Lorraine Evangelista | Food Nutrition | Best Researcher Award

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Dr. Lorraine Evangelista | Food Nutrition | Best Researcher Award

University of California Irvine | United States

Lorraine S. Evangelista, Ph.D., RN, CNS, FAHA, FAAN, is an internationally recognized nurse scientist, educator, and leader in cardiovascular nursing research with a career spanning over three decades. She has held distinguished academic and research leadership roles at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, the University of Texas Medical Branch, and the University of California, Irvine, shaping nursing science, diversity, and mentorship initiatives. Her pioneering research has significantly advanced understanding of heart failure self-care, patient outcomes, and the integration of digital health technologies. She has published extensively in leading journals, contributed to global cardiovascular health guidelines, and secured major NIH and AHA grants to support her work. As Editor-in-Chief of Healthcare, she continues to influence scholarly discourse in nursing and public health. A dedicated mentor, she has guided numerous students, postdoctoral fellows, and early-career faculty. Her contributions have been recognized with prestigious national and international honors in research, teaching, and mentorship.

Proffile:

Scopus

Orcid

Education:

Dr. Lorraine Evangelista educational journey reflects an exceptional commitment to nursing science and translational research. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (cum laude) from the University of the Philippines , receiving the BM Gonzalez Award of Excellence. She pursued advanced clinical expertise with a Master of Science in Nursing, specializing as a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Cardiopulmonary Nursing, at the University of California, Los Angeles  Her passion for research led her to complete a Ph.D. in Nursing at UCLA, where she trained under nationally prominent nursing scholars. She was awarded multiple predoctoral fellowships from the American Heart Association and UCLA, supporting her early work in heart failure research. Following her doctoral studies, she completed a competitive postdoctoral fellowship with the American Heart Association at UCLA  and further pursued translational investigation training through the NIH K30 Graduate Training Program at UCLA , solidifying her expertise in biobehavioral and clinical research.

Experience:

Dr. Lorraine Evangelista has extensive professional experience spanning academia, clinical practice, leadership, and research. In academia, she has served as Professor, Associate Dean for Research, and Director of Ph.D. programs across top U.S. nursing schools, including UCLA, UC Irvine, UTMB, and UNLV, where she advanced diversity, equity, inclusion, and research scholarship. Beyond academic roles, she has contributed to healthcare practice and innovation as Research Scientist at Providence Health Care and Hoag Memorial Hospital, House Supervisor at St. Joseph Medical Center, and Cardiovascular Research Nurse Coordinator at Good Samaritan Hospital. She also directed research projects at UCLA and served as Associate Scientific Director at Scripps Translational Institute. Currently, she is Editor-in-Chief of Healthcare, leading international scholarly publishing. Her combined expertise in clinical nursing, hospital administration, research design, and academic leadership underscores her ability to integrate evidence-based practice, mentorship, and interdisciplinary collaboration, significantly influencing nursing science and patient care outcomes worldwide.

Awards and Honors:

Dr. Lorraine Evangelista has earned a distinguished array of national and international awards recognizing her impact on nursing research, education, and leadership. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Nursing, the American Heart Association, and the Heart Failure Society of America, reflecting her global influence in cardiovascular nursing. Her honors include the Sigma Theta Tau International Nurse Researcher Hall of Fame Award , the American Heart Association’s Katharine A. Lembright Award , and the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Award . She has received multiple mentorship and teaching awards, including Distinguished Mentor Awards from UC Irvine and UCLA, highlighting her dedication to developing future nurse scientists. The University of the Philippines honored her with the Distinguished Alumni Award in Nursing Research and Education . Other recognitions include the Western Institute of Nursing Distinguished Research Lectureship Award, UCLA Academic Senate Distinguished Teaching Award, and numerous American Heart Association research awards. Her accolades reflect excellence in research, education, service, and mentorship.

