Paola Falletta is a Fixed-term Researcher at San Raffaele University, specializing in Human Anatomy (BIO/16) within the College of Medicine. Her research focuses on cancer biology, particularly melanoma progression mechanisms, transcription factor regulation, and metabolic reprogramming. Academic Rank: Researcher Department: Human Anatomy Key Research Areas: Phenotypic Plasticity, Autophagy, DNA Damage Repair Her work investigates how melanoma cells adapt metabolically and transcriptionally to environmental stresses, with significant publications in Nature Communications , Genes & Development , and Pigment Cell & Melanoma Research . Recent studies highlight MITF's role in fatty acid regulation, BRN2-mediated DNA repair, and chromatin organization's impact on nuclear factor dynamics. Publications (2014-2023) demonstrate sustained expertise in melanoma biology, stress response pathways, and organelle-specific protein regulation. She teaches multiple anatomy courses for medical and health informatics programs. Contact: falletta.paola@hsr.it | falletta.paola@unisr.it
PD Dr. Klaus B. Tenberge is a Professor in the Department of Botany at the University of Münster, Germany. His research focuses on molecular cytology of plant-pathogen interactions and cell wall biology , with a particular emphasis on Claviceps purpurea infections in rye and Botrytis cinerea interactions with tomato/bean plants. He has supervised numerous doctoral and state examination theses since 1992 and serves on the Münster State Examination Office for biology teaching positions. Education: Biology and Mathematics at University of Münster (First State Examination, Doctorate, Habilitation in Botany) Contact: Schlossplatz 7, Münster | tenberg@uni-muenster.de His research projects analyze host-pathogen dynamics using light/electron microscopy , immunogold labeling , and in situ hybridization , targeting mechanisms like cell wall degradation , active oxygen species , and scavenging enzymes . Key collaborations include work on Claviceps and Botrytis systems with DFG and EU funding. He contributes to scientific societies (German Botanical Society, German Society for Electron Microscopy) and peer-review for journals such as Molecular Plant Pathology and New Phytologist . Recent teaching includes modules on field biology , plant biodiversity , and electron microscopy .
Professor Sir Michael Ferguson is the Regius Professor of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee and an Interim Dean of the School of Life Sciences. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), Royal Society of Edinburgh (FRSE), Academy of Medical Sciences (FMedSci), and Royal Society of Biology (FRSB). Education : BSc in Biochemistry, University of Manchester (1976-1979) PhD in Biochemistry, University of London (1979-1982) His research focuses on the biochemistry of protozoan parasites causing tropical diseases such as human African Sleeping Sickness, Chagas' disease, and leishmaniasis. He emphasizes the Biology/Chemistry interface and translational research, co-founding the Drug Discovery Unit and directing the Dundee Proteomics Facility . His work on glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) membrane anchors has transformed understanding of eukaryotic biology. Recent publications highlight advancements in antimicrobial resistance , serology standards for SARS-CoV-2 , and mechanochemical drug formulation . He contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals in Health and Life Sciences . Scientific Awards : Royal Society Leeuwenhoek Medal (2025) Biochemical Society Morton Lecture (2024) Knight Bachelor (2019) Colworth Medal (1991) Howard Hughes International Scholar (1993) He serves on the boards of UK Biobank , Medicines Discovery Catapult , and chairs PhaSER Bio . During the pandemic, he advised the UK government on antibody testing and national core studies.
