Dr. Zhefeng Meng | Evolutionary Biology | Best Researcher Award

Diretor at Fudan University, China

Dr. Zhefeng Meng (PhD, MD) is an accomplished Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Scientific Research Department at Minhang Hospital, Fudan University. With over two decades of research experience, his work spans HIV molecular evolution, viral-host interactions, cancer biomarker discovery, and tumor immunology. He has published extensively in leading journals such as J Hepatol, J Infect Dis, Front Immunol, and Cell Death & Disease, contributing significantly to both basic and translational biomedical sciences. Dr. Meng has secured multiple competitive research grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, Shanghai Science and Technology Commission, and various postdoctoral programs. His scientific excellence has earned him numerous honors, including the Leading Talent Award of Minhang District and prestigious international travel and scholarship grants. His current research focuses on improving early cancer diagnostics and advancing immunotherapeutic strategies, positioning him as a key contributor to global efforts in infectious disease control and cancer research.

Professional Profile

🎓 Education Background of Dr. Zhefeng Meng

Dr. Zhefeng Meng has built a strong and multidisciplinary academic foundation in medical sciences. He earned his Ph.D. in Medical Molecular Virology from the National Center for AIDS and STD Control and Prevention (China CDC) between 2005 and 2008, focusing on HIV gene variation and evolution. Prior to this, he completed a Master’s degree in Medical Molecular Biology at Wenzhou Medical College from 2001 to 2004, where he conducted research on fusion proteins and gene expression. His academic journey began with a College Diploma in Clinical Laboratory Medicine at Hubei College of Traditional Chinese Medicine from 1996 to 1999. This diverse educational background laid a solid foundation for his future contributions in virology, oncology, and immunology.

💼 Professional Experience of Dr. Zhefeng Meng

Dr. Zhefeng Meng has amassed extensive professional experience across leading medical and research institutions. Since 2015, he has served as an Associate Professor and Deputy Director of the Scientific Research Department at Minhang Hospital, Fudan University, where he leads cutting-edge studies on HIV recombination, syphilis and influenza evolution, and cancer biomarkers. Prior to this, from 2010 to 2015, he worked as an Associate Professor at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, also affiliated with Fudan University, focusing on HIV-host protein interactions and viral replication mechanisms. From 2008 to 2010, Dr. Meng undertook postdoctoral research under Prof. Yumei Wen at Fudan University’s Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Virology, where he studied therapeutic vaccines and HIV gene mutations. His earlier roles include Ph.D. research at China CDC, research assistantship at Taizhou Hospital, and work in the biotech industry, all of which contributed to his development as a versatile and impactful researcher in infectious diseases and oncology.

🔬 Research Interests of Dr. Zhefeng Meng

Dr. Zhefeng Meng’s research interests lie at the intersection of virology, immunology, and oncology, with a strong focus on infectious disease pathogenesis and tumor biology. He is particularly interested in the genetic evolution, recombination, and functional mutations of HIV, as well as their impact on viral infectivity, immune evasion, and host interactions. His work extends to studying early diagnostic biomarkers for liver and colorectal cancers, aiming to improve cancer detection and treatment strategies. Additionally, Dr. Meng explores the immune regulatory roles of viral proteins and develops novel immunotherapeutic approaches, such as peptide-based vaccines and fusion proteins. His interdisciplinary approach integrates molecular biology, clinical research, and translational science to address pressing global health challenges.

🏅 Awards and Honors of Dr. Zhefeng Meng

Dr. Zhefeng Meng has been widely recognized for his outstanding contributions to biomedical research through numerous national and international awards. He was honored as one of the Leading Talents of Minhang District in 2018 and received the First Rank Zhejiang Provincial Award for Medical and Health Technology Innovation in 2012. His excellence as a young scientist was acknowledged with Young Investigator Scholarships at both AIDS 2012 and AIDS Vaccine 2012, and he earned travel grants for global virology symposiums. Earlier in his career, he was named a Top PhD Student at China CDC and received multiple provincial awards for science and technology innovations. His consistent academic excellence was also marked by honors such as the Kwang-Hua Scholarship, Top Graduate Student distinction from Wenzhou Medical College, and leadership awards during his undergraduate years. These accolades reflect Dr. Meng’s sustained impact, innovation, and leadership in the fields of virology and medical science.

✅ Conclusion

Dr. Zhefeng Meng is a highly accomplished biomedical researcher with a sustained and impactful contribution to infectious disease research, oncology, and molecular medicine. His work is scientifically rigorous, clinically relevant, and nationally recognized. With high-quality publications, funded research projects, and strong institutional leadership, he exemplifies the criteria for the Best Researcher Award.