Research Focus:

Dr. Lorraine Evangelista research focuses on improving health outcomes in patients with heart failure by examining the biobehavioral, psychosocial, and biological factors that influence self-care, quality of life, and clinical outcomes. Her pioneering work integrates nutritional strategies, psychological well-being, and symptom management with advanced health technologies, bridging nursing science and biomedical innovation. She has conducted multiple NIH-funded studies exploring interventions such as high-protein diets, remote patient monitoring, machine learning-driven medication adherence tools, and smartphone-based supportive care strategies. Her work also emphasizes health equity, particularly addressing disparities among underserved populations, including Filipino and Latinx communities. Through interdisciplinary collaborations with biomedical engineers, computer scientists, and public health experts, she applies implementation science and big data analytics to design just-in-time adaptive interventions. Her research not only informs evidence-based practice but also contributes to global guidelines in cardiovascular nursing and palliative care, advancing innovation, equity, and patient-centered care in chronic illness management.

Publication:

Title: Collaborating with and enabling diverse communities to address health inequities: The experiences of a community engagement and outreach team
Year: 2025

Title: Hidden Malnutrition in Overweight and Obese Individuals with Chronic Heart Failure: Insights from the Pro-HEART Trial
Year: 2025

Title: Lessons Learned from Ten Years of the Mountain West Clinical and Translational Research Infrastructure Network: A Case Study from the Research Core
Year: 2025

Title: High-Protein Dietary Interventions in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review of Clinical and Functional Outcomes
Year: 2025

Title: Patient activation improves with a multi-component personalized mHealth intervention in older patients at risk of cardiovascular disease: a pilot randomized controlled trial
Year: 2025

Title: Bridging the Gap: Reducing Health Inequities in Access to Preventive Health Care Services in Rural Communities in the Philippines
Year: 2024

Title: Correlates of Psychological Distress Among Filipino Americans and Filipinos Living in Urban Areas in the United States and the Philippines
Year: 2023

Title: Depression Predicts Cardiac Cachexia in Heart Failure Patients
Year: 2023

Title: Technological machines and artificial intelligence in nursing practice
Year: 2023

Title: Risk factors associated with early postpartum glucose intolerance in women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Year: 2023

Title: Using the Socioecological Model to Explore Barriers to Health Care Provision in Underserved Communities in the Philippines: Qualitative Study
Year: 2023

Conclusion:

Dr. Lorraine Evangelista exemplifies the qualities of a best researcher awardee, bringing together rigorous scientific inquiry, impactful leadership, and a deep commitment to mentoring the next generation of nurse scientists. Her career achievements demonstrate not only academic and clinical excellence but also a vision for advancing health equity through innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and global engagement. With her exceptional track record of high-impact research, international recognition, and unwavering dedication to the advancement of nursing and healthcare science, she is an outstanding candidate for the Best Researcher Award.

Jesus Simal-Gandara | Food Research | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Jesus Simal-Gandara | Food Research | Best Researcher Award

University of Vigo | Spain

Prof. Dr. Jesús Simal-Gandara is a distinguished food scientist and analytical chemist, currently a Full Professor at the University of Vigo, Spain. With over three decades of expertise, he has built an exceptional career marked by international research, academic leadership, and cross-disciplinary collaboration. He has served as Head of Department, Vice-Chancellor for Internationalization, and Director of CIA3, a multidisciplinary research center. His global experience includes research stints in France, USA, Germany, UK, Sweden, and more. A leading figure in food safety, nutrition, environmental contaminants, and analytical chemistry, he has supervised numerous PhDs and led prominent national and international research projects. His influence extends beyond academia through advisory roles in Spanish food safety agencies and active involvement in European research networks. A prolific author and evaluator, Prof. Simal-Gandara continues to make major contributions to global food quality, authenticity, and safety initiatives.

Profile:

Orcid

Google Scholar

Education:

Prof. Jesús Simal-Gandara completed his undergraduate degree in Pharmacy with Spanish Award of Completion and later earned his PhD with a Prize at the University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain. His foundational education laid the groundwork for a distinguished academic and scientific career. He complemented his education through advanced training and research engagements at several world-renowned institutions including Université de Paris-Sud (France), University of Delaware (USA), Fraunhofer Institute (Germany), and more. These international academic exposures equipped him with a multidisciplinary understanding of analytical chemistry, food safety, and public health. His continuous engagement with educational excellence is also seen in his role as a doctoral advisor, nurturing the next generation of scientists. Throughout his career, Prof. Simal-Gandara has also actively contributed to curriculum design, interdisciplinary research education, and academic leadership within Spanish and European higher education institutions.

