Katriina Aalto-Setälä is a Professor in Biomedical Technology since 1997. Her research focuses on stem cell engineering , organ-on-a-chip technologies , and computational modeling of cardiac diseases using iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Research Trends : Recent work includes in vitro models for liver and cardiac zonation, machine learning applications for drug effect analysis, and biomaterials for 3D neural/cardiac tissue engineering. Collaborations : She collaborates on UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and technology innovation. Scientific Activities include editorial board memberships and frequent conference presentations on topics like biomaterials , machine learning , and iPSC-based disease modeling .
Laia Gorchs is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Department of Laboratory Medicine , Karolinska Institutet . She is a member of the Tissue Immunology – Research Group Helen Kaipe , focusing on tumor immunology and maternal-fetal immune interactions. Gorchs earned her PhD in 2022 from the same department. Research Interests Tumor immunology in pancreatic and lung cancers Role of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in immune suppression Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cell biology Placental immunity and chemokine-driven immune cell dynamics HLA editing in stem cell-derived tissues Immunomodulation via vitamin D analogs Publications Trends Investigates T cell exhaustion markers (CD39, CD103) in pancreatic cancer prognosis Studies CAF-mediated suppression in solid tumors Explores MAIT cell recruitment and function in placental/decidual tissues Develops HLA-deficient stem cell therapies for immune evasion Examines radiation effects on fibroblast immunosuppressive properties Labs & Teams Research Group Helen Kaipe, Karolinska Institutet Collaborations with Kaipe Lab on placental and tumor immunology Part of Tissue Immunology division
Edward Kelly is a Professor and Adjunct Professor at the University of Washington , affiliated with the School of Pharmacy and the Department of Pharmaceutics , as well as the Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences . He is the Co-Director of the Pharmaceutical Bioengineering Program and leads the Kelly Lab , which focuses on microphysiological systems (organs-on-chips) for preclinical toxicology and drug metabolism research. Education : BS, MS, and PhD in Biochemistry from UC Riverside and the University of Washington. His research interests center on ex vivo modeling of human organ physiology and toxicological responses to drugs and xenobiotics, with a focus on liver and kidney ADME organs . His lab is pioneering the use of organs-on-chips to replace animal testing (the 3 Rs) and study disease models and microgravity effects on the International Space Station. His publications highlight the application of microphysiological systems in nephrotoxicity , drug metabolism , and multi-organ coupling . Key themes include toxicology , translational research , and biomedical engineering for preclinical models . Edward Kelly teaches courses such as Biotechnology and Biopharmaceuticals , Drug Disposition Science , and Pharmacokinetics . His lab actively accepts students , and he collaborates with institutions like the Comparative Health Outcomes, Policy, and Economics (CHOICE) Institute and the Program on Pharmacokinetics of Drugs of Abuse during Pregnancy (UWPKDAP) .
Mohammed A. Al-masni is currently serving as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Artificial Intelligence at Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea, a position he has held since September 2022. Prior to this appointment, he worked as a Research Professor at Yonsei University (November 2020-August 2022) and as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the same institution (September 2019-October 2020). His academic journey includes significant research experience in medical imaging and artificial intelligence applications in healthcare. His educational background includes: Bachelor's Degree from Cairo University, Egypt (June 2011) M.Sc. from Cairo University, Egypt (February 2015) Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering from Kyung Hee University, Republic of Korea (August 2019) Dr. Al-masni's research focuses at the intersection of artificial intelligence and medical imaging. His primary areas of investigation include medical image analysis, deep learning applications for medical diagnostics, and computer-aided diagnosis systems. He has developed innovative approaches for addressing motion artifacts in MRI, cerebral microbleed detection, and skin lesion segmentation. His work demonstrates a consistent pattern of applying cutting-edge deep learning techniques to solve challenging problems in medical imaging, with particular emphasis on improving diagnostic accuracy and efficiency. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong focus on medical image processing challenges, particularly in MRI and dermoscopy applications. His research demonstrates an evolution from basic image segmentation techniques to more sophisticated multi-task learning frameworks that address multiple clinical challenges simultaneously. A significant portion of his work targets neurological imaging applications, including cerebral microbleed detection and motion artifact correction in brain MRI. More recently, his research has expanded to include cross-domain applications of deep learning in software engineering and environmental monitoring. While specific awards are not explicitly listed in the provided information, his research impact is evidenced by an h-index of 17 and 2,313 citations according to Scopus metrics. His work contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in the area of good health and well-being. Dr. Al-masni has been actively involved in research collaborations, primarily with Dong-Hyun Kim's Lab at Yonsei University. His research output shows consistent productivity with 57 research outputs documented, including numerous high-impact journal articles in medical imaging and AI venues. His work demonstrates strong industry and academic collaboration, particularly in the development of practical diagnostic tools for clinical applications. His laboratory work has centered around medical imaging applications, with particular focus on the development of deep learning frameworks for medical image analysis. His research group appears to be focused on creating robust, clinically applicable AI tools that can address real-world challenges in medical diagnostics, with emphasis on neurological disorders and skin cancer detection.
