Orlagh Feeney is a Research Fellow and Nanomedicine team lead in the Porter Group at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS), Monash University. She specializes in advanced drug delivery systems with a focus on cancer and autoimmune diseases, emphasizing translational research derived from her six-year pharmaceutical R&D experience in Ireland. Her research interests include controlling pharmacokinetics, lymphatic exposure, and targeted drug delivery strategies such as active targeting and stromal modification. She leads projects like the 'Role of Hyaluronan in Antigen and Immune Cell Trafficking' and developed disease models for solid cancers and collagen-induced arthritis. Key contributions include studies on polymer nanorod-drug conjugates, intestinal lymphatic drug delivery, and lymphatic targeting of immunotherapies. She co-edited a Molecular Pharmaceutics special issue on Australasian innovations and serves as a peer reviewer. Feeney's work aligns with UN SDGs addressing good health and well-being, leveraging lymphatic pathways to enhance therapeutic efficacy in oncology and autoimmune therapies.
Markus Hovd is a Senior Lecturer at the Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences within the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Oslo's Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. He also maintains an affiliation with the Neurosurgical Department. His work focuses on pharmacokinetic research with applications in clinical practice and personalized medicine. Philosophiae Doctor (PhD), Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, 2024 Master of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, 2019 Hovd's primary research interest centers on the mechanisms behind pharmacokinetic inter-individual variability and the development of models to aid in personalization of medicine. His research methodology includes population- and physiology-based pharmacokinetic models, in vitro-in vivo extrapolation, and clinical trials. His work spans multiple therapeutic areas including kidney transplantation, obesity-related pharmacokinetics, and cerebrospinal fluid dynamics. Analysis of Hovd's publications reveals a strong focus on pharmacokinetic applications in specialized patient populations, particularly kidney transplant recipients and patients who have undergone bariatric surgery. His research demonstrates expertise in population pharmacokinetic modeling, drug transport mechanisms, and the impact of physiological changes on drug disposition. A significant portion of his work addresses the challenges of drug dosing in complex clinical scenarios where standard pharmacokinetic assumptions may not apply. Hovd serves as a representative for temporary teaching staff on both the Teaching Committee and the Department Board at the Department of Pharmacy. His teaching portfolio includes courses in Pharmaceutical Biochemistry, Pharmacotherapy, Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Research Preparation in Biology, and Applied Pharmacokinetics and Dosing in Clinical Practice. Hovd is actively involved in multiple research groups including Pharmacokinetics, Kidney Transplant Medicine, and the KG Jebsen Center for Cerebrospinal Fluid Research, where he contributes his pharmacokinetic expertise to interdisciplinary neuroscience research.
Anne Talkington, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at the University at Buffalo School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences , where she develops multiscale mathematical models at the intersection of immunology, oncology, and pharmacology to optimize cancer therapies. Education: PhD in Computational Biology (UNC Chapel Hill), MS in Applied Mathematics (UNC Chapel Hill), BS in Mathematics (Duke), BA in Biology (Duke) Her research focuses on tumor-immune interactions , spatiotemporal immune activity , and immune checkpoint inhibition optimization , with expertise in in silico drug testing and pharmacokinetic modeling. Recent publications demonstrate trends in PEG immunogenicity mitigation, PBPK modeling, and computational immunotherapy optimization. Scientific Awards: National Research Council Fellowship (2023), P.E.O. Scholar Award (2020), NSF Graduate Fellowship (2016), MCM Meritorious Recognition (2013) The Talkington Lab integrates mathematical modeling with experimental data to predict optimal treatment strategies for cancer immunotherapy, emphasizing spatial-temporal dynamics in the tumor microenvironment.