Associate Professor Timothy Bredy is a leading figure in cognitive neuroepigenetics at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) , focusing on how epigenetic modifications and RNA dynamics regulate fear-related memory and psychiatric disorders like PTSD. His research explores the interplay between environmental experiences and genomic activity, particularly through non-coding RNA and DNA methylation. University: University of Queensland School: Faculty of Health, Medicine and Behavioural Sciences Role: Professorial Research Fellow and Group Leader Research Interests span epigenetic mechanisms in memory formation, RNA modifications in synaptic plasticity, and therapeutic applications for anxiety disorders. He pioneered discoveries linking dynamic DNA structures (e.g., G-quadruplexes) and RNA methylation to memory stability. Recent Work includes studies on RNA-based therapeutics, stress-induced epigenetic inheritance, and synaptic long noncoding RNA activity. His scientific awards encompass NHMRC and ARC grants for neuroepigenetics research. Key Collaborators: Paul Marshall, Esmi Zajaczkowski Labs: Bredy Laboratory at QBI
Ville Paavilainen is a Research Director at the Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, and supervisor for doctoral programs in Biomedicine and Integrative Life Science. With a postdoctoral background at the University of California, San Francisco (2008–2014), he focuses on Biochemistry , Cell Biology , and Molecular Biology , particularly mechanisms of protein translocation, membrane biology, and structural modeling. His research includes groundbreaking work on Sec61 translocon inhibition for cancer therapy and mitochondrial gene expression noise . Recent publications address lipid scrambling pathways, glioma stem cell targeting, and actin regulation. Active projects span EU-funded drug discovery and NIH collaborations. Key scientific contributions include Elucidating Sec61-client interactions Developing computational models for signal peptide prediction Uncovering mitochondrial-ER communication mechanisms He has supervised PhD theses (e.g., Paul Carlson) and contributed to over 39 research outputs. His work bridges structural biology, computational modeling, and translational pharmacology, with applications in tumor biology and neurodegenerative disease research.
Chao Sun is an Associate Professor affiliated with multiple departments at Aarhus University , including the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, DANDRITE, the Interdisciplinary Nanoscience Center (INANO-MBG), and the Department of Biomedicine. His research integrates neurobiology , molecular cell biology , and nanotechnology , focusing on proteostasis, synaptic regulation, and advanced imaging techniques. PhD in Chemistry from Cornell University (2013-2018) Research interests include: Cellular neurobiology Proteostasis and protein turnover Super-resolution microscopy applications Proteomics of neuronal compartments Synaptic biology and plasticity Article trends reveal expertise in: Proteasome dynamics in synapses Multi-omics approaches to subcellular protein synthesis Single-molecule imaging in synaptic contexts Quantitative analysis of neuronal protein turnover Collaborations include leading researchers like Poul Nissen and Erin Schuman, with publications in high-impact journals such as Science and Current Opinion in Neurobiology . His work bridges molecular neuroscience with cutting-edge nanoscale imaging technologies.
Xiaonan ZHANG is an Associate Professor in the Faculty of Science and Technology at the University of Canberra, leading the Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Group within the Centre for Research into Therapeutic Solutions. He holds a PhD from Fudan University (2012) and previously worked at the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Centre until 2021. His research focuses on HBV molecular pathogenesis, therapeutic vaccine development, and next-generation sequencing applications in viral infections. His work has advanced understanding of HBV’s clinical outcomes, including the discovery of Capsid-Antibody-Complexes (CACs) and their role in pathogenesis. Collaborations span institutions like the Peter Doherty Institute, University of Queensland, and international partners such as Fudan University and University of Duisburg-Essen. Key projects include: Development of therapeutic mRNA vaccines for chronic HBV Clinical evaluation of CAC assays in HBV/HIV co-infections Metagenomic sequencing for pathogen identification Research interests emphasize translational medicine, with contributions to H7N9 influenza and SARS-CoV-2 studies during the pandemic. His team pioneered real-world analyses of viral and host factors in COVID-19 outcomes. Current focus includes liver-resident immune cell dynamics and novel diagnostic assays for HBV nucleic acids. Publications highlight innovations in HBV cccDNA tracking, immune complex mechanisms, and exosome-mediated signaling. No scientific awards were explicitly listed in the provided texts. Xiaonan actively collaborates on grants and supervises PhD students, advancing interdisciplinary approaches to viral diseases.
