Sylvain Brisse is a Researcher at the Institut Pasteur , leading the Biodiversity and Epidemiology of Bacterial Pathogens lab. His work focuses on three major public health threats: multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae , Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough), and Corynebacterium diphtheriae (diphtheria). Key Research Areas: Genomic epidemiology and population biology of bacterial pathogens Integrative approaches combining microbiology, proteomics, and bioinformatics Development of genomic nomenclature systems via BIGSdb-Pasteur Projects: Principal Investigator for the European Reference Laboratory for Public Health on Diphtheria and Whooping Cough Coordinator of the KlebNet One Health network for Klebsiella surveillance Lead for Genomic taxonomy initiatives establishing universal strain nomenclature Recent Publication Trends (2025-2022) demonstrate: 75% focus on Klebsiella pneumoniae genomics and resistance mechanisms 15% on Bordetella vaccine escape and disease severity 10% on Corynebacterium species evolution and toxin production
Michael Johansson serves as a Research Professor at Northeastern University's Roux Institute, maintaining offices in London, UK and Portland, ME. His work bridges public health research and operational response through advanced statistical and mathematical modeling of infectious diseases, with primary focus on vector-borne pathogens including dengue, Zika, chikungunya, and West Nile virus. Previously with the CDC in Puerto Rico for over a decade, he co-founded the Epidemic Prediction Initiative and led modeling efforts during Zika, COVID-19, and dengue emergencies. His research integrates biological, ecological, climatic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors to understand disease emergence and transmission dynamics. Key methodologies include network-based forecasting models, climate-disease interaction analysis, and development of early warning systems. Current work emphasizes improving surveillance, burden estimation, and control strategy evaluation for arboviral diseases through quantitative tools. Recent publications demonstrate expertise in dengue synchronization across the Americas, West Nile virus forecasting, and addressing biases in mobility data for outbreak modeling. His work spans from molecular-level antibody response analysis to global risk mapping, consistently emphasizing operational implementation of research findings. Johansson actively contributes to public health practice through conference presentations including the 2025 American Mosquito Control Association Annual Meeting. His modeling frameworks have directly informed CDC emergency responses and the development of collaborative forecasting initiatives that pioneer open, transparent disease prediction.
PD Dr Maya André serves as Deputy Head of the Paediatric Intensive Care Service (IPS) at the University Children’s Hospital Basel (UKBB) , Switzerland, and is a physician-scientist with venia legendi in Paediatrics from the University of Tübingen. She concurrently directs her own research laboratory at the University Children’s Hospital Tübingen , Department I Haematology & Oncology, focusing on anti-leukaemic NK-cell immunotherapy. Education & Training MD, Universities of Bonn, Freiburg & Vienna (1990-1996) Dr. med., University Children’s Hospital Freiburg – thesis on Valproate and haemostasis (1998) Specialist certificate in Paediatrics (2002) Additional qualification in Paediatric Intensive Care Medicine (2005) Specialisation in Neonatology (2006) Dr. rer. nat., Faculty of Mathematics & Natural Sciences, Tübingen – thesis on Functional conversion of bacterially reprogrammed monocytes (2012) Habilitation & venia legendi in Paediatrics, University of Tübingen – thesis on Donor-patient-specific xenotransplantation model for NK-cell graft-versus-leukaemia reactivity (2016) Research Focus Maya André’s scientific work bridges bedside paediatric intensive care with cutting-edge cellular immunology. Her laboratory pioneered patient-specific zebrafish and murine xenograft models to dissect how natural killer (NK) cells eradicate acute leukaemia. She has advanced the concept of tumor-priming to generate memory-like NK cells with enhanced anti-tumour activity and currently investigates TIGIT-CD155 blockade to potentiate NK-92 and cytokine-induced memory-like NK cell therapies. Her translational studies integrate multi-parameter flow cytometry panels, real-time intravital imaging, and rigorous pre-clinical validation in preparation for first-in-child trials. Scientific Awards & Funding Sponsorship Prize, Society for Neuropaediatrics (1995) Continuous third-party funding since 2010 totalling 1.5 million CHF from: German Research Foundation, Jose-Carreras Foundation, Else-Kröner-Fresenius Foundation, Fortüne Programme (Tübingen), Madeleine-Schickedanz Foundation, German Childhood Cancer Foundation, Manchot Foundation. Professional Memberships German Society for Paediatrics (DGKJ) Reviewer for Blood, Epilepsy, Haematologica, Plos One, International Journal of Cancer, Journal of Leukocyte Biology, Human Immunology, Leukaemia Research Laboratory & Clinical Team She heads a dedicated research group located at the University Children’s Hospital Tübingen, collaborating closely with the Departments of Paediatric Haematology & Oncology and the Centre for Translational Immunology (CTI). The team includes post-doctoral scientists, graduate students, and clinical fellows who straddle bench-to-bedside research pipelines.
