Sylvia Mangani | Medical Discoveries | Best Researcher Award

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Ms. Sylvia Mangani | Medical Discoveries | Best Researcher Award

Ms. Sylvia Mangani | University of Patras | Greece

Sylvia Mangani is a biochemist–biotechnologist and PhD candidate in Biochemistry at the University of Patras, whose research centers on cancer biology, particularly the influence of the extracellular matrix on tumor growth and regulation through 3D cell culture systems. Her academic journey combines strong foundations in biochemistry and biotechnology (BSc, MSc) with advanced experimental and analytical expertise. Her work integrates a broad range of molecular and cellular biology techniques, including quantitative PCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, functional assays, and RNA sequencing, complemented by bioinformatics analysis for gene expression and signaling pathway interpretation. Her research has significantly contributed to understanding how 3D cellular microenvironments influence cancer progression, focusing on breast cancer models. She has authored 12 peer-reviewed publications in recognized international journals, with her work cited over 55 times according to Google Scholar, reflecting growing recognition within the scientific community. Her contributions have also supported award-winning synthetic biology initiatives under the iGEM program and have been presented at national and international scientific conferences. She has established productive collaborations with prominent research institutions in Greece and abroad. Notably, she completed a funded Erasmus+ research placement at the University Hospital of Münster, Germany, under the supervision of Prof. Martin Götte, where she engaged in experimental oncology projects exploring cancer cell behavior and matrix interactions. She has also collaborated with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens on biochemical and molecular analyses within the Laboratory of Biochemistry, Biotechnology, and Molecular Analysis. A member of the Hellenic Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (HSBMB), she actively contributes to the advancement of biochemical and cancer research in Greece and Europe. Her ongoing studies aim to deepen the understanding of tumor–matrix dynamics in breast cancer, offering new insights for therapeutic innovation and cancer model development, positioning her among emerging researchers in molecular oncology.

Profiles: Orcid | Google Scholar | LinkedIn | Research Gate

Featured Publications 

Mangani, S., Piperigkou, Z., Mangani, S., Koletsis, N. E., Koutsakis, C., Mastronikolis, N. S., Franchi, M., & Karamanos, N. K. (2025, August). Principal mechanisms of extracellular matrix‐mediated cell–cell communication in physiological and tumor microenvironments. The FEBS Journal. https://doi.org/10.1111/febs.70207

Mangani, S., Vetoulas, M., Mineschou, K., Spanopoulos, K., Vivanco, M. d. M., Piperigkou, Z., & Karamanos, N. K. (2025, July 15). Design and applications of extracellular matrix scaffolds in tissue engineering and regeneration. Cells, 14(14), 1076. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14141076

Franchi, M., Masola, V., Onisto, M., Franchi, L., Mangani, S., Zolota, V., Piperigkou, Z., & Karamanos, N. K. (2025, July 7). Ultrastructural changes of the peri-tumoral collagen fibers and fibrils array in different stages of mammary cancer progression. Cells, 14(13), 1037. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells14131037

Karamanos, N. K., Piperigkou, Z., Gourdoupi, C., Mangani, S., & Vivanco, M. d. M. (2025, June 1). Extracellular matrix matters: Matrix-based bioscaffolds in advancing translational cancer research and targeted therapy. American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 328(6), C1235–C1251. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpcell.00050.2025

Ciampelli, C., Mangani, S., Nieddu, G., Formato, M., Ioannou, P., Kremmydas, S., Karamanos, N., & Lepedda, A. J. (2025, March). Effects of acidic polysaccharide-enriched extracts from Holothuria tubulosa on two- and three-dimensional invasive breast cancer cell models. Biology, 14(4), 334. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology14040334

Mangani, S., Kremmydas, S., & Karamanos, N. K. (2025, March). Mimicking the complexity of solid tumors: How spheroids could advance cancer preclinical transformative approaches. Cancers, 17(7), 1161. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers17071161

Diane Harper | Precision Medicine | Distinguished Scientist Award

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Prof. Dr Diane Harper | Precision Medicine | Distinguished Scientist Award

Prof. Dr Diane Harper | University of MIchigan | United States

Prof. Dr. Diane M. Harper is a globally recognized physician-scientist, educator, and leader in women’s health, family medicine, and preventive oncology. She earned her SB and SM degrees in Chemical Engineering and Polymerics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), followed by her MD and MPH in Biostatistics/Epidemiology from the University of Kansas Medical School. Complementing her medical and public health expertise, she completed numerous prestigious postgraduate fellowships and executive leadership programs, including the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Program, University of Michigan Ross School of Business Leadership Development, and US PHS Primary Care Fellowship in Washington, D.C. Over her distinguished career, Dr. Harper has held senior academic and administrative appointments at leading institutions including Dartmouth College, University of Missouri–Kansas City, University of Louisville, and currently the University of Michigan, where she serves as a Professor of Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Women’s and Gender Studies, and Affiliate Faculty in Biomedical Engineering. Her interdisciplinary expertise bridges medicine, engineering, and public health to improve women’s health outcomes worldwide. Internationally acclaimed for her pioneering work on Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer prevention, Dr. Harper has been instrumental in the development and clinical validation of HPV vaccines, advancing screening technologies, and establishing evidence-based guidelines for HPV-associated disease management. Her research spans clinical trials, shared decision-making, health equity, and policy reform, emphasizing underserved and physically disabled populations.

Profiles: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Quinn, J. A., Munoz, F. M., Gonik, B., Frau, L., Cutland, C., Mallett-Moore, T., … & Harper, D. M. (2016). Preterm birth: Case definition & guidelines for data collection, analysis, and presentation of immunisation safety data. Vaccine, 34(49), 6047–6056.

Harper, D. M., DeMars, L. R. (2017). HPV vaccines – A review of the first decade. Gynecologic Oncology, 146(1), 196–204.

Tota, J. E., Struyf, F., Merikukka, M., Gonzalez, P., Kreimer, A. R., Bi, D., … & Harper, D. M. (2017). Evaluation of type replacement following HPV16/18 vaccination: pooled analysis of two randomized trials. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 109(7), djw300.

Gorin, S. S., Jimbo, M., Heizelman, R., Harmes, K. M., & Harper, D. M. (2021). The future of cancer screening after COVID‐19 may be at home. Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Dykens, J. A., Peterson, C. E., Holt, H. K., & Harper, D. M. (2023). Gender neutral HPV vaccination programs: Reconsidering policies to expand cancer prevention globally. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1067299.