California Institute of Technology (Caltech)United States
Shasha Chong is an Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the California Institute of Technology and a Ronald and JoAnne Willens Scholar. She earned her B.S. from the University of Science & Technology of China (2008) and Ph.D. from Harvard University (2014). Her research bridges chemistry, physics, and biology to investigate the molecular mechanisms of cellular processes, focusing on intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) in transcription proteins. Research Focus: IDRs in transcriptional regulation, cancer biology, liquid-liquid phase separation, and single-molecule imaging techniques. Grants & Awards: CCE Innovation Award (2024), ALSF Innovation Grant, Mallinckrodt Research Grant, Margaret E. Early Medical Research Trust Grant. Collaborations: Caltech-City of Hope Biomedical Research Initiative Grant (2025). Teaching: Co-instructor for courses like Biochemistry Laboratory (Ch 11) and Advanced Topics in Biochemistry (BMB/Bi/Ch 174). Labs & Teams: Leads the Chong Laboratory at Caltech, focusing on interdisciplinary approaches combining single-molecule imaging, genome editing, and bioinformatics.
Richard McKay is a part-time Research Fellow in the Department of History and Philosophy of Science at the University of Cambridge and serves as Director of Studies for History and Philosophy of Science at Magdalene College. He has held prestigious fellowships from the Wellcome Trust and the ESRC, and he divides his professional life between academic research and private practice as an International Coach Federation-certified career, academic and life coach. Research Interests: Twentieth-century history of medicine and public health History of sexuality and sexually transmitted infections History of HIV/AIDS Use of visual sources in medical history His current Wellcome-supported project, ‘Before HIV: Homosex and Venereal Disease, c.1939–1984’ , explores how healthcare workers and gay men in Canada, the United States and England came to understand the role of men who have sex with men in STI transmission during the mid-twentieth century. Publications & Scholarly Impact: Across monographs, peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, McKay interrogates the social construction of the “Patient Zero” myth, the pre-history of HIV, and the visual cultures surrounding AIDS-related illnesses such as Kaposi’s sarcoma. His 2017 monograph Patient Zero and the Making of the AIDS Epidemic has become a key reference in HIV historiography. Awards & Fellowships: Wellcome Trust Research Fellowship (current) ESRC Postdoctoral Fellowship, King’s College London Teaching & Advising: As Director of Studies at Magdalene College, McKay guides undergraduate students in History and Philosophy of Science. He has also contributed pedagogical modules to the U.S. National Library of Medicine’s online exhibition Surviving and Thriving: AIDS, Politics, and Culture . Professional Activities: Aside from his academic appointments, McKay maintains an active coaching practice accredited by the International Coach Federation, supporting academic and professional clients worldwide.
Pedro A Hermida de Viveiros, MD serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. His clinical practice focuses on solid tumor oncology with specialized expertise in sarcomas and precision medicine approaches. His research interests center on clinical development of novel therapeutic strategies for sarcomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), emphasizing biomarker-driven treatments and molecularly targeted therapies. Key areas include IDH1-mutant chondrosarcoma management, neoadjuvant response assessment in sarcomas, and immunotherapy-radiotherapy combinations for metastatic disease. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on translating molecular targets into clinical applications, particularly through phase 1-3 trials of targeted agents like ivosidenib and IDRX-42. His work bridges radiological assessment, pathological response, and precision oncology frameworks for rare solid tumors. Professional engagements include active membership in major oncology societies: American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Connective Tissue Oncology Society (CTOS) Sociedade Brasileira de Oncologia Clínica (SBOC) European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) He currently leads four active clinical trials through the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, including the CHONQUER phase 3 study of ivosidenib for IDH1-mutant chondrosarcoma and first-in-human trials of novel agents for advanced solid tumors and GIST. His work integrates translational research with clinical trial design to advance personalized treatment paradigms.
