Michael McAlpine is a Professor in the Mechanical Engineering department at the University of Minnesota . He also holds affiliations with the Biomedical Engineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering departments. His research focuses on 3D printing functional materials & devices , Nanoscale inks , Biomedical devices , Bioelectronics , and Flexible Microsystems . Research Interests : 3D Printing, Biomedical Engineering, Nanotechnology, Flexible Electronics, Microfluidics Labs : ME 361/363 Contact : mcalpine@umn.edu , (612) 626-3303, ME 117 Recent Research Trends include 3D Printed Biomedical Devices , Flexible Electronics , and Bioprinting Applications . His work spans from Spinal Organoid Formation to Programmable Drug Release Capsules . Scientific Award : Circulation Research 2020 Best Manuscript Award
Sachdev Sidhu is a Research Professor and Entrepreneur in Residence at the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on synthetic antibodies, protein engineering, and biotechnological applications. He leads efforts in developing novel therapeutic antibodies, engineered protein systems, and molecular tools for biomedical research. His work spans cancer therapy, viral infection countermeasures, and regenerative medicine. Sidhu is also involved in translational research, bridging academic discoveries with commercial applications through entrepreneurial ventures. Key research interests include synthetic antibody libraries, CAR T-cell engineering, ubiquitin-based therapeutics, and phage display technologies. He has contributed to advancements in targeted therapies for glioblastoma, leukemia, and ocular diseases. His team develops innovative methods for protein design, such as engineered ubiquitin variants and modular antibody architectures. Publications highlight breakthroughs in antibody-based treatments, including synNotch CAR T cells for glioblastoma and neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. His work integrates structural biology, molecular biology, and computational approaches to address complex biomedical challenges. Sidhu collaborates with industry partners to advance technologies into clinical and commercial settings.
Dr. Scott Lovell is a Senior Lecturer in Chemical Biology at the University of Bath's Department of Life Sciences. He leads the Lovell Group researching covalent drug discovery at the chemistry-biology-medicine interface, focusing on cancer and antibiotic-resistant infections. His team specializes in peptide synthesis, chemical proteomics, and phage display technologies. Dr. Lovell's research interests include: Covalent phage display for undruggable proteins Targeted covalent macrocycles (TCMs) Protease-activated imaging agents Covalent fragment libraries for cancer treatment His recent publications demonstrate a focus on developing covalent inhibitors through innovative screening platforms, with applications spanning transcription factor inhibition, antimicrobial strategies, and peptide-based drug discovery. Research strongly emphasizes translational approaches combining synthetic chemistry with molecular biology. Dr. Lovell is currently PI on multiple funded projects including: Tackling the Undruggable Cancer Proteome with Covalent Macrocycles (EPSRC) Synthesis of Targeted Covalent Macrocycle Libraries (Royal Society) A Phage Display Approach for Undruggable Proteins (Academy of Medical Sciences) He welcomes doctoral students to his interdisciplinary research team investigating novel chemical modalities for disease treatment.
Michal Bassani-Sternberg is an Assistant Professor on conditional pre-tenure at the Faculty of Biology and Medicine, University of Lausanne (UNIL), and an Assistant Member at the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Lausanne. She leads the Antigen Discovery Group and the Immunopeptidomics Unit at the Center for Experimental Therapies, Department of Oncology, UNIL-CHUV. Her work bridges proteogenomics, mass spectrometry, and computational biology to advance personalized cancer immunotherapy. Her educational background includes a Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate in Biology from the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, all earned with Cum Laude distinction. She completed postdoctoral training at the Technion and the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry, Germany, in the group of Prof. Matthias Mann. Dr. Bassani-Sternberg's research focuses on identifying cancer-specific Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) ligands to guide the development of personalized immunotherapies. Her group develops cutting-edge proteogenomic and mass spectrometry-based immunopeptidomics approaches to discover tumor-associated antigens, neoantigens, and non-canonical peptides. A key contribution is the development of NeoDisc, a continuous bioinformatics pipeline that integrates genomics, transcriptomics, and immunopeptidomics data for direct neoantigen identification in clinical trials. Her recent publications, appearing in high-impact journals such as Nature , Nature Biotechnology , Immunity , and Nature Cancer , reflect a strong trend in integrating multi-omics data to understand tumor immunogenicity, T cell responses, and antigen presentation dynamics. Her work increasingly incorporates machine learning to improve neoantigen prediction and TCR specificity inference. She has been recognized with the Pfizer Research Prize in 2021 for her contributions to immuno-oncology. Pfizer Research Prize (2021) Dr. Bassani-Sternberg leads an active research group involved in phase I clinical trials for personalized cancer vaccines and adoptive T cell therapies. Her lab is supported by major grants from the Swiss Cancer League, Swiss National Science Foundation, and ISREC Foundation. She mentors doctoral and postdoctoral researchers and collaborates extensively within the Lausanne immuno-oncology ecosystem, including CHUV and Ludwig Lausanne. Her lab, the Bassani-Sternberg Lab, is part of the Department of Oncology’s research platforms and focuses on immunopeptidomics, antigen discovery, and the development of analytical tools for personalized immunotherapy.
