Yan Liu is a Senior Lecturer in Glycosciences at Imperial College's Department of Metabolism, Digestion and Reproduction (Faculty of Medicine). She leads the Wellcome Trust-funded Carbohydrate Microarray Facility and co-leads the GlycoTWINNG Network. Her research focuses on glycan-mediated interactions in host-microbiota interfaces, with applications in infectious diseases and reproductive health. She holds a B.Sc. from Peking University and a Ph.D. from the University of Bristol, followed by postdoctoral work at Imperial College under Professor Ten Feizi FRS. Her academic journey includes roles as a Microarray Project Leader and co-investigator in the March of Dimes European Preterm Birth Research Centre. She is PI of a £1.34M Wellcome Trust grant maintaining Imperial's Carbohydrate Microarray Facility, advancing glycan array technologies. Research interests span microbiology, immunology, and biomolecular chemistry, with a focus on glycobiology. Key contributions include defining glycan interactions in pathogen-host systems (e.g., Candida albicans, adenoviruses), developing glycan probes, and analyzing vaginal microbiota impacts on preterm birth. Grants and collaborations include EPSRC Translational funding and the UK 'FluTrialMAP' consortium. Labs affiliations include the Glycosciences Laboratory and Imperial's Institute of Infection.
Dr. Richard Y. Zhao is a tenured Professor in the Department of Pathology and Microbiology-Immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. His research combines molecular biology, fission yeast genetics, mammalian biology, and virology to study virus-host interactions, particularly for HIV and Zika virus. He previously held academic positions at Northwestern University and Columbia University and has contributed to over 120 peer-reviewed articles. B.S., China Oceanography University (1981) M.S., Oregon State University (1995) Ph.D., Oregon State University (1991) Postdoctoral Training, Columbia University (1991-1992) Dr. Zhao's research focuses on: Virus-host interactions and pathogenicity High-throughput drug screening for antivirals Role of viral proteins in neuroinflammation and cancer Translational genomics in precision medicine His recent publications highlight SARS-CoV-2 ORF3a, Zika envelope proteins, and HIV protease inhibitors, emphasizing host-pathogen mechanisms across species. He has served on NIH panels and editorial boards for journals like Cell Research and Retrovirology . Scientific awards include: Fellow, American Academy of Microbiology (2019) Bernard L Mirkin Endowed Chair (2001-2004) Honorary Director, Shandong Gallo Institute (2009) Distinguished Service from SCBA (2015) Outstanding Service from CBA-USA (2016) Dr. Zhao also contributes to clinical diagnostics and personalized medicine through molecular testing and pharmacogenetics programs.
Professor Michael W. Shaw is a distinguished academic at the University of Reading's School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, Department of Plant Sciences, with a research career spanning over two decades. His expertise lies at the intersection of plant pathology, disease epidemiology, and sustainable disease management strategies. Shaw's research interests encompass plant-pathogen interactions , particularly focusing on fungal diseases affecting major crops. His work investigates the epidemiology of plant diseases , fungicide resistance mechanisms , biological control strategies , and asymptomatic pathogen infections . He has made significant contributions to understanding pathogen evolution, host specificity, and the environmental factors influencing disease development. His recent publications demonstrate a consistent research trajectory examining the molecular, ecological, and epidemiological aspects of plant diseases. Shaw's work spans multiple pathosystems including Botrytis cinerea (gray mold), Venturia inaequalis (apple scab), begomoviruses affecting okra, and banana Xanthomonas wilt. His research integrates molecular techniques, field studies, and mathematical modeling to address complex plant health challenges. Professor Shaw has contributed significantly to the understanding of fungicide resistance development, particularly in cereal pathogens, and has explored innovative approaches to disease management through biological control agents and integrated strategies. His work on asymptomatic infections has revealed novel insights into host-pathogen relationships that extend beyond traditional disease paradigms. His collaborative research network spans internationally, with co-authors from multiple countries, reflecting the global relevance of his work in plant health and food security. Shaw's research has practical applications for sustainable agriculture and crop protection strategies worldwide.
