Dr. Melissa Christiaens | Cervical Cancer | Best Researcher Award

Radiation-Oncology | University Hospitals Leuven | Belgium

Dr. Melissa Christiaens is a highly accomplished Radiation Oncologist recognized for her contributions to the advancement of radiotherapy and clinical oncology research. With extensive experience in oncological treatment, she has played a key role in integrating evidence-based radiotherapy techniques into modern cancer care. Her professional expertise spans across radiotherapy quality assurance, pediatric oncology, gynecologic cancers, and multidisciplinary tumor management. As an active member of several leading scientific organizations—including the European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology, the Paediatric Radiation Oncology Society, the European Society of Gynaecological Oncology, the EuroEwing Consortium, and the Connective Tissue Oncology Society—she consistently collaborates in large-scale international research networks to improve patient outcomes and optimize therapeutic protocols. Her research interests focus on clinical trials in radiotherapy, immuno-oncology integration, and precision treatment strategies for rare and complex cancers. Dr. Christiaens has contributed to numerous high-impact peer-reviewed journals such as The Lancet, Radiotherapy and Oncology, BMC Cancer, and Gynecologic Oncology, where her publications have enhanced the scientific understanding of cancer treatment outcomes, safety, and innovation. Her research skills encompass clinical data interpretation, protocol development, treatment optimization, and evidence synthesis—supported by her commitment to maintaining the highest standards of clinical excellence. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated exceptional leadership in oncology research and education, promoting collaboration and innovation within the global cancer research community. Her achievements continue to inspire advancements in patient-centered cancer therapy and clinical radiobiology. Her enduring scientific legacy is reflected through 1,417 citations, 25 documents, and an h-index of 12, underscoring her influential role in advancing the frontiers of clinical radiotherapy, oncology innovation, and multidisciplinary cancer research.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ResearchGate

Featured Publications

1. Pötter, R., Tanderup, K., Schmid, M. P., Jürgenliemk-Schulz, I., Haie-Meder, C., & Christiaens, M., et al. (2021). MRI-guided adaptive brachytherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer (EMBRACE-I): A multicentre prospective cohort study. The Lancet Oncology, 22(4), 538–547. Cited by: 613

2. Zhang, H., Ahearn, T. U., Lecarpentier, J., Barnes, D., Beesley, J., Qi, G., Jiang, X., & Christiaens, M., et al. (2020). Genome-wide association study identifies 32 novel breast cancer susceptibility loci from overall and subtype-specific analyses. Nature Genetics, 52(6), 572–581. Cited by: 466

3. Lorusso, D., Xiang, Y., Hasegawa, K., Scambia, G., Leiva, M., Ramos-Elias, P., & Christiaens, M., et al. (2024). Pembrolizumab or placebo with chemoradiotherapy followed by pembrolizumab or placebo for newly diagnosed, high-risk, locally advanced cervical cancer (ENGOT-cx11/GOG-3047/KEYNOTE-A18). The Lancet, 404(10460), 1321–1332.
Cited by: 323

4. Ajithkumar, T., Horan, G., Padovani, L., Thorp, N., Timmermann, B., Alapetite, C., & Christiaens, M., et al. (2018). SIOPE–Brain tumor group consensus guideline on craniospinal target volume delineation for high-precision radiotherapy. Radiotherapy and Oncology, 128(2), 192–197. Cited by: 113

5. De Ruysscher, D., Sharifi, H., Defraene, G., Kerns, S. L., & Christiaens, M., et al. (2013). Quantification of radiation-induced lung damage with CT scans: The possible benefit for radiogenomics. Acta Oncologica, 52(7), 1405–1410. Cited by: 74

Prof. Dr. Ramon Mangues | Cancer | Best Research Article Award

Pharmacological Research | Institut de Recerca Sant Pau | Spain

Prof. Dr. Ramon Mangues Bafalluy, PharmD, PhD, is a distinguished Clinical Pharmacist and Biomedical Research Professor at the Institut de Recerca, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, where he leads the Consolidated Oncogenesis and Antitumor Drugs Group (GOA). A recognized authority in oncology, nanomedicine, and targeted drug delivery, he has made pioneering contributions to the development of therapeutic nanotechnologies and translational cancer research. Trained in pharmacy and clinical pharmacology, Dr. Mangues advanced his expertise in cancer biology through extensive postdoctoral research at the New York University Medical Center. His professional career spans key leadership roles within IIB Sant Pau, CIBER-BBN, and as Co-founder and Scientific Advisor of Nanoligent S.L., a spin-off dedicated to translating nanomedicine discoveries into clinical therapies. His research interests encompass nanoconjugates, protein-based nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery, immunotherapeutic strategies, preclinical drug development, and biomarker identification for improved cancer diagnosis and treatment. A strong advocate of collaborative science, he has partnered with leading clinical specialists and secured numerous competitive research grants, including participation in major European Union initiatives such as SAFE-N-MEDTECH, EuroTransBio, and H2020 programs. Holding multiple patents in nanomedicine, Dr. Mangues’s innovative work bridges the gap between molecular oncology and clinical application. As a mentor and academic leader, he has supervised numerous doctoral theses and authored an extensive body of publications that have shaped contemporary cancer nanotherapy approaches. His achievements have been recognized through prestigious distinctions for research excellence and international scientific leadership. Dr. Mangues’s enduring impact on biomedical innovation is evident through 7,280 citations, 154 documents, and an h-index of 42, underscoring his influential role in advancing nanomedicine and targeted cancer therapy research.

Profiles: Google Scholar | Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

1. Merlos-Suárez, A., Barriga, F. M., Jung, P., Iglesias, M., Céspedes, M. V., Rossell, D., Sevillano, M., Attolini, C. S.-O., Hernando-Momblona, X., da Silva-Diz, V., Muñoz, P., Clevers, H., Sancho, E., Mangues, R., & Batlle, E. (2011). The intestinal stem cell signature identifies colorectal cancer stem cells and predicts disease relapse. Cell Stem Cell, 8(5), 511–524. Cited by: 1,145

2. Sanchez-Garcia, L., Martín, L., Mangues, R., Ferrer-Miralles, N., Vázquez, E., & Villaverde, A. (2016). Recombinant pharmaceuticals from microbial cells: A 2015 update. Microbial Cell Factories, 15(1), 33. Cited by: 445

3. Esteller, M., Gonzalez, S., Risques, R. A., Marcuello, E., Mangues, R., Germa, J. R., Herman, J. G., Capellà, G., & Peinado, M. A. (2001). K-ras and p16 aberrations confer poor prognosis in human colorectal cancer. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 19(2), 299–304. Cited by: 335

4. Guerrero, S., Casanova, I., Farré, L., Mazo, A., Capellà, G., & Mangues, R. (2000). K-ras codon 12 mutation induces higher level of resistance to apoptosis and predisposition to anchorage-independent growth than codon 13 mutation or proto-oncogene. Cancer Research, 60(23), 6750–6756. Cited by: 325

5. Ventura, S., Zurdo, J., Narayanan, S., Parreño, M., Mangues, R., Reif, B., Chiti, F., Giannoni, E., Dobson, C. M., & Serrano, L. (2004). Short amino acid stretches can mediate amyloid formation in globular proteins: The Src homology 3 (SH3) case. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 101(19), 7258–7263. Cited by: 301