Experience:

Prof. Jesús Simal-Gandara has extensive academic and research experience spanning over three decades. He began his academic journey at the University of Vigo, where he advanced from Associate Professor to Full Professor. He has held key leadership roles including Director of a multidisciplinary research center focused on environmental, agricultural, and food sciences, Head of the Department of Analytical Chemistry and Food Science, and Vice-Chancellor for Internationalization. His international experience includes research tenures at renowned institutions in France, the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Mexico. He has collaborated with both industry and public sector entities on projects involving food safety, packaging, and environmental impact. He has participated in over forty national and international research projects and supervised numerous doctoral theses across diverse fields such as food chemistry, environmental toxicology, and metabolomics. His global scientific reputation is further supported by his role as a reviewer and evaluator for research programs across continents.

Awards and Honors:

Prof. Jesús Simal-Gandara has been recognized with several prestigious distinctions throughout his career. He was awarded the top national honor for academic excellence in Pharmacy and received a PhD Prize from the University of Santiago de Compostela. His scientific contributions earned him the Research Medal from the Royal Academy of Science of Galicia and the Picadillo Award for his impact on rural food innovation. He is a Full Member of the Royal Academy of Pharmacy of Galicia and serves as President of the International Association of Dietary Nutrition and Safety. His expertise in food safety led to his appointment on scientific committees for national food and nutrition agencies, where he contributed to key public health reports. Internationally, he has served as a research evaluator for organizations in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Oceania, reflecting global recognition of his leadership in science and policy. His honors underscore a distinguished career dedicated to excellence in food science.

Research Focus:

Prof. Simal-Gandara’s research focuses on food quality, safety, traceability, and environmental contamination. His group excels in chromatographic separations (GC-MS, LC-MS), molecular biology, and proteomics. A major emphasis is on studying persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in food chains, with applications in public health, toxicity evaluation, and epidemiology. He explores functional and sensory quality improvements in food, especially through the analysis of secondary metabolites in plants. His research spans from chemical residue analysis in food packaging to the valorization of agri-food by-products for nutraceutical applications. He has led national and international projects addressing climate change, sustainable food systems, olive oil typicity, authenticity via hyperspectral imaging, and bioactive extractions from macroalgae. His interdisciplinary research integrates food science, agriculture, environment, nutrition, and public health, driving innovation in analytical methodologies and food risk assessment. His work consistently bridges science, technology, and policy to advance sustainable and safe global food systems.

Publications:

Title: The mobility and degradation of pesticides in soils and the pollution of groundwater resources
Year: 2008
Citations: 1823

Title: Impact of heavy metals on the environment and human health: Novel therapeutic insights to counter the toxicity
Year: 2022
Citations: 1711

Title: A review on the use of cyclodextrins in foods
Year: 2009
Citations: 1157

Title: Future challenges on the use of blockchain for food traceability analysis
Year: 2018
Citations: 1044

Title: Terpenes and terpenoids as main bioactive compounds of essential oils, their roles in human health and potential application as natural food preservatives
Year: 2022
Citations: 832

Title: Bioactive compounds and quality of extra virgin olive oil
Year: 2020
Citations: 473

Title: Wine aroma compounds in grapes: A critical review
Year: 2015
Citations: 454

Title: Mitigation of emerging implications of climate change on food production systems
Year: 2020
Citations: 418

Title: Cyclodextrins inclusion complex: Preparation methods, analytical techniques and food industry applications
Year: 2022
Citations: 359

Conclusion:

Prof. Dr. Jesús Simal-Gándara’s extensive contributions to food quality, safety, and public health, coupled with his leadership in large-scale multidisciplinary projects, make him an exemplary candidate for the Best Researcher Award. His ability to merge rigorous analytical chemistry with applied solutions in agriculture, nutrition, and environmental health reflects both scientific excellence and societal relevance. Recognizing his achievements would not only honor his personal dedication but also underscore the importance of globally integrated research in ensuring safe, authentic, and sustainable food systems.