Paul Klenerman is a Professor at the Nuffield Department of Medicine within the Medical Sciences Division , University of Oxford. His research focuses on immune responses to infectious diseases including HIV, hepatitis B/C, and SARS-CoV-2, with emphasis on T-cell biology, vaccine development, and host-pathogen dynamics. Email: paul.klenerman@medawar.ox.ac.uk Collaborators: Ellie Barnes (Oxford), Adrian Hill (Oxford), Georg Lauer (Harvard), Robert Thimme (Freiburg), and others across 12 institutions. Key research themes include: CD161++/MAIT cell biology (bacterial/viral defense, liver immunology), HCV immune defense (vaccine trials using adenoviral vectors), and memory inflation (persistent immune responses post-viral infections). Recent publications (2024-2025) span vaccine immunology (hybrid immunity, bivalent boosters), liver immunobiology (MAIT cell repair mechanisms), infectious disease dynamics (HCV persistence, dengue progression), and single-cell analysis of gut/lung pathologies.
Ananias A. Escalante is a Professor in the Department of Biology at Temple University's College of Science and Technology, and a core faculty member of the Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM). He holds a PhD in Biology from the University of California, Irvine (1995), and has held roles at the CDC (1995–2005) and Arizona State University (2005–2015). His research integrates population genetics with epidemiology, focusing on malaria parasites' evolution, drug resistance mechanisms, and biodiversity. Key areas include Plasmodium falciparum resistance mutations, primate malaria origins, and molecular tools for surveillance. Education: PhD in Biology, University of California, Irvine (1995) MSc in Ecology, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Venezuela Bachelor's Degree in Biology, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Venezuela Research interests span evolutionary genomics, malaria parasite diversity, and the application of genomic tools to epidemiology. He investigates how genetic diversity in parasites influences drug resistance and transmission dynamics, with a focus on nonhuman primate malaria as a model for human malaria origins. His work includes phylogenetic studies of Plasmodium species and the development of mitochondrial genome protocols for pathogen analysis. Notable contributions include studies on Plasmodium vivax population genetics in the Americas, the impact of drug resistance mutations (e.g., pfhrp2/pfhrp3 deletions), and the molecular characterization of novel malaria parasites in reptiles and birds. He collaborates on initiatives like the Amazonian International Center of Excellence for Malaria Research. Advising and grants: While specific student names aren’t listed, his research team likely includes graduate students focused on evolutionary parasitology. Grants support projects on malaria genomics and vector ecology. He leads Temple’s iGEM lab, advancing interdisciplinary research in genomics and evolutionary medicine. Labs/Teams: Core faculty at Temple’s Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine (iGEM), collaborating on projects integrating genomics, epidemiology, and evolutionary biology.
Dr. Lorenzo Pellis is a Research Fellow at the University of Manchester, holding the Sir Henry Dale Fellowship, and a Visiting Fellow at the University of Warwick's Mathematics Institute and Zeeman Institute. He is also an Honorary Research Associate at the Medical Research Council (MRC) Centre for Outbreak Analysis and Modelling, within the Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology at Imperial College London. His research bridges applied mathematics and epidemiology, focusing on developing models that inform public health decisions. He earned his Doctoral degree in Mathematical Biology from Imperial College London in 2009, with a dissertation titled Mathematical models for emerging infections in socially structured populations: the presence of households and other social structures II: Comparisons and implications for vaccination . Pellis's research interests include the development of novel deterministic and stochastic methods to model infection spread dynamics, particularly in human populations with complex social structures. He focuses on directly transmitted infections and the impact of co-infections on epidemiological and evolutionary outcomes. His work emphasizes multi-scale models integrating within-host and between-host processes, with applications to antimicrobial resistance, HIV-TB co-infections, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) transmission in Kenya. He also explores model comparison techniques to assess the utility of simple models in public health decision-making. His recent articles collectively explore mathematical modeling in infectious disease dynamics, with a focus on network-based approaches, multi-strain infections, and the integration of within-host and between-host processes. They highlight challenges in metapopulation and network models, as well as the evolutionary dynamics of HIV and TB co-infections. Sir Henry Dale Fellow , funded by the Wellcome Trust and Royal Society His grants include support for his Sir Henry Dale Fellowship, which funds research on co-infections and multi-scale models. He collaborates with Prof. Matt Keeling and Dr. Thomas House at Warwick and Prof. James Nokes on RSV studies in Kenya. His work also involves improving epidemic dynamics approximation methods on networks. He is affiliated with the applied Mathematics group at Manchester's School of Mathematics, the Zeeman Institute at Warwick, and the MRC Centre at Imperial College. His interdisciplinary collaborations span institutions and disciplines, including applied mathematics, epidemiology, and public health.
