Firas Abdollah | Medicine and Dentistry | Best Researcher Award

Firas Abdollah | Medicine and Dentistry | Best Researcher Award

Dr Firas Abdollah,Henry Ford Health,United States

Dr. Firas Abdollah is a Clinical Associate Professor and Vice-Chair of Academic and Research at the Vattikuti Urology Institute, Henry Ford Hospital. With dual citizenship in the USA and Italy, he has a distinguished career in urologic oncology and robotic surgery. He specializes in the epidemiology of urologic cancers and the development of predictive tools for cancer outcomes. He has held research and faculty positions at leading institutions, including Wayne State University and Michigan State University. His extensive contributions to urology have earned him numerous awards, and his research has been published in top-tier journals. Dr. Abdollah is also a medical consultant for Intuitive Surgical Inc.

Publication Profile

Orcid

Education

Dr Firas Abdollah began his academic journey at Al Mutamayizeen Secondary School in Baghdad, Iraq, where he completed his Bachelor of Science between 1995 and 1997. He then pursued a Doctor of Medicine degree at the College of Medicine, Baghdad University, graduating in 2003. Following his medical education, he underwent extensive training through internships and residency at San-Raffaele Hospital, University Vita-Salute, in Milan, Italy, from 2004 to 2012. Further advancing his expertise, he completed a prestigious Fellowship in Robotic Urologic Oncology at the Henry Ford Hospital, Vattikuti Urology Institute, in Detroit, Michigan, USA, from 2015 to 2018.

Experience

Associate Professor at Wayne State University, a position he has held since 2020, and also serves as Vice-Chair of Academic and Research at the Vattikuti Urology Institute, Henry Ford Hospital. In addition, he has been a Clinical Associate Professor at Michigan State University since 2022. His extensive experience in medical consulting includes his current role at Intuitive Surgical Inc., California, starting in 2024. Previously, he was a Medical Consultant for the Department of Urology at the Academic Hospital San Raffaele in Milan, Italy, from 2011 to 2013, and served as a Medical Consultant and Advisor for GenomeDx Biosciences in Vancouver, Canada, from 2014 to 2020. His collaboration with KOELIS Inc. in Delaware lasted from 2022 to 2024 through a consulting and research agreement. Dr. [Name] has also been actively involved in research, having worked as a Research Investigator at Henry Ford Hospital, focusing on prognostic models for prostate and bladder cancers from 2014 to 2015. Earlier in his career, he contributed to cancer prognostics and health outcomes research at the University of Montreal in 2010.

Awards & Honors

  • Best Poster Award – Società Italiana di Urologia Annual Congress (2007)
  • Best of AUA/JUA Meeting Award – AUA Annual Meeting, Washington DC (2011)
  • Best Paper – European Urology Resident Corner (2012)
  • Best Poster Award – European Association of Urology Congress (2012, 2013, 2014, 2018)
  • Excellence in Research Award – Southeast Michigan Center for Medical Education (2017)
  • Top 1% in Field for Peer Reviews – Publons (2017)
  • First Place, Fellow Clinical Research – European Association of Urology Congress (2018)

 

Research Focus

  • Epidemiology of Urologic-Oncology Diseases
  • Prostate, Kidney, Bladder, Testicular, and Penile Cancers
  • Development of Prediction Tools for Disease-Specific Mortality and Recurrence
  • Robotic Urologic Oncology and Outcomes Resear

 

Publication
  • 📖 The importance of pelvic lymph node dissection in the elderly: Implications for interpretation of NCCN guidelines
  • 📖 A novel tool for predicting urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy
  • 📖 Competing risks analysis of long-term survival in node-positive prostate cancer
  • 📖 Predicting pathological outcomes in patients undergoing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy
  • 📖 Testing the impact of adjuvant radiotherapy on overall mortality in prostate cancer patients
  • 📖 External validity of EORTC 30904 in North American patients with renal cell carcinoma

Ines Mimoso | Health Professions | Young Scientist Award

Ines Mimoso | Health Professions | Young Scientist Award

Mrs Ines Mimoso, FFUP, Portugal

Inês Mimoso is a dedicated design professional with a strong focus on ethical and human-centered approaches to problem-solving. Currently serving as a Project Manager at Porto4Ageing-FFUP, she specializes in fostering innovation and smart environments. With experience spanning product design, virtual reality research, and participatory design, she has contributed significantly to health innovation, inclusive design, and climate adaptation projects. Her work emphasizes co-creation, user research, and accessibility. She has organized numerous scientific events and collaborated on research initiatives that enhance digital therapeutics and support aging populations. Passionate about improving lives through design, she has also engaged in volunteering and education-focused initiatives, including early childhood learning and social projects in East Timor. Inês has received several awards recognizing her creativity and impact in design and engineering. Her interdisciplinary expertise in UX, product development, and participatory research continues to drive her contributions to academic and industry advancements.

