Awards
2020

WALT Lifetime PBM Achievement Award

Criteria: 1. Senior level scientist (Age > 60 years, as of Jan 1st of congress year). 2. Significant contributions to PBM as a clinician or researcher as evidenced by (but not limited to) publication, talk invitations, journal editorial board membership, leadership positions in laser organizations, patents, honors, etc. Industry affiliates will be eligible and will be held to same meritorious standards. 3. Does not have to be a WALT member. 4. The awardee must be present in person to accept this award (Not Applicable due to COVID).

2020 Recipient: Prof Uri Oron, Tel Aviv University, lsrael

Prof. Uri Oron is the recipient of the 2020 WALT Lifetime PBM Achievement Award for his seminal scientific accomplishments in the field with PBM with Stroke, Alzheimer’s and myocardial infarction. His demonstration for the ability of PBM treatments to harness endogenous stem cells for liver and cardiac tissue regeneration had inspired many clinical and research investigators. In a truly remarkable career, in arguably a little-known field along the ‘side lines’ of mainstream science, his work has garnered invaluable recognition for the PBM field.

https://www.researchgate.net/scientific-contributions/Uri-Oron-50690866

Ali Javan WALT PBM Leadership Award

Criteria: 1. Senior level scientist (Age > 60 years, as of Jan 1st of congress year) 2. Significant contributions to PBM leadership as evidenced by talk invitations, journal editorial board membership, leadership positions in laser organizations, patents, honors, publications, grants, etc. Industry affiliates will be eligible and will be held to same meritorious standards. 3. Has to be a WALT member in good standing. 4. The awardee must be present in person to accept this award (Not Applicable due to COVID)

2020 Recipient: Dr Raymond Lanzafame, United States

Dr Raymond Lanzafame is the recipient of the Ali Javan WALT PBM Leadership Award for his tremendous scientific accomplishment and steadfast stewardship at our journal and several laser organizations, including ANZI on behalf of PBM. His trailblazing leadership and focus on scientific rigor has set a hig;ht bar for PBM studies in publications and presentations. The results of his contributions have provided a fantastic oppoi1unity for the field as it finds itself today, poised to make a real impact on human health.
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Raymond_Lanzafame

Senior Investigator Award for Excellence in PBM Basic Sciences

Criteria: 1. Senior level scientist (Age > 45 years, as of Jan 1st of congress year). 2. Significant contributions to PBM basic sciences includes work on basic light physics, chemistry or biology, in vitro biological or biochemical analyses, all small and large animal work for research purposes (excluding large or companion animal and human studies), instrument manufacturing or innovation. Contributions could be evidenced by (but not limited to) publication, talk invitations, journal editorial board membership, leadership positions in laser organizations, patents, honors, etc. Industry aPiliates will be eligible and will be held to the same meritorious standards. 3. Must be a WALT member in good standing. 4. The awardee must be present in person to accept this award (Not Applicable due to COVID).

2020 Recipient: Prof Rodrigo Martens Lopes, niversi ade do Vale do Pa aiba Brazil

Prof. Rodrigo Martens Lopes recipient of the Senior Investigator Award for Excellence in PBM Basic Sciences for his outstanding contributions towards PBM in physiotherapy and sports medicine. His work has enabled the routine use of PBM for both physical performance enhancements and recovery from injury. Besides his excellent scientific contributions, his mentorship and training has enabled a new generation of PBM experts who continue to move the field forward in exciting new frontiers.

https://scholar.google.co.za/citations?hl=en&user=eelrfeYAAAAJ

Senior Investigator Award for Excellence in PBM Clinical Sciences

Criteria: 1. Senior level scientist (Age > 45 years, as of Jan 1st of congress year). 2. Significant contributions to PBM clinical sciences directly involving large or companion animal and human subjects. Contributions could be evidenced by (but not limited to) publication, talk invitations, journal editorial board membership, leadership positions in laser organizations, patents, honours, etc. Industry affiliates will be eligible and will be held to same meritorious standards. 3. Must be a WALT member in good standing. The awardee must be present in-person to accept this award (Not Applicable due to COVID)

2020 Recipient: Prof Rene Jean Bensadoun, Centre De Haute Energie, Nice, France

Prof. Rene Jean Bensadoun is the recipient of the Senior Investigator Award for Excellence in PBM Clinical Sciences for this seminal work with PBM in oral mucositis. His original study led the field in motivating several groups around the world in adapting and validating PBM treatments in supportive cancer care. He has mentored and trained several clinical and basic science investigators in his career, many of whom are now actively contributing to taking the field forward. The most tangible accomplishment of his career is the current acceptance of PBM treatments being recommended as the routine, standard of care in management of oncotherapy-associated mucositis.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Rene_Jean_Bensadoun