Timothy A Blenkinsop is an Associate Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai , affiliated with the Department of Ophthalmology and Cell, Developmental & Regenerative Biology . His research focuses on retinal regeneration, particularly the biology of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) , with an emphasis on developing in vitro disease models, epigenetic profiling, and transplantation strategies for RPE-related pathologies. Education: PhD in Developmental Biology, New York University BS in Cell Biology, University of Wisconsin at Whitewater His work bridges regenerative medicine and translational ophthalmology , with key contributions to understanding RPE dysfunction in diseases like Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy (PVR) . Recent publications highlight advancements in stem cell-derived RPE therapy, contractility inhibition, and viral ocular infection models. Dr. Blenkinsop's laboratory develops 3D eye organoids , epigenetic profiling tools , and NRF2 signaling modulators to address retinal degeneration. His research has implications for therapeutic development, including preclinical models and biofunctional polymers to prevent retinal scarring. Office Location: Annenberg Building, Floor 22, Room A22-08, 1468 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10029 .
Nobuhiro Nakamura serves as an Assistant Professor at Waseda University's School of Sport Sciences, where he conducts research at the intersection of cardiovascular physiology, exercise science, and human performance. With a doctoral background in Sport Sciences from Waseda University, his work focuses on understanding hemodynamic responses to various physiological stressors including exercise, breath-hold diving, and circadian disruptions. PhD in Sport Sciences, Waseda University (2016-2019) Dr. Nakamura's research program investigates arterial baroreflex function, exercise pressor reflex mechanisms, and cardiovascular adaptations to different training modalities. His laboratory employs advanced techniques including laser speckle flowgraphy, applanation tonometry, and metabolic assessments to examine how mechanical and metabolic stimuli influence blood pressure regulation. Current projects explore the relationship between genetic predisposition and cardiometabolic health, the impact of social jetlag on morning blood pressure surges, and mechanisms underlying exercise-induced changes in vascular stiffness. His publication record demonstrates consistent contributions to cardiovascular physiology, with recent work appearing in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, Frontiers in Physiology, and Hypertension Research. Analysis of his 15 most recent articles reveals a strong focus on human experimental physiology with emphasis on blood pressure regulation, vascular mechanics, and metabolic interactions. Hamano Yoshio Memorial Award (2019) from Waseda University Graduate School of Sport Sciences Dr. Nakamura leads multiple research initiatives funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, including current projects examining hypertension mechanisms through exercise blood pressure analysis (2025-2028) and morning blood pressure surge mechanisms (2022-2025). He actively contributes to the WASEDA'S Health Study cohort investigation, which examines relationships between physical fitness, lifestyle factors, and health outcomes in Japanese adults. His teaching portfolio includes undergraduate courses in information processing and freshman seminars, along with graduate-level academic writing instruction. As part of Waseda University's Global Education Center affiliation, he participates in interdisciplinary initiatives bridging sport sciences with broader health education frameworks. His research group collaborates with international partners through the European College of Sport Science and maintains active connections with clinical physiology researchers in Japan.
