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.

Zsuzsanna Zsengeller | Medicine and Dentistry | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Zsuzsanna Zsengeller | Medicine and Dentistry | Best Researcher Award 

Assistant professor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center | United States

Dr. Zsuzsanna Zsengeller is a distinguished medical scientist whose career spans clinical medicine, molecular biology, and translational research. She has established herself as a global leader in the investigation of preeclampsia, mitochondrial dysfunction, and kidney-related disorders. With appointments at world-renowned institutions, she has advanced knowledge in gene therapy, molecular signaling, and maternal-fetal health. Her professional journey demonstrates a seamless integration of clinical insight and laboratory research, producing innovative therapeutic approaches. Through consistent scholarly output, grant leadership, and mentorship of future scientists, Dr. Zsuzsanna Zsengeller embodies excellence in academic medicine and translational science, with her work directly impacting patient health worldwide.

Profile:

Orcid

Education:

Dr. Zsuzsanna Zsengeller earned her Doctor of Medicine degree in General Medicine, followed by a Ph.D. in Medical Science with a strong foundation in microbiology. Her academic path was marked by a commitment to understanding complex disease mechanisms through both experimental and clinical approaches. Her postgraduate training included prestigious postdoctoral fellowships in pulmonary biology and respiratory diseases, where she refined her expertise in molecular and cellular biology. These academic experiences provided the groundwork for her lifelong research into oxidative stress, immune signaling, and vascular biology, ultimately shaping her into a well-recognized expert in mitochondrial and maternal health research.

Experience:

Dr. Zsuzsanna Zsengeller has extensive experience as both a clinician and scientist, having held positions across leading hospitals, research institutions, and industry collaborations. Her work includes significant contributions to pulmonary biology, renal pathology, and preeclampsia research. She has served in roles as staff scientist, senior scientist, consultant, and academic faculty member, currently serving as Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Her collaborations with multidisciplinary teams have resulted in advancements in therapeutic strategies for cardiovascular, renal, and maternal health. With experience in academia, industry, and clinical translation, she has built a unique career that bridges discovery and application.

Research Interest:

Dr. Zsuzsanna Zsengeller’s research interests center on the pathogenesis and treatment of preeclampsia, kidney disease, and mitochondrial dysfunction. She investigates redox biology, nitric oxide modulation, and oxidative stress pathways to understand how cellular signaling impacts maternal and fetal outcomes. Her translational studies have examined novel dual-function redox modulators, antioxidants, and mitochondrial-targeted therapies. Beyond maternal health, her work extends into nephrology and cardiovascular disease, with particular focus on mechanisms of APOL nephropathy and endothelial dysfunction. Through advanced molecular techniques and therapeutic modeling, her research seeks to translate laboratory discoveries into clinical strategies, offering hope for improved patient outcomes worldwide.

Awards and Honors:

Dr. Zsuzsanna Zsengeller has been recognized with numerous honors that reflect her leadership in biomedical science and translational medicine. She has received institutional research funding awards, including competitive support for her pioneering work on mitochondrial-targeted antioxidants for preeclampsia therapy. Her contributions have also been acknowledged through awards from scientific societies, highlighting her excellence in poster presentations, mentorship, and innovative project design. Her research projects have consistently received funding from federal agencies and medical foundations, underscoring the clinical relevance and impact of her work. These awards honor her as a trailblazer in developing therapies addressing urgent global health challenges.

Publications:

Title: Development of Diaryl Hydrazones for Alleviation of Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress in Preeclampsia
Year of Publication: 2025
Citation: 1

Title: Gasdermin D deletion prevents liver injury and exacerbates extrahepatic damage in a murine model of alcohol-induced ACLF
Year of Publication: 2025
Citation: 1

Title: A Novel Multi-organ Male Model of Alcohol-induced Acute-on-chronic Liver Failure Reveals NET-mediated Hepatocellular Death, Which is Prevented by RIPK3 Inhibition
Year of Publication: 2025
Citation: 5

Title: Differing sensitivities to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibition of kidney disease mediated by APOL1 high-risk variants G1 and G2
Year of Publication: 2024
Citation: 5

Title: Solvent- and Catalyst-Free Environmentally Benign High Hydrostatic Pressure-Assisted Synthesis of Bioactive Hydrazones and the Evaluation of Their Stability Under Various Storage Conditions
Year of Publication: 2024
Citation: 3

Title: A Novel Dual-Function Nitric Oxide Donor Therapy for Preeclampsia—A Proof-of-Principle Study in a Murine Model
Year of Publication: 2023
Citation: 3

Title: Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α mediated quinolinate phosphoribosylltransferase (QPRT) expression in the kidney facilitates resilience against acute kidney injury
Year of Publication: 2023
Citation: 8

Conclusion:

Dr. Zsuzsanna  Zsengeller stands as a pioneering physician-scientist whose research has transformed the understanding of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and maternal-fetal disorders. Her leadership in translational medicine continues to advance new therapies that address major public health burdens, particularly preeclampsia and kidney disease. Through groundbreaking research, impactful publications, and mentorship of future leaders, she exemplifies the highest standards of academic and clinical excellence. Her career demonstrates how dedication to discovery can be translated into real-world medical advancements, making her a highly deserving candidate for prestigious recognition in biomedical and clinical research innovation.