Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and ScienceUnited States
Mark R. Pittelkow is a Professor of Dermatology at the Mayo Clinic, holding a primary appointment as a Consultant in the Department of Dermatology. He completed his MD at Mayo Medical School and advanced training through Mayo Graduate School of Medicine and Northwestern University. His research focuses on cutaneous lymphomas, photoprotection, and skin cancer, with leadership roles in international guidelines (ISCL/EORTC). He contributes to clinical trials, medical education, and interdisciplinary research through affiliations like the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center and Regenerative Biotherapeutics. Education: MD (Mayo Medical School), MS (Biological Sciences, Northwestern), BA (Northwestern University). Research spans cutaneous lymphoma classification, immunology, and translational dermatology. Notable publications address staging systems for mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome and photoprotection strategies. His work integrates clinical practice with molecular mechanisms, such as JAK inhibitor responses in lichen planus. Labs/Teams: Collaborates with Mayo Clinic Cancer Center and interdisciplinary groups in immunotherapy and regenerative medicine. Supervises clinical trials and postdoctoral training programs.
Dr. Shyh-Dar Li is a Professor and Tong Louie Chair in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, where he also serves as Chair of Nanomedicine and Chemical Biology. With a BSc in pharmacy from National Taiwan University (1998) and PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from UNC Chapel Hill (2008), followed by postdoctoral training at UC San Diego's Moores Cancer Center (2009), Dr. Li has established himself as a leading researcher in advanced drug delivery systems. His research focuses on developing innovative nanomedicine platforms for targeted delivery of biological therapeutics including peptides, proteins, antibodies, and nucleic acids. Dr. Li's laboratory has pioneered several novel drug delivery approaches, particularly in lipid-based nanoparticles, phospholipid-free vesicles, and polymer systems for cancer immunotherapy, pain management, and protein delivery. His work bridges fundamental nanotechnology with translational applications for difficult-to-treat diseases. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on tumor microenvironment modulation, endosomal escape mechanisms for nucleic acid delivery, and non-invasive delivery routes for protein therapeutics. His research demonstrates increasing sophistication in nanocarrier engineering, with recent work incorporating machine learning approaches to optimize nanoparticle design and expanding into immunomodulatory therapies that harness the body's immune system to fight cancer. Scientific Recognition: 2014 AFPC New Investigator Award 2013 AAPS New Investigator Award in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technologies 2013 CIHR New Investigator Award 2013 CSPS Early Career Award 2012 Prostate Cancer Foundation Young Investigator Award Dr. Li's research program has been consistently supported by major Canadian funding agencies including CIHR, NSERC, and MITACS. He actively collaborates across disciplines and accepts graduate students into his research program, focusing on cutting-edge approaches to overcome biological barriers in drug delivery. His laboratory, the Laboratory of Targeted Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine, serves as a hub for innovation in pharmaceutical nanotechnology.
Michael McAlpine is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Minnesota . He also holds affiliations with the Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments. His research focuses on 3D printing functional materials & devices , Nanoscale inks , Biomedical devices , Bioelectronics , and Flexible Microsystems . Research Interests : 3D Printing, Biomedical Engineering, Nanotechnology, Flexible Electronics, Microfluidics Labs : ME 361/363 Contact : mcalpine@umn.edu , (612) 626-3303, ME 117 Recent Research Trends include 3D Printed Biomedical Devices , Flexible Electronics , and Bioprinting Applications . His work spans from Spinal Organoid Formation to Programmable Drug Release Capsules . Scientific Award : Circulation Research 2020 Best Manuscript Award
University of California, San FranciscoUnited States
Lindsey Draper, MD serves as an Adjunct Instructor in the Roybal Laboratory within the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine. Her clinical practice focuses on the treatment of patients with recurrent ovarian cancer using systemic therapies including chemotherapy and immunotherapy, with a commitment to evaluating and offering clinical trial opportunities as part of individualized patient care. Dr. Draper completed her educational training with a B.S. in Biology from Juniata College (2010), an M.D. from the University of Maryland School of Medicine (2017), an Internal Medicine Residency at The Mount Sinai Hospital (2022), and is currently completing a Medical Oncology Fellowship at UCSF (2025-2027). Her research interests center on cancer immunotherapy, particularly T cell-based approaches for HPV-associated cancers and ovarian cancer. She investigates engineered T cell therapies targeting viral antigens in cervical and other HPV-related cancers, with a focus on overcoming treatment resistance and improving clinical outcomes through novel immunotherapeutic strategies. Her work bridges fundamental immunological mechanisms with clinical applications, emphasizing the translation of laboratory discoveries into patient treatments. Dr. Draper's publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to the field of cancer immunotherapy, with recent work focusing on TCR-engineered T cells for leukemia and HPV-associated malignancies. Her research trajectory shows increasing sophistication in T cell engineering approaches and a growing emphasis on addressing inflammatory responses and treatment resistance mechanisms. Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy Early Career Research Award: Parker Scholar (2024) Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology Symbiont Seed Grant for 'Antigen Discovery for Ovarian Cancer' (2024) Conquer Cancer Young Investigator Award, American Society of Clinical Oncology (2024) Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network Leadership Institute Selected Participant, Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (2024) Physician-Scientist Fellow, Chan Zuckerberg Biohub - San Francisco (2023-2025) As a physician-scientist, Dr. Draper maintains an active research program while providing clinical care, with particular emphasis on developing novel immunotherapies for gynecologic cancers. Her current fellowship at UCSF and multiple early-career awards indicate strong potential for continued contributions to the field of cancer immunotherapy. Dr. Draper works within the Roybal Laboratory at UCSF, which focuses on innovative approaches to cancer immunotherapy and T cell engineering. Her research intersects with multiple collaborative initiatives at UCSF, including the Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology.
