Cristina Maria Del Prete | Medicine and Dentistry | Women Researcher Award

Dr. Cristina Maria Del Prete | Medicine and Dentistry | Women Researcher Award 

Rehabilitation Department Chair at Local Health Authority Italy

Dr. Cristina Maria Del Prete is a recognized professional in the field of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine, known for her commitment to advancing innovative healthcare models, interdisciplinary rehabilitation practices, and measurable improvements in patient quality of life. She completed comprehensive medical education and specialized training in rehabilitation medicine, followed by multiple advanced executive and managerial qualifications focused on healthcare systems, organizational leadership, digital transformation, and strategic management. Her education laid a strong foundation for a career that has spanned clinical practice, healthcare administration, academic teaching, and national health policy participation. Over the years, she has held progressive leadership roles within major public healthcare structures, directing rehabilitation departments, coordinating multidisciplinary teams, and overseeing complex service networks involving hospital- and community-based rehabilitation centers. Her responsibilities have included workforce management, budget oversight, strengthening patient-care pathways, improving standards of disability support, and enhancing regional service delivery in alignment with evolving healthcare regulations. She has also actively contributed to national and regional scientific boards, steering committees, and professional societies focused on improving spasticity management, supporting patients with neurological conditions, addressing musculoskeletal pain, and advancing gender-inclusive perspectives within modern healthcare. Her research output reflects a strong blend of clinical relevance and academic rigor, focusing on post-stroke rehabilitation, botulinum toxin interventions in neuromotor disorders, gait analysis, scoliosis management, family coping mechanisms in the context of disability, and the psychological dynamics influencing care outcomes. Her published studies in international peer-reviewed journals demonstrate a dedication to evidence-based rehabilitation, resulting in 63 citations from 55 documents, 7 published scientific works, and an h-index of 4. She has also contributed extensively to academic progress through university teaching appointments across multiple medical programs, where she has trained students in foundational and advanced principles of rehabilitation medicine. International clinical training and professional development programs have further enhanced her expertise and broadened her exposure to advanced rehabilitative technologies, patient-centered methodologies, and global best practices. Throughout her career, she has remained consistently committed to improving health system performance, innovating care delivery frameworks, and conducting research that informs more efficient, equitable, and clinically effective rehabilitation services. Her professional journey reflects a continuous dedication to advancing healthcare quality, supporting both patients and practitioners, and strengthening the scientific foundations of modern rehabilitation.

Featured Publications:

Del Prete, C. M. (2025). Determinants of sibling relationships in the context of mental disorders. PLoS One.

Del Prete, C. M. (2025). Siblings of persons with disabilities: A systematic integrative review of the empirical literature. Clinical Child and Family Psychology Review.

Del Prete, C. M. (2023). Parentification, distress, and relationships with parents as factors shaping relationships in families with disability. Frontiers in Psychiatry.

Del Prete, C. M. (2022). An observational cross-sectional study of gender and disability as determinants of person-centered medicine in botulinum neurotoxin treatment of upper motoneuron syndrome. Toxins.

Del Prete, C. M. (2022). Brace treatment in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: A rehabilitative point of view. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Del Prete, C. M. (2021). Early botulinum toxin type A injection for post-stroke spasticity: A longitudinal cohort study. Toxins.

Del Prete, C. M. (2022). Efficacy of ultrasound-guided percutaneous lavage and biocompatible electrical neurostimulation in calcific rotator cuff tendinopathy. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health.

Del Prete, C. M. (2004). Conservative rehabilitative treatment of facial nerve injuries: A critical literature review. Europa Medicophysica.

Del Prete, C. M. (2002). Outcome research in adults with neurological disability. Europa Medicophysica.

Del Prete, C. M. (2001). Therapeutic water exercise in patients with hip arthroplasty. Europa Medicophysica.

