ALI KAISSI | Medicine and Health Sciences | Excellence in Research Award

ALI KAISSI | Medicine and Health Sciences | Excellence in Research Award

Prof. Dr ALI KAISSI, orthopaedic Hospital Speising Vienna, Austria

Dr. Ali Al Kaissi is a distinguished medical scientist and consultant in pediatric orthopedics with an illustrious international career spanning over four decades. A graduate of Al-Azhar University, Cairo, he pursued postgraduate training and specialization in the United Kingdom, Tunisia, Austria, and Russia. He is best known for his groundbreaking contributions to pediatric skeletal dysplasias and genetic disorders, including the identification of Al Kaissi syndrome (OMIM 617694). As an honorary professor and senior researcher, he has collaborated with prestigious institutions such as the Turner Orthopedic Institute (Russia), Ilizarov Institute (Kurgan), and the University of Saskatchewan (Canada). Dr. Al Kaissi’s multidisciplinary expertise and diagnostic acumen have contributed to the understanding of complex orthopedic and craniofacial disorders. His global impact is reflected through his numerous publications, awards, and honorary appointments.

Publication Profile

Scopus

Education

Dr. Al Kaissi received his foundational medical degree from Al-Azhar University, Cairo (1978). He continued his postgraduate education in the United Kingdom, earning a Certificate in Pediatrics (1988), followed by a Master’s degree in Pediatric Developmental Abnormalities from the University of Warwick (1990). His academic excellence was later recognized with a Doctor of Science (Honorary) from the Turner Scientific Research Institute for Children’s Orthopedics in Saint Petersburg, Russia (2017). His educational path reveals a strong emphasis on pediatric orthopedics, developmental abnormalities, and rare syndromic disorders. His continuous pursuit of medical education, coupled with his pioneering research, has laid the foundation for significant clinical contributions and novel diagnostic insights into congenital and acquired musculoskeletal diseases.

Experience

Dr. Al Kaissi has held numerous high-level clinical and research positions internationally. Since 2005, he has served as a consultant and scientist at the Orthopedic Hospital of Speising in Vienna, Austria. Previously, he led pediatric orthopedic clinical research at the Children’s Hospital in Tunis, Tunisia (1993–2005), where he also established a national center for early recognition of congenital malformation complexes. He has been involved in key medical posts in Iraq, the UK, and Russia, spanning from senior house officer roles to visiting professorships. His experience encompasses both the clinical management of pediatric orthopedic conditions and pioneering research into rare skeletal dysplasias and syndromes. His extensive global collaborations and ability to identify novel pathologies have positioned him as a leader in diagnostic orthopedic research.

Awards and Honors

Dr. Al Kaissi has been the recipient of numerous international awards recognizing his excellence in clinical research and diagnostics. He received the prestigious Russian Golden Medal for Distinguished Clinicians and the Silver Dagestani Sword in 2019. In 2017, he was conferred an Honorary Doctorate (DSc) from the Turner Pediatric Orthopedic Institute, Russia. His contributions have been acknowledged by ministries of health in Russia and Tunisia, among others. He holds honorary professorships at premier Russian institutions including the Ilizarov Institute and the Pediatric Kidney Clinic of Dagestan. His honors reflect not only individual achievement but also the broader impact of his diagnostic innovations on pediatric care and genetic research.

Research Focus

Dr. Al Kaissi’s research focuses on pediatric skeletal dysplasias, craniofacial anomalies, syndromic disorders, and orthopedic genetics. He has discovered and characterized several new syndromes including “Al Kaissi syndrome” (OMIM 617694) and contributed to the understanding of 3MC syndrome and Desbuquois dysplasia-like conditions. His diagnostic insights into wormian bones and thoracic collapse disorders have redefined clinical approaches in developmental orthopedics. His collaboration with environmental scientists has broadened his scope to ecotoxicology and skeletal pathology in wildlife exposed to toxins, reflecting a unique intersection between human and environmental health. His publications cover radiographic and tomographic evaluations, syndrome delineation, and the interplay of environmental exposures with skeletal disease. His work continues to shape diagnostic criteria and management protocols globally.

Publication Top Notes

  • Al Kaissi Syndrome – OMIM (617694): Identified a novel syndrome with growth retardation, spinal malformation, and dysmorphic facies.

  • 3MC Syndrome with Baraitser – OMIM (257920): Defined craniofacial and skeletal anomalies in conjunction with Michael Baraitser.

  • “Progressive Collapse of the Thoracic Cage” – American Journal of Medicine, 2017.

  • “Novel Conception of Wormian Bones” – Diagnostics Journal, 2023.

  • “Skeletal Pathology in Arctic Wildlife” – Science of the Total Environment, 2019 & Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2020.

  • “Meticulous and Early Understanding of Cranial Defects Can Save Lives” – Children, 2023.

  • “Craniofacial Malformations in Syndromic Entities” – Diagnostics, 2022.

  • “Arthrogryposis and Escobar Syndrome” – Minerva Pediatrics, 2024.

