Thomas Michaels is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, leading the Michaels Group . His research focuses on theoretical models of biomolecular condensates and protein aggregation in biological systems. Research Themes : Protein aggregation, liquid-liquid phase separation, membrane biophysics, and the role of condensates in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. Collaborative Approach : Integrates theoretical physics, control theory, and computational biology with experimental validation to design therapeutic strategies. Recent Publications highlight his work on amyloid formation mechanisms, lipid interactions, and phase-separated compartments as biochemical reactors. His group trains PhD students in systems biology and biocondensate physics.
Dr. Vakil Takhaveev is a Lecturer at ETH Zurich's Department of Health Sciences and Technology, within the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health. His research focuses on DNA damage mechanisms, aging, cancer, and neurodegeneration, with particular emphasis on developing novel DNA-damage-sequencing methods like click-code-seq and TRABI-Seq . He investigates anticancer drug action (e.g., trabectedin), aging clocks using DNA oxidation profiling, and stress-induced carcinogenesis. His work integrates multi-omics approaches and advanced sequencing techniques. Research Directions: Novel DNA-Damage-Sequencing Methods: Developed click-code-seq and TRABI-Seq for genomic mapping of DNA lesions and repair dynamics. Anticancer Drug Action: Explored mechanisms of trabectedin and other chemotherapeutics, linking DNA repair vulnerabilities to therapy resistance. Aging Clocks: Created DNA oxidation-based biomarkers for biological aging using genome-wide profiling in human and mouse models. Stress-Induced Pathologies: Studies metabolic and DNA damage links to early tumorigenesis and neurodegeneration. Awards & Recognition: 2025 Public Award Winner in PIs of Tomorrow competition 2024 ETH Zurich Career Seed Award Best presentation awards (Swiss Chemical Society, American Chemical Society) Grants & Collaborations: Impetus grants for aging clock development Swiss Chemical Society and American Chemical Society fellowships Labs & Teams: Leads research on DNA damage and aging mechanisms at ETH Zurich, collaborating with international groups in oncology and toxicology.
Helmholtz Association of German Research CentersGermany
Dr. Sabine Krabbe is a Group Leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) in Bonn, Germany, where she leads research on neural circuit mechanisms underlying adaptive learning and state-dependent decision-making. Her work integrates neuroscience, molecular biology, and behavioral approaches to understand how internal states influence behavior and how these processes are disrupted in neurological disorders. Dr. Krabbe's research focuses on the interactions between midbrain circuits of the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area with their output structures such as the striatum and amygdala. She investigates how these networks integrate internal states with environmental cues to produce appropriate behavioral responses. Her laboratory employs state-of-the-art techniques including deep-brain calcium imaging at single-cell resolution in mice, opto- and pharmacogenetic manipulations, anatomical tracings, and molecular approaches to characterize neural circuit elements in detail. Her recent publications reveal significant insights into amygdala interneuron plasticity during fear learning, brain-wide representational drift in memory consolidation, and the molecular mechanisms underlying Parkinson's disease progression. Her work demonstrates how activity patterns within specific neural circuits change in early stages of neurodegenerative diseases and how this dysfunction contributes to cognitive deficits and emotional disturbances. Dr. Krabbe is actively involved in the neuroscience community, organizing the BonnBrain Conference 2026 and sharing research through social media platforms. She has established herself as an emerging leader in the field of systems neuroscience with a particular focus on the neural basis of emotional states and decision-making processes.
Professor Hala Zreiqat AM is a leading biomedical engineer at The University of Sydney , serving as the Director of the ARC Training Centre for Innovative BioEngineering . A Fellow of all major Australian academies (AAS, ATSE, FAHMS, FRSN), she develops 3D printed bioceramics for bone regeneration while championing diversity through initiatives like the IDEAL Society and BIOTech Futures mentorship program. Her work bridges academia, clinical practice, and industry in musculoskeletal research . Research Focus: Her lab creates synthetic bone scaffolds that mimic natural bone architecture, strength, and porosity, enabling non-rejected bone regeneration via patient-matched implants. Key applications include orthopaedic, dental, and maxillofacial repair , with over $18M in competitive funding and multiple patents. Current projects explore AI-driven scaffold performance prediction and anti-senescence strategies for aging-related bone loss. Scientific Trends: Recent publications highlight 3D printed nanovoxelated ceramics , antisenescence biomaterials , and multifunctional theranostic platforms . Her team integrates machine learning for scaffold design, atom probe tomography for interface analysis, and two-photon imaging for cellular monitoring in 3D environments. 2021-2022 Fulbright Senior Scholar 2018 NSW Premier's Woman of the Year 2019 Eureka Prize for Innovative Use of Technology Fellow of Australian Academy of Science (2021) Over $18M in research funding Teaching & Leadership: She designed core courses like Tissue Engineering and Nanomaterials in Medicine , mentoring 158 students in 2020 alone. As Chair of CAAR (2020-2023), she strengthens Australia-Arab collaborations. Her lab trains early-career researchers , with alumni now in academia and industry.
Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife ResearchGermany
Omer Bayraktar is a Group Leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute , leading research in the Cellular Genomics Programme. His work focuses on decoding human brain cellular diversity using spatial transcriptomics , imaging , and functional screening to study neural complexity in health and disease. Bayraktar's educational background includes a PhD from HHMI under Chris Doe, investigating neural diversity development in Drosophila , followed by postdoctoral work at University of California, San Francisco and University of Cambridge as a Life Sciences Research Foundation Fellow. He developed a spatial transcriptomic pipeline during his postdoc to analyze astrocyte heterogeneity in the cerebral cortex. His research explores neural cell type mapping , glial-neuronal interactions , and cellular pathways in neurodevelopmental disorders . Recent publications emphasize 3D tissue mapping , multi-omic integration , and computational tools like Cell2fate and WebAtlas. His work bridges neurogenetics and computational biology to advance understanding of human tissue ecosystems. Bayraktar's lab collaborates with the Human Cell Atlas initiative and develops technologies such as automated histology pipelines and highly-multiplexed smFISH for molecular cell typing. His team also investigates glia-based therapies and astrocyte functional heterogeneity in neurodevelopmental contexts. Key scientific contributions include: Discovering astrocyte layer patterns independent of neuronal laminae Developing cell2location for spatial cell mapping Characterizing Drosophila neural stem cell models with human relevance Notable awards include the Life Sciences Research Foundation Fellowship during his postdoctoral training. His current group includes a PhD student , Senior Data Scientists , and Bioinformaticians .
Vilhelm Bohr is an Affiliate Professor at the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine , University of Copenhagen, affiliated with the Molecular Aging Program and Center for Healthy Aging . His research explores the interplay between DNA maintenance , mitochondrial biology , and aging , particularly in age-associated neurodegeneration and Alzheimer’s disease. Research Interests include: Molecular mechanisms linking NAD + metabolism to mitochondrial dysfunction and neurodegeneration Role of tau pathology in DNA damage and mitochondrial stress Impact of Aprataxin (APTX) and RECQL4 helicase defects on mitochondrial DNA integrity Pharmacological strategies to improve mitochondrial health via autophagy modulation Publications (2025-2024) span topics like NAD + biosynthesis, Werner/Rothmund-Thomson syndromes, tau nuclear functions, and mitochondrial turnover, with high citations and media attention. Collaborations extend to clinical tumor samples and CRISPR-based disease models.
Kenneth Hoehn is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Data Science at the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College. As a computational immunologist with expertise in evolutionary biology, he develops computational evolutionary approaches to trace cellular lineages, particularly B cells, in contexts such as infection, vaccination, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. His research focuses on understanding adaptive immunity in conditions like COVID-19 Food allergies Myasthenia gravis through collaborations with experimental teams. Key projects include: Phylogenetic modeling of B cell responses Evolutionary signatures in immune repertoires Tracking B cell dissemination in autoimmune diseases Epigenetic regulation of memory B cells Recent publications highlight trends in single-cell immunology , phylogenetic inference , and computational tools for analyzing B cell dynamics. His lab at Dartmouth integrates evolutionary genetics with high-resolution immune profiling.
Xiaoyu Cai is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Medicine, Loyola University Chicago, specializing in lung regeneration, aging biology, and stem cell plasticity. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms governing alveolar type 2 (AT2) stem cell dynamics during aging and chronic lung diseases. Education: Bachelor of Medicine (Peking University, 2012), Master of Science (Peking University, 2015), PhD in Biology of Aging (USC & Buck Institute, 2021) Key Research Areas: Lung regeneration, inflammation resolution, stem cell aging, 3D organoid cultures Methodologies: Single-cell multiome, mouse genetics, multicellular organoid systems Collaborations: Translational partnerships with clinical teams for bench-to-bedside applications Dr. Cai's recent work explores lineage plasticity in aged lung stem cells, ferroptosis suppression via CRISPR screens, and cellular aging atlases across species. She previously held a postdoctoral position at Genentech Inc. and maintains a professional lab website. Contact: xcai2@luc.edu | Office: CTRE 123
Jens S. Andersen is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Southern Denmark, where he leads research in Biomedical Mass Spectrometry and Systems Biology. His work is centered on the development and application of quantitative mass spectrometry and microscopy-based proteomics to study human cell biology, particularly the structure and function of organelles such as centrosomes, cilia, autophagosomes, and mitochondria. His research focuses on determining the protein composition and dynamic properties of cellular organelles, the roles of specific protein groups, and their contributions to biological processes and diseases. He investigates cell signaling mediated by post-translational modifications, especially within the DNA damage response, autophagy, and immune systems. His lab, the Jens S. Andersen Lab, is part of the Research Section of Biomedical Mass Spectrometry. The analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong interdisciplinary trend combining proteomics, structural biology, and cell signaling. His work spans cilia biology, RNA metabolism, DNA repair, and cancer mechanisms, with frequent use of advanced techniques like mass spectrometry, CRISPR, and live-cell imaging. The integration of systems biology approaches is evident across his research outputs. Professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Southern Denmark Head of Research, Biomedical Mass Spectrometry and Systems Biology Principal Investigator, Jens S. Andersen Lab ORCID: 0000-0002-6091-140X While no specific scientific awards are mentioned in the provided texts, his extensive publication record in high-impact journals such as Science , Nature Communications , Molecular Cell , and EMBO Journal reflects significant scholarly contributions. He has supervised research projects and collaborated widely across Europe, though specific names of students are not listed. His research is supported by multiple ongoing projects, reflecting sustained funding and academic leadership. The Jens S. Andersen Lab operates at the intersection of proteomics and cell biology, contributing to fundamental understanding of organelle dynamics and disease mechanisms. The lab's work is highly collaborative, involving partnerships with groups in structural biology, RNA research, and cancer biology.