David R. Deyle, M.D., is an Associate Professor of Medical Genetics at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He holds primary and joint appointments as a Consultant in the Department of Medical Genetics, Department of Molecular Medicine, Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, and Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine. His multidisciplinary role reflects his integrative research in gene and cell therapy for genetic disorders. Dr. Deyle earned his M.D. from the University of Minnesota Medical School, completed residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Minnesota, and underwent fellowship training in Medical Genetics at the University of Washington, Seattle. He is board-certified in Clinical Genetics and Genomics by the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics. His research focuses on developing gene and cell therapies through genomic editing in human stem cells. Key areas include treating osteogenesis imperfecta using iPSCs and AAV vectors, in vivo modeling of skeletal diseases, and oncolytic measles virus (MV-NIS) therapy for neurofibromatosis 1 (NF1) tumors. His work leverages CRISPR, TALENs, and adeno-associated virus (AAV) technologies to precisely modify the genome in mesenchymal and induced pluripotent stem cells for regenerative medicine applications. Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend in clinical genomics, stem cell engineering, and translational gene therapy. His work spans rare genetic disorders such as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, achondroplasia, and mucopolysaccharidosis, with a consistent emphasis on improving diagnostic and therapeutic pipelines through genomic innovation. Discovery Science Award, Regenerative Medicine Minnesota (2020–2022) Gene Therapy of Arthritis and Related Disorders Young Investigator Award (2008) NIH Loan Repayment Program Grant (2006) Summa Cum Laude, University of Minnesota (1993) Dr. Deyle has served as Principal Investigator on multiple NIH-funded grants, including projects on in vivo gene targeting for inherited bone disease and engineering pluripotent stem cells for osteogenesis imperfecta. He has also been a mentor and committee member in the American Society of Gene & Cell Therapy and has reviewed grants for NIH study sections (NIAMS, NINDS, NCMRR). His laboratory is part of the Center for Individualized Medicine and the Center for Regenerative Biotherapeutics at Mayo Clinic, where his team develops preclinical models and novel viral vector systems for genetic correction.
Professor Andrew Quantock serves as Professor and Director of Research at Cardiff University's School of Optometry and Vision Sciences. With over two decades of experience in ophthalmic research, he leads investigations into corneal ultrastructure and transparency mechanisms. His work bridges fundamental science with clinical applications, focusing on understanding the molecular basis of corneal function and disease. Professor Quantock's research primarily centers on corneal ultrastructure, with particular emphasis on collagen fibril organization and proteoglycan macromolecules in various corneal diseases and dystrophies. His laboratory investigates molecular changes accompanying corneal transparency development and explores tissue engineering approaches for corneal epithelial, stromal, and endothelial layers. His work has significant implications for understanding corneal pathologies and developing novel therapeutic interventions. Analysis of Professor Quantock's recent publications reveals a strong focus on advanced techniques for corneal analysis and repair, including stem cell therapies, precision diagnostics, and molecular characterization of corneal tissue. His research spans fundamental investigations of corneal development and structure to translational studies with direct clinical applications, demonstrating consistent innovation in ophthalmic research methodology. Silver Fellow of ARVO (The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology) Daiwa Adrian Prize for excellence in Anglo-Japanese research (2004) Professor Quantock has secured substantial research funding as principal or co-investigator on grants totaling over £6 million from major funding bodies including BBSRC, EPSRC, MRC, and the Wellcome Trust. His current work focuses on developing new minimally invasive surgeries for corneal endothelial dysfunction and understanding corneal cell and matrix development at high resolution. He maintains strong international collaborations, particularly with leading researchers in the USA and Japan. Professor Quantock serves on the Cornea section of the ARVO Annual Meeting Programme Committee (2005-2008, co-chair in 2007/08) and holds Visiting Professor positions at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine and Doshisha University in Kyoto, reflecting his significant international standing in the field of corneal research.