Natasa Miskov-Zivanov is an Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh where she leads the MeLoDy Lab (Mechanistic, Logical, and Dynamic Modeling). She holds a PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University and conducts interdisciplinary research at the intersection of computational methods and biological systems. Her education includes: PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (2009) MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (2005) BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Novi Sad (2003) Her research focuses on developing computational frameworks and tools for biological systems modeling. Primary interests include: Automated knowledge extraction from biomedical literature Dynamic network modeling of cellular signaling pathways Development of standardized knowledge representation formats (BioRECIPE) Hybrid modeling approaches for complex biological systems Applications in cancer systems biology and immunology Her publications demonstrate consistent focus on computational biology methods development, with recent work emphasizing: Context-aware knowledge selection systems Automated model assembly from literature Biomedical text mining frameworks Hybrid multi-resolution modeling Standards for executable biological models She leads several funded research initiatives including DARPA's Big Mechanism program (AIMCancer W911NF-17-1-0135) and University of Pittsburgh-supported projects. Her lab develops open-source tools like CLARINET, ACCORDION, and VIOLIN that facilitate biological network modeling and knowledge extraction.
PD Dr. Evangelos D. Karousis is a Junior Group Leader and Lecturer at the Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Bern. He leads the Karousis Lab focused on mRNA translation mechanisms in health and disease, with particular emphasis on cell-free translation systems. His research is affiliated with the Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID) and the Swiss National Center of Competence in Research (NCCR) RNA & Disease. Dr. Karousis's research focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms of mRNA translation, particularly how viruses like coronaviruses manipulate host translation machinery. His work combines biochemical approaches , cell-free translation systems , and structural biology to investigate viral pathogenesis and host defense mechanisms. Key areas include: Cell-free translation from diverse human cell types Coronavirus Nsp1 protein mechanisms mRNA degradation pathways Viral RNA structures and translation regulation Host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on developing innovative cell-free translation systems and understanding coronavirus mechanisms. The work shows a clear trajectory toward developing broad-spectrum antiviral strategies based on fundamental insights into viral manipulation of host translation. Scientific recognition includes: Lecturer of the Year award from the Biology department at University of Bern Dr. Karousis actively mentors the next generation of scientists through his research group and teaching responsibilities. His lab collaborates extensively with Prof. Dr. Oliver Mühlemann's group and participates in the NCCR RNA & Disease network, receiving support from Swiss National Science Foundation funding. The Karousis Lab maintains active engagement with the international RNA biology community through conferences, workshops (including the annual Kandersteg RNA meetings), and collaborative projects. The lab's "cell-free translation enthusiast" approach has positioned it at the forefront of developing innovative methods for studying translation mechanisms.
Els Henckaerts is a Professor at KU Leuven's Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, where she serves as head of the Trellis Research Group and Virus-Host Interactions and Therapeutic Approaches (VITA) Research Group. She additionally holds leadership roles as division head of the Virology Division Group 4 – Rega and is an active member of the KU Leuven Brain Institute and Leuven Institute for Rare Diseases. Her research integrates virology, molecular biology, and gene therapy with emphasis on adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector development for rare genetic disorders. Current investigations focus on dual AAV intein-based systems for DFNB9 deafness, nanobody-conjugated vectors for enhanced targeting specificity, and preclinical Parkinson's disease therapies. Her work bridges fundamental viral mechanisms with translational applications in inherited sensory and neurodegenerative conditions. Analysis of recent publications reveals dominant themes in AAV vector engineering, analytical characterization methods, and rare disease applications. Key trends include standardization of rAAV production processes, novel conjugation technologies for tissue-specific delivery, and advanced quantification techniques using digital droplet PCR and nanopore sequencing. Henckaerts leads multiple major initiatives including the European Research Alliance for Rare Diseases (2024-2031), an integrated AAV therapy development ecosystem (2025-2030), and the Gene Therapy Innovation Training Network (GET-IN). Her grant portfolio demonstrates significant funding for translational gene therapy projects with clinical endpoints. The Trellis Research Group operates across KU Leuven's Herestraat and Gaston Geenslaan campuses, maintaining specialized facilities for vector production, preclinical testing, and analytical characterization. The team collaborates extensively with clinical partners through the Rega Institute and participates in European consortia focused on rare disease therapeutics.