Prof. Dr. Urs F. Greber is an Ordinary Professor of Molecular Cell Biology at the Department of Molecular Life Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Zurich. His research focuses on understanding how viruses interact with host cells, particularly adenoviruses and rhinoviruses that cause human respiratory diseases. He leads the Greber Lab, which investigates viral entry mechanisms, replication processes, and the cellular responses to infection. Greber's research interests span virology, molecular cell biology, and infection mechanisms. His lab explores how viruses take control over membrane and lipid functions, cytoplasmic transport processes, and cellular metabolism to support their gene expression and progeny formation. They employ system-wide profiling, molecular cell biology approaches, light microscopy, and machine learning for image analysis to map the cell state underlying viral infections of cultured and primary human cells, including lung organoids and iPSC-derived macrophages. A key focus is understanding cell-to-cell variability in infection phenotypes and the mode-of-action of antiviral compounds. The Greber Lab has published extensively on adenovirus biology, including viral entry, uncoating, nuclear import, and assembly mechanisms. Their recent work has identified broad-spectrum antiviral compounds, elucidated alternative virus entry pathways, and developed innovative imaging and AI-based approaches for quantifying virus infectivity. Their research contributes to understanding how viruses break down host defense barriers and has implications for antiviral therapy development. Greber has supervised numerous PhD and Master's students including Cornelia Bircher, Alessandro Savi, Franziska Tomas, Alfonso Gomez-Gonzalez, Anthony Petkidis, and Dominik Olszewski. His lab has received funding from the Swiss National Science Foundation, including a grant for coronavirus research during the pandemic. The lab actively collaborates with other research groups at University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, and international institutions. Current projects include exploring how viral DNA interactions contribute to infection outcome variability, investigating adenovirus egress mechanisms, and developing high-throughput screening methods for antiviral compounds.
Professor Ananya Choudhury serves as Chair and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Oncology at the University of Manchester, where she is also Co-Group Leader of the Translational Radiobiology Group within the Division of Cancer Sciences. She joined The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in 2008, specializing in urology and sarcoma, and has since focused on radiotherapy-related research in prostate and bladder cancers. Professor Choudhury is clinical lead for advanced radiotherapy, including the groundbreaking MRLinac project, and plays a key role in national radiotherapy research initiatives. Professor Choudhury earned her BA (Hons) in 1993, MB. BChir (Cantab) in 1995, and MA (Cantab) in 1997 from Trinity College, Cambridge. She completed her Clinical Oncology training at the Yorkshire Deanery from 2000-2008, during which she earned her MRCP in 2000 and F.R.C.R in 2004. She completed her PhD in 2008 through the University of Leeds and Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto, Canada, where she studied the molecular epidemiology of DNA double strand break repair in bladder cancer. Professor Choudhury's research program focuses on optimizing and personalizing radiotherapy using advanced imaging technology to deliver high doses while minimizing side effects. Her work centers on prostate and bladder cancers, with particular interest in predictive biomarkers, hypoxia, and the integration of magnetic resonance imaging to improve treatment precision. She has pioneered research in radiotherapy dose optimization, biomarker development, and the identification of patients who would benefit most from different treatment approaches. Her extensive publication record demonstrates a strong focus on radiation therapy, particularly in genitourinary cancers. Recent work explores MRI-guided radiotherapy, hypoxia biomarkers, and personalized treatment approaches across multiple cancer types. She has made significant contributions to understanding how imaging technology can improve radiotherapy precision and effectiveness while reducing side effects, with several publications appearing in top journals through 2025. Professor Choudhury has received multiple prestigious awards recognizing her contributions to the field: Cancer Research-UK/Royal College of Radiologists Clinical Training Fellowship (2005) Fellowship for the 10th ECCO-AACR-ASCO Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research (2007) Outstanding Contribution, Greater Manchester Clinical Research Awards (2017) RCR Research Fellowship (2005) Research Fellowship, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto (2004) Professor Choudhury has supervised numerous doctoral and master's students across multiple cancer types, with current students expected to complete through 2024. She is Principal Investigator on multiple research grants, including 'Measuring tumour radioresistance to improve radiotherapy outcomes' and the 'MAESTRO Programme' as part of CRUK RadNet. Her research program is supported by significant funding from NIHR Manchester Biomedical Research Centre and other major funding bodies. As Co-Group Leader of the Translational Radiobiology Group, Professor Choudhury collaborates extensively with leading researchers including Peter Hoskin, Catharine West, Corinne Faivre-Finn, and Marcel van Herk. Her team is at the forefront of integrating advanced imaging with radiotherapy to improve cancer treatment outcomes, with active projects spanning from basic radiobiology to clinical implementation of novel radiotherapy techniques.
