Herma van der Linde is a researcher at Erasmus University Medical Center's Department of Clinical Genetics, leveraging zebrafish models to investigate genetic mechanisms of human diseases with emphasis on neurological, cardiac, and gastrointestinal disorders. Her research integrates multiple disciplines through: Neurogenetics of motor neuron diseases and leukodystrophy Molecular pathways in cardiomyocyte adhesion and heart development Intestinal morphogenesis and motility disorders Therapeutic translation including statin repurposing Cellular mechanisms of filamin isoforms and cytoskeletal regulation Recent publications demonstrate consistent focus on zebrafish-based discovery of disease-causing variants (e.g., AMFR, CSF1R, FLII), with strong translational emphasis on identifying druggable pathways. Her work bridges basic developmental biology with clinical applications across neurology, cardiology, and gastroenterology. Collaborative networks span international institutions as evidenced by multi-author publications, reflecting integrated approaches to complex genetic disorders through the Clinical Genetics department's research infrastructure.
Ross McKinnon is a Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor in the College of Medicine and Public Health at Flinders University. He previously served as Foundation Director of the Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute and Dean (Research). His career includes roles at the University of South Australia (UniSA), such as Inaugural Director of the Sansom Institute and Associate Head (Research) of the School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences. His research focuses on pharmacology, pharmaceutical biotechnology, and oncology, with contributions to cancer chemoprevention patents and anti-inflammatory compound discovery. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences and the International Pharmaceutical Federation (FIP). McKinnon currently chairs the FIP Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences and serves on the Therapeutic Innovation Australia board. He holds adjunct professorships at Monash University and co-chairs the IUPHAR World Congress of Pharmacology 2026 Program Committee. His awards include the APSA Medallist, Flinders University Distinguished Alumni Award, and the Barrie L. Reed Distinguished Lecturer title. His work emphasizes translational research, particularly in drug development and improving healthcare outcomes through evidence-based practices. Education B Pharm (UniSA) B Sc (Hons) (Flinders) PhD (Flinders) Key Roles Chair, FIP Board of Pharmaceutical Sciences Board Member, Therapeutic Innovation Australia Adjunct Professor, Monash University Research Initiatives Precision approaches to anti-cancer medicines Glucuronidation and cancer research Traditional Indigenous medicine collaborations Grants & Funding NHMRC grants Cancer Council SA funding
Zhen Zhou is a Research Fellow in Chronic Disease & Ageing at Monash University. His work focuses on cardiovascular medicine, geriatrics, epidemiology, and pharmacology, contributing to UN Sustainable Development Goals related to health and well-being. Education: PhD in Epidemiology (Menzies Institute for Medical Research, 2021), Master’s in Clinical Medicine (2016), and Bachelor’s in Clinical Medicine (2014). Research areas include lipid variability, antibiotic effects on cognitive decline, and the impact of antihypertensive medications on dementia risk. He leads a project on cholesterol trajectories in primary prevention cohorts. Awards include the SPHPM Early Career Research Excellence Award (2024) and a travel grant from the International Congress on Lipid & Atherosclerosis (2024). Key projects involve randomized controlled trials (e.g., plaque visualization effects) and cohort studies on cardiovascular risk factors in aging populations.
Professor Thomas Eschenhagen is a distinguished researcher at the Institute of Experimental Pharmacology and Toxicology at Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf. With over 300 publications to his name, his work focuses on cardiovascular research, particularly in the areas of cardiac electrophysiology, stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, and tissue engineering for heart repair. His research has significant implications for understanding and treating atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathies, and other cardiac conditions. Professor Eschenhagen's research interests span multiple interconnected fields of cardiovascular science. His work in stem cell biology has focused on developing human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes as models for studying cardiac electrophysiology and disease. He has made significant contributions to understanding how engineered heart tissue can be used for cardiac repair and regeneration. His pharmacological research has investigated drug targets for atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias, with particular attention to phosphodiesterase inhibition and SGLT2 inhibitors. Additionally, his work explores the metabolic aspects of cardiac function and disease, including the role of mitochondrial function and metabolic communication in heart health. Professor Eschenhagen's recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on translational research that bridges basic science and clinical applications. His work on engineered heart tissue models has provided valuable insights into cardiac electrophysiology and potential therapeutic approaches for heart disease. He has been instrumental in developing human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived models that accurately recapitulate human cardiac physiology, which has important implications for personalized medicine and drug testing. Professor Eschenhagen leads a research team focused on cardiac tissue engineering, stem cell biology, and pharmacological approaches to cardiac disease. His laboratory has developed sophisticated models for studying cardiac electrophysiology and testing potential therapeutics for heart conditions.