Martin Parent is a Full Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at the Faculty of Medicine, Laval University. His research focuses on neural circuits within the basal ganglia and their alterations in Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases. Based at the CERVO Brain Research Centre, he leads a research team that utilizes both animal models and post-mortem human brain tissue to understand neurodegenerative processes and develop potential treatments, with particular emphasis on deep brain stimulation and L-Dopa therapy mechanisms. Dr. Parent's research interests center around the anatomical and functional organization of the basal ganglia in rodents, humans, and non-human primates. His team investigates alterations in neuronal circuits that occur in Parkinson's disease and Huntington's chorea, employing a wide array of methodological approaches including in vivo electrophysiological recordings, tracer injections, three-dimensional neuron reconstructions, electron microscopy, neurotransmitter localization, and analysis of post-mortem human brain tissue. A key focus of his work is understanding how the brain adapts to the loss of dopamine neurons in Parkinson's disease, which explains the onset of dyskinesias following L-Dopa treatment. His research has highlighted the remarkable adaptability of the brain in response to neurodegeneration. Analysis of Dr. Parent's recent publications (2024-2025) reveals a strong focus on developing and applying advanced imaging techniques for deep brain stimulation surgery and neurodegenerative disease research. His work spans multiple disciplines including neuroscience, medical imaging, and biomedical engineering, with particular emphasis on Parkinson's disease mechanisms and treatments. Key trends include the application of optical imaging techniques (polarimetric imaging, Raman spectroscopy, optical coherence tomography) for brain tissue identification during neurosurgery, investigation of serotonin and other neurotransmitter systems in parkinsonian models, and exploration of neuroplasticity and cellular stress responses in neurodegenerative conditions. Dr. Parent leads the Parent Lab (http://www.parentlab.ca/), which maintains a strong collaborative network with researchers specializing in optical imaging, neurosurgery, and neurodegenerative diseases. His lab works closely with the CERVO Brain Research Centre's brain bank, an exceptional resource for studying post-mortem human brain tissue from individuals who suffered from neurodegenerative diseases. The lab's interdisciplinary approach combines expertise in neuroanatomy, electrophysiology, molecular biology, and advanced imaging techniques to address fundamental questions about basal ganglia function and dysfunction, with direct applications to improving neurosurgical procedures and developing better treatments for movement disorders.
Dr. Hadi Afsharan is a Research Fellow at The University of Western Australia (UWA), focusing on translational biomedical engineering and medical device innovation. He holds dual fellowships from the WA Department of Health’s Future Health Research and Innovation Fund (FHRI) and UWA, supporting cardiovascular research totaling over $1.8M. His expertise spans non-invasive diagnostics, optical coherence tomography (OCT), retinal imaging, and radar-based physiological monitoring. Education: PhD in Biomedical Engineering (UWA, 2023); RTP Scholarship recipient (2019). Professional memberships include SPIE, OPTICA, European Society of Cardiology, CSANZ, and WACRA. Research Interests: Developing OCT-based tools for cardiovascular disease screening, retinal biomarker discovery, and non-invasive jugular venous pressure measurement using radar. His work bridges biomedical optics and clinical translation, with applications in hypertension, diabetes, and burn scar assessment. Grants & Awards: Over $1.8M in funding from FHRI, UWA, and national grants. Notable awards include the Western Australian Cardiovascular Research Alliance Publication Prize (2023) and RTP Scholarship (2019). Collaborations: Active with clinical and academic partners globally, including presentations at SPIE Photonics West, CSANZ, and European Society of Cardiology Congress. Peer reviewer for journals in biomedical optics and cardiovascular science. Labs/Teams: Leads projects on retinal imaging and radar-based monitoring, collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams in engineering and medicine.