University of North Carolina at Chapel HillUnited States
Xiaodong Wang is a Professor at the Center for Integrative Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery within the Eshelman School of Pharmacy at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His research program focuses on developing innovative drug leads and candidates targeting novel protein kinases and other molecular targets identified by UNC faculty and external investigators. Dr. Wang's research interests center on structure- and ligand-based drug design approaches for developing therapeutic compounds, particularly kinase inhibitors targeting the TAM family (TYRO3, AXL, MERTK). His laboratory has successfully applied these methodologies to deliver compounds to clinical trials, including MerTK inhibitors and IDH1 inhibitors developed in collaboration with NCATS. Current research continues to focus on structure-based drug design for novel targets, with particular emphasis on cancer therapeutics and molecular imaging agents. Analysis of Dr. Wang's recent publications (2023-2025) reveals a strong focus on developing selective kinase inhibitors, particularly targeting the TAM receptor family (TYRO3, AXL, MERTK) for various cancer types including leukemia, Ewing sarcoma, and melanoma. His work spans multiple disciplines including medicinal chemistry, cancer biology, immunology, and molecular imaging, with recent publications appearing in high-impact journals such as Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, Nature Communications, and Leukemia. Dr. Wang maintains active collaborations across UNC-Chapel Hill and with external institutions, working with researchers in pharmacology, oncology, immunology, and structural biology. His laboratory develops both small molecule inhibitors and imaging agents, with several compounds progressing toward clinical applications. Contact information: xiaodonw@email.unc.edu | Wang Lab website
Lieuwke Kranenburg is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine , Utrecht University , specializing in Equine Internal Medicine . She provides patient care at the University Equine Clinic and teaches Master's courses in equine digestion , infectious diseases , and skin problems . Research Focus: Equine internal medicine, digestive diseases, infectious pathogens, metabolic disorders Professional Certifications: EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine International Collaboration: Trained Chinese veterinarians at Heilan Equestrian Centre Publications highlight her work on equine gastric disease management, diagnostic imaging, infectious disease epidemiology, and metabolic research. She contributes to equine clinical research through peer-reviewed journals and conference abstracts. Professional Involvement: Former board member of the Equine Medicine Group and current GGP representative for FEEVA, maintaining professional networks and advancing equine veterinary practice.
Bertrand Jean-Claude serves as a Senior Scientist at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) at the Glen site and holds a Professorship in the Department of Medicine within McGill University's Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences. His primary affiliation lies with the Metabolic Disorders and Complications Program under the Centre for Translational Biology. His research centers on innovative anticancer drug development, specifically focusing on the design and synthesis of multitargeted drug candidates engineered to simultaneously block multiple pathways in tumor cells. Key methodologies include kinase inhibitor development , molecular modeling , and pharmacokinetic analysis of combi-drugs—hybrid molecules designed for dual mechanisms of action such as EGFR receptor inhibition coupled with DNA damage. His publication history reveals consistent contributions to molecular oncology, with recent work emphasizing EGFR and DNA repair pathway dual targeting Fluorescence-based drug distribution tracking Overcoming P-glycoprotein-mediated drug resistance Stable combi-molecule fragmentation mechanisms His work bridges medicinal chemistry and translational cancer research, aiming to develop more effective tumor-selective therapies. Jean-Claude maintains active laboratory operations within the RI-MUHC's Centre for Translational Biology, where his team investigates combi-targeting strategies for oncology applications. His research program receives support through institutional frameworks of McGill University and the RI-MUHC, with emphasis on translating molecular discoveries into preclinical therapeutic candidates.
Brane Grambozov is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Radiotherapy and Radiation Oncology at the Medical University of Vienna. His research focuses on oncology, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy, particularly in lung cancer treatment and molecular mechanisms of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). He has contributed to studies on Durvalumab's impact on survival outcomes and radiation dose escalation strategies in NSCLC Stage III patients through the Austrian Radio-Oncological Lung Cancer Study Association Registry (ALLSTAR). Education: Not explicitly stated. Research interests include immunotherapy efficacy, radiation dosimetry, and biomarkers in oncology. His work emphasizes clinical trials and real-world data analysis to improve treatment outcomes and reduce toxicities like pneumonitis. He has collaborated with teams like the ALLSTAR Group and contributed to interdisciplinary studies involving radiotherapy planning and molecular biology. Key awards include the 2022 Platz Research Prize from the Austrian Society for Radiation Oncology. His advising/grant activities are not detailed but reflect contributions to lung cancer research through institutional and collaborative efforts. Labs/teams: Collaborations with the ALLSTAR Group and involvement in multidisciplinary oncology research networks.