Professor Eleni Aklillu is a leading academic in Tropical Pharmacology at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Global Public Health. She specializes in clinical pharmacology research addressing major public health challenges in low-income countries, focusing on infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Her work emphasizes understanding genetic and environmental factors influencing drug efficacy and safety, particularly in African populations. Education: PhD in Molecular Genetics (2003) – Karolinska Institutet MSc in Biochemistry (1996) – Addis Ababa University Bachelor of Pharmacy (1987) – Addis Ababa University Research Interests: Professor Aklillu's research integrates clinical trials, pharmacogenetics, and pharmacovigilance to optimize drug therapies. Key areas include: Pharmacovigilance capacity building in East Africa (PROFORMA project) Optimizing ART regimens for pregnant women (PREGART project) Evaluating drug interactions in co-infected populations Genetic factors influencing drug metabolism in diverse African populations Grants & Awards: EU Horizon 2020 funding for PROFORMA (€1.3M) and PREGART projects Donald Mackay Medal (2020) for tropical health contributions Fellowships from Royal College of Physicians (2015) and African Academy of Sciences (2015) Leadership roles in WHO-TDR committees and EDCTP advisory boards Advising & Labs: Supervised 16 PhD graduates and currently mentors 7 students. Leads the Global Health Pharmacology and Therapeutics (GH-Pharma) research group, coordinating multinational clinical trials and capacity-building initiatives across Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda.
Dr. Yvonne M. Ulrich-Lai is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Systems Physiology at the University of Cincinnati. Her research focuses on the neural and hormonal mechanisms linking diet, obesity, and stress, particularly the role of the HPA axis and reward systems in behavioral and physiological stress responses. PhD in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota (2002) Postdoctoral Fellowship, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine (2007) BSc in Biology, Harvey Mudd College (1994) Her work investigates: How comfort foods modulate stress through brain reward pathways Ketogenic diets' impact on HPA axis activity Sexual dimorphism in stress-induced metabolic dysfunctions Neuroanatomical circuits regulating stress-food interactions Recent publications highlight her focus on rodent models to study diet-induced obesity, HPA axis plasticity, and stress-related behavioral changes. Scientific awards include the 2012 Amgen/Endocrine Society Early Investigators Award . She holds multiple federal grants from NIDDK and NIMH, including R01 and R56 awards, and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on metabolic phenotyping and stress resilience.
Kathleen M. Caron is a Professor and Chair of the Department of Cell Biology and Physiology at the University of North Carolina (UNC) School of Medicine. Her research focuses on G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) pathways, particularly adrenomedullin (AM) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) signaling, in lymphatic vascular development and gastrointestinal biology. University: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School: UNC School of Medicine Department: Department of Cell Biology and Physiology Research Interests: Dr. Caron's work investigates GPCR systems in lymphatic endothelial cell function, lymphangiogenesis, and neurovascular-gastrointestinal crosstalk. Key areas include: AM-CLR-RAMP2 signaling in developmental lymphangiogenesis CGRP's role in lacteal permeability and lipid absorption Lymphatic-epithelial interactions in gastrointestinal disease Pharmacological targeting of GPCRs for vascular and metabolic disorders VE-cadherin interactome in cardiac lymphatic maintenance Neuroinflammatory mechanisms in migraine pathophysiology Scientific Contributions: Her lab discovered the first pharmacologically-tractable GPCR system (AM-CLR) in lymphatic development and identified its role in human hydrops fetalis mutations. Recent studies explore CGRP signaling in meningeal lymphatics and metabolic dysregulation in lacteal-null models. Affiliations: Member of the UNC Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease (CGIBD) and contributor to interdisciplinary research at UNC.