Roger Dale Kamm is the Cecil and Ida Green Distinguished Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the departments of Mechanical Engineering and Biological Engineering . As a leading figure in mechanobiology, he directs the NSF Center on Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems and co-chairs the MIT faculty. His research focuses on microfluidic models for diseases such as metastatic cancer , Alzheimer’s , and ALS , with an emphasis on integrated cellular systems and living machines . His work bridges cell mechanics , biological systems , and vascular engineering , producing organ-on-a-chip and vascularized organoids for drug screening and disease modeling. Recent publications highlight innovations in neurovascular barriers , mechanical memory in cancer metastasis , and glymphatic system studies for neurodegenerative diseases. His lab develops 3D microfluidic platforms to simulate cardiovascular dynamics , neurological disease , and immune cell trafficking . Scientific Awards : National Academy of Engineering Fellow (2020) Shu Chien Achievement Award (2020) Nerem Medal (2018) Huiskes Medal (2015) Everett Moore Baker Award (2001) He has mentored numerous researchers and graduate students, including Ellen Kan and Marie Floryan . His Mechanobiology Lab at MIT pioneers microphysiological systems for vascular, neurological, and oncological applications, partnering with biotech/pharma for translational research.
Mansoor Amiji is a University Distinguished Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemical Engineering at Northeastern University, with an affiliation in Bioengineering. He leads the Translational Therapeutic Delivery Laboratory, focusing on developing advanced drug delivery systems, polymeric biomaterials, and nanomedical technologies to address unmet medical needs such as cancer therapy, neurodegenerative diseases, and inflammatory conditions. His work integrates multidisciplinary expertise from engineering, biology, and medicine. Education: BS (Pharmacy, Northeastern University), PhD (Pharmaceutics, Purdue University). Awards include the T. Nagai Award and Fellowships from AAAS, AAPS, AIMBE, and the Controlled Release Society. He is a Charivate Analytics Highly Cited Author (top 1%) and recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award from Purdue University. Research emphasizes targeted delivery systems for hard-to-deliver molecules (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins) to hard-to-reach sites like the brain. Key innovations include the Minimally Invasive Nasal Depot (MIND) technique for CNS delivery, lipid nanoparticle formulations for cancer treatment, and nanoemulsion-based combination therapies. His lab collaborates with industry and clinical partners to translate these technologies into clinical applications. Scientific achievements span over 200 publications in drug delivery, nanomedicine, and immunotherapy. His work addresses challenges in mRNA vaccine stability, overcoming chemotherapy resistance, and improving delivery of therapeutics for chronic rhinosinusitis and neurodegenerative diseases.
Auxiliadora Sarmiento Vega is a full professor at the University of Seville 's School of Engineering within the Department of Signal Theory and Communications . With over two decades of research experience, her work bridges audio signal processing and biomedical applications, focusing on blind source separation, entropy-based methods, and machine learning for healthcare diagnostics. Research Pillars : Audio source separation, biomedical signal/image analysis, and virtual reality integration Key Projects : ACACIA (Signal Analysis), NEUBIAS (Bioimage Analysts Network), and multiple NIH-funded biomedical imaging initiatives Academic Contributions span 15+ years, with groundbreaking work in: Alpha-Beta divergence clustering algorithms EEG processing for motor imagery BCI systems Automated breast cancer grading from histological images Glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy diagnostics via retinal image analysis Virtual reality platforms for emotion analysis research She actively collaborates with institutions like the IEEE Women in Engineering (Spanish section secretary) and NEUBIAS network , while mentoring through outreach programs like g4g Day that empower young women in STEM.
