Xinghua Pan | Next-Generation Sequencing | Research Excellence Award

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Prof. Xinghua Pan | Next-Generation Sequencing | Research Excellence Award

Macau University of Science and Technology | China

Prof. Xinghua (Victor) Pan, PhD, MD, is a distinguished scholar in single-cell technology, genome medicine, cancer biology, regenerative medicine, and multi-omics bioinformatics, currently serving as a Professor at the Precision Regenerative Medicine Research Centre (PRMRC) in the Medical Science Division of Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST), with a secondary affiliation at the State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine. A doctoral supervisor in Biomedical Science and Pharmacy programs at MUST, Dr. Pan previously served as Chairman and Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Southern Medical University (SMU), where he founded and led the Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Single Cell Technology and Application and held multiple adjunct roles across major hospitals, universities, and national laboratories. With a career spanning Yale University—where he advanced from Associate Research Scientist to Research Scientist and PI-and leadership positions in molecular genomics companies, Dr. Pan brings decades of expertise shaped by rigorous training at Southern Medical University, Fudan University, CAMS & PUMC, and Yale University, complemented by international fellowships at Peking University, Melbourne University, the Ludwig Institute, and Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Renowned for pioneering single-cell sequencing innovations-including multiomics, copy-number, methylome, transcriptome, telomere, and multiplexing technologies-he has applied these breakthroughs to major biomedical challenges across cancer, stem cells, organoids, aging, infectious diseases, immunology, brain disorders, and precision medicine. Dr. Pan has authored over 160 publications in high-impact journals such as Nature, PNAS, Advanced Science, Nucleic Acids Research, and Nature Communications, accumulating more than 8,500 citations and an H-index of 40, alongside 15 issued patents in the U.S. and China. His work has been supported by national and international foundations including NSFC, NIH, NSF, MOST, and leading provincial and municipal programs. A dedicated educator who has trained over 60 researchers and taught nearly 10,000 students, he also serves as an Associate Editor of Precision Clinical Medicine and Monocytomics, reviewer for more than 30 top journals, and evaluator for major grant agencies and academic degree committees. As an organizer and keynote speaker at over 100 global conferences, including co-chairing the International Conference on Single Cell and Spatial Omics (TICSSO), Dr. Pan has also held leadership roles in multiple scientific societies and earned numerous accolades such as UICC and CSHL Scholarships, PolyGenomics Fellowship, VEBLEO Fellow, Nanjing Leading Talent, Guangzhou High-Level Talent, Ganpo Distinguished Professor, and the CastUSA Single Cell Genomics Pioneer Award, solidifying his global influence in single-cell biology and precision regenerative medicine.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid

Featured Publications

"A medium throughput approach for single cell copy number variation sequencing towards efficient application in clinics", Guanchuan Lin; Caiming Chen; Mengchang Xu; Bin Peng; Zhanying Dong; Xuewen Zhou; Jinyu Gao; Jie Yu; Bei Jia; Chen Luo et al., 2025

"Causal effects of immune cell phenotypes on the risk of autoimmune liver diseases: a bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization study",Hongjie Zou; Xinghe Liang; Mengqi Luo; Xinghua Pan; De-Ke Jiang., 2025

"Dynamic heterogeneity towards drug resistance in AML cells is primarily driven by epigenomic mechanism unveiled by multi-omics analysis", Yulong Zhang; Yanfang Lu; Liyao Mai; Zebin Wen; Min Dai; Siwen Xu; Xianwei Lin; Yongjian Luo; Yinbin Qiu; Yuting Chen et al., 2025

"Transcriptomics-driven exploration of genetic variation and peptide discovery in the sea anemones Anthopleura midori and Actinia equina",Han Zhang; Xinghua Pan; Chen Weigang., 2025

Hanyurwumutima Egide | Molecular Genetics | Best Scholar Award

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Dr. Hanyurwumutima Egide | Molecular Genetics | Best Scholar Award

Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences/ Burundi Institute of Agricultral Sciences | Burundi

