatrics and a leading expert in pediatric hematology–oncology, recognized for his impactful contributions to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and childhood bone marrow failure disorders. He completed his medical degree, master’s degree, and PhD at Hanyang University, followed by comprehensive clinical training in pediatrics and specialized fellowship training in pediatric hematology/oncology. His academic career spans several prestigious medical institutions, where he has advanced from clinician to professor while serving in major leadership roles, including directing a prominent children’s hospital. Dr. Im’s research focuses on haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, severe aplastic anemia, transplant immunology, graft engineering, T-cell depletion strategies, and long-term outcomes in pediatric patients. He has authored numerous high-impact publications in international journals and contributed to the development of clinical guidelines and innovative transplantation protocols. His work has significantly improved survival outcomes for children undergoing complex treatments, and he is widely respected for pioneering reduced-toxicity regimens and advancing pediatric transplant methodologies. Dr. Im actively participates in multiple national and international professional societies and is recognized for his dedication to improving standards of care in pediatric hematology–oncology. His career reflects an enduring commitment to research excellence, clinical leadership, and better futures for young patients.

Profile: Scopus

Featured Publications

Kim, S.-K., Yoo, J., Lee, J.-H., Lee, H.-E., Ahn, J.-S., Koh, K.-N., Cho, B.-S., Park, S.-K., Im, H. J., Lee, H., & Kong, S.-Y. (2025). Current practices in peripheral blood stem cell processing and cryopreservation: A nationwide survey of Korean transplant centers. Blood Research, 60, Article 41.

Kim, H., Yoon, S. H., Kang, S., Koh, K.-N., Im, H. J., Chu, D., Kim, M. Y., Cho, Y.-U., Hwang, S.-H., & Jang, S. (2025). Improved survival in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia through therapy intensification based on minimal residual disease and protocol-driven early response risk classification. Blood Research, 60, Article 40.

Kang, S. H., Im, H. J., Choi, E. S., Yoon, S.-H., Suh, J.-K., Kim, H., Koh, K.-N., Ko, D.-H., Kim, M., Hwang, S.-H., Cho, Y.-U., & Jang, S. (2025). Upfront haploidentical hematopoietic cell transplantation using αβ+ T cell-depleted peripheral blood stem cells for pediatric patients with acquired severe aplastic anemia. Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, 31(10), 830.e1–830.e10.

Koh, K.-N., Jun, H. R., Lee, J.-Y., Kim, J.-Y., Yoon, S.-H., Koh, Y.-K., Kang, S.-H., Kim, H., Im, H. J., & Chun, S.-M. (2024). Unraveling the genetic landscape of Langerhans cell histiocytosis in Korean patients: Comprehensive insights from mutational profiles and clinical correlations. Cancer Research and Treatment, 57(3), 873–882.

Kim, S., Han, M., Hwang, H. J., Ahn, Y.-H., Im, H. J., Hwang, S.-H., Koh, K.-N., & Kim, N. (2025). MicroRNA-196a increases apoptosis in B cells through downregulation of FOXO1. Molecules and Cells, 48(7), 100223.

Dr. Mona Rady | Education and Research | Best Researcher Award

German University in Cairo (GUC) and German International University (GIU) | Egypt

Dr. Mona Rady, PhD, is a Lecturer in Microbiology, Immunology, and Biotechnology at the German University in Cairo (GUC) and the German International University (GIU), with over 19 years of teaching and research experience. She earned her PhD in Microbiology and Immunology from GUC in 2014, following an MSc in Pharmacology and Toxicology (2009) and a BSc in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Ain Shams University (2002). She recently completed an MSc in Public Health at the University of South Wales, UK (2023). Her research interests focus on cancer immunology, natural killer (NK) cell epitranscriptomics, immune modulation, immunotherapy, microbiome–immune interactions, and RNA modifications such as m6A. She has supervised numerous PhD, MSc, and BSc theses, and her publication record reflects impactful contributions to NK cell biology and cancer immunology, with 7 documents, 179 citations, and an h-index of 7 on Google Scholar. Dr. Rady has received prestigious grants and fellowships including GERF-STDF, ASRT-BA, DAAD-GERSS, and Nature Publishing Group awards. She also serves as reviewer for journals such as Frontiers in Oncology and Immunology and Cell Biology. Through her multidisciplinary expertise, leadership in curriculum development, and international collaborations, Dr. Rady has established herself as a dedicated scientist advancing immunological research and education.

Featured Publications

“Ginkgo biloba extract (EGb 761) mitigates methotrexate-induced testicular insult in rats: Targeting oxidative stress, energy deficit and spermatogenesis”

“The role of protein interaction domains in the human cancer network”

“Impact of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification on immunity”

“Pioglitazone attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced oxidative stress, dopaminergic neuronal loss and neurobehavioral impairment by activating Nrf2/ARE/HO-1”

“Expression of RFC/SLC19A1 is associated with tumor type in bladder cancer patients”

“Altered expression of miR-181a and miR-146a does not change the expression of surface NCRs in human NK cells”

“Extracellular vesicles: from intracellular trafficking molecules to fully fortified delivery vehicles for cancer therapeutics”