Cherise Chen is an Assistant Professor in Computer Vision at the Department of Computer Science, University of Sheffield. She also holds positions as a Visiting Researcher in the Oxford BioMedIA Group at the University of Oxford and an Honorary Research Fellow at Imperial College London. As a core member of the Insigeno Institute and Shef.AI community, Dr. Chen leads research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and healthcare, focusing on translating cutting-edge AI techniques into practical medical applications. Dr. Chen's research program centers on developing robust, data-efficient machine learning algorithms for medical image analysis. Her work spans adversarial data augmentation, robust machine learning frameworks, and data-efficient learning techniques including self-supervised, few-shot, and semi-supervised approaches. She has made significant contributions to multi-task and multi-modal learning, adaptive machine learning systems, and algorithms with built-in considerations for fairness, privacy, robustness, and interpretability. Her research specifically targets clinical applications in cardiac image analysis (including segmentation, registration, and shape remodeling with quality control), prostate image analysis integrated with pathological image analysis, and brain image segmentation for clinical use cases. Analysis of Dr. Chen's recent publications reveals a strong focus on addressing the practical challenges of deploying AI in real-world medical settings. Her work on test-time adaptation methods (2023), adversarial style composition (2022), and cooperative training frameworks (2021) demonstrates her commitment to creating AI systems that maintain performance despite domain shifts and limited labeled data. She has consistently contributed to top-tier medical imaging conferences, with multiple papers accepted to MICCAI from 2018-2023, reflecting her standing in the medical imaging research community. IEEE TMI Gold-level Distinguished Reviewer Award (2022-2023) MICCAI 2023 Outstanding Reviewer Award Winner of the Fetal Tissue Annotation and Segmentation Challenge (FeTA) 2022 Winner of the Multi-sequence Cardiac MR Segmentation Challenge 2019 China National Scholarships (twice, top 0.2%) Dr. Chen actively mentors students and has delivered invited talks at prestigious institutions including Johns Hopkins University, Technical University of Munich, and the German Cancer Research Center. Her laboratory at Sheffield focuses on advancing deep medical image segmentation with particular attention to robustness, reliability, and real-world applicability in clinical workflows.
Cynthia Ann Toth is the Joseph A.C. Wadsworth Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology at Duke University, with additional appointments as Professor of Ophthalmology and Professor of Biomedical Engineering. Her extensive career has positioned her as a leading authority in vitreoretinal diseases and surgery, particularly in the development and application of optical coherence tomography (OCT) technologies for both adult and pediatric patients. She has made significant contributions to retinal imaging, with a special focus on retinopathy of prematurity and age-related macular degeneration. Joseph A.C. Wadsworth Distinguished Professor of Ophthalmology Professor of Biomedical Engineering Specialist in Vitreoretinal Diseases & Surgery Director of advanced imaging research programs Dr. Toth received her M.D. from Drexel University in 1983, followed by ophthalmology training at Geisinger Medical Center (1984-1987) and the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine (1989-1991). Her educational background provided the foundation for her pioneering work in retinal imaging technologies. Dr. Toth's research primarily focuses on advancing optical coherence tomography for clinical and surgical applications. Her work spans several critical areas including: development of handheld OCT devices for infant and pediatric imaging; intraoperative OCT for vitreoretinal surgery; OCT angiography for microvascular assessment; and application of OCT in retinopathy of prematurity and age-related macular degeneration. She has been instrumental in translating OCT technology from research settings to clinical practice, particularly for vulnerable patient populations like premature infants who require bedside imaging. Her publication record demonstrates a clear trajectory from foundational OCT technology development to sophisticated clinical applications. Recent work shows increasing integration of artificial intelligence, robotics, and novel optical clearing techniques with OCT systems. The research consistently bridges engineering innovation with immediate clinical needs, particularly in pediatric ophthalmology and retinal surgery. ARVO/Alcon Keynote (2022) Gertrude Pyron Award from American Society of Retina Specialists (2021) Scientific Achievement Award from Women in Ophthalmology (2019) Wacker Prize from Club Jules Gonin (2018) Paul Henkind Award and Lecture from Macula Society (2018) Rockefeller Foundation Academic Writing Residency (2017) As a mentor, Dr. Toth has guided numerous students and junior faculty in ophthalmic research, with particular emphasis on imaging technology development. Her research has been supported by significant grant funding from NIH and other organizations, enabling her team to develop innovative imaging approaches that have transformed clinical practice in retinal diseases. She has been particularly active in collaborative research efforts, often leading multi-center studies that establish standards for retinal imaging and diagnosis. Dr. Toth leads a multidisciplinary research team that includes ophthalmologists, biomedical engineers, computer scientists, and clinical researchers. Her laboratory focuses on developing next-generation imaging technologies that can be deployed at the bedside for infants and during surgery for precise guidance. The team has pioneered several handheld OCT systems specifically designed for pediatric use and has developed novel image processing techniques that extract maximum diagnostic information from OCT scans.