Andrew T Arndt, MD is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery specializing in Thoracic Surgery at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine. Board certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, he maintains clinical practice at Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital and holds active memberships in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (2023-present) and American Board of Thoracic Surgery (2022-present). His research concentrates on advancing thoracic surgical oncology through investigations into lung cancer resection outcomes, chest wall tumor management, minimally invasive techniques, and pneumothorax recurrence factors. Current work emphasizes evidence-based risk stratification and surgical innovation to improve patient outcomes in complex thoracic pathologies. Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on surgical registry analysis (2021), consensus development for thoracoscopic training (2021), systematic reviews of rare chest wall malignancies (2023), and identification of lifestyle-related recurrence risks (2021). This trajectory highlights growing contributions to thoracic surgical guidelines and evidence-based practice standards. Dr. Arndt serves as a consultant for Intuitive Surgical, Inc. (2024 disclosures) while maintaining active clinical and academic roles. No formal advisees or research grants are listed in current profile materials. Within Northwestern's Department of Surgery, he contributes to the Thoracic Surgery division's clinical and research missions, particularly in advancing minimally invasive approaches and multidisciplinary management of complex thoracic conditions through collaborative registry studies and consensus initiatives.
Xiaofeng Liu is an Assistant Professor at Yale University School of Medicine in the Departments of Radiology & Biomedical Imaging and Biomedical Informatics & Data Science. He is also an Associate Member at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard. Previously, he held faculty positions at Harvard Medical School and research roles at Massachusetts General Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. PhD in Mechatronics from University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Dual Bachelor's degrees in Automation (Wang-Daheng Elite Class) and Communication from University of Science and Technology of China His research integrates trustworthy AI, medical imaging, and data science to improve diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment monitoring for neurological disorders, cancer, and cardiovascular diseases. Key focus areas include domain adaptation techniques, diffusion models, and interpretable AI systems. Led special issues in IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Medical Image Analysis Developed novel frameworks like Ordinal UDA and Memory-Consistent Adaptation Scientific accolades include the Trailblazer R21 Award (NIBIB), OpenAI Research Award, and National Artificial Intelligence Research Resource Pilot Award. He serves as Associate Editor for IEEE Transactions on Neural Networks and Learning Systems and actively contributes to MICCAI and NIH review panels. His lab at Yale (XLiu Lab) investigates neural basis of intelligence to inspire AI development, with applications in brain tumor segmentation, cardiac imaging, and cross-modal medical diagnostics.
Alexander Nikitin is a Professor of Pathology at Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms linking tissue homeostasis to cancer development using autochthonous mouse models. Key Affiliation: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY Research Niche: Cancer-prone stem cell niches in female reproductive tract and prostate Research Interests Dr. Nikitin investigates how aberrations in p53/miR-34/MET and Rb networks drive malignant transformation of adult stem cells. His work includes: Identification of ovarian surface epithelium stem cell niche Technology-oriented cross-disciplinary collaborations Characterization of cancer initiation mechanisms in reproductive tissues Article Trends His publications span 2003–2025, emphasizing: Mouse models for epithelial cancers Role of tumor suppressor genes (p53, Rb) in cancer miR-34 family's tumor suppression functions Stem cell niche mapping in reproductive tract cancers Genetic drivers of high-grade serous carcinomas Translational research applications Lab Members Current lab personnel include: Andrea Flesken-Nikitin (Assistant Research Professor) Christopher Ashe (Research Support Specialist) Technicians and student researchers
Prof. Ajay Puri serves as Chief of Orthopaedic Oncology and Professor & Head of Surgical Oncology at Tata Memorial Centre. He holds leadership positions including President of the Indian Musculoskeletal Oncology Society, President Elect of the Asia Pacific Musculoskeletal Tumor Society, and past Chairman of the Indian Orthopaedic Association (Oncology). His research integrates clinical, biomedical, and basic science approaches to musculoskeletal tumors. Key contributions include developing low-cost indigenous megaprostheses widely adopted across Asia and Africa, pioneering biological reconstruction techniques after oncologic resection, and leading the International Sarcoma Kindred Study (ISKS) to investigate sarcoma genetics. His work bridges innovative surgical solutions with resource-limited healthcare settings. With over 100 publications and numerous book chapters, he shapes discourse in orthopaedic oncology through editorial roles at Bone & Joint-360, Sarcoma, and Frontiers in Orthopedic Surgery. As principal investigator for multiple studies, he drives translational research while mentoring through institutional frameworks at Tata Memorial Centre.