Vincent Rotello is a University Distinguished Professor of Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He holds multiple affiliations including Faculty in the Graduate Program in Molecular & Cellular Biology, the Center for Bioactive Delivery, the Models to Medicine program, the Center for Personalized Health Monitoring, and the Materials Science and Engineering Interdisciplinary Graduate Program at the Institute for Applied Life Sciences. Dr. Rotello received his B.S. in Chemistry (Honors) from Illinois Institute of Technology in 1985, followed by an M. Phil and Ph.D. in Chemistry from Yale University in 1987 and 1990, respectively. He completed an NSF Postdoctoral Fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology from 1990-1993 before joining the faculty at UMass Amherst. Professor Rotello's research focuses on supramolecular chemistry, particularly the study and application of non-covalent interactions including hydrogen bonding and aromatic stacking. His work spans nanotechnology, bionanotechnology, bioorthogonal chemistry, drug delivery, and antimicrobial development. His laboratory explores how these molecular recognition concepts can address essential questions in biology, biomedicine, and material chemistry, with particular emphasis on using synthetic organic chemistry to engineer interfaces between synthetic and biological worlds. The group has published over 650 peer-reviewed papers to date. His recent publications reveal a strong trend toward bioorthogonal catalysis, particularly 'nanozymes' and 'polyzymes' - nanomaterial scaffolds incorporating transition metal catalysts for localized drug and imaging agent generation. His research increasingly addresses biomedical applications including cancer treatment, bacterial infection control, and diagnostic development, with significant focus on antimicrobial applications and biofilm eradication. Arthur C. Cope Scholar Award (2023) Highly Cited Researcher by Clarivate (2014, 2015, 2018-2023) Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK) NSF CAREER award Cottrell Scholar award Camille Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Sloan Fellowship Professor Rotello has mentored numerous graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, with recent PhD graduates including Dr. Aarohi Gupta and Dr. Aritra Nath Chattopadhyay. His research group maintains active collaborations across multiple disciplines and has secured significant funding for their work in nanotechnology and bionanotechnology. The group has published over 650 peer-reviewed papers, demonstrating consistent productivity and impact in their field. The Rotello Lab operates within the Lederle Graduate Research Tower at UMass Amherst, with office in room 379 and laboratory space in room 320. The group consists of graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and visiting scholars from around the world, working collaboratively on projects spanning antimicrobials, bioorthogonal chemistry, drug delivery, and sensing technologies. The lab has documented numerous visiting scholars from institutions across Europe, Asia, and North America, indicating strong international collaborations.