Rotem Karni, PhD, is an Associate Professor of Genetics at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. He leads a research lab focused on understanding how alternative RNA splicing contributes to cancer and genetic diseases, with a strong emphasis on translating these findings into RNA-based therapies. Karni's lab develops decoy oligonucleotides, small molecules, and splice-switching technologies to modulate splicing factors and enhance immunotherapy. Education BSc in Biological Chemistry from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (1997) PhD in Biological Chemistry from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel (2002) Postdoctoral Fellowship at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY (2002-2007) Karni's research explores the deregulation of alternative splicing in oncogenesis, particularly how splicing factors like RBFOX2 and S6K1 influence metastasis, DNA repair, and immune checkpoint modulation. His team investigates m6A RNA modifications for stabilizing mutant genes, with applications in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and pancreatic cancer. The lab's work is commercialized through biotech companies: SKIP Therapeutics, Andlit Therapeutics, and RNAble. Selected Research Trends RNA mis-splicing and neoantigen generation (2025) Splicing factor inhibition for tumor suppression (2023) Metastatic splicing signatures in pancreatic cancer (2023) Immune checkpoint splicing in cancer immunotherapy (2021) m6A modulation for mRNA stabilization (2023) Advising & Collaborations Karni has mentored numerous PhD and postdoctoral researchers, many of whom now hold leadership roles in academia, biotech, and medical institutions globally. His lab collaborates extensively on projects involving RNA innovation, including partnerships with the Institute for RNA Innovation. Contact Department of Genetics & Institute for RNA Innovation, One uCity Square, Room 4018, Philadelphia, PA 19104 Phone: 215-898-5072 Email: Rotem.Karni@Upenn.edu
About Dr. Pegah Varamini Dr. Pegah Varamini is a Senior Lecturer in Pharmacy and Pharmacology at the Sydney Pharmacy School, University of Sydney, and a Casual Lecturer in Music Education at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She leads the Breast Cancer Targeting & Drug Delivery (BCTDD) Group, focusing on innovative drug delivery systems for Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC). Her research integrates nanotechnology, targeted therapy, and translational medicine, supported by prestigious grants including the NBCF Fellowship (2016). Research & Education PharmD (Shiraz University of Medical Sciences) PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences (University of Queensland) Second PhD in Music Education (University of Sydney Conservatorium of Music) Key Research Interests Her work centers on: Peptide-based targeting strategies using 'Trojan Horse' approaches for TNBC Development of nanomedicine for bone metastasis prevention Clinically relevant preclinical models for personalized breast cancer treatment Collaborations with international institutions (e.g., Harvard Medical School, University of Nantes) Teaching & Supervision Dr. Varamini coordinates Drug Design and Development (PCOL3012/3912) and supervises a multidisciplinary team of HDR students and postdoctoral researchers. Notable current students include PhD candidate Hany Ghaly and MPhil candidates Huimin Shao and Farhana Mollah. Awards & Recognition 2021 Equity Prize 2016 Top 25 Young Researchers of Australia and New Zealand 2018 Fresh Scientist of the Year Recipient of multiple grants totaling over AUD 2M Leadership & Outreach She co-chairs the Nanopharma cluster at Sydney Nano Institute and advises the WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative. Her work has been featured in media outlets such as SBS Farsi News and NBCF publications.
