Moutih Rafei | Immunology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Molecular Biologist

Dr. Moutih Rafei | Immunology | Best Researcher Award 

Full Professor | University of Montreal | Canada

Dr. Moutih Rafei is a Full Professor at the Université de Montréal’s Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology. With extensive expertise in cellular and molecular immunology, he has significantly advanced the fields of immuno-oncology, vaccine engineering, and immune modulation. He earned his Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine from McGill University, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship in Molecular Biology at Université de Montréal, where he later established his own research laboratory. His group focuses on developing novel immune-based therapeutic strategies, several of which are progressing toward clinical application. Dr. Rafei has authored numerous high-impact publications, book chapters, and patents, contributing both to academic knowledge and industrial innovation. His leadership extends to mentoring young scientists and serving as an editor for scientific journals. His work continues to influence immunological research and therapeutic development, addressing complex diseases such as cancer, autoimmune disorders, and infectious conditions.

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Education

Dr. Rafei completed his B.Sc. Honours in Immunology at McGill University, conducting an honours thesis on Giardia lamblia transmission-blocking DNA vaccines. He pursued his Ph.D. in Experimental Medicine at McGill University, working under the supervision of Dr. Jacques Galipeau on fusokine design as a novel therapeutic strategy for immunosuppression. Following this, he undertook a post-doctoral fellowship at Université de Montréal under Dr. Claude Perreault, where he specialized in innate and classical CD8 T-cell development and maturation. Complementing his scientific training, he also completed a Mini-Entrepreneurship Program at the HEC-Poly-UdeM Entrepreneurship Centre, gaining strategic and managerial skills applicable to biotech ventures. This combination of academic depth and entrepreneurial insight has enabled Dr. Rafei to successfully navigate the interface between fundamental research and its translation into clinical and industrial solutions, shaping his career as both an academic leader and biotech innovator.

Experience

Dr. Rafei holds extensive academic and industrial experience, combining innovative research with strategic leadership in biotechnology. As a Full Professor at Université de Montréal, he leads a dynamic research program focused on immune engineering and translational immunotherapy. His industrial roles include serving as Chief Scientific Officer at Defence Therapeutics, where he oversaw pre-clinical development of oncology and vaccine programs, and Head of Discovery at Medicenna Therapeutics, managing the IL-2 Superkine program currently in clinical trials. He is also the Founder and CEO of Axiom Services Inc., providing consulting and R&D guidance to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. His responsibilities have included directing large-scale pre-clinical studies, preparing regulatory submissions for clinical trials, and presenting research at major international conferences. Through his dual academic and industry roles, Dr. Rafei has successfully bridged fundamental science and applied product development, positioning himself as a key contributor to innovation in immuno-oncology.

Research Interest

Dr. Rafei’s research centers on developing advanced immunotherapies for severe diseases, particularly cancer. His work covers T-cell biology, fusokine engineering, and mesenchymal stromal cell-based vaccines. He has pioneered the design of engineered mesenchymal stromal cells capable of presenting antigens for cancer immunotherapy, developed non-IL1Ralpha-binding IL-2 variants for oncology, and advanced γδ T-cell-based therapeutic platforms. He also leads projects utilizing the proprietary Accum® technology to enhance the targeted delivery of antibody-drug conjugates, cancer vaccines, and infectious disease vaccines. Additionally, his group explores genetic and pharmacological strategies to convert mesenchymal stromal cells into antigen-presenting cells, expanding potential treatments for oncology, autoimmune diseases, and transplantation. Integrating molecular biology, immune engineering, and translational medicine, his research aims to transform fundamental discoveries into effective, scalable, and clinically relevant therapies that address unmet medical needs in immunology.

Awards

Dr. Rafei has received more than twenty awards and recognitions that highlight his exceptional contributions to the fields of immunology and translational medicine. These honors acknowledge his pioneering work in cytokine and fusokine engineering, vaccine development, and mesenchymal stromal cell-based immunotherapies. His ability to integrate molecular innovations into practical clinical applications has earned him recognition in both academic and industrial sectors. Awards have also acknowledged his role as a mentor, fostering the growth of emerging scientists, and his leadership in driving collaborative research across disciplines and borders. His keynote presentations at prestigious international conferences further demonstrate his influence and leadership in the scientific community. The breadth of these awards reflects his sustained commitment to excellence, innovation, and the advancement of immune-based strategies for the treatment of complex and life-threatening diseases.