📄 Publication Top Noted

Title: TLR10 expression in unswitched memory B associates with the disease activity of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Lumin Zhang, Linchang Yu, Quanfu Li, Meiping Ni, Qiongzhu Dong, Yufang Bao, Jinguan Zhang, Danping Ruan, Zhefeng Meng*, Nannan Lai
Journal: Clinical Rheumatology
Year: 2025
Citations: 3
Title: Nesfatin-1 regulates the HMGB1-TLR4-NF-κB signaling pathway to inhibit inflammation and its effects on the random skin flap survival in rats
Authors: [Not fully visible]
Journal: International Immunopharmacology
Year: 2023
Citations: 7
Title: Roxadustat promotes hypoxia-inducible factor-1α/vascular endothelial growth factor signalling to enhance random skin flap survival in rats
Authors: [Not fully visible]
Journal: International Wound Journal
Year: 2023
Citations: 9
Title: Saxagliptin promotes random skin flap survival
Authors: [Not fully visible]
Journal: International Immunopharmacology
Year: 2023
Citations: 10
Title: Evidence of Residual Ongoing Viral Replication in Chronic Hepatitis B Patients Successfully Treated With Nucleos(t)ide Analogues
Authors: Yu T, Zhang M, Zhang H, Zheng J, Shen C, Jiang N, Zou L, Wang J, Yu Y, Zhang Q, Yu S, Huang Y, Huang Y, Zhang J, Qiu C*, Zhang W*, Meng Z*.
Journal: Journal of Infectious Diseases
Year: 2023
Citations: 6

Andrei Kozlov | Evolutionary Biology | Best Researcher Award

Prof Andrei Kozlov, Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS, Russia

Prof. Andrei Kozlov is the Chief of the Lab of Gene Neofunctionalization at the Vavilov Institute of General Genetics RAS and the Director of The Biomedical Center in St. Petersburg, Russia. He also heads the Kozlov Laboratory of Theoretical Biology at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University. Born on May 22, 1950, in St. Petersburg, he earned his M.Sci. in Biochemistry from Leningrad State University and his Ph.D. from the Petrov Research Institute of Oncology. With extensive research in molecular virology and oncology, he has significantly contributed to HIV and cancer research. Prof. Kozlov is married with three children. 📚🔬👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

Publication profile

scopus

Education

In 1972, I earned my M.Sci. in Biochemistry from the Chair of Biochemistry at Leningrad State University, Leningrad, Russia. 🧬 From 1972 to 1975, I pursued my Ph.D. at the Petrov Research Institute of Oncology in St. Petersburg, Russia, focusing on the biochemistry of nucleic acids in both normal and malignant tissues. My Ph.D. thesis was titled “A comparative study of low molecular weight nuclear RNAs in normal and tumor tissues.” 📚 Between 1978 and 1979, I underwent postdoctoral research training in the Lab of Tumor Cell Biology under Dr. R. C. Gallo at the NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA, specializing in molecular oncovirology. 🔬

Experience

In 1981, I began my career as a Molecular Biology Lecturer at the prestigious Boarding School №45 for especially talented children, attached to St. Petersburg State University. From 1983 to 1987, I lectured on the Biochemistry of nucleic acids at the university’s Department of Biochemistry. I founded and served as Deputy Director of the MPH Program at St. Petersburg State University from 2005 to 2012, where I also lectured on HIV/AIDS Epidemiology & Prevention. Since 2012, I’ve been the Founder and Chief of the St. Petersburg Seminar on Molecular and Evolutionary Biology. Between 2018 and 2019, I was a Professor in the Department of Medical Physics at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, and since 2019, I have served as a High School Professor at the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology. 🌟📚

Honors

From 1992 to 2010, a Fellowship at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) was the foundation for many notable achievements. During this time, the annual international conference “AIDS, Cancer and Public Health” was established, and 19 conferences were chaired. Notable positions included advisory roles to the Russian parliament on HIV legislation (1994-1995), coordination of the Russian HIV Vaccine Project (1998-2002), and serving on various advisory boards. Numerous awards were received, such as the Russian National Chumakov Award (1999) and the Vernadsky Award (2005). The Vavilov Prize (2020) recognized contributions to cancer and HIV research. 🧬🏅🌍

Research focus

It seems you’re interested in the research focus of A.P. Kozlov. Based on the list of publications provided, Kozlov’s research primarily revolves around the evolutionary and developmental biology (evo-devo) of gene expression, the role of tumors in evolution, and the relationship between normal and tumor-like organs. Kozlov’s work integrates aspects of molecular evolution, gene expression patterns in cancer, and the emergence of novel cell types during evolution. Notably, Kozlov explores the theory of “carcino-evo-devo,” which posits a significant evolutionary role for hereditary tumors. This interdisciplinary approach spans genomics, oncology, and evolutionary biology, shedding light on the complexity of developmental processes and cancer evolution. 🧬🔬🦠📊

Mammalian tumor-like organs. 1. The role of tumor-like normal organs and atypical tumor organs in the evolution of development

Biological Computation and Compatibility Search in the Possibility Space as the Mechanism of Complexity Increase During Progressive Evolution

Erratum: Evolutionarily novel genes are expressed in transgenic fish tumors and their orthologs are involved in development of progressive traits in humans (Infectious Agents and Cancer (2019) 14 (46) DOI: 10.1186/s13027-019-0262-5)

Evolutionarily novel genes are expressed in transgenic fish tumors and their orthologs are involved in development of progressive traits in humans

Oncogenes, tumor suppressor and differentiation genes represent the oldest human gene classes and evolve concurrently

The increase of the magnitude of spontaneous viral blips in some participants of phase II clinical trial of therapeutic optimized HIV DNA vaccine candidate

Zhefeng Meng | Evolutionary Biology | Best Researcher Award