Iris Behrmann is a Full Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Luxembourg's Department of Life Sciences and Medicine. Her research focuses on cytokine signaling pathways in cancer and liver diseases, with particular expertise in JAK-STAT signaling, melanoma metabolism, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Her laboratory investigates molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression, including ferroptosis susceptibility in melanoma, metabolic rewiring in drug-resistant tumors, and extracellular vesicle-mediated communication in hypoxic microenvironments. Recent work explores miRNA regulation of inflammatory pathways and genetic risk factors in chronic liver diseases. Behrmann's publications demonstrate extensive work on therapeutic targeting of metabolic vulnerabilities in cancer, cytokine-mediated transcriptional regulation, and the development of antibody-based interventions. Her research integrates biochemical, molecular, and omics approaches to identify novel therapeutic targets.
Torsten Bossing leads Plymouth Light Microscopy (PLiMS) at the University of Plymouth (UK) as Senior Research Fellow. His neuroscience research investigates neural stem cell reactivation, CNS repair mechanisms, and microtubule dynamics in damage response. Focus areas: Regulation of neural stem cell quiescence Mitotic entry pathways after CNS injury Microtubule integrity in neurodevelopment Advanced microscopy techniques He teaches microscopy and neurobiology, supervising projects in cell imaging and developmental toxicology. Research integrates live imaging with molecular biology to map neural repair pathways.
Dr. Marcelo Andrade Lima is a Lecturer in Biomedical Sciences at the School of Life Sciences, Keele University , where he serves as PGR Co-ordinator. He holds a PhD (2012) and post-doctoral experience (2014) in Molecular Biology from the Federal University of São Paulo, with prior degrees in Biology (2008) and Molecular Biology (2010) from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte. His research focuses on the structural and functional relationships of biological macromolecules , particularly glycosaminoglycans and heparin , with groundbreaking work on their roles in anticoagulant drug quality control, SARS-CoV-2 interaction mechanisms, and Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis . He also explores super-resolution microscopy and CARS (Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering) for cellular structure analysis. The most recent articles highlight his expertise in heparin's pharmacological applications (e.g., SARS-CoV-2 inhibition, anti-inflammatory strategies), biocatalytic systems for nucleotide sugar production, and marine-derived glycosaminoglycans with unique antithrombotic properties. His work bridges structural biology, biomedical chemistry, and translational research , often challenging established models of glycosaminoglycan biosynthesis. Dr. Lima's collaborations span institutions in the UK, Brazil, and beyond, with contributions to peer-reviewed journals in biochemistry, pharmacology, and virology . His lab employs advanced techniques like NMR spectroscopy, SPR analysis, and molecular dynamics simulations to dissect carbohydrate-protein interactions.
Professor Fernando Naclerio holds the position of Professor in Strength and Conditioning and Sports Nutrition at the University of Greenwich, within the School of Human Sciences and Faculty of Education, Health and Human Sciences. He joined the university in 2011 after serving as a Titular Professor in Exercise Sciences at the European University of Madrid. His academic qualifications include a PhD in Physiology (2006), BSc in Physical Education (1984), and BSc in Sport Sciences (2002), complemented by professional certifications like NSCA’s CSCS. Dr. Naclerio’s research focuses on strength training methodologies, sports nutrition, and their applications in enhancing athletic performance and rehabilitation. Notable contributions include pioneering the MSc in Training and Sports Nutrition at Real Madrid International School and securing significant research funding, including a €90,000 Research Professorship (2009). He has also served as Scientific Director for sports technology companies such as Globus Spain and Sanocare Spain. His recent publications emphasize prehabilitation in oncological patients, microcurrent therapy effects, and multi-ingredient supplementation in active populations. Awards include the Best Researcher accolade at the European University of Madrid’s Sport Science School (2008–2009). Professional experience spans over three decades in strength and conditioning roles for elite sports teams (e.g., Valencia FC) and as a scientific advisor to organizations like Reebok Sports Club Madrid. His work bridges academic research with practical applications in sports performance and clinical rehabilitation.
Erik Dassi is an Associate Professor at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO) within the University of Trento. His research focuses on RNA biology, particularly investigating RNA structure-functional relationships, translational control mechanisms, and their implications in cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, and genetic disorders. He specializes in exploring how RNA modifications, G-quadruplex structures, and post-transcriptional regulatory networks drive disease processes and therapeutic resistance. Teaching activities include courses on Computational Biology, Cancer Genomics, Genomics Technologies, Programming, and Scientific Programming. His work emphasizes integrative approaches combining experimental and computational methods, such as polysomal profiling, allele-specific proteomics, and single-cell transcriptomics. Key research themes include: RNA G-quadruplex regulation of mitochondrial translation and energy metabolism ( n =3 articles in 2025), YTHDF proteins as tumor drivers in m6A pathways ( n =2 articles in 2024), and circular RNA roles in Huntington’s disease ( n =4 articles across 2021-2024). His work highlights translational reprogramming in cancer therapy resistance and RNA-based biomarker discovery.
