Dr. Pouria Mazinani | Biomechanics | Young Researcher Award

PhD | University of Catania | Iran

Dr. Pouria Mazinani is a multidisciplinary researcher and project manager whose expertise spans mechanical and civil engineering, biomechanics, and computational modeling. His research primarily focuses on biomechanics of the cornea, shell structures, and finite element simulations, with particular emphasis on shear wave elastography, corneal elasticity assessment, and parametric optimization. Dr. Mazinani has contributed significantly to the understanding of viscous fingering phenomena in porous media, advancing insights into fluid displacement and injection velocity effects within oil and gas reservoirs. His studies integrate advanced computational tools such as ABAQUS, ANSYS, COMSOL, Python, and MATLAB, bridging theoretical modeling with experimental validation. With publications in leading journals including Continuum Mechanics and Thermodynamics, Mechanics Research Communications, and Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids, his work has earned 13 citations across 13 documents and 5 documents with an h-index of 2. Beyond his research, Dr. Mazinani has demonstrated strong leadership as a project manager in the engineering industry, overseeing inspection and quality control projects and ensuring adherence to international standards. His broad technical background, combined with expertise in computational structural mechanics, quality assurance systems (ISO standards), and project management, reflects a versatile and innovative approach to engineering research and practice.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Zare Vamerzani, B., Zadehkabir, A., Saffari, H., Hosseinalipoor, S. M., & Mazinani, P. (2021). Experimental analysis of fluid displacement and viscous fingering instability in fractured porous medium: Effect of injection rate. Journal of the Brazilian Society of Mechanical Sciences and Engineering, 43(9).
Mazinani, P., Cardillo, C., & Mosaddegh, P. (2025). Evaluating corneal biomechanics using shear wave elastography and finite element modeling: Sensitivity analysis and parametric optimization. Continuum Mechanics and Thermodynamics, 37(1), 12.
Zadehkabir, A., Mazinani, P., Zare Vamerzani, B., Cardillo, C., & Saffari, H. (2025). Experimental study of fluid displacement and viscous fingering in fractured porous media: Effect of viscosity ratio. Continuum Mechanics and Thermodynamics, 37(2), 29.
Mazinani, P., Setayeshnasab, H., & Murcia Terranova, L. (2025). Evaluating corneal biomechanics using intraocular pressure methods and finite element modeling: Parameters study and parametric optimization. Zeitschrift für angewandte Mathematik und Physik, 76(6), 220.
Mazinani, P., & Murcia Terranova, L. (2025). Finite element simulation for finding shear wave velocity on the canine cornea and sensitivity analysis for IOP parameter. Mechanics Research Communications, 104558.
Mazinani, P., & Cardillo, C. (2025). Shear wave velocity and finite element modeling for understanding keratoconus biomechanics: Comparison with healthy cornea. Mathematics and Mechanics of Solids, 10812865251347512.

Prof.Francisco Ciruela|Bioengineering| Best Researcher Award

Professor of Pharmacology,University of Barcelona,Spain

Professor Francisco Ciruela has built an outstanding research career around the pharmacological modulation of GPCRs, particularly through photopharmacology and bioengineering, with far-reaching implications in pain, neurodegeneration, and dermatological disorders. His publication impact, scientific leadership, and multidisciplinary collaborations reflect excellence, innovation, and relevance in his field.

Profile:

Scopus

Education and Training:

Prof. Francisco Ciruela received his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Barcelona in 1990. He continued at the same institution to earn his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences in 1995. His academic foundation laid the groundwork for an accomplished career in pharmacology and neuroscience, particularly in the study of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs).