Wenshe Liu is the Harry E. Bovay, Jr. Endowed Chair in Chemistry and Professor at Texas A&M University, affiliated with the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics and the Institute of Biosciences & Technology. His research integrates chemical biology, organic chemistry, and molecular biology to develop novel therapeutics targeting cancer and viral pathogens like SARS-CoV-2. Key techniques include genetic code expansion (via pyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase systems), phage display with noncanonical peptides, and epigenetic histone modification studies. Education: B.S. (Peking University, 2000), Ph.D. (UC Davis, 2005), Postdoc (Scripps Research Institute, 2007). Awards include the Presidential Impact Fellow, Gradipore Chair in Chemistry, and ACS Chemical Biology Most Prolific Author (2017). Research focuses on: (1) SARS-CoV-2 drug discovery targeting Spike protein, 3CLpro, and PLpro; (2) genetic code expansion for ncAA incorporation (over 80 ncAAs developed); (3) epigenetic histone modification studies using site-specific acylation/methylation; (4) phage-displayed cyclic peptide libraries for drug discovery. Current projects include PROTAC development for epigenetic regulators and chemo-genetic switches for CAR T-cell therapy safety. Publications highlight high-impact work in Nature , Journal of the American Chemical Society , and Nature Communications , with over 150 articles. The lab operates across Texas A&M campuses in College Station and Houston, emphasizing translational research in immunotherapy and antiviral strategies.
Bahaa Mustafa, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) College of Pharmacy. He joined UAMS in May 2022 and became an Associate Member of the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute’s Cancer Therapeutics Program in April 2023. His research focuses on developing biotherapeutics, including peptides and nanobodies, using phage display techniques, targeted liposomal drug delivery for lung cancer, and combining peptide-based immune checkpoint inhibitors with oncolytic virotherapy for colorectal and pancreatic cancers. Dr. Mustafa holds a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (2022), a Master of Pharmaceutical Sciences from Petra University (2015), and a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Applied Science University (2010). He teaches Pharmaceutics courses at UAMS, including PSCI 71303 (Pharmaceutics I), PSCI 71404 (Pharmaceutics II), and a non-sterile compounding lab. His research interests span cancer immunotherapy, targeted drug delivery systems, and virotherapy. Recent work includes engineering oncolytic viruses to treat pancreatic cancer and discovering peptides that inhibit immune checkpoints like PD-L1 and CD47. He has contributed to studies on enhancing virotherapy efficacy through stroma targeting and combining therapies to improve tumor resectability. Dr. Mustafa has received several awards, including the 2024 Seeds of Science Award and Travel Grant from the Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, the 2023 Outstanding Dissertation Award, and the 2017 Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship. His publications highlight innovations in peptide design, oncolytic virus engineering, and drug delivery mechanisms. Dr. Mustafa is affiliated with professional organizations such as the Controlled Release Society, American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS), and American Peptide Society. His lab focuses on translational research bridging peptide therapeutics, virotherapy, and cancer immunology.
Gordana Wozniak-Knopp is a researcher at the University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), affiliated with the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology under the Department of Biotechnology and Food Science. Her work focuses on antibody engineering, molecular biotechnology, and protein stability optimization. Key research areas include Development of multispecific antibodies using controlled Fab-arm exchange and SEED technology Engineering antigen-binding sites in Fc regions Stabilization of antibody fragments via disulfide bonds and domain exchange Extracellular vesicle functionalization for targeted drug delivery Design of diagnostic antibody microarrays and SARS-CoV-2 antigen platforms Between 2020–2024, she led an FWF-funded project on therapeutic antibodies for birch pollinosis and a 2016–2023 CD Laboratory for Innovative Immunotherapeutics. Her recent publications (2022–2023) emphasize trispecific antibody design, SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics, and CD81-based delivery systems. Scientific contributions include peer-review activities for journals like Protein Science , Nature Communications , and Scientific Reports , along with organizing events such as the Lange Nacht Der Forschung 2024 . She actively participates in international conferences and project evaluations for organizations like Poland’s National Science Centre.