Rhenish Friedrich Wilhelm University of BonnGermany
Prof. Waldemar Kolanus leads the Molecular Immunology and Cell Biology department at the University of Bonn's Life & Medical Sciences Institute (LIMES) . His research bridges immunoregulation , stem cell dynamics , and metabolic stress responses in immune cells. Unit 2 member at LIMES Principal investigator in SFB 704 and ImmunoSensation Cluster Leads a multidisciplinary lab with postdocs, PhD students, and technical staff His work focuses on intracellular signaling pathways connecting immune activation to tissue homeostasis, particularly through: Cytohesin proteins in integrin-mediated adhesion and migration TRIM71 in stem cell regulation and congenital hydrocephalus High-salt environments affecting macrophage function Publication trends show expertise in immune cell migration , genetic models , and chemical inhibition , with frequent use of mice and zebrafish for in vivo studies. Key articles explore: TRIM71's dual role in auditory development and germ cell maintenance Cytohesin family's Golgi regulation and insulin signaling Ruxolitinib's off-target migration inhibition of dendritic cells Contact details: Address: LIMES Institute, Carl-Troll-Straße 31, Bonn Email: kolanus.sekretariat@uni-bonn.de Phone: +49 228 73-62788
Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech)China
Chao Liu is an Associate Professor at the Department of Biomedical Engineering , Southern University of Science and Technology (2024.11–present). Previously, he served as an Assistant Professor at the same institution (2019–2024.11) and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at New York University (2016–2019) with joint appointments in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Orthopedics at NYU Langone Health . He holds a PhD in Biomedical Engineering (2016) and MASc in Mechanical Engineering (2010) from University of Toronto , following a BASc in Engineering Science (2008). Education : PhD (IBBME, U of Toronto, 2016), MASc (Mechanical Engineering, U of Toronto, 2010), BASc (Engineering Science, U of Toronto, 2008) His research focuses on mechanobiology of stem cells , bone tissue engineering , and functional implants . He investigates how mechanical forces modulate osteogenic and angiogenic stem cells, designs implants with micro-geometry to enhance cellular activity, and develops 3D real-time imaging modalities for bone repair processes. His work spans biomechanics , regenerative medicine , and cellular mechanotransduction . The selected publications from 2022 to 2010 reveal trends in mechanical force applications for bone regeneration, pharmacological impairments in healing, nanostructured biomaterials for stem cell differentiation, and microfluidic platforms for osteocyte studies. These works are published in journals like Bone , FASEB Journal , and ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces . Scientific Awards : International Conference BME Young Investigator Award (2019), IFMRS Travel Grant (2017), ASBMR Young Investigator Grant (2016), CIHR Travel Awards (2010–2014), Ontario Graduate Scholarship (2011–2013), Barbara and Frank Milligan Fellowship (2008, 2010) Chao Liu mentors graduate students, including Zhang Jianing (2022 Master’s graduate). His lab ( https://abtrl.bme.sustech.edu.cn/ ) recruits postdocs and research assistants for projects in mechanical force applications , micro-geometric implants , and 3D imaging . He has contributed to 14 journal articles with 714 citations and presented at 6 international conferences in the past three years.
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and ScienceUnited States
Dr. John A. Copland III is a Professor of Cancer Biology and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. He leads the Cancer Biology and Translational Research Laboratory, focusing on molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and development of targeted cancer therapies. Education: PhD in Physiology & Endocrinology (Medical College of Georgia), MS in Endocrinology (Medical College of Georgia), BS in Chemistry (Columbus College), with postdoctoral training at University of Texas Medical Branch. Research interests center on: Identifying tumor suppressor genes (e.g., RhoB, TBR3, GATA3) and oncogenes (e.g., FOXO3a, SCD1, NPTX2). Developing patient-derived xenografts and live cell models for personalized medicine. Designing SCD1 inhibitors via in silico modeling for clinical trials. Recent publications highlight his work on SCD1 inhibition in leukemia and thyroid cancer ImmunoPET imaging of thyroid tumors CRISPR-identified drug synergies in cholangiocarcinoma Patient-specific combination therapies using xenograft models
Ruth Etzioni is an Affiliate Professor in the Biostatistics Program and Public Health Sciences Division at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center. She leads the Etzioni Lab, focusing on cancer screening, early detection, and overdiagnosis analysis. Her work integrates statistical modeling, epidemiology, and clinical research to address critical questions in prostate and breast cancer control. Dr. Etzioni holds the Rosalie & Harold Rea Brown Endowed Chair and has received a $7.4M NIH Outstanding Investigator Award. Education: PhD in Statistics (Carnegie Mellon University, 1990), MS in Statistics (Carnegie Mellon, 1987), BS in Mathematics (University of Cape Town, South Africa). Research interests emphasize biomarkers, clinical trials, and epidemiological methods. She leads the Biostatistics Core for the Pacific Northwest Prostate Cancer SPORE and participates in the Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network (CISNET). Her lab develops models to evaluate screening policies, quantify overdiagnosis, and inform healthcare disparities reduction strategies. Key achievements include groundbreaking work on prostate cancer screening's harm-benefit tradeoffs and contributions to multi-cancer early detection (MCED) frameworks. Recent studies address racial disparities in prostate cancer outcomes, metastasis trends, and the clinical utility of novel diagnostics like PSMA PET imaging. Awards include the Brown Endowed Chair (2020), NCI OIA Award (2023), and recognition for advancing cancer data science. Her lab collaborates with institutions globally and mentors students in biostatistics and translational data science.
