Mario Garcia-Verdugo Jimenez-Egizabal | Neuroanatomy | Best Researcher Award

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Mr. Mario Garcia-Verdugo Jimenez-Egizabal | Neuroanatomy | Best Researcher Award

Instituto Cajal (CSIC) | Spain 

Mario Garcia-Verdugo Jimenez-Egizabal is a predoctoral student at the Instituto Cajal, CSIC, whose academic journey reflects a strong interdisciplinary foundation in biotechnology, computational biology, and neuroscience. He earned his degree in Biotechnology from the University of the Basque Country, where he conducted his undergraduate thesis in nanotechnology at the Biofisika Institute (CSIC). He later completed a Master’s in Computational Biology from the Polytechnic University of Madrid, carrying out his research at the Complutense University of Madrid in the field of membrane biophysics. Currently, his doctoral research focuses on the study of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s disease and its non-motor symptoms such as depression. His recent publication, “From rodents to humans: Conserved codistribution of dopaminergic with serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus and their molecular characterization,” underscores his contribution to understanding the conserved neural architecture underlying mood regulation and neurodegeneration. With two journal publications, an h-index of 2, three documents, and three citations, Mario demonstrates growing academic influence in neuroscience research. His work provides novel insights into the dopaminergic populations of the dorsal raphe nucleus, offering a new perspective on the neurobiological mechanisms of depression and Parkinson’s disease.

Profile: Orcid 

Featured Publications 

Garcia-Verdugo, M., Rodriguez Martin, P., Gustincich, S., Lanciego, J. L., Murer, M. G., Jercog, P., & Moratalla, R. (2025). From rodents to humans: Conserved codistribution of dopaminergic with serotonergic neurons in the dorsal raphe nucleus and their molecular characterization. Neurobiology of Disease, 201, 107173.

Caselli, N., Garcia-Verdugo, M., Calero, M., Hernando-Ospina, N., Santiago, J. A., Herráez-Aguilar, D., & Monroy, F. (2024). Red blood cell flickering activity locally controlled by holographic optical tweezers. iScience, 27(6), 109915.

Prof. Kuo Hsuan Chang – Neurology – Best Researcher Award

Posted on by Innovator Awards

Prof. Kuo Hsuan Chang - Neurology - Best Researcher Award

Chang Gung Memorial Hospital - Taiwan

Author Profile 

SCOPUS 

ORCID 

🌱 Early academic pursuits

Kuo Hsuan Chang began his academic journey with distinction at the taipei municipal chien-kuo high school from 1990 to 1993. he then entered the prestigious school of medicine at taipei medical university (formerly taipei medical college), where he studied from 1993 to 2000. his passion for neurology and medical sciences set the foundation for his future endeavors. driven by curiosity and scientific excellence, he pursued his ph.d. at imperial college london from 2007 to 2010, focusing on stem cell neurogenesis under the mrc clinical sciences center. this early immersion in both clinical medicine and neurobiology illustrates his ambition to merge clinical practice with advanced biomedical research—laying the groundwork for his power electronics–level impact in neurological science.

🩺 Professional endeavors

Chang’s clinical career launched with an internship at mackay memorial hospital in 1999. he then progressed through a rigorous residency in the second department of neurology at chang-gung memorial hospital, linkou medical center. he continued his training with a specialized fellowship in neuromuscular diseases before securing a long-standing position as an attending Neurology physician at the same institution. in 2019, he was promoted to professor at chang-gung memorial hospital and university college of medicine. his professional trajectory, marked by consistency and depth, has amplified his contributions in both academic and clinical settings—mirroring the precision and reliability found in power electronics systems.

🧠 Contributions and research focus

Chang’s research spans clinical neurology, neurodegenerative diseases, neurogenetics, neuroimmunology, stem cell research, and developmental biology. he has combined his expertise in Neurology cellular neuroscience with clinical applications, pioneering translational approaches to understand and treat complex neurological conditions. his role in multiple national and regional societies has also empowered him to advocate for better diagnostic and therapeutic protocols. notably, his stem cell-based research into neural repair mechanisms offers hope for conditions that were once deemed untreatable—channeling the disruptive energy of power electronics to innovate in brain science.

🌍 Impact and influence

As an executive and council member in several prominent societies, including the taiwan neurological society and the pan-asian committee on treatment and research in multiple sclerosis Neurology (pactrims), chang has contributed significantly to the development of neurology across asia. his educational outreach, policy influence, and participation in international forums have made him a respected voice in neurological research and healthcare systems. his dual fluency in mandarin and english facilitates broader communication and collaboration in the global scientific community.

🏛️ Academic cites

Chang has contributed to numerous peer-reviewed publications, academic conferences, and translational studies—particularly in the domains of stem cell neurogenesis and neurodegeneration. his time at imperial college london provided access to elite research networks, enhancing the global visibility of his work. his citations reflect a scholar whose research has both depth and breadth, often cited in works focusing on innovative neural therapies and clinical protocols for rare neurological disorders.

🌟 Legacy and future contributions

With a career that bridges clinical neurology and stem cell research, chang’s legacy lies in his ability to unify these fields for the betterment of patient care. his continued presence at chang-gung memorial hospital ensures mentorship to upcoming physicians and researchers. future initiatives are likely to delve deeper into personalized medicine, neuro-regenerative technologies, and collaborative clinical trials. his sustained contribution to neuroimmunology and rare disease advocacy paves the way for groundbreaking treatment models in asia and beyond.

Notable Publications 

  • Title: Appropriate volumes of water for non-invasive swallowing assessments of nursing home residents: A descriptive correlational study
    Author(s): Tsai, M.R.; Shieh, W.Y.; Tsai, H.H.; Lotus Shyu, Y.I.; Chang, K.H.; Wen, F.H.; Liu, C.Y.
    Journal: Heliyon

  • Title: Dysregulation of choline metabolism and therapeutic potential of citicoline in Huntington's disease
    Author(s): Chang, K.-H.; Cheng, M.-L.; Tang, H.-Y.; Lin, C.-Y.; Chen, C.-M.
    Journal: Aging Cell

  • Title: Heterogeneous Integration of Memristive and Piezoresistive MDMO-PPV-Based Copolymers in Nociceptive Transmission with Fast and Slow Pain for an Artificial Pain-Perceptual System
    Author(s): Tsao, S.-C.; Chang, K.-H.; Fu, Y.; Tai, H.-H.; Lin, T.-H.; Wu, M.-C.; Wang, J.-C.
    Journal: Small

  • Title: Impact of comorbidities on relapsing rates of Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders: Insights from a longitudinal study in Taiwan
    Author(s): Hsu, J.L.; Cheng, M.-Y.; Su, J.J.; Liao, M.-F.; Kuo, H.-C.; Chu, C.-C.; Chen, C.-M.; Chang, K.-H.; Chang, C.-W.; Wu, Y.-R., et al.
    Journal: Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders

  • Title: Investigating the therapeutic effects of novel compounds targeting inflammatory IL-1β and IL-6 signaling pathways in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3
    Author(s): Chen, I.-C.; Chen, W.-L.; Chang, K.-H.; Lee, J.-W.; Lin, T.-H.; Lin, W.; Chen, C.-M.; Lee-Chen, G.-J.
    Journal: European Journal of Pharmacology