Marius Gilbert is a Full Professor at Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB) since 2023, with dual administrative roles as Vice-rector of Research and Valorization (since 2020) and Vice-rector of Culture and Scientific Mediation (current mandate). He obtained his PhD in spatial epidemiology from ULB in 2001 after studying Agricultural Sciences (1995) and conducting visiting research at Oxford's Department of Zoology. Key Research Areas: Spatial epidemiology of animal diseases and invasive species Impact of agricultural and ecosystem changes on pathogen emergence Specialization in avian influenza and emerging infectious diseases Development of livestock distribution models and antimicrobial resistance tracking Scientific Contributions: His 15 most recent publications (2025-2021) focus on viral phylogeography , livestock-environment interactions , antimicrobial use forecasting , and pandemic response modeling . Notable work includes COVID-19 spatio-temporal analysis and global antibiotic resistance trends in food animals. Public Engagement: Played a central role in French-speaking media during the pandemic , authored the book "Juste un Passage au JT" , and maintains a Le Soir column on science-society intersections. Co-founded the Spatial Epidemiology Lab (SpELL) in 2016, now led by Simon Dellicour.
William Balch, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at Scripps Research. His research focuses on linking genetic variation in human populations to protein function using machine learning tools like Gaussian Process (GP) modeling. He pioneered concepts in proteostasis and spatial covariance, exploring how genetic and environmental factors influence protein folding and disease. Education: Ph.D. in Microbiology from University of Illinois (1979) Research interests include inherited diseases (e.g., CFTR, AATD, NPC1), aging-related proteostasis collapse, and host-pathogen interactions in SARS-CoV-2. His lab develops computational platforms to model protein design and discover therapeutic interventions. Key projects involve GP-based analysis of genetic diversity, small molecule therapeutics targeting chaperone systems, and understanding viral evolution via spatial covariance. His work bridges genomics and phenomics to address disease mechanisms at atomic resolution. Grants and collaborations focus on protein-folding correction, with applications in precision medicine and climate change mitigation through RuBisCo optimization in plants.
Anssi Laurila is a Professor in the Department of Ecology and Genetics, specializing in Animal Ecology at Uppsala University, Sweden. His research integrates evolutionary biology and ecology to explore the mechanisms underlying phenotypic and genetic variation in natural populations, particularly amphibians. His primary research interests include phenotypic plasticity , local adaptation , maternal effects , life-history evolution , and genomic responses to environmental gradients such as latitude, temperature, acidity, and predation. He investigates how populations adapt to heterogeneous environments through both plastic and genetic mechanisms, often using comparative studies across latitudinal clines and contrasting habitats. His work frequently focuses on amphibians like Rana temporaria , Rana arvalis , and Bufo bufo , as well as other ectotherms including freshwater snails and fish. The trends in his recent publications (2020–2025) show a strong emphasis on genomic and transcriptomic analyses of adaptation, host-pathogen interactions (especially with Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis ), immunogenetics (MHC diversity), conservation genetics of edge populations, and acclimation physiology . His studies often combine field observations with controlled experiments and molecular techniques, contributing to understanding evolutionary responses to climate change and anthropogenic stressors. No scientific awards are explicitly mentioned in the provided text. Dr. Laurila actively collaborates with researchers across Europe and supervises or co-supervises numerous studies, as evidenced by his consistent presence as a senior or corresponding author. While specific grant details are not listed, his extensive publication record in high-impact journals suggests sustained funding for research in evolutionary ecology and conservation. His work has implications for biodiversity conservation, particularly in the context of climate change and emerging infectious diseases. He is involved in research on amphibian microbiomes, thermal adaptation in geothermal systems, and the genetic basis of adaptive traits. His team explores how environmental stressors shape phenotypic and genetic variation, with a focus on understanding the limits and costs of plasticity and adaptation.
Julia Gamble is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology at the University of Manitoba's Faculty of Arts. A bioarchaeologist and dental anthropologist, her research focuses on medieval European populations, particularly stress and health patterns across the life course. She employs advanced techniques like 3D scanning, laser microscopy, and palaeoproteomics for analysis. Education: PhD in Anthropology, University of Manitoba (2015) MA in European Historical Archaeology, University of Sheffield (2006) BA Honours in Anthropology, University of Winnipeg (2005) Research Interests: Her work bridges dental anthropology, developmental origins of health/disease, palaeodemography, and palaeopathology. She investigates correlations between dental growth disruptions and adult skeletal health markers, with recent collaborations on Avar period bioarchaeology and repatriation efforts. Recent Publications: Spanning 2016–2025, her articles address Black Death genetics, enamel defect analysis, digital osteology education, and sex estimation from proteomics. These studies integrate ancient DNA, microscopy, and historical contextualization. Grants & Affiliations: Principal Investigator for SSHRC-funded projects on early medieval Austria and co-Investigator for repatriation research. Affiliated with the Earth Materials and Archaeometry Centre (EMAC). Teaching: Courses include human osteology, bioarchaeology, and evolutionary anthropology. Actively involved in fieldwork in Europe and Canada.
