Thibault Mayor is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Michael Smith Laboratories at the University of British Columbia (Vancouver). His research focuses on understanding how cells manage misfolded proteins, with implications for neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. He holds academic affiliations with the Centre for High-Throughput Biology (CHiBi) and has been recognized with awards including the UBC Killam Teaching Award (2020). Education: BSc, University of Geneva, Switzerland (1997) PhD, University of Geneva & Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Germany (2001) Postdoctoral Fellow, California Institute of Technology (2002) Research Interests: Mayor's lab investigates protein homeostasis, ubiquitin-proteasome system dynamics, and the molecular mechanisms underlying protein aggregation in aging and disease. Projects include proteomic approaches to identify aggregation-prone proteins and develop microbial cell factories for protein production. Grants & Awards: CIHR Project Grant ($730K, 2018) Michael Smith Foundation Career Award (2012) UBC Killam Teaching Award (2020) Labs & Collaborations: The Mayor Lab is part of the Michael Smith Laboratories and collaborates with computational biologists like Jörg Gsponer. They maintain active partnerships in proteomics and systems biology, contributing to initiatives like the BC Proteomics Network.
Wing Lam is an Associate Research Scientist in the Department of Pharmacology at the Yale School of Medicine. He holds a BSc in Molecular Biology and a PhD in Biochemical Pharmacology from City University of Hong Kong, followed by postdoctoral training at Yale. His research focuses on developing traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulations as adjuvants for cancer therapy, notably YIV-906, which enhances chemotherapy efficacy and mitigates intestinal toxicity. Lam also pioneered the STAR database for herbal drug discovery and the Mechanism-Based Quality Control (MBQC) platform for botanical drug standardization. Education: BSc (Hons) Molecular Biology, City University of Hong Kong, 1995 PhD Biochemical Pharmacology, City University of Hong Kong, 1999 Postdoc, Pharmacology, Yale University, 1999-2002 His research interests span cancer pharmacology, TCM modernization, and mitochondrial toxicity mechanisms. Key projects include YIV-906’s role in enhancing anti-PD1 and CAR T-cell therapies, developing L-nucleoside analogs like troxacitabine, and investigating tylophorine analogs’ antitumor effects. Lam has co-chaired sessions at multiple Consortium for Globalization of Chinese Medicine (CGCM) meetings and contributed to patents on herbal drug formulations and quality control methods. Recent work explores YIV-906’s potential for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and phase II clinical trials for colon and liver cancers. Lam’s publications highlight synergistic drug interactions, mitochondrial DNA depletion mechanisms, and TCM’s evidence-based application in chronic diseases. His grants include studies on PHY906 as an adjuvant in rectal cancer therapy and collaborations with Yiviva, Inc. He maintains active roles in editorial boards, including a special issue on herbal drug quality control in Frontiers in Pharmacology . Lam’s lab is embedded within Dr. Yung-Chi Cheng’s group, focusing on translational pharmacology and botanical drug innovation.
Dewey G. McCafferty is Professor of Chemistry at Duke University with appointments in Biochemistry and the Duke Cancer Institute. His research focuses on chemical biology of chromatin-modifying enzymes and ubiquitin signaling pathways relevant to neurodegeneration and infection. Notable work includes discovering the lasso peptide antibiotic Arcumycin, characterizing the Nedd4 ubiquitin ligase in Parkinson's disease models, and developing chemoproteomic approaches for target identification. Key contributions include elucidation of the futalosine pathway in Chlamydia infections, mechanisms of CPAF protease in bacterial pathogenesis, and engineering of histone demethylase enzymes. McCafferty received the Eli Lilly Award in Biological Chemistry (2005) and directs NIH-funded projects on ubiquitin ligases in neurodegeneration.