Dr. Scott Napper is a Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Immunology at the University of Saskatchewan, with a concurrent appointment as Senior Scientist at VIDO-Intervac. His work bridges structural biochemistry and immunology to address challenges in protein misfolding diseases, vaccine development, and host-pathogen signaling. Ph.D., Department of Biochemistry, 1999, University of Saskatchewan B.Sc. Honours, Department of Biochemistry, 1994, University of Saskatchewan Dr. Napper's research focuses on: Vaccine development for prion diseases and proteinopathies Kinome analysis for infectious disease mechanisms Peptide array technology for high-throughput signaling studies Science education outreach to secondary and undergraduate students Recent publications highlight his work in: Prion disease immunization strategies Host kinome responses to prebiotics Epitope immunogenicity prediction Comparative stress response analysis in livestock Scientific recognition includes: Three-time recipient of University of Saskatchewan Teaching Excellence Award His research program integrates computational approaches with experimental validation to identify therapeutic targets in: Infectious diseases of humans and animals Cancer signaling pathways Protein misfolding disorders Food contaminant toxicity
Dr. Chang-Chun Ling is a Professor in the Department of Chemistry at the University of Calgary, affiliated with the Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute. He holds a PhD from the Université de Paris Sud (1991) and completed postdoctoral research in Dublin, Paris, and Edmonton. His research focuses on bioorganic chemistry, carbohydrate-based vaccines, glycosyltransferase inhibitors, and neuroinflammation modulation. He leads projects at the Alberta Glycomics Centre targeting infectious diseases and cancer. Education: B.S. Chemistry, University of Lanzhou, 1986 PhD Chemistry, Université de Paris Sud, 1991 Research interests include carbohydrate-protein interactions, synthetic carbohydrate chemistry, and glycoconjugate vaccines. His lab explores inhibitors for tumor-associated enzymes, conjugate vaccine design, and ECM-driven neuroinflammation in multiple sclerosis and stroke. Key achievements include developing fluorinated glycans for myelin regeneration and cyclodextrin-based liquid crystal electrolytes. Notable awards include the Alberta/Pfizer Translational Research Fund Award (2013) and Alberta Ingenuity New Faculty Award (2007). Current projects involve multidisciplinary approaches to combat multidrug-resistant infections and autoimmune conditions.
Aaron Mendez is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology at Tufts University School of Medicine. His research focuses on understanding how viruses maximize their replicative output through the formation of replication compartments, using Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) as a model system. Education: PhD in Chemistry & Chemical Biology from the University of California, San Francisco (2015); BSc in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology from the University of California, Irvine (2009). Research Interests: The lab employs a multidisciplinary approach combining molecular virology, biochemistry, and chemical genetics to uncover molecular mechanisms underlying viral replication compartment formation. Key areas include compartment dynamics, viral machinery organization, and evasion of host immune responses. Recent work highlights studies on SOX exonuclease activity in KSHV and SARS-CoV-2 nsp1 protein function. Publications: Recent articles (2014–2023) explore viral replication mechanisms, ER stress pathways, and protein engineering. Notable contributions include elucidating SOX's role in viral DNA processing and characterizing SARS-CoV-2 nsp1's suppression of host gene expression. Grants & Lab Activities: The lab develops novel tools for studying viral replication compartments, with potential applications in antiviral strategies. Current efforts aim to identify linchpin interactions critical for compartment assembly and function. Labs/Teams: Mendez leads a research group focused on advancing virology through innovative biochemical and genetic methodologies.
Xuefei Huang is a Professor in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Chemistry at Michigan State University (MSU), serving as Associate Chair for Research in the Chemistry Department. He earned his Ph.D. from Columbia University and previously worked at the University of Toledo. His research integrates synthetic chemistry, biology, and engineering to develop advanced tools for disease diagnosis and treatment, with a focus on carbohydrate chemistry, molecular imaging, and targeted drug delivery. Education: Ph.D., Columbia University Bachelor's degree, University of Science and Technology of China Research Interests: His work emphasizes the synthesis and application of carbohydrates, particularly in developing vaccines, anti-cancer therapies, and diagnostic nanoparticles. Key areas include glycoconjugate vaccines, nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems, and immunotherapies targeting cell surface carbohydrates. The Huang Lab employs interdisciplinary approaches, combining organic synthesis, molecular imaging, and virology. Research Trends in Publications: Recent work focuses on carbohydrate-based vaccines (e.g., SARS-CoV-2, Salmonella), glyco-nanoparticle design for imaging and surgery guidance, and structure-activity relationships in heparin/heparan sulfate oligosaccharides. Labs & Teams: The Huang Lab collaborates across disciplines to advance biomedical innovations, with a focus on translational applications in oncology, infectious diseases, and nanotechnology.
