Sara Carloni | Biology and Life Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Assist. Prof. Dr. Sara Carloni | Biology and Life Sciences | Best Researcher Award

Assistant Professor at Humanitas University, Italy

Dr. Sara Carloni is an Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology at Humanitas University, Italy. Her career spans over a decade of cutting-edge research into microbial pathogenesis, microbiota-host interactions, the gut-brain axis, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). A pivotal figure in translational microbiology, Dr. Carloni has contributed substantially to both experimental and clinical microbiology. Her breakthrough discovery of a choroid plexus vascular barrier associated with intestinal inflammation, published in Science (2021), has positioned her as a global leader in microbiota and neuroinflammation studies. As a corresponding or leading author on multiple high-impact publications and a frequent speaker at international conferences, she continues to influence the future of biomedical sciences.

Publication Profile 

Scopus

Orcid

Educational Background 🎓

Dr. Sara Carloni has cultivated a robust academic foundation in microbiology and biotechnology through progressive and interdisciplinary training across prestigious institutions. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Environmental Biotechnologies in 2009 from a joint program between Università degli Studi di Milano and Universitat Rovira i Virgili in Spain. She then completed her Master’s degree in Biotechnology at Università degli Studi di Milano in July 2011. Driven by a keen interest in microbial research, she pursued a Ph.D. in Biological and Molecular Sciences with a specialization in Molecular Microbiology, which she completed in May 2015 at Università degli Studi di Milano. Following her doctorate, she engaged in several postdoctoral fellowships: first at Università degli Studi di Milano (2015), focusing on small RNA-mediated mechanisms in Pseudomonas aeruginosa; then at the European Institute of Oncology (2016–2017), investigating microbiota in intestinal and oncologic disorders; and subsequently at Humanitas University (2018–2021), where she delved into the gut-brain axis and intestinal inflammation. Her academic journey culminated in her appointment as Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (RTDA) at Humanitas University in 2021.

Professional Experience 💼

  • Assistant Professor (RTDA)
    Humanitas University (2021–Present)

    • Teaching and research in Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology (MED/07)

    • Supervising PhD and MD students; leading microbiota and AMR research units

  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    Humanitas University (2018–2021)

    • Investigated gut-brain axis, choroid plexus, and intestinal inflammation

  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    European Institute of Oncology (IEO) (2016–2017)

    • Microbiota in IBD and tumorigenesis; explored colitis-brain interaction

  • Postdoctoral Fellow
    Università degli Studi di Milano (2015)

    • Studied quorum sensing and small RNAs in Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Research Interests 🔬

  • Gut-Brain Axis (GBA) and Vascular Barriers

  • Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR)

  • Host-Microbiota Interactions

  • Microbial Metabolites and Neuroinflammation

  • Translational Microbiology

  • Bacterial Extracellular Vesicles (bEVs)

  • Artificial Intelligence in Microbial Diagnostics

Awards and Honors🏆✨

  • Invited Speaker at premier international conferences including:

    • Digestive Disease Week (2024)

    • ECCO Congress (2024)

    • Potsdam Symposium on Mucosal Immunology (2023)

    • IFHNOS World Congress Moderator (2023)

  • Leader of research units in:

    • PNRR-INF-ACT (One Health & AMR Surveillance)

    • PNRR-NBFC (Human Wellbeing & Microbial Biodiversity)

    • 5X1000 Humanitas (IBD and Psychiatric Comorbidities)

  • Visiting Professor, Institut Pasteur – Leadership in microbiota-host interaction and bEVs research

Conclusion🌟

Dr. Sara Carloni stands out as an innovative and collaborative microbiologist, contributing significantly to modern biomedical research. With over 19 peer-reviewed publications, an H-index of 11, and over 1200 citations, she merges basic science discoveries with clinical applications, particularly in AMR surveillance and gut-brain communication. Her multidisciplinary and translational approach places her at the forefront of microbiology, making her a strong contender for high-level research recognitions and global scientific leadership.

Publications 📚

  1. 🍼 Maternal gut microbiota influences immune activation at the maternal-fetal interface affecting pregnancy outcome
    🗞 Nature Communications
    📅 2025-05-09 | 🔗 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-58533-8
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Silvia Giugliano, Andrea Gatti, Martina Rusin, Tilo Schorn, Silvia Pimazzoni, Michela Calanni-Pileri, Valentina Fraccascia, Sara Carloni, Maria Rescigno


  2. 🧫 Epidemiology and resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from blood samples in septic patients at emergency department admission: A 6-year single-centre retrospective analysis from Northern Italy
    🗞 Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance
    📅 2025-03 | 🔗 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2024.12.023
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Valeria Cento, Sara Carloni, Riccardo Sarti, et al.


