Denis Kaynov is a Professor at the Institute of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU, Norway. His research focuses on developing antiviral drug combinations targeting broad viral spectra and drug-resistant variants. He holds a PhD from the University of Helsinki (2005), followed by postdoctoral work at IGBMC (2005-2007) and CRP-Santé Luxembourg (2007-2009). His expertise spans virology, pharmacology, and immunology. Key research interests include antiviral drug synergy, host-virus interactions in enteric infections, and translational therapeutics. Recent work emphasizes organoid models for studying viral diseases and testing antiviral cocktails. His lab explores JAK inhibitors’ role in viral propagation and investigates macrophage-augmented intestinal organoids for therapeutic screening. Publications highlight drug combinations against enteroviruses, SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses, and repurposing FDA-approved drugs. He collaborates widely, mentoring students like Hilde Lysvand and Irene Trøen Frøysa. His work bridges basic research and clinical applications, addressing global viral threats with an emphasis on broad-spectrum solutions.
Jeffrey Feder is a full Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, where he has been a faculty member since 1993 and earned tenure in 2006. He is affiliated with the College of Science and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives including the Eck Institute for Global Health, the Environmental Change Initiative, Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics, and the Integrated Biomedical Sciences graduate program. He also directs GLOBES, an NSF-funded interdisciplinary graduate training program in environment and society. Research Interests: Dr. Feder's research focuses on ecological and evolutionary genomics, particularly the mechanisms of sympatric speciation. His lab studies the apple maggot fly ( Rhagoletis pomonella ) as a model system for real-time speciation driven by host plant shifts. His work integrates genomics, population genetics, neurophysiology, and field ecology to understand how ecological adaptation leads to reproductive isolation and biodiversity. Additional interests include vector-borne diseases like Chagas disease and the coevolution of insect communities under climate change. Recent Research Trends: His recent publications highlight the genomic architecture of speciation, the predictability of evolutionary trajectories, and cascading diversification across trophic levels. Articles span topics from transcriptomic responses to host environments to the dynamics of tipping points in speciation, reflecting a multidisciplinary approach combining empirical data with theoretical insights. Sloan Foundation Evolutionary Biology Fellow NSF Career Award Fellow, Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin Fellow, John J. Reilly Center for Science, Technology, and Values NSF Dimensions of Biodiversity Grant (co-PI, $2M) Advising and Grants: Dr. Feder has mentored numerous PhD and master’s students, including Cheyenne Tait, Glen Hood, Mary Glover, and Meredith Doellman, many of whom have published high-impact research. He actively recruits graduate students with backgrounds in bioinformatics and evolutionary biology. His lab has secured major funding from the NSF, Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute, and other sources to support research on speciation genomics and disease vector diagnostics. Labs and Teams: The Feder Lab at Notre Dame is a vibrant research group focused on evolutionary genetics and genomics. It collaborates widely, including with researchers at the University of Florida, University of Colorado Denver, and Binghamton University. The lab emphasizes both field and laboratory work, maintaining strong ties to the broader Rhagoletis research community and contributing to global understanding of speciation dynamics.
Nora J. Besansky is the Martin J. Gillen Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Notre Dame, where she has been a faculty member since 1997. She leads a research laboratory focused on the evolutionary, ecological, and functional genomics of malaria-transmitting mosquitoes, particularly Anopheles species in Africa. Her research interests span Genetics & Genomics , Evolutionary Biology , Entomology , Ecology , and Infectious Disease . She investigates how genomic variation, chromosomal inversions, and environmental adaptation influence vector behavior, population structure, and malaria transmission dynamics. Her work integrates molecular biology, field ecology, and bioinformatics to advance vector control strategies. Her recent publications reveal a strong focus on Anopheles genomics, species divergence, environmental adaptation (e.g., aridity, salinity, heat), and population structure across Africa. She frequently contributes to high-impact journals such as Nature , Science , and Molecular Ecology , often in collaboration with international consortia like the Anopheles 1000 Genomes Project. Her scientific contributions include editorial leadership and tribute articles recognizing pioneers in vector biology, reflecting her standing in the field. She advises graduate students and leads a dynamic research team at Notre Dame. Her laboratory has received continuous funding for projects on vector genomics, adaptation, and malaria epidemiology. She has held prior research positions at the CDC and Emory University, building a career at the intersection of public health and evolutionary genomics. Her lab operates at the forefront of vector biology, combining cutting-edge genomic technologies with ecological field studies to address one of the world’s most persistent infectious disease challenges—malaria.
