18 November, 2016
Bioanalysis Zone Announces Winner of Young Investigators Award, Recognizing Promising Early Stage Researchers
Bioanalysis Zone, the premier online community for the bioanalysis industry, has named Xiwei (Emmi) Zheng, the winner of the 2015 Young Investigator Award, a prestigious recognition of the most promising early-career researchers in the bioanalysis field. The Young Investigator Award is given annually by Bioanalysis Zone and Bioanalysis, a MEDLINE-indexed journal covering the latest scientific, technical and regulatory developments relevant to bioanalysts working in research and development and clinical laboratories. Both the online community and the journal are produced by Future Science Group.
Ms. Zheng received the honor for her work in studying the interaction of drugs and hormones with serum proteins using high-performance affinity chromatography (HPAC). Her research explored a new HPAC method created to simultaneously determine the rate and binding constants for interaction of drugs/hormones with serum proteins. The techniques developed in her research are label-free and have short analysis times, only requiring sample sizes in the microliter range. In related work she developed a new immobilization method for making HPAC columns, which gives up to a twofold increase in protein content compared to traditionally prepared supports. This immobilization scheme has been used to make HPAC microcolumns for drug–protein binding studies and enhanced binding capacities and activities for various applications involving protein-based columns.
Ms. Zheng is a researcher and postdoctoral fellow at University of Nebraska–Lincoln (NE, USA). She was awarded a PhD in Analytical Chemistry from University of Nebraska, and is a graduate of Jilin University, China.
As the winner of the Young Investigator Award, Ms. Zheng will present her work at the European Bioanalysis Forum (EBF) Open Symposium, Barcelona, Spain on 18 November 2015. She also receives a one-year subscription to Bioanalysis, complementary open access publication of her next accepted paper, and US $1000 courtesy of award sponsors Waters Corporation (MA, USA), a provider of laboratory solutions and software in separations science, mass spectrometry and thermal analysis. She will also present her work in a Bioanalysis Zone webinar on 12 January 2016. Details and registration information can be found here.
“Waters is proud to sponsor the Young Investigator Award and play a small role in helping to identify, recognize, and nurture the careers of young and promising bioanalysts,” said Kelly B. Doering, Ph.D., DMPK Business Manager. “Bioanalysis will always be critical to drug development and Waters will continue to make investments that help to advance the field.”
“I would like to congratulate Emmi on winning the 2015 YIA,” said Cameron Low, Digital Editor for Bioanalysis Zone. “At a young age Emmi has already shown exemplary work developing a HPAC method to simultaneously determine the rate and binding constants for interaction of drugs/hormones with serum proteins, extremely important in drug development. Moreover, Emmi has created a new immobilization method for HPAC columns. I would also like to take this opportunity to praise all entrants for excellent work and endeavor.”
Ms. Zheng was selected from five finalists, named from an initial field of 12 young scientists nominated by their peers and mentors. The additional finalists were Casey Burton (Missouri University of Science and Technology), Judit Marsillach (University of Washington), Yu Shrike Zhang (Harvard Medical School), and Weian Zhao (University of California). Full profiles of all finalists are available at www.bioanalysis-zone.com/awards/young-investigator-award.
More details on the 8th EBF Open Symposium can be found at http://bcn2015.europeanbioanalysisforum.eu/program/
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About Bioanalysis Zone
Since launching in 2011, Bioanalysis Zone has attracted over 6,000 active members from the global bioanalytical community, representing the pharmaceutical, biotech and CRO industries, along with academia and healthcare. Each month, thousands of members visit the site to read industry news, original research exclusive interviews and commentaries..
About Future Science Group
Founded in 2001, Future Science Group (FSG) is a progressive publisher focused on breakthrough medical, biotechnological and scientific research. FSG’s portfolio includes two imprints: Future Science and Future Medicine. Both publish eBooks and journals. In addition to this core publishing business FSG develops specialist eCommunities. Key titles and sites include Bioanalysis Zone, Epigenomics, Nanomedicine and the award-winning Regenerative Medicine.
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