  3. 🤰 Role of the maternal gut microbiota in immune activation at the maternal-fetal interface: Impact on preeclampsia
    📄 Preprint
    📅 2023-05-30 | 🔗 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2845955/v1
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Maria Rescigno, Silvia Giugliano, Sara Carloni, Tilo Schorn


  4. 🧠 Unveiling the gut-brain axis: Structural and functional analogies between the gut and the choroid plexus vascular and immune barriers
    🗞 Seminars in Immunopathology
    🔗 DOI: 10.1007/S00281-022-00955-3
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Sara Carloni, Maria Rescigno


  5. 🦠 Gut vascular barrier impairment leads to intestinal bacteria dissemination and colorectal cancer metastasis to liver
    🗞 Cancer Cell
    🔗 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.03.004
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Bertocchi, A., Carloni, S., et al.


  6. 🧠 Identification of a choroid plexus vascular barrier closing during intestinal inflammation
    🗞 Science
    🔗 DOI: 10.1126/science.abc6108
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Carloni, S., Bertocchi, A., et al.


  7. 🧪 SARS-CoV-2 serology in 4000 health care and administrative staff across seven sites in Lombardy, Italy
    🗞 Scientific Reports
    🔗 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-91773-4
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Sandri, M.T., Carloni, S., et al.


  8. 🧫 Complement C3aR loss drives colorectal cancer by modulating gut microbiota
    🗞 Journal of Immunology
    🔗 WOS: WOS:000589972400485
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Guglietta, Silvia, Carloni, Sara, et al.


  9. 🦠 Endogenous murine microbiota member Faecalibaculum rodentium and its human homologue protect from intestinal tumour growth
    🗞 Nature Microbiology
    🔗 DOI: 10.1038/s41564-019-0649-5
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Zagato, E., Carloni, S., et al.


  10. 🧪 IgG serology in health care and administrative staff populations from 7 hospitals representative of different exposures to SARS-CoV-2 in Lombardy, Italy
    📄 medRxiv Preprint
    🔗 DOI: 10.1101/2020.05.24.20111245
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Sandri, M.T., Carloni, S., et al.


  11. 💩 Therapeutic faecal microbiota transplantation controls intestinal inflammation through IL10 secretion by immune cells
    🗞 Nature Communications
    🔗 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-07359-8
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Burrello, C., Carloni, S., et al.


  12. 🧬 The small RNA ReaL: A novel regulatory element embedded in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa quorum sensing networks
    🗞 Environmental Microbiology
    🔗 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.13886
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Carloni, S., Macchi, R., et al.


  13. 🦠 Post-transcriptional regulation of the virulence-associated enzyme AlgC by the σ²²-dependent small RNA ErsA of Pseudomonas aeruginosa
    🗞 Environmental Microbiology
    🔗 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12590
    👩‍🔬 Contributors: Ferrara, S., Carloni, S., et al.


 

 

 

 

Didi Chen | Biology | Best Researcher Award

Dr. Didi Chen | Biology | Best Researcher Award

Full-time teacher at Hubei University of Education, China

Dr. Didi Chen is a materials chemist and fluorescence imaging researcher affiliated with the School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Hubei University of Education. His research primarily focuses on the design and development of fluorescent bioprobes based on Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) for biomedical applications such as tumor detection, intraoperative imaging, and biomarker quantification. With multiple publications in high-impact journals and a leading role in national-level research projects, Dr. Chen is contributing to the advancement of bioimaging technologies for real-time diagnostics and cancer surgery guidance.

Publication Profile 

Scopus

Educational Background 🎓

  • Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering
    Beijing Institute of Technology
    September 2013 – June 2017

  • Master’s Degree in Chemistry
    School of Chemistry, Central China Normal University
    September 2009 – June 2012

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry
    College of Chemistry, Central China Normal University
    September 2005 – June 2009

Professional Experience 💼

  • Faculty Member, School of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Hubei University of Education
    Engaged in teaching and research in materials chemistry and bioimaging.

  • Principal Investigator, National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) Project for Young Scientists (Project No. 22405079)
    2025–2027: Project on real-time navigation of liver cancer surgery using AIE-based fluorescent probes.

