In March 2024, Infectious Medicine initiated a global call for the "Infectious Medicine 2024 Early Career Researcher Award," aimed at recognizing emerging researchers who have made remarkable contributions to the field of infectious diseases. This initiative seeks to encourage these individuals to continue their innovative exploration in scientific research.

We received applications from 10 candidates across 8 countries and regions. Following a thorough review process, we are delighted to announce the three exceptional winners of this year's awards. Two first prizes and one second prize were awarded, as detailed below:

First Prize

Yibin Zhu

Tsinghua University, China

“I am deeply grateful to be awarded the First Prize in the ‘Infectious Medicine 2024 Early Career Researcher Award‘ selection by Infectious Medicine. I hold a deep commitment to translating his research into practical solutions for public health. I will continue to explore innovative approaches to mitigate the impact of mosquito-borne infectious diseases.”

——Yibin Zhu

Dr. Yibin Zhu is a research associate professor at Tsinghua University, focusing on the field of infectious diseases, particularly mosquito-borne viruses. His research aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between mosquitoes, viruses, and the host microbiome. He is particularly interested in leveraging these insights to develop innovative strategies for controlling the transmission of viruses such as dengue and Zika. Dr. Zhu has made progress in identifying critical factors that influence the spread of mosquito-borne flaviviruses and has proposed new approaches for viral control. His findings have been published in leading scientific journals, including Science and Cell. He is also actively involved in academic service as a member of the Youth Commission of the Chinese Society for Virology.

First Prize

Daniel Camprubí Ferrer

Barcelona Institute for Global Health，ISGlobal/ Hospital Clínic Barcelona，HCB，Spain

“I am deeply honored to receive the First Prize in the 2024 Early Career Researcher Award by Infectious Medicine. This recognition is a testament not only to my work but also to the collaborative efforts of my mentors, colleagues, and the broader scientific community who inspire and challenge me daily. Infectious diseases remain one of the most critical challenges to global health, and it is a privilege to contribute to advancing our understanding and treatment of these conditions. I am particularly grateful to Infectious Medicine and the judging panel for acknowledging my research and providing a platform to amplify its impact.”

——Daniel Camprubí Ferrer

In 2023, Dr. Camprubí obtained his PhD in Medicine and Translational Research from the University of Barcelona, Spain. He is currently employed as a senior expert at Hospital Clínic Barcelona (HCB) and also works at the Barcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal) as an Associated Research Professor (2023). Dr. Camprubí has made a significant impact on academia and clinical practice in the field of infectious diseases, particularly in tropical and travel medicine, through his clinically relevant research, innovative solutions, and interdisciplinary approaches.

Second Prize

Lauge Østergaard

Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital, Denmark

“I am very happy that the Infectious Medicine Journal appreciates my research efforts and have awarded me the second prize for the ‘Infectious Medicine 2024 Early Career Researcher Award’. My research within infective endocarditis was initiated during my PhD and following I have consistently been working with clinical epidemiologic aspects of infective endocarditis. I am starting to take the first steps in establishing myself as a scientific leader with three PhD-students under my supervision. I will continuously work to advance my academic skills and future aspects of research will also include clinical trials. The award given to me by the Infectious Medicine Journal will encourage me to continue my hard work.”

——Lauge Østergaard

In 2020, Dr. Østergaard obtained his PhD from the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen and is currently working in the cardiology department at Bispebjerg-Frederiksberg Hospital. Since 2016, Dr. Østergaard has focused on the epidemiology of infectious endocarditis, conducting several observational studies using Denmark's national registry data, which have provided new insights into the epidemiological changes of this disease. He has published multiple high-quality academic papers, and his research findings offer new data for the risk stratification and clinical practice of infectious endocarditis.

We extend our sincere thanks to all participants for their engagement and congratulate the winners on their remarkable achievements in the field of infectious diseases. This selection not only highlights the innovative potential of young researchers but also underscores Infectious Medicine's commitment to promoting research in this vital area.

Since its launch in 2022, Infectious Medicine has been dedicated to providing a high-quality "One Health" academic exchange platform for researchers worldwide. We invite outstanding scholars in infectious diseases from around the globe to submit their work.

Thank you for your attention and support! For more information, please visit our journal's website.