Helton Santiago | Inflammation | Research Excellence Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Helton Santiago | Inflammation | Research Excellence Award

Federal University of Minas Gerais | Brazil

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Helton Santiago is a distinguished immunologist whose career bridges clinical research, infectious disease immunology, and vaccine development. He earned his medical degree followed by a master’s and Ph.D. in Immunology of Infectious Diseases, later completing advanced postdoctoral training in leading U.S. institutions, where he deepened his expertise in parasitic diseases, allergy, and immune regulation. Over the years, he has held key academic and research positions, including roles at renowned universities and national research institutes, contributing to major programs in dengue, Zika, COVID-19, helminth infections, Chagas disease, and leishmaniasis. His experience spans directing clinical trials, leading Phase I–III vaccine studies, developing early-stage vaccine candidates, and conducting translational research on regulatory T cells, cytokines, biomarkers, allergy, inflammation, and cancer immunology. His scientific leadership is reflected in service on ethics committees, biosafety boards, IRBs, and clinical trial oversight groups. Dr. Santiago’s innovative contributions have earned multiple national and international awards, including recognitions for medical innovation, scientific merit, and outstanding doctoral research. His work continues to advance understanding of immune mechanisms and support the development of groundbreaking vaccines and therapeutic strategies, reinforcing his role as a prominent figure in global immunology and translational medicine.

Profiles: Scopus | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Bafica, A., Santiago, H. C., Goldszmid, R., Ropert, C., Gazzinelli, R. T., & Sher, A. (2006). “TLR9 and TLR2 signaling together account for MyD88-dependent control of parasitemia in Trypanosoma cruzi infection” in The Journal of Immunology.

Diemert, D. J., Pinto, A. G., Freire, J., Jariwala, A., Santiago, H., Hamilton, R. G., Periago, M. V., Loukas, A., Tribolet, L., Mulvenna, J., Correa-Oliveira, R., Hotez, P. J., & Bethony, J. M. (2012). “Generalized urticaria induced by the Na-ASP-2 hookworm vaccine: implications for the development of vaccines against helminths” in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.

Canesso, M. C. C., Lemos, L., Neves, T. C., Marim, F. M., Castro, T. B. R., Veloso, É. S., Queiroz, C. P., Ahn, J., Santiago, H. C., Martins, F. S., Alves-Silva, J., Ferreira, E., Cara, D. C., Vieira, A. T., Barber, G. N., Oliveira, S. C., & Faria, A. M. C. (2018). “The cytosolic sensor STING is required for intestinal homeostasis and control of inflammation” in Mucosal Immunology.

Dos Santos, P. V. A., Roffê, E., Santiago, H. C., Torres, R. A., Marino, A. P. M. P., Paiva, C. N., Silva, A. A., Gazzinelli, R. T., & Lannes-Vieira, J. (2001). “Prevalence of CD8⁺ αβ T cells in Trypanosoma cruzi-elicited myocarditis is associated with acquisition of CD62L⁻LFA-1⁺VLA-4⁺ activation phenotype and expression of IFN-γ” in Microbes and Infection.

Santiago, H. C., Feng, C. G., Bafica, A., Roffe, E., Arantes, R. M., Cheever, A., Taylor, G., Vieira, L. Q., Aliberti, J., Gazzinelli, R. T., & Sher, A. (2005). “Mice deficient in LRG-47 display enhanced susceptibility to Trypanosoma cruzi infection associated with defective hemopoiesis and intracellular control of parasite growth” in The Journal of Immunology.

Bethony, J. M., Simon, G., Diemert, D. J., Parenti, D., Desrosiers, A., Schuck, S., Fujiwara, R., Santiago, H., & Hotez, P. J. (2008). “Randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of the Na-ASP-2 hookworm vaccine in unexposed adults” in Vaccine.

Nicholas Candy | Surgical Hydrogels | Research Excellence Award

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Dr. Nicholas Candy | Surgical Hydrogels | Research Excellence Award

University of Adelaide | Australia

Dr. Nicholas Candy is an accomplished neurosurgeon and academic whose career blends advanced clinical expertise with impactful research. He holds a Master of Surgery in Neurosurgery from the University of Sydney and completed his PhD at the University of Adelaide, where he later progressed to roles as Clinical Lecturer and Senior Clinical Lecturer. His extensive clinical experience spans multiple accredited registrar positions across leading Australian hospitals, including the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, and Flinders Medical Centre. He has cultivated strong research interests in pituitary surgery, postoperative outcomes, neuro-endocrine preservation, and innovations that reduce surgical scarring and complications. His role as Coordinating Principal Investigator in a Phase I trial on Chitogel and Deferiprone Gel reflects his commitment to translational research designed to enhance neurosurgical recovery. Dr. Candy has supervised doctoral research, contributed to international clinical studies, and carried out significant work in traumatic brain injury outcomes and neurosurgical quality-of-life assessments. His academic impact and contributions have earned him notable awards, including multiple prestigious research scholarships from the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and recognition as the Sheldon College Young Alumnus of the Year. Overall, he stands out as a dedicated clinician-scientist advancing modern neurosurgical practice.

Profiles: Scopus | Orcid | Google Scholar

Featured Publications

Ovenden, C., Mignone, E., Chapman, I., Torpy, D. J., Rankin, W., Jukes, A., Santoreneos, S., Candy, N., Psaltis, A., & De Sousa, S. M. C. (2026). “Early Postoperative Decline in Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) Predicts Surgical Remission of Acromegaly.” World Neurosurgery.

Candy, N. G., Barry, E. F., Tomatis, V. M., Patel, S., Miller, J., Ovenden, C., Nowicki, J., Hammam, E., Poonnoose, S., Sandler, S., et al. (2025). “Phase I Trial to Evaluate Safety of Deferiprone-Chitogel to Prevent Epidural Fibrosis in Lumbar Spine Surgery.” European Spine Journal.

Tong, J. Y., Candy, N. G., Sung, J., Jukes, A. K., & Selva, D. (2025). “In Reply: Transorbital Approach to the Cavernous Sinus After an Exenteration.” Operative Neurosurgery.

Tong, J. Y., Candy, N. G., Sung, J., Jukes, A. K., & Selva, D. (2025). “Transorbital Approach to the Cavernous Sinus After an Exenteration.” Operative Neurosurgery.

Candy, N. G., Jukes, A. K., Ooi, E. H., Valentine, R., Vrodos, N., Santoreneos, S., Floreani, S., Wormald, P.-J., & Psaltis, A. J. (2025). “The Evolution of Pituitary Surgery in an Australian Health Care Framework.” Journal of Neurological Surgery Part B: Skull Base.

Candy, N. G., Zhang, A. S., Jukes, A. K., & Wormald, P. J. (2025). “Sphenoid sinusitis with extradural empyema in a paediatric patient.” Journal of Clinical Neuroscience.

Mansour, L. T., Candy, N., Nowicki, J., Jukes, A., Chryssidis, S., & Harding, M. (2024). “An infratentorial dural arteriovenous fistula mimicking cervical myelopathy: A case report.” Clinical Neurology and Neurosurgery.