Professor Valerie O'Donnell is a distinguished academic at Cardiff University's School of Medicine, where she serves as Professor of Biochemistry and Co-Director of the Systems Immunity Research Institute (SIURI), established in 2016 with £4.5M funding. She leads the internationally recognized LIPID MAPS project (www.lipidmaps.org) and Cardiff Lipidomic Facility, positioning her at the forefront of lipidomics research. With over two decades of academic leadership, she previously served as Director of the Division of Infection and Immunity (2017-2020) and Dean of Research for the School of Medicine (2012-2014). Professor O'Donnell earned her Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Bristol (1990-1993) working with Prof. OTG Jones and Dr. PJ England of SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, following her B.Sc. in Human Nutrition & Dietetics (Hons. 2.1) from University of Dublin, Trinity College, Ireland (1985-1989). Her academic journey includes prestigious fellowships at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and University of Bern, Switzerland, before establishing her career at Cardiff University. Her research focuses on using mass spectrometry to discover and characterize bioactive lipids made by circulating vascular cells that regulate immune defense and blood clotting. Over the past 20 years, her lab discovered large families of enzymatically-oxidized phospholipids (eoxPL) and has worked extensively on their structures, signaling actions in thrombosis and innate immunity. Current research examines the role of bioactive lipids in vascular inflammation including abdominal aortic aneurysm, cardiovascular disease, dementia and wound healing. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on lipidomics methodology development, clinical applications of lipid research, and the role of specific lipids in disease mechanisms. Her work spans analytical chemistry, cardiovascular biology, immunology, and clinical translation, with particular focus on procoagulant lipids, oxylipins, and specialized pro-resolving mediators. The research demonstrates increasing interdisciplinary collaboration and methodological standardization efforts in the lipidomics field. Professor O'Donnell's scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards: 2023: Honorary Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to biochemical research 2020: Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences 2019: Journal of Lipid Research Lectureship Award 2016: Wolfson Research Merit Award, Royal Society 2015: Fellow of the Learned Society of Wales 2013: Fellow of the Royal Society of Biology She currently serves as Principal Investigator for British Heart Foundation and Wellcome Trust funding, while also participating as co-Investigator for Medical Research Council (MRC), EU (Marie Curie ITN), and Welsh Government projects. Her panel memberships include Population Systems Medicine Board (MRC) and Biomedical Resources Committee (Wellcome Trust). With a Google Scholar H-index of 52, she has been included in UK national research assessments RAE2002, RAE2008, and REF2014. Professor O'Donnell leads the Systems Immunity Research Institute, a strategic research institute at Cardiff University, and directs the Cardiff Lipidomic Facility as part of the LIPID MAPS consortium. Her laboratory continues to make significant contributions to understanding how bioactive lipids regulate vascular inflammation and coagulation, with recent work focusing on the role of specific phospholipids in conditions ranging from cardiovascular disease to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In 2024, LIPID MAPS became an ELIXIR Core Data Resource and a member of the Global Biodata Coalition, with an MRC Partnership Grant commencing funding.
Wenche Moe Thorstensen is an Associate Professor at the Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). Her research focuses on the intersection of otolaryngology , respiratory medicine , and quality of life studies , particularly in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pediatric postoperative care. She collaborates extensively with otolaryngologists, pulmonologists, and researchers across Norway. Current affiliation: NTNU Academic rank: Associate Professor Key research areas: Olfactory function, nasal physiology, COPD, postoperative pediatric care Research Trends : Her recent publications (2018–2024) emphasize nasal airflow dynamics in respiratory diseases, postoperative care pathways for children with ventilation tubes, and botulinum toxin applications for chronic facial pain. She frequently investigates rhinosinusitis and its impact on COPD patients, while also exploring genetic factors in neurodevelopmental disorders like ZBTB7A variants. Outreach Activities : Wenche actively presents at international conferences such as the European Rhinologic Society (ERS) and International Headache Society (IHS) , addressing topics like nasal symptom burden in COPD and botulinum toxin therapy . She also contributes to public health discourse through interviews and articles in trade journals.