Mehdi Kabbage is a Professor and Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison . His research focuses on necrotrophic fungal pathogenesis, particularly the role of oxalic acid and programmed cell death (PCD) in plant-pathogen interactions. He teaches courses in fungal biology and plant-microbe interactions. Education : Ph.D. in Plant Pathology (Kansas State University), M.S. in Plant Pathology (Kansas State University), B.S. in Engineering (Ecole d'Ingénieurs de Purpan, France) Dr. Kabbage investigates how Sclerotinia sclerotiorum manipulates plant PCD through oxalic acid secretion and explores strategies to inhibit this process for crop protection. His work spans molecular mechanisms of fungal virulence, plant stress tolerance, and genetic resistance in soybeans. Recent publications highlight his research on fungal effector proteins, host-induced gene silencing, oxalic acid signaling, and autophagy-based resistance strategies. He collaborates extensively on soybean and dry bean pathosystems, with a focus on integrated disease management and climate resilience. His lab develops transgenic approaches for stress tolerance, studies BAG protein family functions in plant defense, and investigates fungal enzymatic virulence factors like alcohol oxidases and laccases. Current projects include chemical genomics for resistance pathway discovery and novel antifungal agents such as poacic acid.
Xiaoyu Che is an Assistant Professor of Biostatistics at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, where he serves as the principal biostatistician in the Center for Infection and Immunity (CII) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. His work bridges statistical methodology with biomedical research, focusing on complex disease mechanisms through advanced data analysis approaches. Dr. Che received his academic training at prestigious institutions: BS in Mathematics from Zhejiang University (2006) PhD in Mathematics from Claremont Graduate University (2013) Dr. Che's research program centers on the development and application of statistical methods for multi-omics analyses, with particular focus on understanding the pathogenesis of chronic and neurodevelopmental conditions. His work spans multiple domains including Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), and Gulf War Illness (GWI). He employs sophisticated biostatistical approaches to integrate diverse biological data types, revealing novel insights into disease mechanisms. His methodological expertise includes Bayesian statistics, metabolomic analysis, immune signature identification, and microbiome characterization, all aimed at translating complex biological data into meaningful clinical insights. Analysis of Dr. Che's publication record reveals a strong thematic focus on applying advanced statistical methods to understand complex disease mechanisms. His work consistently bridges biostatistical innovation with biomedical discovery, particularly in the areas of neurodevelopmental disorders and chronic fatigue conditions. The publications demonstrate progression from foundational methodological work to increasingly sophisticated multi-omics integration approaches, reflecting both technical growth and expanding research impact. His collaborative approach is evident through numerous high-impact publications with interdisciplinary teams across Columbia University and beyond. Dr. Che teaches BIST P8104: Probability in the Biostatistics MS degree program at Columbia, demonstrating his commitment to training the next generation of biostatisticians. While specific grant information isn't detailed in the provided materials, his extensive publication record across multiple high-impact journals suggests successful grant funding supporting his research program. As principal biostatistician in the Center for Infection and Immunity, Dr. Che plays a critical role in the analytical framework of the center's research initiatives. His work supports the center's mission to understand the relationship between infectious agents and human health through rigorous quantitative analysis. The collaborative nature of his research is evident in the diverse range of co-authors spanning immunology, virology, microbiology, and clinical medicine.
