Kiril Kirilov serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at New Bulgarian University (NBU) since 2022, following 15 years of research at the Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (IMB-BAS) where he completed his PhD dissertation on bacterial and mitochondrial codon usage. His academic foundation includes specialized bioinformatics training at Italy's International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (2003) and Canada's Carleton University (2013). His educational milestones feature: Master's degree in Engineer Biotechnologist from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, Sofia (2001) PhD in Molecular Biology from the Institute of Molecular Biology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (2014) Kirilov's research operates at the intersection of computational and experimental biology, with three dominant thematic clusters emerging from his publication record. His foundational work in bioinformatics focuses on codon usage patterns across bacterial and mitochondrial genomes, developing specialized algorithms for genomic analysis. A significant experimental stream investigates glycation processes in aging and disease, examining molecular interactions between compounds like L-lysine and proteins such as histone H1. Most recently, his work has expanded into neurodegenerative disease mechanisms , exploring neurotensin analogs for Parkinson's disease and novel galantamine derivatives for Alzheimer's treatment, often incorporating nutraceutical approaches like lycopene analysis. His publication trajectory reveals a strategic evolution from pure molecular genetics toward translational biomedical applications, consistently applying computational rigor across diverse biological systems. The 2023 Parkinson's disease study exemplifies this integration, combining receptor pharmacology with animal model validation. Patent development for chemistry education tools further demonstrates his commitment to knowledge transfer beyond traditional academic boundaries. At NBU, Kirilov teaches GENB093 History of Science while maintaining active research collaborations across Bulgarian academic institutions, with email correspondence facilitated through kkirilov@nbu.bg.
Bangyan L. Stiles, PhD, is the Boyd P. and Elsie D. Welin Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Southern California (USC) School of Pharmacy. She joined USC Mann in December 2005, was promoted to associate professor with tenure in 2012, and became a full professor in 2016. Her research program focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of chronic disease pathogenesis with particular emphasis on lipid metabolism in cancer development, specifically targeting the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) and related signaling pathways. Dr. Stiles' research interests span multiple interconnected areas of biomedical science. Her work primarily investigates how metabolic changes drive cancer development, with a special focus on liver cancer where fatty liver disease is a common co-morbidity. She has made significant contributions to understanding the relationship between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), fibrosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Her laboratory discovered that steatosis is a critical step for liver cancer development and identified Wnt produced from macrophages as niche factors that promote tumor development due to steatosis. Additionally, her research on pancreatic beta-cells has contributed to understanding how aged beta-cells lose their response to growth/regeneration signals and how this relates to diabetes onset. The research trends in Dr. Stiles' publications show a strong focus on the intersection of metabolism and cancer, particularly examining how PTEN/AKT signaling regulates liver and pancreatic pathophysiology. Her work spans from basic molecular mechanisms to translational applications, with significant emphasis on tumor initiating cells, macrophage-tumor cell interactions, and the inflammatory microenvironment in cancer development. The publications demonstrate increasing sophistication in understanding the crosstalk between metabolic pathways and cancer signaling, with recent work focusing on specific AKT isoforms, chemokine signaling in the tumor microenvironment, and transcriptional regulation in metabolic liver disease. Dr. Stiles has received substantial research funding as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH grants, including R01DK131492 (The Role of ERRa in liver lipid dysfunction and pathology), R01CA154986 (The role of PTEN and AKT2 in the malignant transformation of liver progenitor cells), and R01DK084241 (The mechanism of beta-cell regeneration). Her laboratory has trained numerous researchers who have contributed to her extensive publication record of over 100 papers with more than 13,000 reads and 5,913 citations on ResearchGate. Her laboratory focuses on the molecular mechanisms linking metabolic disease to cancer development, with particular expertise in PTEN/AKT signaling, liver pathophysiology, and pancreatic beta-cell regeneration. The lab employs a range of techniques including mouse models of liver disease and cancer, molecular biology approaches, and translational studies aimed at developing therapeutic interventions for metabolic liver disease and associated cancers.
