Microbiome Reprogramming Professors and Supervisors

Marion Emilie Genevieve BrunckView profile

Researcher

Monterrey Institute of TechnologyMexico

Marion Emilie Genevieve Brunck serves as a Researcher at Tecnológico de Monterrey's School of Engineering within the Department of Biotechnology, where she leads the Biotechnology Center-FEMSA. Her laboratory focuses on immune cell function mechanisms with applications in immunomodulation and therapeutic development. Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland Brisbane Doctor of Philosophy in Immunology and Systems Biology, The University of Queensland Brisbane (2015) Dr. Brunck's research integrates immunology, systems biology, and biotechnology to investigate endogenous/exogenous triggers modifying immune cell phenotypes. Her work spans neutrophil biology, obesity-related immunomodulation, maternal-fetal immunity, and therapeutic cell platform development. The laboratory employs OMICS methodologies, flow cytometry (including BD FACSCelesta), and synthetic biology approaches to study immune cell progenitors and their applications. Her 15 most recent publications demonstrate strong focus on immunometabolism, maternal-child immunology, and translational immunotherapies. Key trends include investigating leukocyte dynamics in breastmilk, macrophage metabolism in cardiometabolic disease, and neutrophil engineering for therapeutic applications. Research spans basic immunology through clinical applications with emphasis on Latin American health contexts. Competitive Research Scholarship from Stem Cells Australia Mexican Researcher Certification - Level 2 Dr. Brunck actively mentors through TEC's School of Engineering postgraduate society (Rho Factor) and SACBE STEM, promoting women in science. She supervises 4 MSc and 2 PhD students in the Brunck Lab, which maintains comprehensive immunology research infrastructure. Her collaborative work includes partnerships with the Mexican Society of Immunology and Mexican Society for Biotechnology and Bioengineering. The Brunck Lab operates within the Biotechnology Center-FEMSA at Campus Monterrey, equipped with BD FACSCelesta flow cytometer, biosafety hoods, incubators, and molecular biology equipment. Her team investigates immune cell phenotypic modifications for therapeutic applications while contributing to public science education through the American Association of Blood Banks and STEM outreach initiatives.

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Jan G. HengstlerView profile

Professor

Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human FactorsGermany

Prof. Dr. Jan G. Hengstler serves as Head of the Department of Systems Toxicology at the Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors in Dortmund, Germany. With a distinguished career spanning over three decades, he previously held positions as Professor of Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Leipzig (2003-2007) and conducted research at the Institute of Toxicology, University of Mainz (1990-2003). Dr. Hengstler completed his medical studies at the University of Mainz (1984-1990), obtained his medical license in 1992, and completed his MD thesis on DNA damage in 1991. He achieved his habilitation in Pharmacology and Toxicology in 1998 and specialized as a physician in Pharmacology and Toxicology in 1997. His research focuses on the molecular mechanisms of liver disease, particularly cholestatic liver injury, bile acid metabolism, and the gut-liver axis. His work integrates toxicology, pharmacology, and molecular biology to investigate how environmental and pharmaceutical compounds affect liver function. Recent studies examine bile acid signaling, gut microbiome interactions, and mechanisms of liver fibrosis and carcinogenesis. His research employs advanced methodologies including iPSC-derived hepatocyte models, in vivo mouse models, and systems toxicology approaches. Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on translational research with significant clinical implications, particularly in cholestatic liver diseases, drug-induced liver injury, and cancer mechanisms. His work frequently appears in high-impact journals including Hepatology, Nature Metabolism, and Journal of Hepatology. Dr. Hengstler leads an active research group within the Toxicology department at the Leibniz Research Centre, collaborating with multiple international institutions. His laboratory maintains strong connections with clinical researchers and utilizes both experimental and computational approaches to investigate liver pathophysiology.

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Christopher DelaneyView profile

Lecturer

University of GlasgowUnited Kingdom

Dr. Christopher Delaney serves as a Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences within the Dental School at the University of Glasgow, where he maintains an active research program focused on microbial biofilms and oral microbiology. His academic work bridges clinical dentistry with fundamental microbiological research, particularly examining fungal-bacterial interactions in polymicrobial communities. Dr. Delaney's research interests center on microbial biofilm dynamics, with specialization in Candida species pathogenesis, interkingdom interactions, and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms. His laboratory employs multi-omics approaches including transcriptomics and metabolomics to investigate host-pathogen relationships in oral and systemic infections, with particular emphasis on how biofilm heterogeneity influences disease outcomes and treatment efficacy. Current research initiatives include grants from Tenovus Scotland (2024-2026) examining the metagenomic profile of tonsil and oral flora in tonsillitis patients, and a British Endodontic Society project (2024-2027) analyzing endodontic lesions for targeted biofilm disruption strategies. These projects reflect his translational approach to developing clinical solutions for biofilm-related infections. Dr. Delaney supervises doctoral research, currently guiding Muhanna Ali M Alshehri's investigation of Candida albicans interactions with oral microorganisms. His educational contributions include implementing virtual laboratory simulations to enhance student engagement across undergraduate and postgraduate cohorts, demonstrating his commitment to innovative pedagogical approaches in microbiology education.

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Meike BurowView profile

Professor

University of CopenhagenDenmark

Meike Burow serves as Professor in the Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences within the Faculty of Science at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH), Denmark. Her research group operates under the Section for Plant Glycobiology, focusing on metabolic and regulatory networks in plant systems. Her educational background includes a Dipl. Biol. with excellence from the University of Hannover (2001) and a Dr. rer. nat. summa cum laude from Friedrich Schiller Universität Jena (2008). Prior academic positions include Associate Professor at UCPH (2011-2020), Postdoc/Assistant Professor in Plant Biology and Biotechnology (2008-2011), and research positions in Germany. Professor Burow's research centers on plant metabolic networks, particularly investigating how plants integrate internal and external signals through transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational regulation. Her work primarily utilizes Arabidopsis thaliana and glucosinolates as model systems to study specialized metabolism dynamics. Key research areas include transcription factor networks (particularly R2R3 MYB factors), metabolite sensing, RNA-mediated regulation, and protein-protein interactions in metabolic channeling. Her recent publications (2023-2025) demonstrate strong focus on plant defense mechanisms, glucosinolate metabolism, plant-microbe interactions, and translational applications in horticulture. The research spans molecular genetics, ecological interactions, and agricultural applications, with particular emphasis on Brassicaceae species and their specialized metabolites. As an educator, she serves as Head of Studies for the BSc Biotechnology program and teaches courses including Introduction to Biotechnology, Experimental Molecular Biology, and Big Data in Biotechnology at both undergraduate and graduate levels. Her outreach activities include public engagement events like Kulturnat in 2008-2009 focused on plant biotechnology. Her laboratory investigates the complex regulatory networks controlling plant specialized metabolism, with particular attention to how environmental cues modulate metabolic investments in growth versus defense. Current work integrates molecular techniques with systems biology approaches to understand metabolic plasticity in changing environments.

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