Dr. Karlijn A. C. Meeks serves as Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine with secondary appointment in Epidemiology & Public Health, conducting research through the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition focused on cardiometabolic diseases in African-ancestry populations across sub-Saharan Africa and the diaspora. Her academic credentials include: B.Sc. in Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University (2010) M.Sc. in Nutrition and Health, Wageningen University (2012) Ph.D. in Public Health Epidemiology, University of Amsterdam (2017) Postdoctoral training in Epidemiology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers (2018) Postdoctoral training in Genetic Epidemiology, National Institutes of Health (2024) Dr. Meeks pioneers research in genetic and epigenetic epidemiology of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia through innovative multi-omics approaches that integrate genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics with classical epidemiological methods. Her work specifically targets historically underrepresented African populations using comparative migrant studies across geographical settings to dissect environmental versus genetic contributions to disease. She has published over 80 peer-reviewed articles with recent work (2019-2023) establishing foundational knowledge in African-ancestry populations through first-of-kind epigenome-wide association studies and genome-wide analyses of cytokines. Her publications in Genome Medicine , EBioMedicine , and International Journal of Epidemiology demonstrate consistent focus on Mendelian randomization, biomarker discovery, and improving risk prediction models for cardiometabolic diseases in underrepresented groups. Her major scientific recognition includes: NIH Pathway to Independence Award (K99/R00) As principal investigator of the NIH K99/R00 award, Dr. Meeks leads research examining interactions between lifestyle factors, cytokines, genetic variants, and epigenetic biomarkers in type 2 diabetes pathogenesis among African-ancestry populations. While specific advisees aren't documented in source materials, her work involves extensive international collaboration through consortia like the RODAM study. Dr. Meeks operates within the University of Maryland's Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Nutrition while maintaining active research partnerships with institutions across sub-Saharan Africa and the National Institutes of Health, driving global health equity through population-specific genomic and epigenetic research frameworks.
Juan Carlos Linares Calderón is a Full Professor at Pablo de Olavide University in the Department of Physical, Chemical and Natural Systems. His research focuses on Mediterranean relict forests' response to climate change through multidisciplinary approaches combining dendrochronology , ecophysiology , genomics , and epigenetics . PhD in Science (2008) from University of Jaén Principal Investigator in 10+ national/international projects Research Themes Specializing in climate change impacts on forest ecosystems , Linares leads the Forests Ecology and Global Change Lab . His work spans from individual tree responses to large-scale biogeographical patterns, challenging CO 2 -induced growth paradigms and emphasizing forest management as climate modulator. Scientific Contributions Over 162 publications with 82,704 reads and 9,074 citations Highly Cited Author status (Ioannidis et al., 2020) Developed SAPFLUXNET global transpiration database Email: jclincal@upo.es
Wen Huang is an Associate Professor at the Michigan State University , affiliated with the BioMolecular Science Gateway Faculty and the Genetics & Genome Sciences Program . His research integrates genetics, genomics, and bioinformatics to study complex traits in Drosophila melanogaster and livestock species. Research Interests : Elucidating genetic architectures of quantitative traits Transposon dynamics and alternative splicing regulation Livestock genomics for agricultural improvement Publication Trends : Recent work focuses on genome-wide association studies (GWAS), telomere-to-telomere assemblies, and multi-omic analyses of gene regulation in pigs and Drosophila . Collaborative Initiatives : Co-leads large-scale projects like FarmGTEx and RT2T Consortium, aiming to improve functional annotation of animal genomes.
Diane M. Beckles is an Associate Professor in the Department of Plant Sciences at the University of California, Davis. She is also an Associate Postharvest Biochemist, focusing on how pre- and postharvest environmental factors influence fruit and cereal quality and yield. Her research employs a multidisciplinary approach, integrating biochemistry, molecular biology, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and applied physics/chemistry. Her work has included genetic diversity studies of Coffea canephora in Nigeria, reclassifying coffee genotypes through genotyping-by-sequencing. Key research areas include abiotic stress tolerance in crops (e.g., chilling injury in fruits like tomato, pineapple, and cucumber), root system architecture under nitrogen deficiency, and postharvest storage technologies. She leads the Diane Beckles Lab, which explores starch metabolism, gene editing applications, and crop improvement. Recent publications emphasize genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for disease resistance and stress tolerance in cucumber, methylome/transcriptome analyses in tomato, and wild emmer wheat introgression for nitrogen tolerance. Her work bridges fundamental plant biology with applied agricultural solutions to reduce postharvest losses and enhance crop resilience.