Dr. Hanyurwumutima Egide, a Veterinary Doctor of Burundian and Rwandan nationality, is an accomplished researcher and animal health professional with extensive experience in veterinary services, food safety, and livestock development. Since January 2016, he has served as a Researcher and National Animal Health Officer at the Burundi Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Research (ISABU), where he leads research initiatives, supports animal health management, provides extension services, and contributes to food safety programs. He also acted as the Burundi Facilitator for the Healthy Animal–Safe Food Program (ITP) supported by the Swedish International Cooperation Development Agency from 2018 to 2023, organizing regional activities and training participants in Sweden. As Chef of ISABU in the PADAIGL and LEAF (ADRA) projects, he established 200 bee and goat cooperatives, created 100 Farmer Field Schools, and trained farmers in livestock and environmental adaptation practices. His earlier roles include serving as Adviser in the Direction de la Promotion des Filières Animales, focusing on animal genetic resource improvement, fish production, and apiculture; Chef of Animal Health for Kayanza Province; and field veterinary officer at Cibitoke Ambulatory Veterinary Pharmacy.

Profiles: Scopus 

Featured Publications

"Prevalence of pathogenic bacteria and their antimicrobial patterns analysis of clinical samples from free-range chickens raised in forest farms in Zhouqu county of Gansu Province, China", Hanyurwumutima Egide ,2025.

Havva Ortabozkoyun | Gene Regulation | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Havva Ortabozkoyun | Gene Regulation | Best Researcher Award

University of Miami Miller School of Medical / Sylvester Cancer Center | United States

Author Profile

Orcid ID

Google Scholar

🧬 Havva Ortabozkoyun-Kara, PhD: Pioneering Epigenetics and Cancer Biology Researcher

🧑‍🎓 EARLY ACADEMIC PURSUITS

Havva Ortabozkoyun-Kara, PhD, embarked on her academic journey with a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Genetics from Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Turkey. Graduating with a stellar GPA of 3.80/4.00 in 2010, she demonstrated early on her dedication to understanding complex biological systems. Her education continued at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, where she pursued a Master of Science in Cancer Genomics and Developmental Biology. With a perfect GPA of 4.00/4.00, she excelled in this program, setting a strong foundation for her future research in cancer biology. Dr. Ortabozkoyun-Kara then achieved her PhD in Stem Cell Biology from New York University (NYU), where she graduated with a GPA of 3.89/4.00. During her doctoral studies, she delved into stem cell and developmental biology, further refining her focus on the mechanisms that drive cellular diversity and disease processes.

🧑‍🔬 PROFESSIONAL ENDEAVORS

Dr. Ortabozkoyun-Kara’s professional journey is marked by her extensive research experience in some of the most prestigious laboratories in the world. She began as a rotation student in the lab of Iannis Aifantis at NYU, where she explored the role of the ubiquitin system in cancer and stem cell function. Her doctoral research, conducted in the lab of Danny Reinberg at NYU School of Medicine, involved pioneering work on the insulation function of CTCF and the characterization of Polycomb Repressive Complex (PRC1) during differentiation. After completing her PhD, she continued her research as a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Reinberg Lab, focusing on gene regulation and the role of MAZ, CTCF, and other factors in disease processes. Currently, she holds a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where she is studying novel insulation factors on gene regulation during developmental and disease processes.

🔬 CONTRIBUTIONS AND RESEARCH FOCUS ON GENE REGULATION

Dr. Ortabozkoyun-Kara’s research has significantly advanced our understanding of epigenetics, stem cell biology, and cancer biology. Her work has centered on the intricate mechanisms of gene regulation, particularly the insulation functions that control the expression of Hox genes during development and in disease states. Through innovative CRISPR genetic screens and biochemical assays, she has identified key factors that cooperate with CTCF in these processes. Her research on the differences in Polycomb Repressive Complex composition during cellular differentiation has provided new insights into how these complexes contribute to the regulation of gene expression.