Tim Spencer is a Research Fellow at the Materials and Fluid Flow Modelling Group within Sheffield Hallam University . His work focuses on applying theoretical and computational methods to model complex fluid systems, with expertise in the lattice Boltzmann method , finite differencing , and high performance computing . His research spans diverse applications in liquid crystals , biological flows , and microfluidics . His educational background includes a PhD (2005) and MSci (2002) in Engineering Physics from Sheffield Hallam University, where he received the Jeremy Laskowski Award and Mössbauer Award . He has supervised K. Burgin in their doctoral thesis on lattice-Boltzmann models for food rheology and collaborated with institutions like CNR Rome and University of Manchester . Recent publications highlight his work on non-Newtonian particle transport (2019), multicomponent lattice Boltzmann models (2017), and anisotropic medium optical nonlinearities (2017). These studies intersect computational physics , biomedical engineering , and materials science , emphasizing multi-scale modeling , fluid dynamics , and numerical methods . Scientific awards include: Jeremy Laskowski Award Mössbauer Award His research projects have involved consultancy for Seiko Epson Corporation and ZBD Displays Ltd. , modeling liquid crystal devices , and developing microfluidic systems for monodisperse drop formation. Collaborations extend to CNR Rome (hemodynamic flows) and University of Manchester (cell seeding in bioreactors).
Kimberley Frederick is a Professor of Chemistry at Skidmore College with 24 years of teaching experience. Her work focuses on innovative pedagogy, including developing low-cost diagnostic tools for environmental and health applications. She has adapted research-based labs for remote learning, impacting students nationwide. Frederick's research interests include Chemistry Education, Low-Cost Diagnostic Devices, Environmental Testing, Health Care Technology, and Remote Learning Solutions. Her work emphasizes student autonomy through non-traditional assessments like video tutorials and applied problem-solving. Her recent publications explore laboratory pedagogy reform, interdisciplinary collaborations (e.g., with art museums), and microfluidic technology for accessible STEM education. Research shows consistent themes in inquiry-based learning and practical scientific skill development. Scientific Awards: No awards listed in provided text. Frederick mentors students through research projects on diagnostic devices and advocates for equitable STEM access. She leads projects integrating community health applications with academic research.
Jonathan Henninger is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU), part of the Mellon College of Science. His research focuses on RNA's role in regulating gene expression and cell fate through molecular biology, soft-matter physics, and super-resolution imaging approaches. The Henninger Lab investigates RNA's interactions with proteins and condensates to uncover mechanisms underlying gene control and disease. Education: Ph.D. in Developmental and Regenerative Biology from Harvard University, followed by postdoctoral training at the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, MIT. Key research interests include RNA-mediated transcriptional regulation, nuclear condensates, RNA structure-function relationships, and the development of RNA-based therapies. The lab combines experimental and computational methods to study how RNA defects contribute to human diseases like cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders. Recent work includes identifying how RNA synthesis patterns nuclear condensates and discovering roles for rRNA G-quadruplexes in nucleolar protein condensation. The lab received a Kaufman Foundation New Investigator Grant to explore RNA's role in directing transcription. Advising and grants: Jonathan mentors a diverse team of PhD, Master’s, and undergraduate students. Notable advisees include Haoran Wang, Lydia Phillips, and Arth Banka. Current projects involve synthetic transcriptional condensates and bioinformatic discovery of RNA regulatory elements. Labs and collaborations: The lab is equipped with state-of-the-art microscopy (e.g., Zeiss Lattice SIM 5) and collaborates with groups at CMU, Pitt, and NYU. Regular scientific events include the Steel City Condensate Club Symposium.
Simon Kasif is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Boston University. He co-founded the Center for Advanced Genomic Technology (CAGT), COMBREX (Computational Bridges to Experiments), and is a member of the I2B2 Center. His work spans computational biology, systems biology, and AI applications in healthcare. He contributed to the Human Genome Project, co-developed tools like Glimmer and Mummer, and pioneered probabilistic networks for gene function prediction. Education: M.S. & Ph.D., Computer Science, University of Maryland B.Sc., Mathematics, Tel Aviv University Research Interests: Dr. Kasif focuses on integrating computational methods with biological data to understand disease mechanisms, particularly diabetes and cancer. His work emphasizes AI ethics, network biology, and translational research. He has developed methodologies for protein interaction networks, genomic data analysis, and systems biology modeling. Key Contributions: Co-developed Glimmer, a widely used gene prediction tool Pioneered functional linkage networks for gene function prediction Advocated Bayesian networks in computational biology Investigated disease network signatures, including diabetes and Alzheimer’s Lead projects on AI safety, SARS-CoV-2 interaction mapping, and metabolic pathway analysis Grants & Collaborations: Active in interdisciplinary projects, including the COMBREX initiative for protein function annotation and I2B2’s clinical data integration. His work bridges computational methods with clinical applications, fostering open science and reproducible research practices. Labs & Teams: Directs research at CAGT and I2B2, collaborating across institutions to advance genomic technologies and systems biology approaches.