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
Karoline Faust is an Associate Professor at KU Leuven, affiliated with the Laboratory of Molecular Bacteriology (Rega Institute) and the Faculty of Medicine . She contributes to the iSi Health and Leuven One Health institutes, and serves on senior academic councils. Her research spans microbial systems biology, focusing on community dynamics and network analysis. Education: PhD in bioinformatics (2010, KU Leuven) Affiliations: KU Leuven, ISME Journal editorial board, Belgian Society for Microbiology Her research investigates microbial community dynamics , systems biology approaches to microbiomes, and bioinformatics tool development . She specializes in modeling human gut microbiota , synthetic microbial communities , and environmental microbiomes (e.g., microplastic impacts on Daphnia microbiomes). Her work integrates metabolic modeling , network analysis , and experimental systems to understand microbial interactions. Recent publications highlight her contributions to microbial network inference , 16S rRNA sequencing protocols , microfluidics , and ecological modeling of microbiomes. She develops tools like manta , miaSim , and CoNet to analyze community structures. Teaching: Karoline co-teaches courses in microbiology, bioinformatics, and network analysis at KU Leuven, and has contributed to international workshops on microbial network inference. Scientific Engagement: She serves as Senior Editor at ISME Journal and Secretary of the Belgian Society for Microbiology .
Prof. Dr. Deniz Tasdemir is a Full Professor (W3) of Marine Natural Products Chemistry at GEOMAR Helmholtz-Zentrum für Ozeanforschung Kiel and serves as Director of the GEOMAR-Biotech center and Head of the Marine Natural Product Chemistry Research Unit. Her career spans institutions including the National University of Ireland Galway and UCL School of Pharmacy. PhD in Pharmacy, ETH Zurich (1997) Post-doctoral work, University of Utah (2001) Dr. Helmut Legerlotz Fellowship, University of Zurich (2002-2025) Her research focuses on marine chemical ecology , metabolomics , and bioprospecting for bioactive compounds from sponges, algae, and marine microbiomes. Recent work explores seagrass pathogen reduction, microbiome interactions, and aquafeed applications. Scientific awards include: Waters Award for Natural Products Innovation (2016) Egon Stahl Silver Medal (2005) Pierre Fabre Prize (2004) ETH Zurich Medal (1997) She leads collaborative projects on ocean sustainability and marine drug discovery, with editorial roles in Marine Drugs , Planta Medica , and Phytochemistry Letters .
Jennifer L. Clarke is a Professor in the Department of Statistics at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and Director of the Quantitative Life Science Initiative. She holds leadership roles in enabling big data integration across the University of Nebraska system through collaborative research programs. Her affiliations include the Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR) and the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Dr. Clarke's research focuses on statistical methodology for high-dimensional data, computational biology, bioinformatics, and bacterial genomics. Her work bridges statistical innovation with applications in oncology, microbiome analysis, and agricultural phenomics. Key areas include predictive modeling, machine learning, and genomic/metagenomic data integration. Her recent publications span cancer biomarker discovery, plant phenotyping methodologies, and microbial community analysis, reflecting her interdisciplinary approach. Articles emphasize translational applications like therapeutic target identification and precision agriculture. Dr. Clarke leads initiatives fostering collaboration between statisticians and domain scientists, including the Quantitative Life Science Initiative and contributions to the Agricultural Genome-to-Phenome Initiative (AG2PI). Her work advances data-driven solutions for healthcare and food security challenges. Notable projects include developing statistical tools for microbiome studies, analyzing root architecture via 3D imaging, and investigating cranberry-derived compounds' cancer-inhibitory mechanisms. Her methodological contributions include hybrid clustering techniques and predictive model validation frameworks.
