Dr. Nagendra Verma | Life Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Research specialist| St. Cloud State University | United States

Dr. Nagendra Verma is a highly accomplished biomedical scientist specializing in cellular and molecular biology, molecular oncology, and regenerative medicine, with over a decade of international research experience. His work focuses on the therapeutic and regulatory roles of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and microRNAs in ocular and cancer biology, particularly exploring their applications in corneal wound healing, stem cell regulation, and STAT3-dependent cancer inhibition. Dr. Verma has authored 11 research publications, cited 104 times by 95 documents, achieving an h-index of 7. His research demonstrates a strong command of molecular diagnostics, genomics, and biophysical methodologies, contributing to significant advancements in understanding disease mechanisms and developing novel therapeutic interventions. He has collaborated extensively within interdisciplinary academic and industrial environments, reflecting his ability to integrate scientific innovation with translational potential. As an active member of global scientific societies such as ARVO, RAPS, and AAMI, Dr. Verma also serves as a reviewer and editorial board member for numerous international journals, including Scientific Reports, Cells, and Molecular Vision. His contributions extend beyond research through mentoring students, presenting at international conferences, and earning recognition for excellence in scientific investigation. Dr. Verma’s work continues to bridge molecular insights with therapeutic innovation, emphasizing precision, collaboration, and impactful discovery in biomedical science.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

Verma, N., Franchitto, M., Zonfrilli, A., Cialfi, S., Palermo, R., & Talora, C. (2019). DNA damage stress: Cui prodest? International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 20(5), 1073.
Verma, N., Khare, D., Poe, A. J., Amador, C., Ghiam, S., Fealy, A., Ebrahimi, S., Shadrokh, O., Song, X.-Y., Santiskulvong, C., et al. (2023). MicroRNA and protein cargos of human limbal epithelial cell-derived exosomes and their regulatory roles in limbal stromal cells of diabetic and non-diabetic corneas. Cells, 12.
Verma, N., Arora, S., Singh, A. K., & Kumar, A. (2025). Extracellular vesicle-associated miRNAs in cornea health and disease: Diagnostic potential and therapeutic implications. Targets, 3(32).
Verma, N., Arora, S., Singh, A. K., & Ahmed, J. (2025). Unlocking the potential of exosomes (extracellular vesicles): Drug delivery advancements and therapeutics in ocular diseases. RSC Pharmaceutics, 1(97).
Verma, N., & Arora, S. (2025). Navigating the global regulatory landscape for exosome-based therapeutics: Challenges, strategies, and future directions. Pharmaceutics, 17(990).
Arora, S., & Verma, N. (2024). Advancing organic electronics through the lens of ionic liquids and polymerized ionic liquids: A review. RSC Applied Polymers.
Arora, S., & Verma, N. (2024). Exosomal microRNAs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets in corneal diseases. Molecular Vision, 30, 92–106.
De Blasio, C., Verma, N., Moretti, M., Cialfi, S., Zonfrilli, A., Franchitto, M., Truglio, F., De Smaele, E., Ichijo, H., Naguro, I., Screpanti, I., & Talora, C. (2021). Functional cooperation between ASK1 and p21(Waf1/Cip1) in the balance of cell-cycle arrest, cell death, and tumorigenesis of stressed keratinocytes. Cell Death Discovery, 7(1), 75.
De Blasio, C., Zonfrilli, A., Franchitto, M., Mariano, G., Cialfi, S., Verma, N., Checquolo, S., Bellavia, D., Palermo, R., Benelli, D., Screpanti, I., & Talora, C. (2019). PLK1 targets NOTCH1 during DNA damage and mitotic progression. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 294(47), 17941–17950.
Yue, P., Zhu, Y., Brotherton-Pleiss, C., Fu, W., Verma, N., Chen, J., Nakamura, K., Chen, W., Chen, Y., Alonso-Valenteen, F., Mikhael, S., Medina-Kauwe, L., Kershaw, K. M., Celeridad, M., Pan, S., Limpert, A. S., Sheffler, D. J., Cosford, N. D. P., Shiao, S. L., & Turkson, J. (2022). Novel potent azetidine-based compounds irreversibly inhibit STAT3 activation and induce antitumor response against human breast tumor growth in vivo. Cancer Letters, 534, 215613.