Prof. Günter Höglinger is Director of the Neurological Clinic and Polyclinic at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München (LMU Munich) and holds the rank of University Professor. His clinical expertise focuses on neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, progressive supranuclear palsy, and vascular neurology. He leads therapeutic trials targeting tauopathies and movement disorders, with affiliations to the Early Clinical Trial Unit (ECTU) and the Neurology Winter School (NWS) for academic training. Research interests center on neurobiological mechanisms of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly tau protein pathology and clinical trial development. He has pioneered studies on anti-tau antibodies (gosuranemab, prasinezumab) and genetic determinants of disease progression. His work integrates molecular biology, imaging (tau-PET), and histopathological analysis to advance diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Laboratory and collaborative efforts include the PSP Genetics Group and international consortia like the PASADENA Investigators. He oversees clinical training programs including doctoral thesis supervision and mentorship for junior researchers in neurology. Professional affiliations include FEAN (Federation of European Neurological Societies).
Professor Stefan Hoppler holds a Personal Chair at the University of Aberdeen's School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, within the Institute of Medical Sciences. He completed a University Diploma (MSc equivalent) in Zoology and Molecular Biology, and a Dr. phil. II (PhD) in Zoology at the University of Zürich, Switzerland. His career includes postdoctoral research at the University of Washington and University of Cambridge, followed by roles as Principal Investigator at the University of Dundee before joining Aberdeen in 2003. He was promoted to Reader (Associate Professor) in 2006 and Full Professor in 2012. His research focuses on Wnt signaling pathways in embryonic development, particularly their roles in heart and brain development using Xenopus models and human embryonic stem cells. Key areas include understanding tissue-specific signaling mechanisms and their implications in congenital heart defects and cancer. Current grants include British Heart Foundation and BBSRC funding for studies on Wnt signaling in cardiomyocyte differentiation and TCF/LEF diversification. Professor Hoppler has held prestigious awards such as the Royal Society/Leverhulme Senior Research Fellowship (2020) and Wellcome Trust Research Career Development Fellowship (1997). He serves on editorial boards (e.g., Genes, Developmental Dynamics) and professional societies (Genetics Society, British Society for Developmental Biology). His work integrates experimental models with theoretical approaches, as seen in recent publications on mathematical modeling of Wnt signaling and evolutionary diversification of TCF/LEF proteins. He leads collaborative projects on cardiovascular regeneration and contributes to training through roles like Scientific Meetings Secretary for the Genetics Society. His lab is part of the Aberdeen Developmental Biology Group and Cardiovascular and Diabetes Centre, emphasizing interdisciplinary research and translational applications.
Mihaela Pertea, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, with affiliations in Genetic Medicine and the Computer Science department. She leads the Pertea Lab, focusing on computational methods for analyzing genomic and transcriptomic data to understand cellular function, particularly in gene finding, alternative splicing, and RNA-seq analysis. Her work integrates machine learning and statistical techniques to improve gene annotation and maintain genomic catalogues. Education: PhD in Computer Science (Johns Hopkins University, 2001); multiple degrees from University of Bucharest (BS in Psychology, BS and MS in Computer Science). Affiliations: Center for Computational Biology at Johns Hopkins. Research interests include developing algorithms for transcriptome assembly, splice site prediction (e.g., Splam tool), and tools like StringTie for RNA-seq analysis. Her lab’s work has contributed to genome projects of malaria parasites, nematodes, and other pathogens. Recent achievements include an AIMBE College of Fellows recognition (2025) and innovations in AI-driven gene splicing analysis. Publications span over 70 peer-reviewed articles, emphasizing computational biology tools and genomic studies. Notable collaborations include work on the ENCODE project and genome sequencing of Plasmodium falciparum. Her lab’s tools (e.g., CHESS, GFF Utilities) are widely used in genomic research.
Andres Salumets is a Professor of Reproductive Medicine at the Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology, Karolinska Institutet. His research focuses on molecular mechanisms underlying reproductive health, including endometrial biology, assisted reproduction technologies, and environmental influences on fertility. He leads studies on uterine fluid extracellular vesicles, genomic analysis of reproductive disorders, and the impact of endocrine disruptors on reproductive tissues. Salumets collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to translate findings into clinical applications, such as improving non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and developing probiotics for male reproductive health. His work integrates cutting-edge technologies like AI-driven histology analysis, single-cell RNA sequencing, and genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Key research areas include polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, and recurrent implantation failure (RIF). Recent studies explore phthalate effects on endometrial cells and novel therapies for breast cancer using natural extracts. Salumets' research bridges basic science with clinical practice, aiming to enhance assisted reproduction outcomes and address global infertility challenges.