Kari Alitalo is an Academy Professor and Research Director at HUS Radiology and Pathology, University of Helsinki. He serves as a Supervisor in the Doctoral Programme in Integrative Life Science and the Doctoral Programme in Biomedicine. Alitalo directs the CAN-PRO - Translational Cancer Medicine Program and has led the Cancer Biology Research Programme at the University of Helsinki since 1999. His research primarily focuses on blood and lymphatic vessel growth factors with applications in cancer treatment and cardiovascular diseases. Alitalo's work spans angiogenesis, lymphangiogenesis, molecular biology, and translational medicine. His research group has made significant contributions to understanding vascular endothelial growth factors and their therapeutic applications. Alitalo's publication record shows consistent productivity with approximately 670 research outputs. His recent work (2023-2025) demonstrates continued focus on lymphatic system biology, vascular growth factors, and their therapeutic applications in cancer and cardiovascular diseases. The publications reveal a strong emphasis on molecular mechanisms of lymphangiogenesis, tumor angiogenesis, and potential therapeutic interventions. A.I. Virtanen Prize (2013) Biomedicum Helsinki lecture and Medal (2010) Eric K Fernström Foundation's Nordic Prize (2005) Finnish Science Prize (2013) Louis-Jeantet Prize For Medicine (2006) Professor Alitalo has supervised numerous doctoral students, with 52 dissertation supervisor or co-supervisor activities documented. He currently leads multiple active research projects including Cancer Foundation 2025/Alitalo, Biocenter Finland FIRI2023, and Juselius 2023-2026. His research group continues to explore vascular biology with significant implications for cancer treatment and cardiovascular medicine.
Simon Spencer is a Professor of Statistics at the University of Warwick, affiliated with the Zeeman Institute for Systems Biology and Infectious Disease Epidemiology Research (SBIDER) and the Warwick Analytical Sciences Centre (WASC). His research focuses on Bayesian inference applied to epidemiology, stochastic epidemic models, and statistical methods for analytical science. He has held previous positions at the University of Nottingham and Massey University in New Zealand. His teaching includes advanced courses such as CH923: Statistics for Data Analysis , ST925: Graduate Topics in Statistics , and MA4M1/MA6M1: Epidemiology by Example . His research group currently includes PhD students Matthew Adeoye and Richard Haughey, and MSc students Olli Smith and Sangavi Pirabakaran. He collaborates extensively with global health institutions on projects addressing infectious disease modeling and public health policy. Spencer’s work bridges statistical methodology and real-world applications, with a focus on outbreak detection, model comparison, and the integration of geostatistical data with transmission models. His recent contributions include frameworks for lymphatic filariasis elimination projections and analyses of HIV transmission dynamics in Uganda. He actively contributes to interdisciplinary research in systems biology and analytical chemistry, leveraging advanced statistical techniques to address complex health challenges.
Kerry Empey is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacy and Therapeutics at the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. She serves as the Associate Dean of Graduate & Postdoctoral Programs and holds secondary appointments in the Department of Immunology, Center for Vaccine Research, and Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) in the School of Medicine. Her research focuses on optimizing vaccines and therapies for vulnerable populations, particularly infants and pregnant women, targeting respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other pulmonary pathogens. She directs the Certificate in Clinical Translational Science for health sciences graduate students. Education: PharmD from University of Rhode Island; PhD in Clinical Pharmaceutical Sciences from University of Kentucky; completed PGY1/PGY2 residencies in Pharmacy Practice and Infectious Diseases at University of Kentucky. Research Interests: Immune response modulation, vaccine adjuvant development, age-dependent immunity, pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics of monoclonal antibodies, and translational research in pediatric and maternal immunization strategies. Her work emphasizes vaccine safety and efficacy in infants, maternal immunization's protective effects, and understanding cytokine-mediated viral clearance mechanisms. Recent publications highlight advancements in RSV vaccine formulations, maternal immunization strategies, and immune mechanisms driving post-viral bacterial infections. Collaborative studies with vaccine experts and nanotechnology teams explore novel delivery systems for optimal immune responses.