Dr. Vipin Kumar Yadav | Bioresource Technology | Best Researcher Award

Postdoctoral | H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute | United States

Dr. Vipin Kumar Yadav is a multidisciplinary scientist currently serving as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, USA. He holds advanced degrees in Applied Microbiology and Biological Sciences, having completed his doctoral training at the CSIR–Indian Institute of Toxicology Research, India, and postdoctoral training in Cancer Biology in the United States. His professional experience spans molecular oncology, toxicology, and environmental biotechnology, with significant contributions to understanding nitrosylation-driven resistance in NRAS-mutant melanoma, melanin chemiexcitation in UV-induced DNA damage, and autophagy-mediated mechanisms in KRAS-driven cancers. Dr. Yadav’s research interests lie at the intersection of molecular cancer biology, redox signaling, immunogenic cell death, and bioremediation, with an emphasis on developing integrative therapeutic and environmental strategies to combat genotoxic stress. He possesses strong technical expertise in genome editing, proteomics, cell-based assays, and in vivo tumor modeling. His scientific achievements have been recognized through several national and international fellowships and awards, reflecting his commitment to translational and sustainable research. Overall, Dr. Yadav’s work bridges toxicology and oncology to advance innovative molecular insights and therapeutic solutions for both human health and environmental protection.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Peng, S. B., Henry, J. R., Kaufman, M. D., Lu, W. P., Smith, B. D., Vogeti, S., … & Yadav, V. (2015). Inhibition of RAF isoforms and active dimers by LY3009120 leads to anti-tumor activities in RAS or BRAF mutant cancers. Cancer Cell, 28(3), 384–398.
Yadav, V., Zhang, X., Liu, J., Estrem, S., Li, S., Gong, X. Q., Buchanan, S., Henry, J. R., & Peng, S. B. (2012). Reactivation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway by FGF receptor 3 (FGFR3)/Ras mediates resistance to vemurafenib in human B-RAF V600E mutant melanoma. Journal of Biological Chemistry, 287(33), 28087–28098.
Chen, S. H., Zhang, Y., Van Horn, R. D., Yin, T., Buchanan, S., Yadav, V., … & Peng, S. B. (2016). Oncogenic BRAF deletions that function as homodimers and are sensitive to inhibition by RAF dimer inhibitor LY3009120. Cancer Discovery, 6(3), 300–315.
Chen, Y., McGee, J., Chen, X., Doman, T. N., Gong, X., Zhang, Y., Hamm, N., Ma, X., … & Yadav, V. (2014). Identification of druggable cancer driver genes amplified across TCGA datasets. PLoS ONE, 9(5), e98293.
Yadav, V., Burke, T. F., Huber, L., Van Horn, R. D., Zhang, Y., Buchanan, S. G., … & Peng, S. B. (2014). The CDK4/6 inhibitor LY2835219 overcomes vemurafenib resistance resulting from MAPK reactivation and cyclin D1 upregulation. Molecular Cancer Therapeutics, 13(10), 2253–2263.
Yadav, V., & Denning, M. F. (2011). Fyn is induced by Ras/PI3K/Akt signaling and is required for enhanced invasion/migration. Molecular Carcinogenesis, 50(5), 346–352.
Atkinson, J. M., Rank, K. B., Zeng, Y., Capen, A., Yadav, V., Manro, J. R., Engler, T. A., … & Peng, S. B. (2015). Activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway for the treatment of melanoma – Application of LY2090314, a novel selective inhibitor of glycogen synthase kinase-3. PLoS ONE, 10(4), e0125028.
Yadav, V., Chen, S. H., Yue, Y. G., Buchanan, S., Beckmann, R. P., & Peng, S. B. (2014). Co-targeting BRAF and cyclin dependent kinases 4/6 for BRAF mutant cancers. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 44, [Article/Pages not specified].
Yadav, V., Yanez, N. C., Fenton, S. E., & Denning, M. F. (2010). Loss of protein kinase C δ gene expression in human squamous cell carcinomas: A laser capture microdissection study. The American Journal of Pathology, 176(3), 1091–1096.
Voris, J. P., Sitailo, L. A., Rahn, H. R., Defnet, A., Gerds, A. T., Sprague, R., & Yadav, V. (2010). Functional alterations in protein kinase C beta II expression in melanoma. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research, 23(2), 216–224.