🌍 IMPACT AND INFLUENCE

Dr. Ortabozkoyun-Kara’s contributions to the fields of epigenetics and stem cell biology have had a profound impact on our understanding of how genetic and biochemical mechanisms lead to cellular diversity and disease. Her findings on the role of insulation factors in gene regulation have opened new avenues for research in developmental biology and cancer, influencing the direction of studies in these fields. Her expertise is recognized internationally, and she continues to collaborate with leading scientists to push the boundaries of what we know about gene regulation and its implications for human health.

📚 ACADEMIC CITATIONS

Dr. Ortabozkoyun-Kara’s work has been widely cited in the academic community, reflecting the importance of her contributions to the scientific understanding of gene regulation. Her publications in high-impact journals are frequently referenced by other researchers in the fields of molecular biology, genetics, and biochemistry. These citations underscore the relevance of her work to ongoing research and its potential to inform new therapeutic approaches for diseases linked to epigenetic regulation.

🏆 LEGACY AND FUTURE CONTRIBUTIONS

As Dr. Ortabozkoyun-Kara continues her research at the University of Miami, her legacy is one of innovation and discovery. Her future contributions are expected to further illuminate the complex mechanisms of gene regulation and their role in development and disease. With her deep expertise in epigenetics and stem cell biology, she is poised to make significant advances in the understanding and treatment of diseases driven by genetic and epigenetic alterations. Her work will undoubtedly continue to influence the fields of molecular biology and genetics for years to come, inspiring future generations of scientists.

💡 INNOVATIVE APPROACHES

Dr. Ortabozkoyun-Kara is known for her creative and methodical approaches to scientific research. She has developed novel genetic and biochemical methods that have expanded the toolkit available to researchers studying epigenetic mechanisms. Her work not only provides critical insights but also equips the scientific community with new strategies for investigating and manipulating gene expression in various biological contexts.

📑 NOTABLE PUBLICATIONS

"CRISPR and biochemical screens identify MAZ as a cofactor in CTCF-mediated insulation at Hox clusters" 

  • Authors: Havva Ortabozkoyun, Pin-Yao Huang, Hyunwoo Cho, Varun Narendra, Gary LeRoy, Edgar Gonzalez-Buendia, Jane A Skok, Aristotelis Tsirigos, Esteban O Mazzoni, Danny Reinberg
  • Journal: Nature Genetics
  • Year: 2022

"A CRISPR Screen Identifies Myc-associated Zinc Finger Protein (MAZ) as an Insulator Functioning at CTCF boundaries in Hox Clusters" 

  • Authors: Havva Ortabozkoyun-Kara, Pin-Yao Huang, Hyunwoo Cho, Varun Narendra, Gary Leroy, Jane A. Skok, Aristotelis Tsirigos, Esteban O. Mazzoni, Danny Reinberg
  • Journal: BioRxiv
  • Year: 2020

"Members of an array of zinc finger proteins specify distinct Hox chromatin boundaries"

  • Authors: Havva Ortabozkoyun, Pin-Yao Huang, Edgar Gonzalez-Buendia, Hyein Cho, Sang Kim, Aristotelis Tsirigos, Esteban Mazzoni, Danny Reinberg
  • Journal: bioRxiv
  • Year: 2023

"Members of a Family of Zinc Finger Proteins Demarcate Chromatin Boundaries at Hox Clusters during Development, Ortabozkoyun et. al"

  • Authors: Havva Ortabozkoyun, Pin-Yao Huang, Edgar Gonzalez-Buendia, Hyunwoo Cho, Sang Y Kim, Aristotelis Tsirigos, Esteban O Mazzoni, Danny Reinberg
  • Journal: Mendeley Data
  • Year: 2024

"Novel chromatin insulating activities uncovered upon eliminating known insulators in vivo"

  • Authors: Havva Ortabozkoyun, P. Huang, H. Cho, E. Mazzoni, A. Tsirigos, D. Reinberg
  • Year: 2023