David L. Mattson is Professor and Department Chair in the Department of Physiology at the Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University . He is also the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA) Eminent Scholar in Hypertension, reflecting his national leadership in cardiovascular and renal research. His career spans decades of impactful work in hypertension, renal physiology, and immune system interactions. Dr. Mattson earned his BS in Biology from the University of Minnesota Duluth (1984) and his PhD in Physiological Psychology from the Medical College of Wisconsin (1990). He served on the faculty at the Medical College of Wisconsin from 1992 to 2019, achieving tenure and leadership roles including Interim Senior Associate Dean of Research. He joined Augusta University in 2019 as Department Chair. His research focuses on the genetic, immunological, and physiological mechanisms of salt-sensitive hypertension and kidney damage . A major emphasis is on the role of T cells, oxidative stress (particularly NOX2), and epigenetic regulation (e.g., DNA methylation) in hypertension. His lab uses integrative physiology, molecular biology, and genetically modified animal models, especially the Dahl salt-sensitive rat. His work has revealed critical insights into how immune cells infiltrate the kidney and exacerbate hypertension. His recent publications (2022–2025) span topics including T cell immunometabolism, NOX2 signaling, dietary protein effects, epigenetic regulation, and renal perfusion dynamics . These studies appear in top journals such as Hypertension , American Journal of Physiology , and Nature Reviews Nephrology , demonstrating a consistent trend toward immune-renal interactions and precision mechanisms in hypertension. Dr. Mattson has received numerous honors, including: Starling Award, American Physiological Society (2018) Faculty Service Award, Medical College of Wisconsin (2018) Established Investigator Award, American Heart Association (2000) Multiple teaching and service awards He is deeply involved in academic service, including editorial board roles ( Hypertension , Physiological Genomics ), grant review, and professional society leadership. He mentors graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, with lab members including instructors and PhD candidates. He leads the Kidney and Hypertension Research Group and holds significant research funding, including NIH grants such as P01HL134604. His laboratory is a hub of interdisciplinary research, integrating physiology, immunology, and genomics to uncover novel therapeutic targets for hypertension and kidney disease. Future work continues to explore immune cell contributions, sex differences, and environmental modulators of disease.
David A. Jamadar is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Radiology at the University of Michigan Medical School. His academic and clinical work focuses on diagnostic radiology with emphasis on musculoskeletal imaging, ultrasound applications, and cross-sectional imaging techniques. Research Interests: Dr. Jamadar's work spans multiple subfields in radiology, including: Musculoskeletal imaging and postoperative assessment Ultrasound-guided interventions and diagnostic accuracy CT/MRI evaluation of abdominal and pelvic pathologies Incidental findings interpretation in imaging Academic writing and faculty development initiatives Publications Trends: His recent work emphasizes diagnostic imaging applications in hernia detection, tendon pathologies, and post-reconstructive surgery assessment, with a focus on correlating imaging findings with surgical outcomes. Mentorship: Dr. Jamadar is explicitly listed as being available to mentor.
Andrea L. Cheville, M.D., MSCE is a Professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She holds primary appointment as Consultant in the Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and joint appointment as Consultant in the Section of Palliative Care, Department of Internal Medicine. Dr. Cheville serves as Medical Director of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Program in the Robert D. and Patricia E. Kern Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery since 2014 and was Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation from 2020-2021. She is an elected member of the National Academy of Medicine since 2016. Dr. Cheville's research focuses on innovative approaches to cancer rehabilitation and pain management. Her key areas include: Digitally enabled cancer pain management through the ASCENT clinical trial Enhanced cancer symptom control using electronic patient-reported outcomes Non-pharmacological pain management via the NOHARM trial Home discharge planning for Alzheimer's patients through Project HoPe Smartphone-based technology for wheelchair users to monitor seating pressure Her work emphasizes culturally informed, patient-centered care with a focus on underserved populations. Dr. Cheville's research has led to significant advancements in integrating technology into clinical practice to improve patient outcomes, particularly in pain management and cancer rehabilitation. Her publications span clinical trials, health informatics, rehabilitation medicine, and patient-centered outcomes research, with notable emphasis on health equity and underserved communities. Member, National Academy of Medicine (2016-present) Distinguished Academician Award, Association of Academic Physiatrists (2021) Exceptional Women in Medicine, Castle Connolly (2021) Distinguished Member Award, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (2020) Merit award, National Health Information Awards (2017) As an educator and mentor, Dr. Cheville has contributed to the training of numerous medical professionals in physical medicine and rehabilitation. Her leadership extends to various national committees and organizations where she helps shape the future of rehabilitation medicine and pain management. She has secured multiple NIH grants including the ASCENT trial, Project HoPe, and the NOHARM pragmatic clinical trial.