Professor Jens Januschke is Chair of Development Cell Biology in the Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology department within the School of Life Sciences at the University of Dundee. He was promoted to Personal Chair (Professor) as part of the 2023-24 Annual Review process and serves as joint divisional lead of the Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology division alongside Tom Owen-Hughes, having assumed this leadership role in May 2023 following Kate Storey stepping down. His research focuses on the establishment of cell polarity in rapidly dividing Drosophila stem cells, particularly investigating asymmetric cell division (ACD) in neural stem cells (neuroblasts) of the developing central nervous system. He examines how cycling stem cells robustly control ACD to prevent errors in cell fate generation, with special attention to the subcellular localization of mRNAs and their contribution to cell polarity and fate specification. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on cell polarity mechanisms, actomyosin dynamics, centrosome asymmetry, and epithelial morphogenesis in Drosophila models, revealing fundamental principles of stem cell biology and developmental processes. Sir Henry Dale Research Fellowship (2013) Sir Henry Dale Research Fellowship (renewal) (2017) Science For All Badge (2023) Professor Januschke actively supervises PhD students through unfunded opportunities with deadlines extending to 2026, focusing on cell polarity and mechanical regulation in epithelia, as well as the role of shape and form in biological systems. His research involves imaging living neuroblasts in primary cell culture and whole mount brain explants to document and measure cell polarization dynamics during consecutive neuroblast cycles. He collaborates on multiple research projects, including those funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. His work contributes to understanding fundamental biological processes with implications for tissue homeostasis, developmental disorders, and potential applications in regenerative medicine.
Daniel J. Siegwart holds the W. Ray Wallace Distinguished Chair in Molecular Oncology Research and serves as Professor at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He maintains dual appointments in the Department of Biomedical Engineering and Department of Biochemistry, and is affiliated with the Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr. Siegwart directs both the Program in Genetic Drug Engineering and the Drug Delivery Program in Biomedical Engineering, while also serving as Co-Director of the Chemistry and Cancer Program. Dr. Siegwart's research focuses on developing advanced lipid and polymer-based systems with precise control over structure and responsiveness for applications in drug delivery, imaging, genetic diseases, and cancer. His work spans nano-based drugs, personalized medicine, and cancer immunology, with particular emphasis on creating targeted delivery systems for nucleic acid therapeutics. His laboratory pioneers innovations in lipid nanoparticle technology, selective organ targeting (SORT) systems, and novel approaches to overcome delivery barriers for genetic medicines. Analysis of Dr. Siegwart's recent publications reveals a strong focus on advancing lipid nanoparticle technology for organ-specific delivery of nucleic acids. His research group has made significant contributions to understanding structure-activity relationships of ionizable lipids, developing multi-organ targeting strategies, and creating solutions for repeated administration of mRNA therapeutics. Current work emphasizes expanding delivery capabilities beyond the liver to target lungs, spleen, skeletal muscle, and skin for treating genetic diseases and cancer. National Academy of Inventors (NAI) Fellow (2024) National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Emerging Leaders in Health and Medicine (ELHM) Scholar (2024) Controlled Release Society (CRS) College of Fellows (2023) American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) College of Fellows (2022) Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam Fellowship for Advanced Study (2021) Dr. Siegwart has secured significant research funding including the American Cancer Society Research Scholar award, CPRIT Scholar Award, and NIH funding. He has co-founded multiple biotechnology companies including Signify Bio, Jumble Therapeutics, and ReCode Therapeutics, translating his academic research into clinical applications. His laboratory maintains active collaborations with leading institutions and pharmaceutical companies to advance nucleic acid delivery technologies. The Siegwart laboratory operates as a multidisciplinary research team at the intersection of chemistry, materials science, and biomedical engineering. The group maintains state-of-the-art facilities for nanoparticle formulation, characterization, and in vivo testing, with particular expertise in lipid chemistry, polymer synthesis, and nucleic acid delivery. Current research directions include developing next-generation delivery systems for CRISPR-based gene editing, creating tissue-specific mRNA vaccines, and engineering novel approaches to treat genetic disorders and cancer.