Professional Experience:

Prof. Ciruela has held various prestigious research and academic positions. He was an EMBO Fellow and then a Wellcome Trust Fellow at the University of Oxford between 1997 and 2000. In 2002, he began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at the University of Barcelona, later becoming a “Ramón y Cajal” Researcher from 2003 to 2007. He undertook a short-term fellowship in 2007 at Harvard Medical School and served as a Special Visiting Researcher in Brazil between 2012 and 2015. Since 2013, he has been a Guest Professor at Ghent University, Belgium. He has also served as the Rector’s Delegate for Strategic Research Actions at the University of Barcelona (2017–2020) and is currently the Coordinator of the Neuroscience Program at IDIBELL, Spain.

Skills and Expertise:

Prof. Ciruela is a leading expert in neuropharmacology, molecular pharmacology, and bioengineering, with deep specialization in GPCR biology. His technical expertise includes fluorescence-based biosensors, photopharmacology, and bioengineered tools for studying neurotransmission, pain, and neurological disorders. He also has extensive experience in coordinating interdisciplinary teams, clinical trials, and translational research.

Research Focus:

The core of Prof. Ciruela’s research lies in understanding GPCRs to develop novel pharmacological strategies for treating neurological, neuropsychiatric, and pain-related disorders. His work integrates advanced bioengineering techniques with pharmacology to create targeted and photo-controllable therapies. His lab also focuses on developing innovative technologies such as light-sensitive ligands and biosensors, bridging basic neuroscience with clinical applications.

Awards and Honors:

Prof. Ciruela’s work has been widely recognized. He received the Pharmacology Award from the Spanish Society of Pharmacology and Almirall Laboratories in 2008. In 2010, he was honored with the “ICREA Acadèmia” award from the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies. In 2017, he received the prestigious Grünenthal Foundation Award for his contributions to pain research.

Publications:

1. Temporomandibular disorders and mental health: shared etiologies and treatment approaches

Authors: Wan, Jiamin; Lin, Jiu; Zha, Tingfeng; Chen, Qianming; Chen, Xiaoyan

Year: [Not specified]

Citations: 0

Type: Article • Open access

2. Striatal dopamine D2, adenosine A2A and cannabinoid CB1 receptors balance as a target against non-cognitive symptoms in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease

Authors: Gómez-Acero, Laura; Sánchez-Fernández, Nuria; Subirana, Paula; Ciruela, Francisco; Aso, Ester

Journal: Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Behavior

Year: 2025

Citations: 0

Type: Article • Open access

3. Nanoarchitecture of CaV2.1 channels and GABAB receptors in the mouse hippocampus: Impact of APP/PS1 pathology

Authors: Martín-Belmonte, Alejandro; Aguado, Carolina; Alfaro-Ruíz, Rocío; Ciruela, Francisco; Luján, Rafael

Journal: Brain Pathology

Year: 2025

Citations: 1

Type: Article • Open access

4. Author Correction: Systematic protein-protein interaction mapping for clinically relevant human GPCRs

Authors: Sokolina, Kate; Kittanakom, Saranya; Snider, Jamie D.; Jurisica, Igor; Stagljar, Igor

Journal: Molecular Systems Biology (Correction for 2017 article)

Year: [Correction date not specified]

Citations: 0

Type: Erratum • Open access

5. Lessons from the physiological role of guanosine in neurodegeneration and cancer: Toward a multimodal mechanism of action?

Authors: Tasca, Carla Inês Inês; Zuccarini, Mariachiara; Di Iorio, Patrizia; Ciruela, Francisco

Year: [Not specified]

Citations: 1

Type: Review

6. The dopaminergic effects of esketamine are mediated by a dual mechanism involving glutamate and opioid receptors

Authors: Rizzo, Arianna; Garçon-Poca, Maria Zelai; Essmann, Amelie; Ciruela, Francisco; Bonaventura, Jordi

Journal: Molecular Psychiatry

Year: 2025

Citations: 0

Type: Article • Open access

Conclusion:

Prof. Ciruela exemplifies the qualities of a best-in-class researcher: scientific excellence, innovation, interdisciplinary impact, and translational relevance. His record aligns perfectly with the aims of a prestigious research recognition award and would reflect well on any institution granting it.