James Baish is a Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Bucknell University. His research focuses on biological heat and mass transport, fluid mechanics, and the origins of biological form. He has contributed significantly to understanding cancer angiogenesis, lymphatic system dynamics, and transport phenomena in biological tissues. B.S.M.E, Bucknell University, 1979 M.S.E, University of Pennsylvania, 1983 Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania, 1986 Baish's work spans mathematical modeling of angiogenesis, thermal conductivity in biomaterials, and mechanobiological control of lymphatic pumping. His publications highlight interdisciplinary approaches combining engineering principles with biomedical applications.
Lutz Frankenstein is a Professor and Senior Physician ( Oberarzt ) at the Department of Cardiology, Angiology, and Pulmonology at Heidelberg University Hospital. He also serves as Medical Director of the Heart Failure Outpatient Clinic and leads the Working Group on Chronic Heart Failure/Health Economics. Education: Executive MSc in Health Economics (London School of Economics), Habilitation at Heidelberg University Clinical Specialties: Chronic Heart Failure, Performance Physiology, Submarine Medicine, Health Economics His research focuses on clinical cardiology , particularly chronic heart failure , with emphasis on new diagnostic techniques , risk prediction models , and health economics . He has published extensively on beta-blockers, SGLT2 inhibitors, and multidisciplinary care for heart failure patients. Recent article trends span cardiovascular outcomes in diabetes , sex-based treatment disparities , and health policy reforms for transcatheter valve interventions. His work integrates clinical trials , network meta-analysis , and health services research . Frankenstein is actively involved in clinical training (e.g., interventional cardiology certification) and healthcare policy , including roles in DRG evaluation and ESC guidelines. He leads research on resilience in chronic heart failure and periodontal-heart disease links .
Dr. Wael E.A. Saad is a distinguished Professor of Clinical Radiology & Imaging Sciences at the University of Utah, where he serves as Director of Interventional Radiology and Vice Chair of Image Guided Procedures. Previously, he held the position of Operations Head of Vascular & Interventional Radiology at the National Institute of Health (NIH) for four years. His academic journey includes faculty positions at University of Michigan (where he served as VIR Director and Medical Director of non-cardiac hybrid-labs), University of Virginia (where he was promoted from Associate to Full Professor and served as VIR Fellowship Program Director), and University of Rochester (where he was promoted from Assistant to Associate Professor). Dr. Saad's educational background includes: MBBCh from Ain Shams University Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt Surgery Internship at Ain Shams University Hospitals Vascular Surgery training at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center Internship at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Residency in Diagnostic Radiology at University of Rochester Medical Center Fellowship in Vascular & Interventional Radiology at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine Dr. Saad is internationally recognized for his expertise in Interventional Radiology, with special focus on Portal Hypertension, Liver Transplantation, and Hepato-Biliary Diseases. He is nationally renowned for management of vascular diseases affecting both arterial and venous systems. His research spans a wide range of interventional procedures including transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) creation, balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) for gastric varices, and management of vascular complications in transplant recipients. He has made significant contributions to the understanding and treatment of portal hypertension and its complications, with numerous publications exploring innovative approaches to managing gastric varices and portal hypertension-related conditions. Dr. Saad has received recognition as a Fellow of the Society of Interventional Radiology (FSIR) and has held leadership positions including former Chair of the Standards of Practice Committee of the Society of Interventional Radiology. His scholarly work includes numerous quality improvement guidelines for interventional radiology procedures. His commitment to advancing the field extends globally through his cofounding of the Middle East Endovascular Therapy (MEET) Symposium and the Society of African Interventional Radiology and Endovascular-therapy (SAFIRE). Throughout his career, Dr. Saad has been dedicated to medical education and training, having served as Fellowship Program Director and mentoring numerous trainees. His global outreach efforts over the past two decades have focused on the Middle East, North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa, significantly contributing to the development of interventional radiology services in these regions. His work has particularly emphasized capacity building and education in underserved areas, helping to establish training programs and clinical services across multiple continents.