Lars Engstrand is a Professor in infection control at Karolinska Institutet, heading the Translational Microbiome Research and Pandemic Preparedness group within the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology. His research spans multiple disciplines with a focus on translational microbiome research and pandemic preparedness. Engstrand's research interests center on understanding the human microbiome's role in health and disease, particularly in women's reproductive health and gastroenterology. His group has established multiple large-scale clinical studies including SweMaMi (Swedish Maternal Microbiome project), BASIC (associations between microbiota and preterm birth), VaMiGyn (Vaginal Microbiota in Gynaecological health), and several others investigating the vaginal microbiome's relationship to pregnancy outcomes, HPV infection, and cervical cancer. His team also conducts significant research on gut microbiome in inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal conditions through projects like PopCol and KOLBIBAKT. Analysis of Engstrand's most recent publications reveals a strong focus on the relationship between microbiome composition and women's health outcomes. His research consistently examines how vaginal, gut, and oral microbiomes influence pregnancy complications, preterm birth, HPV infection, and mental health during pregnancy. The work often employs large cohort studies with comprehensive sampling strategies across multiple body sites and time points, providing robust data for understanding microbiome dynamics in health and disease. Engstrand leads the Microbiome Exploration and Development for Intervention (MEDI) initiative and the National Pandemic Center (NPC) at Karolinska Institutet. The NPC conducted large-scale sequencing during the COVID-19 pandemic and has amassed over 1.5 million samples. His research group includes multiple specialized teams focusing on culturomics, bioinformatics, labcore operations, women's health research, and pandemic preparedness.
David Serre is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, with an additional appointment at the Institute for Genome Sciences. His research focuses on developing genomic approaches to study eukaryotic pathogens, particularly Plasmodium vivax, the leading cause of malaria outside Africa. His laboratory investigates parasite responses to antimalarial drugs, host immune responses, and mosquito vector biology using genomic and transcriptomic techniques. Education 1997–2000: Engineering degree in Chemistry, École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie, Montpellier, France 2000–2004: PhD in Biology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany 2004–2007: Postdoctoral fellowship, McGill University and Genome Quebec Innovation Centre, Montreal, Canada Research Focus Dr. Serre’s work integrates genomics to study Plasmodium vivax’s drug resistance, relapse mechanisms, and interactions with hosts and vectors. Key areas include: Genomic assays to characterize parasite drug responses Transcriptomic analysis of host immune responses Genomic studies of Anopheles mosquitoes as malaria vectors Recent Trends in Publications Recent work highlights genomic and transcriptomic approaches to dissect Plasmodium vivax biology, including: Single-cell RNA sequencing to resolve transcript isoforms and stage-specific expression Analysis of relapse dynamics and drug resistance mechanisms Microbiome studies in mosquitoes and environmental contexts Grants & Advising No explicit grants or advisee names are listed in the provided text. Collaborators include institutions like the Max Planck Institute, McGill University, and the Institute for Genome Sciences. Labs & Teams His lab is affiliated with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Institute for Genome Sciences, focusing on genomic and molecular approaches to infectious diseases.
Dr. Igor V. Pivkin is a Full Professor at the Institute of Computing within the Faculty of Informatics at the Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) in Lugano, Switzerland. His academic journey includes degrees from Novosibirsk State University (B.Sc./M.Sc. Mathematics), Brown University (M.Sc. Computer Science and Ph.D. Applied Mathematics), and postdoctoral research at MIT's Department of Materials Science and Engineering. His research focuses on multiscale/multiphysics modeling , numerical methods , and large-scale simulations of biological and physical systems. Key areas include biophysics, cellular/molecular biomechanics, stochastic modeling, and coarse-grained molecular simulations. He leverages high-performance computing (HPC) and particle-based methods to address complex biological phenomena. His work spans diverse applications, from understanding cellular mechanosensitivity and biofilm engineering to modeling cancer cell behavior and red blood cell dynamics in the spleen. His contributions bridge computational science, biotechnology, and biomedical research. He has published extensively in top-tier journals, with recent work advancing automated biofilm analysis, deep learning for microbial classification, and systems biology approaches to metal bioleaching. His lab collaborates on interdisciplinary projects, emphasizing computational innovation for real-world biological challenges.