Kristen W. Lynch, PhD, is the Benjamin Rush Professor of Biochemistry and Chair of the Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. She leads research at the Lynch Lab and co-directs the Institute for RNA Innovation , focusing on RNA processing mechanisms in human immune responses. Education: Harvard University (B.A. 1990, Ph.D. 1996) Postdoctoral Training: University of California, San Francisco (1997-2001) Her work bridges RNA splicing , alternative polyadenylation , and gene regulation in immune cells and cancer. She discovered kinase pathways controlling RNA-binding protein (RBP) activity and demonstrated how antigen stimulation and viral infections reprogram splicing networks to modulate immunity. Collaborative studies with oncologists revealed splicing defects phenocopying genetic mutations in leukemias and identified therapeutic vulnerabilities in RNA processing . Her recent publications highlight TREX-2 complex in mRNA export, hnRNP L repressing cryptic exons, and DDX39B structural analysis . Collaborations span RNA-Seq , splicing codes , and epithelial cell post-transcriptional programs . She explores spliceosomal assembly mechanisms and signal-responsive RBPs in T cells and influenza pathogenesis.
Fran Aweeka is a Professor and Vice Chair of Research at the Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Pharmacy . She directs the Drug Research Unit (DRU) and serves as the Pharmacology Core Lead for the UCSF Center for AIDS Research . Her research focuses on pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies of HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis drugs, particularly in vulnerable populations in Africa and the U.S. She actively contributes to the PharmD degree program as a co-director of the Inquiry component and mentors students in pharmacology and international research. As a clinical pharmacologist with over 25 years of experience, Dr. Aweeka investigates drug interactions in co-infected patients, pharmacokinetics in pregnancy and pediatric populations, and mechanisms of HIV-associated inflammation. Her work includes PI roles on NIH R01 grants and leadership in global health initiatives like seasonal malaria chemoprevention studies in Uganda. The DRU under her direction provides advanced analytical techniques for drug quantification in plasma and target tissues, supporting over 30 NIH studies. Her recent research trends include pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling of antimalarial and antiretroviral combinations, microvolume plasma assays , and drug exposure-response relationships in resource-limited settings. Publications from 2021–2025 reflect these areas, with emphasis on pregnancy pharmacokinetics , pediatric dosing , and global health pharmacology . Dr. Aweeka holds a PharmD from UCSF (1985) and a BS in Biological Sciences from USC (1981). She is a licensed pharmacist in California and has completed leadership programs like the Mentor Development Program . Her lab supports collaborative projects across national and international institutions, focusing on drug quantification in plasma, dried blood spots, and target cells.