  • Active contributor to multidisciplinary research projects in molecular design, bio-detection, and fluorescence-guided surgery.

Research Interests 🔬

  • Aggregation-Induced Emission (AIE) and its application in:

    • Fluorescent probe design

    • Bioimaging and surgical guidance

    • Tumor microenvironment studies

    • Biomolecular sensing (e.g., CO₂, HSA, FIB)

  • Intraoperative imaging techniques for early cancer diagnosis

  • Interaction studies between stromal and tumor cells using AIEgens

Awards and Honors🏆✨

  • Principal Investigator, National Natural Science Foundation of China for Young Scientists (2025–2027)

  • Recognition through peer-reviewed publications in top-tier journals such as Biomaterials, Analytica Chimica Acta, Materials Chemistry Frontiers, Sensors and Actuators B, and Aggregate.

Conclusion🌟

Dr. Didi Chen is an emerging leader in the field of fluorescent bio-probe development for cancer diagnostics and intraoperative applications. His work integrates innovative materials chemistry with real-world clinical challenges, contributing significantly to non-invasive imaging and tumor identification. He has demonstrated capability in acquiring competitive research funding, publishing impactful studies, and advancing knowledge at the interface of chemistry, biology, and medicine.

Given his strong academic background, successful grant leadership, and impactful publication record, Dr. Chen is well-positioned for continued contributions to translational biomedical research and qualifies as a strong candidate for research awards and honors in the fields of chemistry and medical diagnostics.

Publications 📚

1️⃣ 🧪 ND-TPE-COOH: Protein-activated fluorescent diagnostic probes for rapid identification and resection of liver tumors
👩‍🔬 Qu, J., Li, Z., Zhong, H., Mukerabigwi, J.F., Cao, Y.
📘 Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2025
🔬 Focus: Development of a novel fluorescent probe for rapid liver tumor diagnosis and surgical assistance.


2️⃣ 🧬 Fluorescence-guided Surgery for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From Clinical Practice to Laboratories
👨‍⚕️ Xiao, T., Chen, D., Peng, L., Zhang, J., Li, M.
📕 Review Article, 2025
📈 Citations: 2
💡 Scope: Bridging clinical application and lab development in fluorescence-guided liver cancer surgery.


3️⃣ 💡 The Fluorescent Bioprobe with Aggregation-Induced Emission Features for Monitoring Carbon Dioxide Generation in Single Living Cells
🔬 Chen, D., Wang, H., Dong, L., Liu, P., Zhang, Y., Shi, J., Feng, X., Zhi, J., Tong, B., Dong, Y.
📘 Biomaterials, 2016, 103: 67–74
🧫 Highlights: Real-time CO₂ tracking and early cancer cell detection using AIE-based probes.


4️⃣ 🧪 Two-Step Separation-Free Quantitative Detection of HSA and FIB in Human Plasma using an AIE Probe
🔬 Chen, D., Dong, L., Jiang, S., Li, W., Shi, J., Feng, X., Zhi, J., Tong, B., Li, M., Zheng, Q., Dong, Y.
📙 Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical, 2018, 255: 854–861
💉 Purpose: Efficient biomarker detection without sample separation steps.


5️⃣ 🔬 CO₂-Sensitive AIEgen for Analyzing Tumor-Stroma Interactions in Heterocellular Systems
🔍 Chen, D., Wang, H., Liu, P., Song, L., Shi, J., Tong, B., Dong, Y.
📗 Analytica Chimica Acta, 2018, 1001: 151–157
🧬 Focus: Understanding tumor microenvironment dynamics.


6️⃣ 🧿 A Novel Turn-on Fluorescent Probe for Intraoperative Diagnosis of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
🧪 Chen, D.#, Mao, H.#, Hong, Y., Tan, Y., Zhang, Y., Li, M., Dong, Y.
📕 Materials Chemistry Frontiers, 2020, 4: 2716–2722
🔎 Innovation: Rapid pathological differentiation during surgery using AIEgen derivatives.


7️⃣ 💡 A Simple “Spraying” Fluorescence-Guided Surgery for Liver Tumor Resection
🔬 Chen, D., Xiao, T., Wang, L., Chen, S., Kam, C., Zeng, G., Peng, L., Zhang, J., Li, M., Dong, Y.
📘 Aggregate, 2024, 5: e550
🧠 Impact: Introducing non-invasive, intraoperative tumor visualization via sprayable AIE probes.