Dr. Okechukwu Obulezi | Blood Cancer | Best Paper Award

Lecturer | Nnamdi Azikiwe Univeristy | Nigeria

Dr. Okechukwu Jeremiah Obulezi, Ph.D., is a distinguished statistician whose academic trajectory, research productivity, and multidisciplinary impact make him exceptionally suitable for a Best Paper Award. With a strong foundation in Statistics from Nnamdi Azikiwe University and Abia State Polytechnic, culminating in a Ph.D. focused on developing innovative generalized distribution families through Logistic-X transformations, he has consistently advanced statistical theory and its applications. His research interests span probability distributions, machine learning models, survival analysis, competing risks, acceptance sampling, optimum sampling, mask data and censoring schemes—areas crucial to modern data-driven decision-making in engineering, biomedical sciences, public health, and socio-economic modelling. Dr. Obulezi’s publication record is extensive and impactful, with over forty peer-reviewed journal articles in reputable outlets such as Heliyon, Scientific African, Alexandria Engineering Journal, Entropy, Symmetry, AIP Advances, and Earthline Journal of Mathematical Sciences. His works introduce new probability distributions, propose enhanced estimation techniques, develop sampling plans, and apply machine learning to real-world problems such as financial volatility, disease survival modelling, COVID-19 mortality, rainfall analysis, transportation cost prediction, and biomedical datasets. His methodological sophistication and ability to translate theory into practical applications underscore his scholarly depth. Professionally, he serves as Lecturer I at Nnamdi Azikiwe University and holds several academic leadership roles, including Seminar & Project Coordinator and member of multiple university committees. His international academic influence is further demonstrated through active service as a reviewer for renowned journals under Springer, Elsevier, Taylor & Francis, and Scopus-indexed platforms. Dr. Obulezi’s conference contributions and book chapter reviews further affirm his commitment to advancing statistical knowledge. Collectively, his robust research output, innovative contributions to distribution theory, interdisciplinary relevance, and sustained scholarly engagement establish him as a highly deserving candidate for the Best Paper Award.

Profile: Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Onyekwere, C. K., & Obulezi, O. J. (2022). Chris-Jerry distribution and its applications. Asian Journal of Probability and Statistics, 20(1), 16–30.
Chinedu, E. C. Q., Chukwudum, Q. C., Alsadat, N., Obulezi, O. J., Almetwally, E. M., & Others. (2023). New lifetime distribution with applications to single acceptance sampling plan and scenarios of increasing hazard rates. Symmetry, 15(10), 1–33.
Orji, G. O., Etaga, H. O., Almetwally, E. M., Igbokwe, C. P., Aguwa, O. C., & Obulezi, O. J. (2025). A new odd reparameterized exponential transformed-X family of distributions with applications to public health data. Innovation in Statistics and Probability, 1(1), 88–118.
Obulezi, O. J., Anabike, I. C., Oyo, O. G., Harrison, E., & Perpetua, I. C. (2023). Marshall-Olkin Chris-Jerry distribution and its applications. International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology, 8(5), 1–15.
Anabike, I. C., Igbokwe, C. P., Onyekwere, C. K., & Obulezi, O. J. (2023). Inference on the parameters of Zubair-Exponential distribution with application to survival times of guinea pigs. Journal of Advances in Mathematics and Computer Science, 38(7), 12–35.

By creating forward-looking statistical frameworks with real-world applications, the nominee’s research bridges science and society, enabling smarter policies, stronger industries, and transformative technological progress.

Ms. Xin Yi Foong | Breast Cancer | Best Researcher Award

Core Surgical Trainee | Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust | United Kingdom

Dr Xin Yi Foong is a clinical researcher in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery whose academic work is centred on improving the safety, accuracy, and reliability of autologous breast reconstruction through quantitative imaging and evidence-based microsurgical innovation. Her research explores the use of indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging to guide intraoperative evaluation of mastectomy flap perfusion, with particular emphasis on establishing objective perfusion scoring methods that support consistent, data-guided surgical decisions. Her published study in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery introduced a structured quantitative perfusion algorithm that demonstrated strong discriminatory capability in identifying poorly perfused tissue and informing reconstructive planning, offering evidence that aligns with national quality frameworks and enhances postoperative outcomes. Alongside this work, she is investigating postoperative monitoring strategies in DIEP flap reconstruction, assessing early-phase observation models that preserve patient safety while promoting efficient and clinically coherent perioperative pathways. Her wider academic activity includes outcome audits, service-improvement initiatives, and reconstructive pathway analyses, all aimed at refining surgical workflows through quantitative measures, imaging-based assessment, and rigorous postoperative metrics. Conducted within multidisciplinary teams of plastic surgeons, anaesthetists, and breast specialists, her research supports the translation of imaging-derived insights into routine clinical practice. Through a growing publication profile, an active ORCID research identity, and sustained commitment to scientifically grounded surgical advancement, Dr Foong contributes to the development of reproducible, clinically meaningful, and patient-centred innovations that strengthen microsurgical dependability and elevate the overall quality of care within reconstructive breast surgery.

Profiles: Scopus | ORCID

Featured Publications

1. Foong, X. Y., Williamson, A., Lymperopoulos, N., & Holmes, W. J. M. (2025). Does indocyanine green imaging perfusion scoring reduce mastectomy flap necrosis in immediate autologous breast reconstruction? A single-centre cohort study. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, 111, 198–206.

2. Foong, X. Y., Williamson, A., Lymperopoulos, N., & Holmes, W. J. M. (2025). Does intraoperative indocyanine green (ICG) reduce the outcome of mastectomy skin flap necrosis in patients undergoing immediate breast reconstruction? European Journal of Surgical Oncology. Advance online publication.