Christopher Buckley is the Kennedy Professor of Translational Rheumatology and Director of Clinical Research at the Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology, University of Oxford. He holds concurrent roles as Director of NIHR Infrastructure for Birmingham Health Partners. His research focuses on fibroblast biology in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), stromal cell interactions, and translational medicine approaches to stratified therapy. He leads the Arthritis Therapy Acceleration Programme (A-TAP), advancing precision medicine strategies for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Educations: BSc Biochemistry, University of Oxford (1985) MBBS Medicine, Royal Free Hospital, London (1990) DPhil in Molecular Medicine (Wellcome Trust Fellowship) under Prof. John Bell (Oxford) Research Interests: Pathogenic fibroblast subpopulations in RA and systemic sclerosis Tissue-resident memory T cells in chronic inflammation Spatial transcriptomics of synovial and tendon tissues Pro-resolving fibroblast networks during inflammation resolution Development of biomarkers for disease flare/remission Awards & Leadership: MRC Senior Clinical Fellowship (2001) Arthritis Research UK Professorship (2002) Director, Birmingham NIHR Clinical Research Facility (2012-2017) Key Projects: Leading A-TAP's stratified pathology approach for drug development Investigating Wnt signaling in stromal inflammation Developing cellular atlases of joints using spatial transcriptomics
Dr. Rong Fan is the Harold Hodgkinson Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Pathology at Yale University. His research focuses on developing and applying single-cell and spatial omics technologies to study immune systems, cancer, and aging. His lab has pioneered technologies like the IsoCode microchip for high-throughput protein profiling, and spatial multi-omics platforms (e.g., DBiT-seq, spatial-ATAC-seq) to analyze tissue complexity at cellular resolution. He co-founded IsoPlexis, Singleron Biotechnologies, and AtlasXomics to commercialize these innovations. Education: PhD in Chemistry from UC Berkeley (2006), B.S. in Applied Chemistry from University of Science and Technology of China (1999). Postdoctoral training at Caltech before joining Yale in 2010. Research interests include CAR-T cell therapy optimization, spatial epigenomics, and multi-omics integration. Key achievements include discovering biomarkers predictive of CAR-T efficacy and defining spatial genomic landscapes in cancer and neuroinflammation. Awards: NSF CAREER Award, Packard Fellowship, election to AIMBE, CASE, and NAI. Serves on advisory boards for Bio-Techne and Yale Ventures. Active in training future scientists via the Yale Biomedical Engineering and Yale School of Medicine programs.