Dr. Gary Hon is an Assistant Professor at UT Southwestern Medical Center affiliated with the Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences and the Lyda Hill Department of Bioinformatics. He leads a research program focused on decoding the complexity of the human genome through two primary directions: understanding the molecular basis of cell state for regenerative medicine applications, and elucidating how non-coding variants contribute to development and disease. His lab employs integrative techniques at the interface of gene regulation, epigenetics, genome engineering, single-cell genomics, and bioinformatics. His research interests span genomics, epigenetics, bioinformatics, gene regulation, stem cell biology, and disease mechanisms. Dr. Hon earned his graduate degree from UC San Diego's Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program and completed post-doctoral training in Dr. Bing Ren's lab before joining UT Southwestern in 2015. Dr. Hon has received significant recognition including the CPRIT Scholar award and NIH Director’s New Innovator Award. His recent publications demonstrate a focus on advanced genomic techniques including Perturb-Seq optimization, single-cell transcriptomics in cancer and reproductive biology, enhancer network mapping, and stem cell modeling of human development.
Mark T. W. Ebbert, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the University of Kentucky's Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, where he leads the Ebbert Lab. His work focuses on developing biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's disease (AD), leveraging cutting-edge genomic and transcriptomic techniques. He co-leads efforts in the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center's Biomarker Core, aiming to integrate neuroimaging, fluid biomarkers, and genomic data for precision medicine applications. Key research interests include analyzing genetic variants, long-read sequencing for disease resilience, and understanding inflammation's role in neurodegeneration. He has presented at high-profile venues like the Markesbery Symposium, discussing topics such as using long-read sequencing to identify AD biomarkers. His lab has produced over 55 publications, with a focus on resolving genomic 'dark regions' and improving biomarker accuracy through innovative methods like RNApysoforms visualization tools. Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, Dr. Ebbert explores the interplay between genetics, epigenetics, and environmental factors in neurodegenerative diseases. His work bridges basic science and clinical translation, emphasizing the importance of genomic data integration for advancing AD diagnosis and treatment strategies.
Christopher M. Sassetti is a Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School (UMass Chan Medical School) and T.H. Chan School of Medicine. His research focuses on the pathogenesis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, specifically understanding how the bacterium adapts to host environments, acquires nutrients, regulates its cell wall physiology, and survives antibiotic treatment. He completed his BS in Biology at Santa Clara University and his PhD in Immunology at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Sassetti leads the Sassetti Lab, which employs genetic, biochemical, and systems biology approaches to study tuberculosis. His work has identified critical metabolic pathways and survival mechanisms in M. tuberculosis, including cholesterol utilization and cell wall synthesis regulation. He holds additional academic roles in the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, including the Immunology and Microbiology Program, MD/PhD Program, and Postbaccalaureate Research Education Program. Recent research highlights include studies on host immune responses to tuberculosis, antibiotic efficacy under infection conditions, and the role of genetic interactions in pathogen survival. His lab has discovered that host fatty acid metabolism and autophagy pathways play key roles in restricting bacterial growth. Dr. Sassetti has been recognized as a Damon Runyon Foundation Scholar and has contributed to high-impact publications in Immunity , Science , and Cell . Current projects include understanding nutrient acquisition in vivo, phosphosignaling regulation of cell wall synthesis, and metabolic mechanisms driving antibiotic tolerance. Collaborative efforts with institutions like the Morningside Graduate School and global networks drive translational research toward novel tuberculosis therapies and vaccines.
Jiyoung Ahn is a Professor in the Department of Population Health and the Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and the Associate Director of Population Research at the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center. She holds a PhD in Community Health from Cornell University and completed a fellowship at the National Cancer Institute. Her research focuses on the intersection of the microbiome, environmental factors, and cancer epidemiology, with a particular emphasis on diet, carcinogens, and biomarkers. Dr. Ahn’s work spans multiple areas including the role of the microbiome in cancer recurrence and treatment response, the impact of dietary acculturation on gut microbiota, and the association between oral microbiome and risks for cancers such as head and neck and pancreatic cancer. She leads the Microbiome and Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory and has contributed to over 120 publications. Her research has been highlighted in studies exploring patient outcomes and health care burden in older adults with chronic conditions, though this appears to be a conflation with another faculty member (Jessica Esterson). Awards and grants are not explicitly detailed in her profile, but her contributions to cancer epidemiology are widely recognized.