Javier Baena Espinar | Medicine and Dentistry | Best Research Article Award

Dr. Javier Baena Espinar | Medicine and Dentistry | Best Research Article Award 

Medical Oncologist at Hospital 12 de Octubre | Spain

Dr. Javier Baena Espinar is a prominent medical oncology researcher whose work has significantly shaped contemporary understanding of thoracic malignancies, precision oncology, and real-world clinical outcomes. His academic background is grounded in advanced training in health sciences, biomedicine, molecular oncology, immuno-oncology, and cancer biology, supported by multiple postgraduate degrees and specialized certifications that have strengthened his expertise in lung cancer research and evidence-based clinical practice. His professional experience spans leading Spanish healthcare and research institutions, where he has contributed to multidisciplinary oncology teams, national research initiatives, and international collaborative networks focused on improving diagnostic accuracy, treatment personalization, and therapeutic decision-making. His research interests center on non-small cell lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, immune checkpoint inhibitors, next-generation sequencing, biomarker discovery, outcomes research, and the intersection between cancer care and infectious disease vulnerabilities. He has been instrumental in studies evaluating immunotherapy effectiveness, prognostic determinants, molecular profiling, and global registry data, producing findings that support the optimization of treatment strategies and guide clinical standards. With 27 published documents, 884 citations from 800 referencing articles, and an h-index of 11, his scholarly contributions reflect sustained impact and influence across oncology and translational research communities. His work appears in high-impact journals and encompasses both clinical and translational dimensions, bridging innovative scientific methodologies with real-world applicability. Through continuous involvement in international collaborations, multicenter studies, and academic dissemination, he has advanced the understanding of patient outcomes, therapeutic safety, and emerging frontiers in cancer treatment. His research trajectory demonstrates a strong commitment to expanding precision medicine, fostering collaborative research excellence, and improving the clinical management of thoracic cancers. Dr. Javier Baena Espinar’s ongoing contributions highlight his dedication to advancing scientific knowledge, strengthening global oncology evidence, and supporting the evolution of patient-centered cancer care.

Profile: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications:

  • Baena Espinar, J. (2025). Determinants of 5-year survival in patients with advanced NSCLC with PD-L1 ≥50% treated with first-line pembrolizumab outside clinical trials: Pembro-real 5Y registry results. Journal for Immunotherapy of Cancer.

  • Baena Espinar, J., et al. (2025). Clinical utility of combined tissue and plasma next-generation sequencing in treatment-naïve advanced NSCLC. JTO Clinical and Research Reports.

  • Baena Espinar, J., et al. (2025). Efficacy and safety of lorlatinib in ALK- and ROS1-rearranged metastatic NSCLC within the compassionate use program in Spain.

  • Baena Espinar, J., et al. (2025). Observational study on the safety and effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in lung cancer patients.

  • Baena Espinar, J., et al. (2025). Safety and efficacy of immune checkpoint therapy in patients with cardiac metastasis: A multicenter international retrospective analysis.

  • Baena Espinar, J., et al. (2025). Unmet needs in maintenance therapy for extensive-stage small cell lung cancer.

  • Baena Espinar, J. (2024). Consolidation osimertinib vs durvalumab vs observation after chemoradiation in unresectable EGFR-mutant NSCLC. Journal of Thoracic Oncology.

  • Baena Espinar, J.(2024). Facts and hopes on cancer immunotherapy for small cell lung cancer. Clinical Cancer Research.

  • Baena Espinar, J.(2024). Real-world data of first-line cemiplimab monotherapy for PD-L1 high NSCLC. Journal of Thoracic Oncology.

  • Baena Espinar, J.(2024). Multi-region transcriptomic subtyping and biomarkers of chemoimmunotherapy outcome in extensive-stage SCLC. Clinical Cancer Research.

  • Baena Espinar, J.(2024). Targeting KRAS G12C in NSCLC: Current standards and developments. Drugs.

  • Baena Espinar, J.(2023). Future perspectives in second-line therapy for non-oncogene–addicted NSCLC. Cancers.

  • Baena Espinar, J. (2023). Safety and activity of immune checkpoint inhibitors in people living with HIV and cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology.

  • Baena Espinar, J.(2022). Updated prognostication system for thoracic malignancies with COVID-19: TERAVOLT registry. Journal of Thoracic Oncology.

  • Baena Espinar, J. (2022). COVID-19 outcomes, vaccination status, and cancer-related delays during the Omicron wave: TERAVOLT analysis. JTO Clinical and Research Reports.