New / Young Investigator Award for excellence in PBM Basic Sciences

Criteria: 1. Award will be given each year for excellence in PBM basic and clinical sciences respectively. Awardee will be chosen based on submitted abstracts that are reviewed by at least three independent reviewers and scored for originality, content and novelty-innovation. The best three eligible abstracts wit I be invited to present their work in a special session at the congress which will be judged by at least 10 members compromising of the WALT Executive Council and general membership. The nominee will be judged on a standardized scoring sheet provided by the scientific chair for scientific merit, presentation skills and addressing audience or judges’ questions. A majority decision will be used to select the awardee. Any ties will be resolved by majority vote from the WALT President, President-Elect, Vice-President. Awardees will be announced during the dinner gala. (2020 Award DID NOT FOLLOW REGULAR CRITERIA DUE TO INABILITY TO ORGANIZE ANNUAL CONGRESS DUE TO COVID PANDEMIC)
Eligibility (Young Investigator Competition): 1. Young investigator (Age < 45 years as of Jan 1st oT that year). 2. Must be a WALT member. 3. Must be the first (primary) author on the submitted abstract in Basic PBM sciences* 4. Must attend annual congress and present work in person. 5. Can be affiliated from academic or industry. 6. Work must be original, novel or innovative and recent (unpublished in journals). 7. Basic PBM sciences includes work on basic light physics, chemistry or biology, in vitro biological or biochemical analyses, all small and large animal work for research purposes (excluding large or companion animal and human studies), instrument manufacturing or innovation.

2020 Recipient: Dr Lilach Gavish, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel

Dr Lilach Gavish is the recipient of the New / Young Investigator Award for excellence in PBM Basic Sciences for her significant contributions via scientific publications and presentations. She currently serves as a Research Associate at the Faculty oT Medicine of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HUJI). Her research is focused on laser-tissue interactions to enable PBM from bench to bedside using in vitro studies, in vivo animal models, and clinical studies. In addition to her background in basic science, she has significant experience as a clinical trial director working as a consultant to the industry as well as within the academic framework, particularly in the field of medical devices.

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Lilach_Gavish

New / Young Investigator Award for excellence in PBM Clinical Sciences

Criteria: 1. Award will be given each year for excellence in PBM basic and clinical sciences respectively. Awardee will be chosen based on submitted abstracts that are reviewed by at least three independent reviewers and scored for originality, content and novelty-innovation. The best three eligible abstracts will be invited to present their wark in a special session at the congress which will be judged by at least 10 members compromising of the WALT Executive Council and general membership. The nominee will be judged on a standardized scoring sheet provided by the scientific chair for scientific merit, presentation skills and addressing audience or judges’ questions. A majority decision will be used to select the awardee. Any ties will be resolved by majority vote from the WALT President, President-Elect, Vice-President. Awardees will be announced during the dinner gala. (2020 Award DID NOT FOLLOW REGULAR CRITERIA DUE TO INABILITY TO ORGANIZE ANNUAL CONGRESS DUE TO COVID PANDEMIC)
Eligibility (Young Investigator Competition): 1. Young investigator (Age < 45 years as of Jan 1st of that year). 2. Must be a WALT member. 3. Must be the first (primary) author an the submitted abstract in Basic PBM sciences* 4. Must attend annual congress and present work in person. 5. Can be affiliated from academic or industry. 6. Work must be original, novel or innovative and recent (unpublished in journals). 7. Clinical PBM sciences: includes studies directly involving large or companion animal and human subjects.

2020 Recipient: Prof Sandeep Gopalakrishnan, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee

Prof. Sandeep Gopalakrishnan is the recipient of the 2020 New/ Young Investigator Award for excellence in PBM Clinical Sciences for his scientific contributions as evidenced from his publications and presentations. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the College of Nursing at University of WisconsinMilwaukee. He received his MS in Clinical Laboratory Sciences and PhD in Health Sciences from University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee followed by a postdoctoral training at Cardiovascular Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. His program of research is to develop and implement an inexpensive, noninvasive, effective therapeutic modality like PBM for wound healing which could improve health-related quality of life (and ultimately reduce health care costs, morbidity and mortality. Gopalakrishnan is a Diplomate (DAPWCA) and the Secretary of American Professional Wound Care Association (APWCA). He is the Co-Founder of MegaPerceptron a startup to commercialize and develop digital platforms for wound care based on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning.

2020 WALT Presidential Commendation

For service and leadership in the field of PBM. He has been a real force in enabling, encouraging

and emphatically leading on many regulatory and organizational aspects of our field.

He has been a global advocate for the field and a pioneer in PBM education.

He is one of the original members of WALT, continues to support and actively participates in all activities

Awards2020