Dr. Orod Osanlou is a Clinical Associate Professor in Pharmacology/Pharmacy at Bangor University's North Wales Medical School, with a dual appointment as Senior Clinical Lecturer. He serves as the university's Therapeutics Lead and Lead for the Prescribing Safety Assessment. Clinically, he is a Consultant in Clinical Pharmacology and General Internal Medicine at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Additionally, he directs the North Wales Clinical Research Facility, offering research opportunities for junior doctors and medical students. He also holds a local political role as a Councillor for Wirral Council. His research focuses on COVID-19 vaccine development, immunogenicity, booster strategies, and clinical trial outcomes. Key interests include vaccine safety, efficacy against variants, and public health implications of vaccine deployment. His work bridges clinical practice, academic research, and healthcare policy. Dr. Osanlou has led major vaccine trials, including the COV-BOOST study evaluating third-dose boosters and the NVX-CoV2373 phase III trial. His publications analyze vaccine efficacy, immunological responses, and co-administration with influenza vaccines. He collaborates internationally on infectious disease research and clinical pharmacology. He oversees the North Wales Clinical Research Facility, fostering translational research and early-career training. No specific scientific awards are listed, though his contributions to pandemic response are notable. His advisory roles include vaccine trial leadership and prescribing safety protocols.
Paula J. Schlax is the Stella James Sims Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Bates College. Her research focuses on translational regulation, RNA localization, and RNA decay in spirochetes, particularly in Borrelia burgdorferi , the causative agent of Lyme disease. She investigates the thermodynamic and kinetic roles of mRNA folding in regulating RNA levels and translation. Schlax is also active in promoting equity and inclusion in STEM education. Education: BS in Chemical Engineering, Clarkson University PhD in Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison Postdoctoral Training in Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University Research Interests: Her work spans biophysical chemistry, gene expression regulation, mRNA degradation, and prokaryotic biology. She explores protein-nucleic acid interactions, transcription, and translation mechanisms in pathogenic bacteria. Recent studies highlight post-transcriptional regulation and RNA-binding proteins in Lyme disease pathogens. Grants and Funding: 2023-2028: NIH R01 subaward ($178,000) for studying regulatory networks in Lyme disease pathogens 2020-2024: NIH R01 co-PI ($99,470) on SpoVG and PlzA regulation 2019-2020: NIH R21 ($372,639) for RNA localization studies using fluorescence nanoscopy 2018-2023: HHMI Inclusive Excellence Project Director Labs and Teams: Her laboratory integrates biophysical and molecular approaches to study spirochete RNA dynamics. Collaborations include researchers at Indiana University, University of Kentucky, and Bates College.
Julia Alterman, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the RNA Therapeutics Institute within UMass Chan Medical School. Her research focuses on developing novel therapeutic oligonucleotides for genetically defined diseases, with particular expertise in siRNA technology and chemical optimization for extrahepatic tissue delivery. Dr. Alterman's lab works on expanding siRNA applicability to diverse tissues including skin, heart, muscle, bone, joint, eye, and inflammation targets. Her research integrates oligonucleotide chemistry and synthesis, chemical biology, and in vitro/ex vivo/in vivo pharmacology to understand structure-activity relationships of therapeutic oligonucleotides. Current projects focus on creating novel chemical architectures enabling whole-body siRNA delivery, with applications ranging from neurodegenerative disorders to inflammatory conditions. Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on CNS delivery optimization, allele-specific silencing strategies, novel scaffold development for tissue-specific delivery, and toxicity mitigation approaches. Therapeutically, her work spans neurodegenerative diseases (Huntington's, prion diseases), muscular dystrophy, ocular pathologies, and inflammatory conditions.