Publication profile

orcid

Education

Inês Mimoso holds a Master’s in Product Design (2018–2021) from ESAD Matosinhos, where she specialized in co-creation, human-centered design, and product design. Her dissertation focused on the Design of Playful and Pedagogical Objects for the Learning and Development of Preschool-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), showcasing her commitment to inclusive and innovative design. Prior to this, she earned a Degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering (2014–2017) from FEUP, gaining technical expertise in materials science and engineering design. Her academic foundation was established through the Science and Technology Programme (2009–2014) at Escola Secundária Rodrigues de Freitas, where she developed strong competencies in STEM disciplines. Additionally, she has pursued specialized training in UX design, project management, circular economy, and inclusive design, earning certifications from Google, TU Delft, and HEC Montréal. These courses have enriched her expertise in user research, accessibility, and innovation strategies.

Experience

Inês Mimoso is currently a Project Manager at Porto4Ageing-FFUP (Dec 2024 – Present), where she leads the FITT-NESS project, focusing on smart homes and inclusive environments. Previously, she held an FCT Research Grant (Mar 2024 – Dec 2024) at Porto4Ageing-FFUP, where she managed the CAOP Project, addressing climate adaptation for vulnerable older adults through participatory design methods, including interviews and focus groups. Her experience also includes an internship in VR Design Research (Oct 2023 – Feb 2024) at Labrp – Escola Superior de Saúde, where she explored the adaptation of virtual reality scenarios for children and the elderly. From Jun 2021 to Dec 2023, she worked as a Product Designer at Flowco, engaging in R&D projects, communication design, and co-creation methodologies. Additionally, in 2024, she played a key role in organizing scientific events in health innovation, including the Future Health Conference Porto and COHES.io. Her work seamlessly integrates design thinking with technology, with a strong focus on healthcare, aging, and accessibility.

Awards

Inês Mimoso has been recognized for her innovative contributions across multiple disciplines. She won 1st place in the Ideas and Creativity Competition – Cork and Cork Oak Forest (2020) , held in Coruche, for her outstanding work in sustainability and materials innovation. She also secured 2nd place in the SMC BMC Alliance Award (2019) 🥈 in Stuttgart, further demonstrating her expertise in design and materials engineering. Additionally, she has been acknowledged through IACOBUS Papers 24-25, receiving recognition for her scientific publications. Beyond these accolades, she has been awarded training grants and has actively participated in competitive UX and design-related initiatives, reflecting her commitment to participatory design, user research, and innovation.

Research Focus

Inês Mimoso’s research is deeply rooted in human-centered design, co-creation, and participatory design, with a strong emphasis on health innovation, accessibility, and digital therapeutics. She specializes in inclusive and adaptive design, ensuring that smart home and healthcare solutions cater to vulnerable populations. Her work in digital therapeutics and UX research explores the user experience in healthcare applications, enhancing accessibility and effectiveness. She has also contributed to climate adaptation for older adults, designing interventions that promote urban resilience and well-being. Additionally, her expertise in playful-pedagogical design focuses on developing learning tools for children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), using innovative methods to support their development. By integrating design, healthcare, and digital technology, Inês ensures that her research drives impactful and inclusive solutions across multiple fields.

Publication Top Notes

  • Polypharmacy Prevalence Among Older Adults Based on the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe: An Update (IJERPH, 2025)
  • Co-creation in the Development of Digital Therapeutics: Literature Review (IJERPH, 2024)
  • Design of Playful-Pedagogical Objects for Learning and Development of Preschool-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (Springer, 2023)
  • Master’s Dissertation – Design of Playful-Pedagogical Objects for Learning and Development of Preschool-Aged Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) (ESAD, 2021)