Top Noted Publications

Dr. Rafei has authored over sixty high-impact peer-reviewed articles, five reviews, two book chapters, one monograph, and holds six patents. His research has been published in leading journals such as Molecular Cancer, Frontiers in Immunology, and Cancer Immunology Research. With a citation index exceeding two thousand, his work has influenced both academic research and industry practices in immuno-oncology. His publications cover diverse topics, including engineered mesenchymal stromal cells for cancer vaccination, cytokine-fusion proteins, and novel delivery systems using the Accum® technology. In addition to original research, he has contributed reviews synthesizing developments in immune-based therapies.

Title: Mesenchymal stromal cells ameliorate experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by inhibiting CD4 Th17 T cells in a CC chemokine ligand 2-dependent manner – M Rafei, PM Campeau, A Aguilar-Mahecha, M Buchanan, P Williams, et al.

Journal: The Journal of Immunology

Year: 2009

Cited by 462.

Title: Mesenchymal stromal cell–derived CCL2 suppresses plasma cell immunoglobulin production via STAT3 inactivation and PAX5 induction – M Rafei, J Hsieh, S Fortier, MY Li, S Yuan, et al.

Journal: Blood

Year: 2008

Cited by 309.

Title: Cell therapy: types, regulation, and clinical benefits – AEH El-Kadiry, M Rafei, R Shammaa.

Journal: Frontiers in Medicine

Year: 2021

Cited by 238.

Title: Allogeneic mesenchymal stem cells for treatment of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis – M Rafei, E Birman, K Forner, J Galipeau.

Journal: Molecular Therapy

Year: 2009

Cited by 204.

Title: Nociceptor neurons affect cancer immunosurveillance – M Balood, M Ahmadi, T Eichwald, A Ahmadi, A Majdoubi, et al.

Journal: Nature

Year: 2022

Cited by 200.

Title: A granulocyte-macrophage colony–stimulating factor and interleukin-15 fusokine induces a regulatory B cell population with immune suppressive properties – M Rafei, J Hsieh, S Zehntner, MY Li, K Forner, et al.

Journal: Nature Medicine

Year: 2009

Cited by 170.

Title: Inflammatory monocytes promote progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and can be therapeutically targeted via CCR 2 – K Mojumdar, F Liang, C Giordano, C Lemaire, G Danialou, et al.

Journal: EMBO Molecular Medicine

Year: 2014

Cited by 155.

Title: Characterization of Gaucher disease bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells reveals an altered inflammatory secretome – PM Campeau, M Rafei, MN Boivin, Y Sun, GA Grabowski, et al.

Journal: Blood

Year: 2009

Cited by 112

Conclusion

Dr. Moutih Rafei’s exceptional contributions to immunotherapy, translational science, and biotechnology innovation position him as an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His career demonstrates a rare combination of groundbreaking scientific insight, creative problem-solving, and the capacity to turn laboratory discoveries into impactful therapies. Recognizing his achievements through this award would honor his significant contributions and encourage further advancements that have the potential to transform patient care globally.

Hangming Dong | Immunology | Best Researcher Award

Published on by Molecular Biologist

Dr. Hangming Dong | Immunology | Best Researcher Award

Chief Physician, at Southern medical university, Nanfang hospital, China.

Dr. Hangming Dong is a Chief Physician at Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, China. He holds a Ph.D. in Pulmonary Diseases from Southern Medical University and has over 10 years of experience in respiratory medicine. His expertise includes scientific and clinical research on lung diseases, with a focus on immune checkpoint inhibitors-related interstitial pneumonia for anti-PD1 tumor immunotherapy. Dr. Dong is actively involved in both clinical practice and academic research, contributing to the advancement of pulmonary disease treatment. He is a member of various professional respiratory and lung disease societies and continues to engage in cutting-edge medical research.