Cameron Mura holds dual appointments as a Senior Scientist at the University of Virginia's School of Data Science and the Department of Biomedical Engineering. His work bridges structural and computational biology, molecular biophysics, and biochemistry. He earned a Ph.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UCLA and a B.S. in Chemistry from Georgia Tech, following a postdoctoral fellowship in computational molecular biology at UC San Diego. Research Interests: Mura focuses on RNA-processing assemblies, molecular dynamics simulations, and computational chemistry. His lab integrates machine learning with experimental data to study protein structure-function relationships and RNA biology. Recent work explores protein fold spaces, drug interactions with proteins, and real-world evidence from large biomedical datasets. Lab & Collaborations: He leads the Bourne & Mura Computational Biosciences Lab, focusing on biomolecular data science. His research spans protein structure prediction, vaccine adverse event analysis, and computational tools like Prop3D. Publications: Mura's recent articles emphasize machine learning applications in structural biology, including generative models for protein folds and real-world evidence studies on vaccines and medications. Themes include interdisciplinary approaches to biomedical challenges.
Professor Martin Empting is a leading researcher in medicinal chemistry and anti-infective drug discovery at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), affiliated with Saarland University. He leads the research group focused on Antiviral & Antivirulence Agents, developing synthetic drug molecules targeting bacterial and viral pathogens. His academic background includes a doctorate from the Technical University of Darmstadt and a habilitation in Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry from Saarland University. Empting's research interests span: Fragment-Based Drug Design Targeted Protein Degradation Quorum Sensing Inhibition Anti-Virulence Strategies Herpesviral Infections Pseudomonas aeruginosa pathogenesis His work integrates chemical biology, computational modeling, and high-throughput screening to discover novel therapeutics. Recent publications reveal a strong trend in dual-targeting strategies, particularly combining traditional antibiotics with quorum sensing inhibitors to combat biofilm-related infections. His research bridges virology and bacteriology, with significant contributions to understanding and disrupting pathogen communication systems. The development of nanoparticle-based delivery systems further highlights his translational approach to overcoming drug resistance. Scientific awards received include: Dr. Anton Keller Foundation Prize Family Bottling Foundation Prize Empting conducts independent research following a postdoctoral period at HIPS. He supervises a research group focused on anti-infective development but no specific students are named in the provided materials. His laboratory develops innovative assays for target validation and employs advanced technologies like phage display and fragment-based design.
Richard C Austin is a Professor of Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences at McMaster University, where he conducts groundbreaking research at the intersection of cardiovascular disease, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and metabolic disorders. His laboratory investigates molecular mechanisms linking ER stress to atherosclerosis, kidney disease, and cancer progression. Dr. Austin's research focuses on ER stress pathways, particularly the roles of GRP78, TDAG51, and PCSK9 in disease pathogenesis. His work demonstrates how ER stress sensors regulate lipid metabolism, vascular calcification, and coagulation pathways. Recent studies reveal novel mechanisms where anti-GRP78 autoantibodies accelerate atherosclerosis and prostate cancer progression through tissue factor activation. His publication record shows consistent output in high-impact journals including Nature Communications , Circulation , and Journal of Biological Chemistry , with recent work emphasizing therapeutic interventions targeting ER stress. The 15 most recent articles demonstrate strong focus on PCSK9 regulation, chemical chaperones (4-phenylbutyrate), and novel biomarkers like GDF10 across cardiovascular, metabolic, and oncological contexts. Scientific Recognition: Elected Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (CAHS) Dr. Austin actively mentors through teaching Clinical Topics in Nephrology and Renal Disease (MEDSCI 768) and supervises research on ER stress mechanisms. His lab utilizes advanced mouse models including SR-B1/ApoE double knockouts and SR-B1-deficient mice to study diet-induced atherosclerosis. Current research explores caffeine derivatives for hyperlipidemia treatment and AI-driven drug discovery approaches. His laboratory maintains strong translational focus with work on chemical chaperones for atherosclerosis (4-phenylbutyrate), GRP78-targeting therapies for cancer, and PCSK9 inhibitors for lipid disorders. Recent collaborations examine ER stress in neurodegenerative conditions and childhood obesity.