Ben Cosgrove is an Associate Professor in the Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering at Cornell University, serving as Director of Graduate Studies. His research focuses on systems bioengineering approaches to understand muscle stem cell dysfunction in aging and disease. He leads the Cosgrove Lab, a multidisciplinary group integrating biomedical engineering, stem cell biology, and systems biology to study microenvironmental signaling in muscle regeneration. His work includes developing biomimetic microenvironments for stem cell manufacturing and improving regenerative medicine therapies. Dr. Cosgrove holds a B.Eng. from the University of Minnesota (2003) and a Ph.D. in Bioengineering from MIT (2009). Postdoctoral training at Stanford University (with Dr. Helen Blau) followed. His research is supported by NIH grants (including R01, R21), the Glenn Medical Research Foundation, and others. He has been recognized with awards such as the BMES Graduate Research Award (2008), Rising Star Award (2015), and Swanson Teaching Excellence Award (2019). Research interests span bioengineering, biomechanics, computational science, and systems biology. His lab's innovations include spatial transcriptomic mapping and high-yield stem cell expansion platforms. Current projects aim to decode stem cell-niche interactions to treat muscle degeneration and aging. Grants: NIH K99/R00, R01, R21; Glenn Medical Research Foundation Labs/Teams: Cosgrove Lab (Cornell University) Future Work: Expanding applications of spatial transcriptomics and engineering regenerative therapies for muscle diseases
Nicole C. Riddle is a Professor and Associate Chair for Research and Facilities in the Department of Biology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). She holds a B.S. in Biology from the University of Missouri Columbia and a Ph.D. in Evolutionary and Population Biology from Washington University in St. Louis. Her research focuses on epigenetics and chromatin dynamics, particularly in the context of aging and sex differences using Drosophila melanogaster as a model system. Dr. Riddle's work explores how epigenetic mechanisms influence lifespan, genome stability, and phenotypic variation. She has pioneered the use of Drosophila to study exercise-induced physiological changes and their genetic underpinnings. Her lab investigates the roles of HP1 proteins in transcriptional regulation and chromatin organization, with recent studies emphasizing cross-species comparisons of aging mechanisms. Her research has been supported by grants including the BII: IISAGE project on sex-specific aging mechanisms. Notable contributions include developing novel tools like the Rotating Exercise Quantification System (REQS) to measure Drosophila activity levels. Dr. Riddle actively mentors students and postdoctoral researchers, inviting inquiries via riddlenc@uab.edu to join her lab.
Jianhua Xing is an Associate Professor in the Department of Physics & Astronomy at the University of Pittsburgh , affiliated with the Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences . His research focuses on applying physics-based approaches to study biological systems, particularly cell phenotypic transitions (CPTs) and their underlying dynamics. He integrates quantitative single-cell measurements with computational and theoretical analyses to understand how cells transition between stable states. Key research areas include: Nonequilibrium systems and rate theories for biological transitions Single-cell trajectory analysis and live-cell imaging Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) dynamics Gene regulatory networks and stochastic processes Biological applications of dynamical systems theory Recent work highlights the coupling between EMT and cell cycle arrest, leveraging machine learning frameworks (e.g., LivecellX ) for high-resolution imaging analysis. His lab also explores chromosomal dynamics and mechanotransduction in stem cell aging. Publications emphasize data-driven modeling and theoretical insights, with contributions to frameworks like GraphVelo and Graph-Dynamo for inferring cellular state transitions. Collaborative efforts bridge physics, biology, and computational science to address fundamental biological questions. No awards or grants are explicitly listed in the provided texts. His research group focuses on advancing systems biology through interdisciplinary methods, with a lab dedicated to quantitative analysis of cellular processes.
Gustavo M. Silva is the Jack H. Neely Associate Professor of Biology at Duke University's Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, a position he has held since 2025. Previously, he served as Associate Professor of Biology (2024-present) and Assistant Professor of Cell Biology (2022-present) at Duke. His research is conducted through the Silva Lab (sites.duke.edu/silvalab), which focuses on molecular mechanisms of cellular stress response. Education: Ph.D. from University of Sao Paulo (Brazil), 2010 B.Sc. from University of Sao Paulo (Brazil), 2004 Dr. Silva's research centers on understanding how gene expression is regulated at transcriptional and translational levels during cellular stress. His lab specifically investigates how the ubiquitin system controls protein synthesis and degradation dynamics under stress conditions, which are critical for cellular physiology. His work has significant implications for understanding disease mechanisms where protein homeostasis is disrupted. The research combines biochemical, genetic, and proteomic approaches to dissect these complex regulatory networks. His publication record demonstrates a clear evolution from fundamental studies on redox regulation and proteasome function to more complex investigations of ubiquitin signaling in translation control and stress response. Recent work increasingly focuses on K63-linked ubiquitination's role in ribosome function and translation regulation, with growing emphasis on the clinical implications of these mechanisms in disease contexts including cancer. Scientific Awards & Recognition: Paul T. Englund Emerging Scholar Award (Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, 2024) Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring (Duke Graduate School, 2023) Science Diversity Leadership Award (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, 2022) Best Professor Award (Vanderbilt Basic Sciences Juneteenth Committee, 2022) 100 inspiring Black scientists in America (CellPress, 2020) Dr. Silva actively mentors students at multiple levels, as evidenced by his Dean's Award for Excellence in Mentoring. His research is supported by substantial funding including NIH grants such as the Tri-Institutional Molecular Mycology and Pathogenesis Training Program (2024-2029) and 'Stalling cancer at the ribosome' from the V Foundation for Cancer Research (2025-2028). He also serves as Principal Investigator on multiple R01 grants focused on ubiquitin's role in translation control and stress response. The Silva Lab maintains strong collaborative relationships with institutions including the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative and ETH Zurich, and participates in several interdisciplinary training programs at Duke that support underrepresented students in biomedical sciences.
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