Gianna Dipalma | Medicine and Dentistry | Research Excellence Award

Prof. Dr. Gianna Dipalma | Medicine and Dentistry | Research Excellence Award

University of Bari “Aldo Moro” – University Hospital “Policlinico di Bari” | Italy

Prof. Gianna DiPalma is an accomplished clinician-scientist and academic specializing in dentistry, oral surgery, orthodontics, and regenerative medicine. With dual qualifications in Dentistry (DDS, 2000) and Medicine and Surgery (MD, 2020) from the University of Bari “Aldo Moro,” she has established a distinguished career bridging clinical practice, scientific innovation, and higher education. She further completed an international PhD program in Clinical Dentistry, conducted in collaboration with New York University (USA) and the Eastman Dental Institute (UK), followed by advanced postgraduate training in implant prosthodontics and oral surgical specialization. Her academic trajectory includes an international doctoral fellowship at the University of Lyon, France, reinforcing her international scientific profile. Prof. DiPalma has contributed extensively to oral health sciences, with research spanning regenerative dentistry, biomaterials, implantology, growth factor–based tissue repair, pediatric dentistry, and digital orthodontics. She has authored scientific publications, book chapters, and conference works, and serves as a reviewer and guest editor for internationally indexed journals, including Scopus- and PubMed-listed platforms. Her research involvement includes participation in competitive national and international projects, particularly those focusing on tissue engineering, stem cells, and translational dentistry. Her work demonstrates significant interdisciplinary relevance across dental medicine, biomedical engineering, and clinical innovation. Throughout her career, she has received more than 30 national and international awards recognizing academic merit, research contribution, and innovation in clinical dentistry. She has also contributed to the advancement of dental education through extensive teaching roles, postgraduate training supervision, and invited lectures across Europe and beyond. Prof. DiPalma’s contributions continue to support evidence-based innovations that improve patient care, guide clinical protocols, and enhance the global development of regenerative and digital dental sciences. Her academic trajectory reflects sustained research productivity, international collaboration, and a growing societal impact within the fields of oral health and medical sciences.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

Buthelezi, K., Kibirige, D. M. K., & Buthelezi-Dube, N. N. (2025). The evolution of methods and tools used to assess soil health indicators: A scoping review. SSRN.

Buthelezi-Dube, N. N., & Sithole, Z. (2025). Acidification-driven soil phosphorus fractionation following long-term fertilization and cessation at Ukulinga mesic grassland in South Africa. Scientific Reports.

Buthelezi, K., & Buthelezi-Dube, N. (2025). Long-term effects of nitrogen and lime application on plant–microbial interactions and soil carbon stability in a semi-arid grassland. Plants.

Leshalagae, M., & Buthelezi-Dube, N. N. (2023). Impact of topsoil mining for unfired mudbricks on soil quality in eastern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Land Degradation & Development.

Vilakazi, S. P., Muchaonyerwa, P., & Buthelezi-Dube, N. N. (2023). Characteristics and liming potential of biochar types from potato waste and pine-bark. PLOS ONE

Maria Sundvall | Medicine and Dentistry | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Maria Sundvall | Medicine and Dentistry | Best Researcher Award

University of Turku, Finland

Dr. Maria Sundvall is a distinguished physician-scientist and academic leader in Clinical Oncology and Molecular Cancer Biology, renowned for her translational research bridging laboratory discoveries with clinical applications. She earned her Medical Doctor degree in 2003, followed by a Ph.D. in Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from the University of Turku, Finland, in 2007, where her thesis focused on “Signaling of ErbB4 Isoforms in Cancer.” She was later awarded the Title of Docent in 2015 and became a Specialist Physician in Clinical Oncology and Radiotherapy in 2018. Professionally, Dr. Sundvall serves as a Consultant in Clinical Oncology at Turku University Hospital and a Clinical Lecturer at the Institute of Biomedicine, University of Turku, where she also directs the Cancer Research Unit. Her earlier career includes postdoctoral research at Harvard Medical School under Professor P.P. Pandolfi, where she advanced her expertise in oncogenic signaling and targeted cancer therapies. Her research interests focus on receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer, resistance mechanisms to EGFR-targeting therapies, and precision oncology for breast and prostate cancers. Dr. Sundvall possesses advanced research skills in molecular biology, cell signaling, cancer genomics, and translational medicine, with proficiency in various laboratory and clinical trial methodologies. She has authored over 34 publications in prestigious journals such as PNAS, Cancer Research, Clinical Cancer Research, and Oncogene, contributing key insights into cancer mechanisms and therapeutic resistance. Her numerous honors include the Turku University Foundation Ph.D. Thesis Award and research grants exceeding €1 million from the Research Council of Finland, the Finnish Medical Foundation, and the Sigrid Juselius Foundation. In conclusion, Dr. Sundvall exemplifies excellence in research, teaching, and clinical innovation, with her work significantly advancing the understanding of cancer biology and influencing future directions in precision oncology and patient-centered cancer care worldwide.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID | LinkedIn

Featured Publications

Sriraman, S., Virtanen, V., Kukkula, A., Toriseva, M., Lumiainen, A., West, G., Poutanen, M., Taimen, P., & Sundvall, M. (2025). Androgen receptor‐mediated regulation of BRCA1 modulates the antioxidant defense in prostate cancer. The Journal of Pathology. Advance online publication.

Koskela, S., Pulkkinen, O., Mehmood, A., Kallionpää, R., Birkman, E.-M., Huuhtanen, J., Mustjoki, S., Coupland, S., Aittokallio, T., & Sundvall, M. (2025, July 8). Novel anti-PD1 predictive signature and functional dendritic-cell biomarkers in melanoma identified with systems immunology [Preprint]. Research Square.

Gnjatovic, J., Garces Ibanez, J., Rantala, J., Sundvall, M., Alanne, E., Vaittinen, S., Mattila, P., Jäättelä, M., & Hämälistö, S. (2025, April 29). Patient-derived lymphoma organoids and repurposed drugs: Novel solutions for improved B cell lymphoma treatment [Conference paper].

Hollmén, M., Löyttyniemi, E., Juhanoja, E., Vihinen, P., & Sundvall, M. (2025, February). High comorbidity and tumor proliferation predict survival of localized breast cancer patients after curative surgery: A retrospective analysis of real-world data in Finland. Surgical Oncology, 102(188).

Nissi, L., Tuominen, S., Routila, J., Huusko, T., Ketonen, P., Sundvall, M., Leivo, I., Irjala, H., Minn, H., & Grönroos, T. J. (2024, November). xCT as a predictor for survival in a population‐based cohort of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Medicine.