Raina Plowright serves as the Rudolf J. and Katharine L. Steffen Professor of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, where she leads the Department of Public & Ecosystem Health. She is also a Cornell Atkinson Scholar at the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability. Previously, she was a Professor of Epidemiology at Montana State University (2022-present), Associate Professor (2020-2022), and Assistant Professor (2014-2020) in the same department. Plowright earned her B.V.Sc. Hons I (DVM equivalent) from the University of Sydney in 1997, followed by an M.S. in Epidemiology (2005) and Ph.D. in Ecology (2007) from the University of California, Davis. She completed postdoctoral training as a David H. Smith Fellow in Conservation Research at Pennsylvania State University's Center for Infectious Disease Dynamics (2009-2014). Her research program integrates evolutionary biology, ecology, environmental science, immunology, virology, and social sciences to understand and prevent zoonotic spillover—the critical first step in pandemic emergence. She leads transdisciplinary collaborations focused on WHO-priority pathogens originating in bats, with work spanning from sub-cellular to landscape scales. Her team investigates how land-use change, climate variation, and social vulnerability drive pathogen emergence, identifying practical strategies for prevention. Her Plowright Lab and Bat One Health Research Group conduct field studies, laboratory experiments, and predictive modeling to generate actionable insights for public health strategies. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a consistent focus on understanding the ecological and physiological mechanisms driving viral spillover from bats to other species. Her work increasingly emphasizes practical interventions and policy recommendations for pandemic prevention, moving beyond simply understanding spillover mechanisms to implementing ecological countermeasures. Recent research has particularly examined the role of bat nutrition and metabolism in viral shedding dynamics, the spatial and temporal patterns of viral excretion in reservoir hosts, and the development of comprehensive frameworks for primary pandemic prevention. Elected to the National Academy of Medicine (2023) Elected as Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2022) Charles and Nora Wiley Award for Meritorious Research (2022) Rudolph J. and Katharine L. Steffen Professorship (2023) DARPA Young Faculty Award (2016) David H. Smith Fellowship in Conservation Research (2009) Plowright co-chairs the Lancet Commission on Prevention of Viral Spillover and serves on the NSF Advisory Committee for Environmental Research and Education. Her research has received significant funding from organizations including DARPA, NSF, and the Morris Animal Foundation. She leads the Plowright Lab and Bat One Health Research Group, which conduct interdisciplinary research spanning field studies, laboratory experiments, and modeling approaches to understand and prevent zoonotic disease emergence. Her laboratory maintains active collaborations with researchers across multiple institutions and countries, working closely with wildlife managers, public health officials, and communities to develop practical strategies for pandemic prevention. The lab's approach emphasizes the integration of ecological knowledge with public health practice through the One Health framework.
Dr. Byeonghwa Jeon is an Associate Professor in the Division of Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on antibiotic resistance mechanisms, stress tolerance in foodborne pathogens, and development of antimicrobial alternatives such as bacteriophages and antioxidant-based therapies. Education: PhD in Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Japan MSc in Food Science and Biotechnology, Lund University, Sweden BSc in Food Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Korea Postdoctorate in Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, Iowa State University Dr. Jeon's research employs molecular biology, genomics, and microbial ecology to study Campylobacter jejuni, a leading enteric pathogen, with emphasis on stress responses, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance. His work aims to develop interventions to disrupt bacterial survival pathways and reduce public health impacts. Recent publications highlight his exploration of antioxidant-mediated antimicrobial synergy, cold tolerance mechanisms, and phage-based control of multidrug-resistant bacteria. Key collaborations include researchers from South Korea, Canada, and the U.S. Areas of investigation include: Stress tolerance in foodborne pathogens Molecular mechanisms of antibiotic resistance Bacteriophage applications for STEC and Salmonella Oxidative stress and biofilm regulation Wall teichoic acid roles in Listeria Adjuvant strategies for bacitracin against MRSA
Professor Siobhán McClean (University College Dublin) is a leading researcher in Biomolecular and Biomedical Science with 24 years of academic experience. Her work focuses on chronic respiratory infections in cystic fibrosis patients and vaccine development against ESKAPE pathogens. Current roles: Professor (2024-present) Associate Dean for Widening Participation (2019-2023) Head of Biochemistry (2019-2022) Academic qualifications: BSc in Biochemistry, UCD PhD, Imperial College London Professional Diploma in Creativity & Innovation, UCD Research Interests: Specializing in bacterial adaptation to hypoxia in chronic infections, she leads studies on Burkholderia cepacia complex, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Pandoraea pulmonicola. Her team develops novel vaccine antigens through proteomic analysis of host-pathogen interactions, with recent work on TLR4 agonists and universal stress proteins. Article Trends: Recent publications focus on mRNA vaccine platforms, hypoxia-driven pathogenesis, and cross-reactive antigens for ESKAPE pathogens. Key themes include adjuvant optimization, host cell attachment mechanisms, and immune correlate analysis across bacterial/viral/parasitic agents. Scientific Awards: Principal Investigator for Marie Curie BactiVax network Coordinator of All-island Vaccine Research Alliance (AIVRT) Science Foundation Ireland grant recipient Training Leadership: Supervises 7 active PhD researchers and has trained 15 Marie Curie students across 8 countries. Her lab develops cationic nanoparticles and investigates bacterial stress responses.