  • “Non-lethal ZMPSTE24 Mutation in Progeria” – Clinical Genetics, 2023.

Yasser Khazaal | Medicine and Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Yasser Khazaal | Medicine and Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Prof. Dr Yasser Khazaal, Lausanne university, Switzerland

Prof. Dr. Yasser Khazaal is a distinguished psychiatrist and researcher with extensive experience in addiction psychiatry. He earned his MD from René Descartes, Paris V, and Swiss Board Certification in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. Currently, he is a Full Professor at the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, and holds multiple roles including Associate Researcher at Montreal University. Prof. Khazaal’s research focuses on cognitive behavioral therapies, game-based interventions, and the development of smartphone apps for addiction treatment. He has published extensively on addictive disorders and is a key figure in international psychiatric societies. 🏥📚🔬

Publication Profile

google scholar

Education

Prof. Dr. Yasser Khazaal is a distinguished psychiatrist with an impressive academic background. He earned his MD from René Descartes, Paris V, France, in 1998. In 2005, he achieved Swiss Board Certification in Psychiatry and Psychotherapy. His expertise and contributions were further recognized with his appointment as a Privat Docent (senior lecturer) at Geneva University in 2009. Dr. Khazaal is known for his work in psychiatry and psychotherapy, holding a prominent position in the academic and clinical communities in Switzerland. 🌐🩺📚

Employment History

Prof. Dr. Yasser Khazaal has an extensive background in addiction psychiatry. From 2003 to 2005, he served as a senior psychiatrist and head of the mood and anxiety disorders outpatient unit at Lausanne University Hospital. From 2007 to 2018, he was the deputy head of the Addiction clinic at Geneva University Hospitals. Over the years, he held successive academic appointments at Geneva University, Switzerland, eventually becoming a full professor of addiction psychiatry at the Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne since 2019. He is also a member of the board of Addiction medicine at Lausanne University Hospital. Prof. Khazaal is an associate researcher at the Montreal University Institute of Mental Health, Canada, and an associate professor at the Department of Psychiatry and Addiction, Montreal University, Canada. Additionally, he served as a visiting professor at Kazimierz Wielki University, Poland, in 2022, as part of a project co-financed by the European Union. 📘🔍🌍

Teaching

Prof. Dr. Yasser Khazaal has extensive experience in teaching medical students at both the University of Lausanne (2003-2007, 2019-2023) and the University of Geneva (2007-2018). His teaching portfolio includes courses on mood and anxiety disorders (2003-2007), psychopharmacology (2006-2007), addiction (2019-2023), and community research in practice (2021-2023). He has also taught and supervised clinical cognitive and behavior therapy (CBT) skills (2018-2023), CBT for bipolar disorder (2007), CBT for mood disorders (2005-2006), and CBT of impulsive behaviors (2020). Prof. Dr. Khazaal is committed to integrating clinical teaching and practice in his courses. 📚💬🧠

Grants 

Prof. Dr. Yasser Khazaal is a leading researcher in addiction and mental health, with extensive funding from various Swiss and international sources. His projects include studies on cognitive behavioral interventions for psychosis, mood and anxiety disorders, smoking cessation, and smartphone applications for addiction treatment. Key grants include the Swiss National Science Foundation (268,426 CHF) and Astra-Zeneca (140,000 CHF) for LACOSMA, as well as research on “Impact of Pick Klop game on smoking cessation” (172,500 CHF) and smartphone applications (194,942 CHF). He collaborates internationally on projects such as managing trauma exposure in Congo (12,125 Euros) and the “Sesame” serious game for mental health (20,000 CHF). His work continues to advance the field with a focus on innovative and practical solutions to addiction and mental health challenges. 🧠💊🚬

Conferences and Awards

Prof. Dr. Yasser Khazaal is a distinguished academic and leader in the field of social psychiatry. He served as the Chair for the European Congress of Social Psychiatry in 2012, 2015, and 2018. He was also the Co-chair for the International Conference of Behavioral Addictions in 2016, held in Geneva, Switzerland. More recently, he co-chaired the Challenges of Ecology Related to Mental Health conference in Athens in 2022. In recognition of his contributions, he was elected an Honorary Fellow of the World Association of Social Psychiatry in 2013. 🌍🔍💬

Scientific Achievements

Prof. Dr. Yasser Khazaal is a renowned expert in addiction studies, focusing on game-based interventions, including delusions and smoking cessation. He has contributed significantly to the development of smartphone app interventions for addictive disorders and mood regulation. Prof. Khazaal has published extensively on the assessment and psychopathology of addictive disorders. He also leads research on Recovery Oriented Services, exploring community interventions and peer support initiatives. 🌱📱🚭📚

Research Focus

Yasser Khazaal is a researcher primarily focused on behavioral addictions, particularly in the context of online gaming and internet use. His work explores how common behaviors can become problematic without necessarily being pathologized as addiction. He investigates self-reported motivations behind playing online games, such as World of Warcraft, and examines problematic involvement in these games using various psychological and survey methods. Khazaal’s research aims to refine the understanding of behavioral addiction and its implications for mental health, with a particular interest in the validation and adaptation of assessment tools for addictive behaviors in digital environments. 💻🕹️📊

Publication Top notes

Are we overpathologizing everyday life? A tenable blueprint for behavioral addiction research

How can we conceptualize behavioural addiction without pathologizing common behaviours?