Florencia Cabrera Cabrera is a Research Fellow at Tallinn University of Technology, School of Science, Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology since January 2025. Previously, she served as a Post-Doc at the same institution from August 2021 to December 2024. Her academic journey includes doctoral research at Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel and Technische Universität Dresden from 2016 to 2019, and earlier research and teaching positions at the University of the Republic, Uruguay and Institut Pasteur of Montevideo. Dr. Cabrera Cabrera earned her Doctorate in Natural Science with a focus on Biochemistry from Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel in 2019, where she completed her dissertation titled "Functional characterization of Signal-Peptide-Peptidase-Like (SPPL) 2a and 2b intramembrane cleaving proteases" under the supervision of Prof. Paul Saftig and Prof. Bernd Schröder. She also holds a Master's Degree in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the Institut Pasteur of Montevideo (2013), where she researched "Microvesicle-mediated host cell-parasite interaction in Trypanosoma cruzi" under Prof. Alfonso Cayota. Her educational background includes multiple degrees in Biological Sciences and Biochemistry from the University of the Republic, Uruguay. Dr. Cabrera Cabrera's research spans several interconnected fields in molecular and cellular biology, with a particular focus on intramembrane proteases, neurobiology, and host-pathogen interactions. Her early work examined Trypanosoma cruzi and its microvesicle-mediated interactions with host cells, while her doctoral research centered on Signal-Peptide-Peptidase-Like proteases and their physiological functions. More recently, her work has expanded into neurobiology, investigating BDNF gene expression regulation, neuron-glia interactions, and the role of regulatory elements in astrocytes. Her research combines molecular biology, biochemistry, and cell biology approaches to understand fundamental biological processes with implications for neurological disorders, infectious diseases, and cardiovascular conditions. Analysis of Dr. Cabrera Cabrera's publication record reveals a clear evolution of research interests from parasitology and RNA biology toward neurobiology and intramembrane proteolysis. Her early publications focused on Trypanosoma cruzi and tRNA-derived small RNAs, while her more recent work centers on BDNF regulation, neuron-glia interactions, and intramembrane proteases like SPPL2a/b. This trajectory demonstrates her ability to apply molecular and cellular biology techniques across diverse biological systems. The consistent thread through her work is the investigation of regulatory mechanisms at the molecular level, whether in host-pathogen interactions, neuronal function, or protease-mediated signaling pathways. Dr. Cabrera Cabrera has received several prestigious awards and recognitions for her research, including: 2023 Glia Network travel stipend to attend the XVI European Meeting on Glial Cells in Health and Disease 2023 EMBO Travel grant to attend the course: FISHing for RNA - Classical to single molecule approaches 2022 Distinguished Poster Presentation at the NeuroRNA Conference on RNA regulation in Brain Function and Disease 2011 Completion of Postgraduate Studies Scholarship from the Commission of Scientific Research of the University of the Republic, Uruguay 2010 Scholarship for Research Initiation from the Uruguayan National Agency for Research and Innovation As a principal investigator, Dr. Cabrera Cabrera has successfully led multiple research projects, including "BDNF gene expression regulation in non-neuronal cells" (2021-2023) and the current "AstroReg: A cartography of regulatory elements in astrocytes" (2023-2025). She also contributes to larger collaborative efforts such as "Probing Neuron-Glia Interactions with Cell-Selective Stimulation and Omics" and the upcoming UNCAN-CONNECT project. Since 2023, she has served on the Management Committee for COST Action CA22169, demonstrating her growing leadership in the research community. Her grant funding includes support from the Estonian Research Council and European Commission, reflecting the international recognition of her research program. Dr. Cabrera Cabrera is actively involved in the neuroscience and molecular biology research communities, with particular focus on neuron-glia interactions and regulatory mechanisms in cellular biology. Her current work on astrocyte regulatory elements positions her at the forefront of glial cell research, an area gaining increasing recognition for its importance in brain function and disease. Through her participation in the COST Action network and collaborative projects, she is helping to build international research capacity in these areas.