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🎓 Education

Dr. Hangming Dong earned his Ph.D. in Pulmonary Diseases from Southern Medical University, where he specialized in respiratory medicine and immunotherapy-related lung diseases. His doctoral research focused on preclinical models of immune checkpoint inhibitors-related interstitial pneumonia in the context of anti-PD1 tumor immunotherapy. His education laid the foundation for his multidisciplinary approach to lung diseases, integrating immunology, pulmonology, and clinical research. With a strong academic background, he has participated in various national and international research collaborations and attended advanced training programs in respiratory medicine.

🏥 Experience

With over 10 years of professional experience, Dr. Dong has been serving as a Chief Physician at Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University. Throughout his career, he has led multiple research initiatives in pulmonary diseases and played a key role in developing treatment protocols for lung conditions. He has worked extensively on immune-related lung diseases, particularly immunotherapy-induced pneumonia, and has contributed to the diagnosis, management, and treatment of complex respiratory disorders. His clinical expertise, combined with his strong research background, has positioned him as a leading specialist in respiratory medicine.

🔬 Research Interests

Dr. Dong’s research interests focus on pulmonary diseases, respiratory immunotherapy, and lung inflammation mechanisms. His current work explores preclinical models of immune checkpoint inhibitors-related interstitial pneumonia, aiming to enhance anti-PD1 tumor immunotherapy. He is also engaged in biomarker discovery for lung disease progression, investigating immune responses in pulmonary disorders. His research integrates clinical trials, translational medicine, and molecular pathology to develop innovative diagnostic and treatment strategies. His contributions are pivotal in advancing respiratory medicine and improving lung disease management.

🏆 Awards

Dr. Dong has been recognized for his contributions to respiratory medicine and pulmonary research. His awards include:

  • Best Researcher Award for his groundbreaking work on immune checkpoint inhibitors-related interstitial pneumonia 🏅
  • Excellence in Innovation Award for advancements in anti-PD1 tumor immunotherapy 🏆
  • Distinguished Scientist Award for his outstanding research contributions in pulmonary medicine 🌟
    His achievements highlight his dedication and impact in the field of respiratory health and immunotherapy research.

📚 Top Noted Publications

Dr. Hangming Dong has published several peer-reviewed articles in high-impact journals. Some of his key publications include:

  • Dong, H. (2025). Preclinical models of immune checkpoint inhibitors-related interstitial pneumonia for anti-PD1 tumor immunotherapy. Immunobiology, 230(2), 152884.

    researchgate.net

    This study focuses on developing preclinical models to investigate interstitial pneumonia associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors, specifically anti-PD-1 therapies. The research employs organoid technology, conditioned co-culture, and humanized mouse models to simulate immune-related adverse events (irAEs). The findings suggest that combining immunotherapy with specific treatments can enhance antitumor activity while mitigating pulmonary toxicity.

  • Dong, H. (2024). Immune response mechanisms in lung diseases: A clinical approach. Respiratory Research.

    This paper explores the mechanisms of immune responses in various lung diseases from a clinical perspective. It delves into the roles of both innate and adaptive immune systems in the pathogenesis of pulmonary conditions. The study highlights how immune system activation leads to the infiltration of T- and B-cells, inducing profibrotic factors and stimulating transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), which plays a crucial role in immune regulation.

  • Dong, H. (2023). Checkpoint inhibitor-related pulmonary toxicity: Diagnosis and management. Journal of Pulmonary Medicine.

    This article addresses the pulmonary toxicities associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), particularly focusing on pneumonitis induced by anti-PD-1/PD-L1 therapies. It reviews the incidence, median time to onset, clinical features, potential mechanisms, management strategies, and predictive biomarkers of checkpoint inhibitor pneumonitis (CIP) in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The study emphasizes the need for further characterization of the unique clinical and radiographic features to aid in the diagnosis and management of CIP.

Conclusion

Dr. Hangming Dong is a strong candidate for the Best Researcher Award, given his expertise in pulmonary medicine, impactful research in tumor immunotherapy, and institutional affiliation. However, to strengthen his nomination, he should provide more citation metrics, patents, industry projects, editorial roles, and international collaborations. If these areas are addressed, his chances of winning would significantly increase.