Philip Poole is a Professor of Plant Microbiology at the University of Oxford's Department of Plant Sciences and Senior Research Fellow at Somerville College. His research focuses on plant-microbe interactions, nitrogen fixation, and rhizosphere microbiology. He has led major international projects including the BBSRC-NSF Synthetic Symbioses program (2014-2019) and the India-UK Nitrogen Fixation Consortium (2016-2019). With 26 grants as PI from the UK's BBSRC, he has secured over £10.5 million in funding. His work includes pioneering bacterial Lux biosensors for metabolite analysis, transcriptomics under sterile conditions, and metatranscriptomics in soil to study microbiome-plant interactions. Current projects model nitrogen fixation biochemistry in legume nodules and investigate rhizobia lifecycle transitions from rhizosphere colonization to symbiotic bacteroid differentiation. He co-directs the Oxford Centre for Plants for the 21st Century and serves on editorial/advisory boards for Microbiology UK, The Journal of Bacteriology, and Pivot Bio. His contributions include elucidating the ammonia-alanine pathway for nitrogen secretion and demonstrating symbiotic auxotrophy dependencies in bacteroids. Key achievements include developing global mutagenesis strategies (INSeq) and advancing understanding of microbial community structures in the rhizosphere. His research integrates molecular, genetic, and systems biology approaches to address global challenges in sustainable agriculture.
Juliane Nguyen, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacoengineering and Molecular Pharmaceutics at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She serves as Vice Chair and Director of Graduate Admissions in her department and holds an adjunct appointment as Professor of Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Nguyen is also a member of the UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, where she applies molecular engineering approaches to develop innovative therapeutic solutions. Dr. Nguyen's research focuses on molecular engineering to advance protein-based therapeutics, live biotherapeutics (including engineered probiotic yeast), and extracellular vesicles. Her lab develops cutting-edge technologies to treat diverse conditions including cancer, myocardial infarction, chemotherapy-induced cardiotoxicity, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Her interdisciplinary approach integrates molecular engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, and bioinformatics to create complex biologics with exceptional safety and efficacy profiles. Key research areas include developing therapeutics for cardiac repair, genetically encoded materials targeting tumor-associated macrophages, live biotherapeutics for inflammatory bowel diseases using engineered probiotic yeast, and auxetic patches for dynamic organ repair. Analysis of Dr. Nguyen's recent publications reveals a strong focus on translational research with significant contributions to cardiac repair technologies, cancer immunotherapy, inflammatory bowel disease treatments, and advanced biomaterials. Her work consistently bridges fundamental molecular engineering with clinical applications, particularly in the areas of targeted drug delivery, extracellular vesicle therapeutics, and engineered live biotherapeutics. The research demonstrates a clear trajectory toward developing clinically viable solutions for previously challenging medical conditions. Dr. Nguyen has received numerous prestigious awards and honors including the NSF CAREER Award (2018), Eshelman Innovation Award (2020), and recognition as a Fellow of the Controlled Release Society (2023). She was appointed as a Standing Member of the NIH Drug and Biologic Therapeutic Delivery Study Section (2023-2025) and serves as Executive Editor of Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews since 2021. Her Galenus Guest Professorship at ETH Zuerich (2024) and keynotes at major conferences highlight her international recognition in the field. As Director of Graduate Admissions and an active mentor, Dr. Nguyen has advised numerous PhD and Master's students who have co-authored significant publications with her. Her research is supported by competitive grants including the NSF CAREER Award and other NIH-funded projects. The Nguyen Lab maintains strong collaborations across disciplines, particularly with cardiology, oncology, and biomedical engineering researchers. She leads an interdisciplinary team focused on translating molecular engineering breakthroughs into clinically impactful therapies. The Nguyen Lab operates as a dynamic, interdisciplinary research environment combining expertise in molecular engineering, pharmaceutical sciences, and bioinformatics. The lab's mission is to revolutionize medicine by developing next-generation therapeutics that target diseases at the molecular level. Current projects focus on translating cutting-edge research into life-changing therapies for patients suffering from cancer, myocardial infarction, colitis, and other challenging conditions. The lab's innovative approach to biomolecular engineering positions it at the forefront of developing safe, effective, and personalized therapeutic solutions.