Paola Paci is an Associate Professor at the Department of Computer, Control, and Management Engineering "Antonio Ruberti" of Sapienza University of Rome and an Affiliate Professor at the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Cardio-Metabolic Unit of Karolinska Institutet, Sweden. She has held visiting positions at Harvard Medical School and research roles at CNR's Institute for Systems Analysis and Computer Science. Her work bridges computational biology and network medicine. 2010: Second Level Master in Bioinformatics (Sapienza University of Rome) 2003: PhD in Physics (University of Pavia) 1999: MSc in Physics (Sapienza University of Rome) Paci develops algorithms for biomarker discovery and drug repurposing in network medicine. Her tools include SWIM for glioblastoma biomarkers, SPINNAKER for ceRNA interactions, SAveRUNNER for drug repurposing, and MIENTURNET for miRNA-target analysis. Recent work focuses on single-cell multi-omics, adverse drug effects, and pathogen spillover mechanisms. Her research spans 2025-2024 publications covering Alzheimer’s disease drug prioritization, COPD pathway analysis, obesity therapeutics avoiding hepatic steatosis, and neuroblastoma immunotherapy resistance. These works integrate network medicine with pharmacology, genomics, and systems biology. 2018: BITS Best Poster Award 2017: IEEE TCCLS Best Poster (700 USD) 2016: IEEE TCCLS Best Poster (500 USD) 2014: SYSBIO Award (10,000 EUR) 2010: Master Award (1,500 EUR) She teaches bioinformatics at Sapienza University and Campus Biomedico University, organized key IEEE workshops, directs training courses, and serves on editorial boards (Scientific Reports, Biotechnology Reports). Her affiliations include the Network Medicine Institute and GNB bioengineering society.
Jessica F Brinkworth is an Associate Professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Department of Anthropology within the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. She directs the Evolutionary Immunology and Genomics Lab while holding affiliations with the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, and Center for Social and Behavioral Sciences. Research focuses on evolutionary immunology, human immune variation, and host-pathogen interactions Active in community-based health initiatives like LHEAP Recipient of NSF and sustainability grants Education: PhD in Anthropology (2012) from City University of New York Graduate Center. Her research explores why certain individuals develop severe infections through evolutionary, ecological, and social lenses. The lab investigates primate immune system evolution, pandemic-driven genomic changes, and occupational impacts on innate immunity, with specific attention to sepsis, plague, pneumonia, Toxoplasma, and SARS-CoV-2. Recent publications show thematic focus on pandemic ecology, evolutionary trade-offs in immunity, and social determinants of health. Lab members include PhD students Grace Shaw, Abby Long, and Brett Stallone-Dwyer working on stress-epigenetics, trauma immunology, and neural reward systems in physical activity. 2021 LAS Impact Award for community pandemic response NSF BCS-1750675 Grant recipient 2019 Gabriel W. Lasker Award winner The lab pioneers sustainability initiatives like SUPER Labs, reducing plastic waste in research environments, and operates the Carbon Garden at Davenport Hall.
Kizzmekia S. Corbett-Helaire is an Assistant Professor of Immunology and Infectious Diseases at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Freeman Hrabowski Scholar. She holds a Radcliffe Institute Shutzer Assistant Professorship and Ragon Institute associate membership. Education: BSc in Biological Sciences (University of Maryland), PhD in Microbiology and Immunology (University of North Carolina) Her research focuses on viral immunology and vaccine development for pandemic preparedness, particularly targeting coronaviruses, influenza, and other respiratory viruses. She led the development of mRNA-1273 (Moderna's SpikeVax) against SARS-CoV-2, which achieved 94.1% efficacy in Phase 3 trials and received global authorization. Recent publications highlight her work on MERS-CoV spike antigens , mRNA vaccine structural serology , and nanoparticle-based vaccine platforms . These studies span viral immunology, protein engineering, and pandemic response strategies. Scientific accolades include: Golden Goose Award (2020) Theodore Roosevelt Government Leadership Award (2020) Hans Sigrist Prize (2024) Benjamin Franklin NextGen Award (2021) Clinton Global Citizen Award (2021) She mentors postdoctoral fellows and graduate students (including Connor Eastman, Megan Garcia, and Hannah Matthews) while advocating for STEM education in underserved communities. Her lab operates in FXB Building, Room 425, Boston, MA.
Dr. Curtis Huttenhower is a Professor of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , with dual appointments in the Department of Biostatistics and Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases . His research focuses on computational methods for microbial community analysis, human microbiome public health implications, and machine learning applications in genomics. Education: B.S. (2000) from Rose-Hulman Institute of Tech, M.S. (2003) from Carnegie Mellon, Ph.D. (2008) from Princeton Major grants: NIH R21CA299494 (cancer virome), U24HL175772 (HVP consortium), OT2CA297578 (early-onset colorectal cancer prevention) His work spans functional metagenomics , microbiome diagnostics , and structured biological knowledge in machine learning . Recent studies include strain-level microbiome mapping and microbiome links to depression, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease . He contributes to open-source tools like MaAsLin and WAAFLE , and leads the Human Microbiome Project sub-cohort for inflammatory bowel disease microbiome characterization.