Dr. Arshad Ayyaz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Science. He holds affiliations with the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Calvin Phoebe and Joan Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, and Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute. His research focuses on stem cell biology, tissue regeneration mechanisms, and cancer immunology, particularly colorectal cancer immunotherapy resistance. His work examines immune escape mechanisms in tumor-initiating cells, regenerative plasticity in somatic stem cells, and dysregulation in gastrointestinal disorders. Key research areas include genomic stress responses, immune-driven regeneration pathways, and therapeutic strategies for restoring tissue function using 3D organoids and single-cell multiomics. Dr. Ayyaz teaches Developmental Biology of Animals (CMMB 403) and Human Genetics (CMMB 413), and leads undergraduate research projects. His publications predominantly explore stem cell dynamics in regeneration and cancer contexts, with emerging themes in mechanosensing, chromatin remodeling, and microbiota interactions in tissue repair.
Hamid Habibi is Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at University of Calgary, with cross-appointment to the Libin Cardiovascular Institute. His research explores endocrine control of reproduction and growth in vertebrates, emphasizing gonadotropin regulation, GnRH applications, and environmental endocrine disruption using fish models. Awarded the Khwarizmi International Prize and UNESCO/TWAS professorship, his innovations include transgenic plant-based fish growth enhancement. Education includes a PhD and B.S. in Biological Sciences from University of Birmingham. Research integrates molecular endocrinology with environmental toxicology, examining GnRH functional diversity, thyroid-reproductive interactions, endocrine disruption mechanisms, and probiotic interventions against contaminants. Studies utilize goldfish and zebrafish models to dissect hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis regulation. Recent publications demonstrate strong focus on endocrine disruptor impacts (BPA, glyphosate, phthalates) in aquatic models, thyroid-gonadal crosstalk, and probiotic mitigation strategies. Metabolomic/transcriptomic approaches reveal contaminant effects on reproduction and metabolism. Visiting Professorship, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Italy (2015) 18th Khwarazmi International Distinguished Research Award (2005) Grace Pickford Medal (2001) UNESCO/TWAS Professorship in Sustainable Development (2001) Leads projects on agrochemical impacts funded by NSERC and industry partners. Supervises graduate trainees in cellular/molecular biology techniques within the Aquatic Endocrinology Laboratory.
Rune Wiseth is a Professor affiliated with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). His research focuses on cardiovascular disease mechanisms, particularly coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, and inflammatory pathways. He has led and contributed to multiple international clinical trials, including the PROSPECT II and ASSAIL-MI studies, investigating vulnerable plaque identification and interleukin-6 inhibition therapies. Key contributions include advancing near-infrared spectroscopy for plaque characterization, evaluating pharmacological agents like tocilizumab, and optimizing interventional cardiology practices. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles in journals such as The Lancet , Circulation , and Journal of the American College of Cardiology , with a focus on translational research bridging basic science and clinical practice. Wiseth collaborates extensively with institutions globally, contributing to guidelines on STEMI management and perioperative cardiac risk assessment. His work integrates imaging innovations, biomarker discovery, and interventional strategies to improve cardiovascular outcomes.
Dr. Wei Hu is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Immunobiology at Yale University's School of Medicine. Her laboratory focuses on regulatory T cell (Treg) biology, combining genetic, biochemical, and computational tools to study immune regulation. She completed her PhD at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Her research emphasizes Treg function in autoimmune diseases, cancer immunology, and immune tolerance mechanisms. Education & Training: PhD, Immunology - University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center BS, Biological Sciences - Peking University Postdoctoral Research, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Research Focus: Dr. Hu's work centers on understanding how regulatory T cells exert context-specific functions in physiological and pathological settings. Her lab investigates transcriptional regulation, metabolic requirements, and signaling pathways governing Treg identity and activity. Recent studies explore Treg roles in tumor microenvironments and autoimmune disease reversal using novel genetic and computational approaches. Awards & Honors: Ray Owen Young Investigator Award (2020) Irvington Postdoctoral Fellowship (2015) Eliot Goldings Award (2012) Lab & Collaborations: The Hu Lab, launched in 2023, is part of Yale's Department of Immunobiology and the Institute of Biomolecular Design and Discovery. They collaborate with teams studying cancer immunotherapy, functional genomics, and immune signaling pathways. Current projects aim to identify therapeutic strategies targeting Treg dysfunction in tumors and autoimmune disorders.