Santiago F. González is a Group Leader at the Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB) in Bellinzona, Switzerland, and an extraordinary professor at the University of Italian Switzerland (USI). He earned dual PhDs in microbiology (University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain) and immunology (University of Copenhagen, Denmark), followed by postdoctoral work (2007–2011) at Harvard Medical School's Immune Disease Institute under Michael Carroll. PhD in Microbiology, University of Santiago de Compostela PhD in Immunology, University of Copenhagen His research focuses on immune system dynamics during respiratory viral infections, vaccination, and cancer metastasis. Key areas include influenza recognition , lymph node inflammation , and immune cell behavior in vivo. He pioneered studies on C-type lectin receptors (e.g., SIGN-R1) in viral immunity and epigenetic modulators for inflammation. Recent publications highlight his work in epigenetic drug development , nanovaccines , and computational tools for immune cell tracking. His group uses two-photon intravital microscopy and spatial-temporal modeling to dissect immune responses. Scientific awards include three EU Marie Curie Fellowships (2004–2013), enabling his transition to independent research. His collaborations span Harvard, USI, and European institutions, with grants from the EU and Swiss research bodies. His lab at IRB, established via the 2013 Marie Curie Career Integration Grant , develops novel imaging approaches and therapeutic strategies for infectious and immune-mediated diseases.
Dana Pe'er is a Professor and Chair of the Computational and Systems Biology Program at the Sloan Kettering Institute (SKI) of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. She is also an Investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and holds the Alan and Sandra Gerry Endowed Chair. Dr. Pe'er leads an interdisciplinary research group that combines advanced genomics approaches with machine learning to address fundamental questions in biomedical science, with particular focus on cancer biology, developmental biology, and immunology. Dr. Pe'er earned her PhD from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, Israel. Her academic journey includes a postdoctoral fellowship with George Church at Harvard Medical School. Before joining Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in 2016, she held faculty positions at Columbia University. Dr. Pe'er's research focuses on understanding cellular plasticity, the consequences of intra-tumor heterogeneity, cancer evolution and metastasis, and the mechanisms by which regulatory circuits go awry in disease. Her lab combines single-cell and spatial profiling technologies with machine learning approaches to investigate gene regulation, cellular plasticity, and cell-cell communication in the contexts of cancer, immunity, and development. They are particularly interested in how organisms develop from a single cell to generate diverse cell types, how epigenetic control rewires during development, and how cells communicate to execute multicellular responses. Analysis of Dr. Pe'er's recent publications reveals a strong focus on developing computational methods for single-cell and spatial genomics data analysis. Her work spans cancer types including pancreatic, prostate, colorectal, and breast cancer, with emphasis on tumor heterogeneity, metastasis mechanisms, and cellular plasticity. A significant portion of her research involves creating novel algorithms and tools like CellRank, REUNION, and SEACells that enable researchers to extract meaningful biological insights from complex genomic datasets. 2023 Class of 2023 Inductee - American Academy of Cancer Research (AACR) Academy 2023 Innovator Award - International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) 2021 Fellow - International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (2021) 2019 Ernst W. Bertner Memorial Award - University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center 2016 Lenfest Distinguished Faculty Award - Columbia University 2014 Director's Pioneer Award - National Institutes of Health 2014 Overton Prize - International Society for Computational Biology (ISCB) Dr. Pe'er is known for her dedicated mentorship approach, describing herself as "a mama bear" who cares deeply about her trainees while expecting independence, innovation, and hard work. She mentors numerous PhD students and postdocs in her lab. Her HHMI Investigator award provides approximately $9 million over seven years, enabling ambitious research directions. She also collaborates extensively with the Single-cell Analytics and Innovation Lab (SAIL) at MSK to generate new data from emerging technologies, working closely with wet-lab collaborators at MSK and beyond to apply computational methods to cutting-edge datasets across multiple disease areas. The Pe'er Lab is an interdisciplinary group of computational biologists with diverse backgrounds ranging from pure mathematics to clinical medicine. They work closely with wet-lab collaborators to apply their computational methods to cutting-edge datasets across cancer, immunology, and developmental biology. The lab is described as open, supportive, collaborative, and fun, with access to world-class facilities at the Sloan Kettering Institute. Dr. Pe'er's work continues to push the boundaries of computational biology and cancer research, with the ultimate goal of developing more effective, personalized therapies for cancer patients.