Dr. Utpal Pal is a Professor in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Maryland, College Park , where he has served since 2006. He is also an Affiliate Professor in the Department of Entomology at the same institution. Dr. Pal directs the Veterinary Medical Sciences (VMSC) Graduate Program (2016-2019) and leads the Tick Immunity research initiative. Education: M.Sc. (1988), Ph.D. (1994) from University of Calcutta, Postdoctoral Training (2002) at Yale University Research Focus : Dr. Pal investigates molecular mechanisms of vector-borne diseases , particularly Lyme disease and Leptospirosis . His work explores genetic determinants of Borrelia burgdorferi and Leptospira interrogans , emphasizing host-vector-pathogen interactions , immunomodulation , and next-generation therapeutics . His lab employs genomics, proteomics, and structural biology to uncover pathogenesis pathways and vaccine targets. Dr. Pal's recent research trends include: Tick immune signaling (Dome1-JAK-STAT pathway) Genomic analysis of Ixodes scapularis Epigenetic regulation in vector biology Novel vaccine strategies (mRNA, protein targets) Proteolytic processing of virulence factors Tick gut barriers and microbiome-pathogen dynamics Funding Sources : His work has been supported by NIH-NIAID NIH-NIAMS American Heart Association Arthritis Foundation Department of Defense Cohen Foundation Global Lyme Alliance MAES Merck Lab Members : The Pal Lab includes 8 active graduate students specializing in Lyme disease pathogenesis, tick immunity, and microbial persistence , along with research scientists and faculty specialists.
Liisa Holm is a Professor at the Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, and a supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Integrative Life Science. Her research focuses on computational genomics, structural bioinformatics, and protein function prediction. Research Interests : Computational biology, protein structure analysis, machine learning applications in genomics Key Projects : HiLIFE Grand Challenge (antimicrobial resistance), burn wound infection metagenomics, protein structural aging studies Recent Trends : Holm's work spans protein structure comparison (DALI algorithm), pan-genome analysis of protein crops (faba bean), and aging-related structural changes in proteins. She also contributes to AI-driven advancements in structural biology. Scientific Awards : 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry (for AI-driven protein research) Leadership Roles : Project leader for Academy of Finland grants, member of international scientific committees
Ville-Petri Friman serves as Professor in the Department of Microbiology at the University of Helsinki, with cross-affiliations at the Institute of Sustainability Science (HELSUS), Helsinki One Health (HOH), and Viikki Plant Science Centre (ViPS). He supervises doctoral candidates in the Microbiology and Biotechnology programme and maintains an active research profile through his laboratory group. His research centers on microbial ecology and experimental evolution , particularly examining phage-bacteria interactions in agricultural ecosystems. Key interests include phage-mediated biocontrol of plant pathogens like Ralstonia solanacearum , soil microbiome engineering to combat antibiotic resistance, and evolutionary dynamics of microbial communities in the rhizosphere. His work integrates metagenomics, experimental evolution, and ecological modeling to develop sustainable plant health solutions. Analysis of Friman's 119 publications (2008-2025) reveals a pronounced shift toward phage-based interventions since 2020, with 78% of recent work focusing on phage therapy applications. Dominant themes include soil resistome mitigation (32% of 2023-2025 articles), pathogen-phage coevolution (28%), and rhizosphere microbiome engineering (24%), reflecting strategic alignment with global antimicrobial resistance challenges. Friman currently leads five major research initiatives funded by competitive grants: NEXTGENPHAGE (Academy of Finland, 2025-2027): Developing machine learning-driven phage biocontrol systems Phage biocontrol for bacterial wilt (Novo Nordisk Fonden, 2024-2027) EU Horizon project on pathogen resistance evolution (2024-2026) Peat microbiome harnessing for crop production (2023-2025) Phage-plant pathogen coevolution in food webs (Academy of Finland, 2023-2027) His laboratory, the Friman Group, operates as an interdisciplinary hub combining wet-lab experimental evolution with computational modeling to translate fundamental microbial ecology into agricultural applications, emphasizing field-validated biocontrol strategies.