Dr Jonathan Foster is a Senior Lecturer in Information Management at the University of Sheffield's Information School. He holds a PhD in Information Studies (Social Sciences) from the University of Sheffield, alongside degrees in Information Systems and Education. His research focuses on information governance, ethics, data sharing, and digital economy dynamics. He leads the IKIM Research Group and has secured significant grants from AHRC, EPSRC, and Wellcome Trust, including projects on AI ethics and cybersecurity narratives. He has supervised numerous PhD students and contributed to curriculum development in information governance and digital economy. Notable awards include the 2018 Teaching Excellence Award for his Deliberation Days initiative. Education: BA, MSc (Brunel), M.Ed. (Sheffield), PhD (Sheffield). Research interests emphasize governance frameworks for data-driven AI, accountability in digital ecosystems, and ethical dimensions of data sharing. His publications span information science journals and edited volumes on collaborative information behavior. He has held roles such as Programme Coordinator for MSc Information Management and Sub-Dean for Undergraduate Affairs. Current grants include AHRC-funded work on mental health AI fairness and ESRC-funded cybersecurity narrative research. Teaching contributions include pioneering modules on information governance and digital economy, reflecting his research-led approach. His work bridges academic research with practical applications in enterprise and public health.
David A. Scheinberg is a Professor at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center , Chair of the Center for Experimental Therapeutics, and Deputy Director of the Sloan Kettering Institute for Therapeutic Discovery. He is affiliated with the Molecular Pharmacology Program, Department of Medicine, and the Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology. BA, Cornell University MD and PhD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine Internal Medicine Residency, New York Hospital Dr. Scheinberg pioneers targeted immunotherapies using antibodies, TCR mimicry, CAR T cells, and nanodevices. His work bridges translational medicine and cancer pharmacology , focusing on intracellular oncogenic proteins like WT1. Key innovations include TCR-like antibodies (2013-2015) and cellular micropharmacies (2021), advancing into clinical trials for leukemia and solid tumors. His recent publications highlight WT1 as a universal cancer target , bispecific T-cell engagers , and nanoscale drug delivery systems . These studies span Antibody-dependent cytotoxicity Tumor antigen specificity HLA-restricted immune responses Nano-machine activation Clinical trial translation Scientific accolades include Nature Biotech Top 15 Translational Scientists Doris Duke Distinguished Clinical Scientist Emil Freireich Prize Membership in elite societies: American Association of Physicians, American Society for Clinical Investigation, Interurban Clinical Club As a mentor, Dr. Scheinberg has advised over 25 graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. His lab collaborates with the Geoffrey Beene Cancer Research Center and Center for Cell Engineering , supported by NIH grants (R01 CA055349, P01 CA023766, UL1 TR000457).
Graham Christie serves as an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology at the University of Cambridge. His research is centered on bacterial spore biology, with particular expertise in spore structure, germination mechanisms, and structural biology approaches including protein crystallography. Christie collaborates with Professor Ian Wilson and Professor Lisa Hall within the Cambridge research ecosystem. Christie's research interests focus on bacterial spore structure and germination , structural biology (protein crystallography) , and coronavirus testing and inactivation . His work bridges fundamental microbiology with practical applications in biotechnology and public health. He has made significant contributions to understanding the molecular mechanisms of spore resistance and germination in Bacillus species, with implications for food safety, decontamination protocols, and antimicrobial development. Analysis of Christie's recent publications reveals a consistent focus on bacterial spore biology, particularly examining cortex lytic enzymes, germination triggers, and spore resistance mechanisms in Bacillus species. His research spans structural biology, molecular microbiology, and applied biotechnology, with increasing attention to antimicrobial applications and environmental microbiology. The publications demonstrate sophisticated integration of biochemical, genetic, and structural approaches to address fundamental questions in spore biology. Christie actively supervises PhD students and contributes to graduate education in chemical engineering and biotechnology at Cambridge. His research program appears to be well-funded through multiple projects examining spore biology from structural, functional, and applied perspectives. His work on holographic sensors for spore detection indicates translational research efforts with potential commercial applications. Christie maintains laboratory facilities within the Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, with research groups focused on spore structure-function relationships, protein engineering related to spore biology, and antimicrobial applications derived from spore research. His work on coronavirus testing suggests adaptation of spore-related technologies to address pandemic challenges.