Dr. Laila Ingrid Muderspach is a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Southern California (USC) on a part-time basis. She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic malignancies, emphasizing patient-centered care that addresses physical, emotional, and socioeconomic needs. Her clinical expertise spans surgical and medical interventions for cancers of the female reproductive system, with a focus on improving outcomes through advanced techniques like Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) pathways and sentinel lymph node biopsies. Dr. Muderspach’s research spans epidemiological trends in gynecologic cancers, including adolescent and young adult (AYA) populations, and the optimization of surgical and chemotherapy protocols. She has contributed to pivotal studies on endometrial and cervical cancer staging, palliative care utilization, and the management of complications in vulvar cancer surgery. Her work also addresses healthcare disparities, such as accessibility to obstetric care and adherence to cancer treatment in underserved communities. Education: Medical degree from an unspecified institution, with training at USC and UCLA. Awards: Over 30 awards including Best Doctors recognition (2009–2014), National Faculty Award (2007), and multiple teaching accolades. Labs/Teams: Active in multidisciplinary gynecologic oncology teams at LAC+USC Medical Center, focusing on surgical innovation and patient safety. Her publications (over 150 listed) reflect a commitment to translational research, including clinical trials for novel therapies like eribulin for cervical cancer and investigations into HPV vaccine impact on cervical lesions.
Ari Ristimäki is a Professor in the Department of Pathology at the Clinicum, University of Helsinki, specializing in gastrointestinal tumorigenesis. He serves as a Supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine and maintains strong connections with HUS Radiology and Pathology. His research spans fundamental cancer biology to clinical applications, particularly in colorectal cancer and related gastrointestinal malignancies. Professor Ristimäki's research interests focus on gastrointestinal tumorigenesis, with particular emphasis on colorectal cancer mechanisms, molecular pathways, and clinical applications. His work bridges basic science and clinical practice, investigating the molecular underpinnings of gastrointestinal cancers while developing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. His research portfolio includes studies on tumor biomarkers, cancer metabolism, epigenetic modifications, and translational applications for improved cancer diagnosis and treatment. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on colorectal cancer research, with particular attention to molecular characterization of BRAF-mutated tumors, liquid biopsy technologies for mutation profiling, and population-based studies of surgical outcomes in gastrointestinal cancer patients. His work shows consistent productivity with 311 publications to date, reflecting sustained research activity since the early 2000s. Professor Ristimäki has supervised doctoral theses, serving as both supervisor and opponent for PhD candidates. His academic service includes manuscript reviewing, committee memberships, and editorial work. His current research is supported by multiple active projects from prestigious funding bodies including the Academy of Finland (SA_2024-2028), Sigrid Jusélius Foundation, Cancer Foundation, and Liv och Hälsa Foundation, indicating strong recognition of his research program's significance and potential impact.
Dr. Kim Yong-Joe is an Associate Professor in the J. Mike Walker ’66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University. He serves as the Director of the Acoustics and Signal Processing Laboratory (ASPL), founded in 2009. His research focuses on acoustics, applied signal processing, nonlinear acoustics, biomedical acoustics, noise and vibration control, and structural dynamics. He has received notable awards including the 2014 Department of Mechanical Engineering Graduate Teaching Award and the 2014 Pioneer Natural Resources Faculty Fellow II. His lab specializes in wave propagation analysis, ultrasonic structural health monitoring, and acoustophoresis in microfluidic systems. He has collaborated with sponsors like the National Science Foundation, Qatar National Research Fund, and Samsung Techwin. His research has led to advancements in noise reduction technologies, biomedical diagnostics, and nondestructive evaluation methods.