Prof. Ralph Hückelhoven is a Professor of Phytopathology at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), affiliated with the TUM School of Life Sciences. His research focuses on the molecular and biological mechanisms underlying plant diseases, particularly plant immunity, pathogen exploitation of signal transduction, and host-pathogen interactions. He leads the Chair of Phytopathology at TUM since 2006, following academic roles at universities of Kiel and Hohenheim. Education: PhD (1999) and habilitation in molecular phytopathology (2005) from Justus Liebig University Giessen, after a biology degree at RWTH Aachen University. Awards: Julius Kühn Prize (2004) and leadership of a DFG Junior Research Group (2002-2006). His research spans plant immunity at cellular and molecular levels, including studies on receptor kinases (e.g., MIK2, LORE), RAC GTPases (e.g., RACB), and metabolomics-driven insights into pathogen resistance. He has published over 100 peer-reviewed articles, examining topics like fungal toxins, volatile signaling, and crop disease management. Key publications include work on Arabidopsis immune receptors, barley powdery mildew susceptibility factors, and Fusarium head blight resistance. Research integrates genetics, proteomics, and metabolomics to advance disease-resistant crop development. His lab investigates host-pathogen interactions across scales—from molecular signaling to field epidemiology—contributing to sustainable agricultural strategies against plant pathogens.
Dr. Markus Brinkmann is an Associate Professor in the School of Environment and Sustainability at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada, and Director of the Toxicology Centre. He holds the Centennial Enhancement Chair in Mechanistic Environmental Toxicology. His research focuses on exposure and risk assessment modeling, toxicokinetic modeling, and aquatic ecotoxicology, with an emphasis on understanding contaminant effects under realistic environmental conditions. Affiliations: Associate Professor, University of Saskatchewan Director, Toxicology Centre Member, Global Water Futures Program Member, Global Institute for Water Security Education: Ph.D. (Biology) - RWTH Aachen University, Germany (2015) M.Sc. (Ecotoxicology) - RWTH Aachen University, Germany (2011) B.Sc. (Biology) - RWTH Aachen University, Germany (2009) Research Interests: Dr. Brinkmann develops computational models to predict contaminant uptake, effects, and cross-species extrapolation. His work integrates toxicology, environmental chemistry, and hydrology to address challenges like flood-related contaminant remobilization and dioxin-like compound toxicity. Key areas include: Mechanistic toxicology of emerging contaminants (e.g., 6PPD-quinone, PFAS alternatives) Sediment toxicity and bioavailability Wastewater surveillance for public health monitoring Grant Highlights: Global Water Futures Program (2018-2023): Hydrological-exposure models for environmental risk assessment Genome Canada (2016-2020): EcoToxChip for chemical prioritization Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship (2016-2018) Awards: Friedrich-Wilhelm-Award (2016) SETAC GLB Young Scientists Award (2016 PhD, 2012 MSc) Borchers medal (2016) Leadership: He advises on strategic research partnerships between Canada and Germany and collaborates globally on projects like the EcoToxChip and Project House Water . His work bridges academic research with practical environmental management solutions.
Prof. Dr. habil. Katrin Giller leads the Department of Molecular Nutrition Science (140a) at the University of Hohenheim, Garbenstraße 30, Bio Building I, Room 151, Stuttgart. Her research focuses on livestock nutrition, with specific interests in methane mitigation, antioxidant mechanisms, and metabolic syndrome in agricultural animals. Department: Molecular Nutrition Science (140a) Contact: katrin.giller@uni-hohenheim.de Office Hours: By appointment Her work spans nutritional biochemistry , ruminal fermentation , and sustainable livestock systems , often examining interactions between dietary compounds (e.g., spirulina, polyphenols, n-3 fatty acids) and animal physiology. Recent studies investigate antioxidant gene expression , transgenerational metabolic impacts , and feed efficiency . Current advisees include B.Sc. Viola Gauly, Fernando Giugno, Jana Kornherr, Mira Kühn, Daniel Obermüller, and Helen Pötzsch. The department's website details research projects, teaching events, and publications.