Prim. Clin. Assoc. Prof. PD Dr. Dietmar Dammerer, MSc PhD is the head of the Clinical Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology at Krems University Hospital, affiliated with Karl Landsteiner Private University of Health Sciences. He has been in this role since February 2022, leading the merger of orthopedics and traumatology into a unified clinical department. A dual-trained specialist, he is recognized for his expertise in endoprosthetics and tumor orthopedics, and actively promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and team-based medicine. His educational background includes a PhD in Musculoskeletal Sciences (2015), an MSc in Advanced Orthopaedics and Traumatology (2017), and board certification in both orthopedics and traumatology (2017, 2018), culminating in habilitation in 2019. He has received prestigious Traveling Fellowships from the European Hip Society and European Musculo-Skeletal Oncology Society. Dietmar Dammerer’s research focuses on orthopedic oncology, joint reconstruction, biomechanics, and minimally invasive surgery. His work emphasizes the integration of clinical inquiry with research to improve patient outcomes. Recent publications analyze pelvic sarcoma reconstruction, spinal metastases, cartilage repair techniques, and health disparities in sarcoma care. His 15 most recent articles reflect a strong trend in musculoskeletal oncology, surgical biomechanics, and evidence-based orthopedic practice, with frequent use of systematic reviews, retrospective studies, and multicenter collaborations. Topics include implant performance, surgical safety, and global access to specialized care. Scientific awards include: Traveling Fellow Stipendium from the European Hip Society (2018) Traveling Fellow Stipendium from the European Musculo-Skeletal Oncology Society (2020) He is deeply committed to mentoring and team development, emphasizing that medical success is measured by the success of one’s colleagues. He leads a research-active department that hosts international observers, conducts training courses for physicians across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, and maintains a high rate of peer-reviewed publication. The department collaborates closely with the Departments of Biomechanics and Anatomy and Developmental Biology, reflecting a multidisciplinary research approach.
Professor Martin Peifer is a computational cancer genomics researcher at the University of Cologne, where he leads the Department of Translational Genomics. He serves as Principal Investigator of the Peifer Lab, which focuses on developing computational methods to analyze cancer genome sequencing data. His work is deeply integrated with the Center for Data and Simulation Science and he is an active member of the International Cancer Genome Consortium and the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes project. Peifer's research interests center on computational approaches to understanding cancer biology, with particular emphasis on tumor evolution and genome instability mechanisms. His lab develops methods to analyze somatic genome alterations including point mutations, copy number changes, and rearrangements. They also create computational tools for integrative genome analyses, tumor evolution reconstruction, and single-cell sequencing data analysis (both RNA and DNA). His interdisciplinary team applies high-performance computing and machine learning to interpret complex cancer sequencing data, aiming to better understand tumorigenesis, clonal evolution, and therapy resistance. Analysis of Peifer's extensive publication record reveals a strong focus on neuroblastoma and lung cancer genomics, with particular attention to tumor evolution patterns and genomic instability mechanisms. His work spans multiple cancer types but maintains consistent themes of computational methodology development and application to understand cancer progression and treatment resistance. The publications demonstrate increasing sophistication in analyzing intra-tumor heterogeneity and clonal dynamics over time. Peifer leads an active research group including postdoctoral fellows (Joel Kaufmann, Dr. Stephanie Pabel, Agnieszka Rumińska) and PhD students (Magdalena Seiffert, Justinas Valiulis). His lab is involved in the Collaborative Research Center 1399 focused on Mechanisms of Drug Sensitivity and Resistance in Small Cell Lung Cancer, indicating significant grant funding and collaborative research efforts. The Peifer Lab operates at the intersection of computational biology and cancer research, maintaining an interdisciplinary approach that combines bioinformatics, machine learning, and high-performance computing to address complex questions in cancer genomics. Their work has significant implications for understanding cancer evolution and developing more effective treatment strategies.