Jared Bard is an Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University, leading the Bard Lab. His research focuses on cellular stress responses, particularly stress-induced translational reprogramming and biomolecular condensation. He investigates how cells reorganize under stress, using viral infections and cancer cell models. His work combines biophysical, biochemical, and high-throughput approaches to uncover molecular mechanisms. Education: B.Sc., Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, Yale University (2012) Ph.D., Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley (2018) Postdoctoral Research, University of Chicago (2018–2023) Research Interests: Stress-induced mRNA condensation mechanisms Role of stress granules in viral replication and cancer resistance Proteasome function in stress response Chaperone regulation of biomolecular condensates Lab Activities: The Bard Lab uses Chikungunya virus and cancer cell stress resistance as models to study how stress granules aid viral replication and drug resistance. Recent work highlights adaptive condensation responses conserved across species and the role of chaperones in condensate preservation.
Dr. Laura Leighton is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the mRNA Sciences group at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN), The University of Queensland. Her research focuses on RNA biology, particularly the functional characterization of RNA molecules and their roles in cancer therapy and neurological processes. She leads the development of mRNA-based therapeutics for liver cancer, leveraging lipid nanoparticle (LNP) delivery systems to target intracellular cancer proteins. Dr. Leighton holds a PhD from the Queensland Brain Institute (2021), where her work, supported by the Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship, explored small noncoding RNAs in fear-related learning and memory. She completed her postdoctoral training under Dr. Seth Cheetham at AIBN in 2023. Her educational background includes a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Science (Honours) from The University of Queensland. Her research interests integrate molecular biology, neuroscience, and translational medicine, with a focus on RNA modifications (e.g., m6A), long noncoding RNAs, and the epigenetic regulation of memory processes. Key themes in her work include fear extinction mechanisms, synaptic plasticity, and the application of mRNA therapeutics in cancer treatment. Dr. Leighton’s articles consistently explore RNA-driven mechanisms in memory and disease. Recent work highlights the role of DNA G-quadruplex structures in memory regulation, the interplay between stress hormones and sperm RNA dysregulation, and the synthesis of novel long noncoding RNAs (e.g., ADRAM) that drive fear extinction. Her findings bridge basic neuroscience and clinical applications, emphasizing RNA’s dynamic role in health and disease. Awards: Westpac Future Leaders Scholarship (2017) Grants: TdC Mid Career Grant (Targeting liver cancer with mRNA therapies), Prader Willi Syndrome Research Grant (2022–2024) She is actively involved in supervising research students and contributes to the development of advanced drug delivery systems targeting liver cancers. Her lab is part of AIBN’s mRNA Sciences team, collaborating on projects that translate RNA-based discoveries into clinical solutions.
Bin Tian, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at The Wistar Institute and serves as Program Co-Leader of the Genome Regulation and Cell Signaling Program at the Ellen and Ronald Caplan Cancer Center. He is also the Director of the Center for Systems & Computational Biology. His research integrates molecular biology, computational genomics, and functional studies to understand RNA processing, particularly alternative polyadenylation (APA), and its roles in cancer and immunity. His educational background includes a B.S. in Biochemistry from East China University of Science and Technology and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences (formerly UMDNJ). He completed postdoctoral training in bioinformatics and genomics at Johnson & Johnson before establishing his independent lab at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in 2003, where he became a tenured professor in 2014. He joined The Wistar Institute in 2020. His research focuses on molecular systems biology of RNA, including functional genomics of cleavage and polyadenylation, regulation of gene expression through early transcriptional termination, spatial and temporal control of mRNA metabolism via alternative 3’UTRs, and cleavage and polyadenylation inhibition (CPAi) as a cancer therapeutic strategy. His lab has developed key bioinformatics resources like PolyA_DB, APAlyzer, and MAAPER. His recent publications show a strong trend in dissecting APA mechanisms across physiological and pathological contexts, including cancer, neuronal function, and immune cell differentiation. The work combines high-throughput sequencing, single-cell analysis, and computational modeling to uncover how APA regulates mRNA stability, localization, and function. He mentors a team of postdoctoral fellows, predocotoral trainees, and research assistants, contributing to training the next generation of scientists. His lab is actively pursuing novel therapeutics targeting mRNA 3’ end processing in cancer and immune disorders.