Why do you play World of Warcraft? An in-depth exploration of self-reported motivations to play online and in-game behaviours in the virtual world of Azeroth

French validation of the internet addiction test

Validation of a short French version of the UPPS-P Impulsive Behavior Scale

Problematic involvement in online games: A cluster analytic approach

Does self-selection affect samples’ representativeness in online surveys? An investigation in online video game research

Motivations to play specifically predict excessive involvement in massively multiplayer online role-playing games: evidence from an online survey

 

 

 

Gulali Aktas | Medicine and Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Gulali Aktas | Medicine and Health Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Prof Dr Gulali Aktas, Abant Izzet Baysal University Hospital, Turkey

Prof. Dr. Gulali Aktas is a dedicated physician with 24 years of experience in internal medicine. As an academician for 13 years, he has mentored countless medical students and contributed to significant research. He holds an MD and Associate Professorship from Abant Izzet Baysal University. His prolific work includes 183 international journal publications, 19 conference presentations, and 11 book chapters. Recognized for his excellence, he was nominated for the Raise the Line Faculty Award in 2022 and is listed in Stanford University’s top 2% scientists. Fluent in Turkish, English, and basic German, he champions patient-centered care and lifelong learning. 🏥📚🌟

Publication profile

google scholar

Education

Dr. Gulali Aktas is an Associate Professor of Internal Medicine since 2015. They completed their Internal Medicine residency (PhD equivalent) at Ondokuz Mayis University, Samsun, Turkey (2003-2008), and Pulmonology residency at Yedikule Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey (2002-2003). They earned their MD from Ondokuz Mayis University in 2000. With 211 research contributions published in peer-reviewed journals and an impressive H-index of 35 (WoS), 42 (Google Scholar), and 36 (Scopus), Dr. Gulali Aktas is a prominent researcher. Fluent in Turkish, English, and basic German, they are known for their honesty, hard work, optimism, and foresight. 🌟📚🩺🌍

Experience

From 2011 to 2014, courses such as Dyspnea and Edema, Approach to Chest Pain, Fever and Hyperthermia, and Leukopenia and Leukocytosis were taught in the spring, while Chronic Leukemia, Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplasia, and Principles of Blood Transfusion were covered in the autumn. Rheumatology topics like Anamnesis, Physical Examination, and Laboratory Test Analysis were emphasized. Other subjects included Familial Mediterranean Fever, Behcet’s Disease, Chronic Pancreatitis, Liver Cirrhosis, Esophageal Diseases, Colon Polyps, Celiac Disease, Chronic Viral and Non-Viral Hepatitis, and Mesenteric Ischemia. 🩺📚✨

Presentations

Dr. Gulali Aktaş has presented several notable studies. At the 30th World Congress of Endourology in 2012, his team discussed “Warfarin intoxication induced bilateral renal hematoma” (📚🩸). He compared surgical techniques for pylonidal sinus surgery and explored sleep quality in IBS patients at the XVI Annual European Society of Surgery (🔪💤). In 2013, at the 50th ERA-EDTA Congress, he highlighted the effects of nocturnal blood pressure on hemodialysis patients’ nutrition (🌙🩺). His research on metabolic syndrome, presented at the 10th Metabolic Syndrome Symposium, investigated platelet volume, epicardial adipose tissue, and non-alcoholic hepatosteatosis (🩸📈). At the 51st ERA-EDTA Congress, he examined atrial conduction in hemodialysis patients (❤️🩺).

Research focus

G Aktas focuses on the use of hematological and biochemical markers as diagnostic and prognostic tools in various medical conditions. His research includes studies on the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio as an indicator for diabetic control in type 2 diabetes mellitus and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. He also explores the predictive value of the uric acid to HDL cholesterol ratio for metabolic syndrome and diabetes control, as well as novel inflammatory markers derived from hemogram parameters in irritable bowel syndrome and COVID-19. His work aims to improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. 🩸🔬📊

Publication top notes

Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio as an indicative of diabetic control level in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the diagnosis of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis

Uric acid to HDL cholesterol ratio is a strong predictor of diabetic control in men with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Does neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio predict active ulcerative colitis?

Serum uric acid to HDL-cholesterol ratio is a strong predictor of metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Diabetes control could through platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in hemograms

Irritable bowel syndrome is associated with novel inflammatory markers derived from hemogram parameters

Could red cell distribution width be a marker in Hashimoto’s thyroiditis?

Association between novel inflammatory markers derived from hemogram indices and metabolic parameters in type 2 diabetic men

Hematological predictors of novel Coronavirus infection