Dr. Vincent C.O. Njar is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology & Physiology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, with concurrent roles as Medicinal Chemistry Group Leader at the Center for Biomolecular Therapeutics (CBT) and Full Member at the Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center. He is a distinguished medicinal chemist and oncopharmacologist known for developing small-molecule anti-cancer agents, particularly galeterone and its analogs. His academic journey includes B.Sc. (1976) and Ph.D. (1980) from the University of Ibadan and University College London, followed by postdoctoral training at the Worcester Foundation. Education: University of Ibadan - B.Sc. Chemistry (1976) University College London - Ph.D. Organic Chemistry (1980) Dr. Njar’s research spans Mechanistic Oncopharmacology and Molecular Targeting , focusing on: Design of retinoidal/steroidal compounds targeting CYP enzymes and androgen receptors Development of MNK1/2 degraders (e.g., VNLG-152R) for translational oncology Mechanistic studies on apoptosis induction and metastasis inhibition Translational research bridging preclinical models to clinical trials His recent publications emphasize: Novel deuterated compounds for enhanced stability Mechanistic insights into kinase degradation Drug repurposing for dermatological and neurological cancers Therapeutic strategies for racial disparities in prostate cancer Pharmacokinetic optimization for clinical translation Combination therapies synergizing with gemcitabine Dr. Njar founded Terpene Pharmaceuticals LLC in 2014 and led galeterone through Phase III trials (ARMOR3-SV) for castration-resistant prostate cancer. His work spans epigenetic regulation via HDAC inhibitors, autophagy modulation , and computational drug design for multi-target agents. Current research explores cholesterol biosynthesis and Stat5 inhibition in cancer progression. Key Collaborations: Angela Brodie (University of Maryland School of Medicine) Kimmel Cancer Center Terpene Pharmaceuticals
Dr. Nasrollah Rezaei Ghaleh leads an independent research group at the Institute of Physical Biology within Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf. His team investigates protein dynamics using advanced NMR techniques, focusing on misfolding mechanisms in neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The group relocated from Göttingen to Düsseldorf in 2017 and actively seeks collaborations with master's/PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. Research centers on: Protein aggregation pathology in neurodegeneration Development of novel NMR methodologies (high-pressure, singlet-state, quadrupolar NMR) Biomolecular phase separation dynamics Structural analysis of intrinsically disordered proteins Publications emphasize amyloid-beta and alpha-synuclein systems, featuring frequent application of multi-nuclear NMR approaches. Recent work demonstrates strong focus on: liquid-liquid phase separation characterization; inhibitor development against pathological aggregation; and innovative NMR techniques for studying molecular mobility. The laboratory maintains active recruitment for graduate researchers and postdocs despite no current openings. Team infrastructure supports NMR-based biophysical research with international collaborations evident across publications.
Jens Pahnke is a Professor at the University of Oslo, Department of Pathology (PAT) at the National Hospital. He leads the Pahnke Lab in Dementia Research, focusing on molecular mechanisms and treatment options for neurodegenerative diseases with special emphasis on Alzheimer's disease. His laboratory investigates clearance mechanisms of toxic peptides via the blood-brain barrier, new imaging techniques, mitochondrial function, and neuroimmunological mechanisms. Dr. Pahnke's primary research interests include ABC transporters, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, blood-brain barrier function, and mouse models of neurodegeneration. His work particularly emphasizes the role of ABC transporters in neurodegenerative processes, with significant contributions to understanding how these transporters affect disease progression and potential treatment avenues. His lab utilizes advanced techniques including mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), AI/ML-assisted data analysis, and comprehensive OMICS approaches (metabolomics, lipidomics, proteomics). Analysis of his 15 most recent publications reveals a strong focus on ABC transporter function in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly ABCA7 in Alzheimer's and Huntington's disease. His research demonstrates sex-dependent treatment responses, connections between lipid metabolism and neurodegeneration, and promising repurposing of existing drugs like FTY720 for Huntington's disease. His work bridges basic science with translational applications, including the development of imaging techniques to assess transporter function and the investigation of natural compounds like St. John's Wort for therapeutic potential. Dr. Pahnke is actively involved in several major research initiatives including the HDFTY study investigating FTY720 for Huntington's disease treatment (planned start 2025) and the A7HD project examining ABCA7 dysregulation in Huntington's disease (2025-2028). His laboratory has established collaborations with researchers across Norway, Latvia, Israel, Germany, Czech Republic, France, and Sweden, creating a strong international network focused on neurodegenerative disease research. His lab employs cutting-edge methodologies including mass spectrometry imaging with 20µm resolution, AI/ML-assisted segmentation of MS spectra, and sophisticated mouse models of neurodegenerative diseases. They have demonstrated that ABCA7 functional modulation significantly affects disease onset and severity in Huntington's disease, with female mice showing complete rescue until 57 weeks of age when ABCA7 is knocked out, while male mice exhibit a significant delay in disease progression of more than 10 weeks.
Victoria Palau, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at East Tennessee State University's Bill Gatton College of Pharmacy. She holds a PhD from Florida International University (1999), completed postdoctoral training in Tumor Cell Biology at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine (2000-2003), and earned a P.M.C. in Clinical Research Management from Duke University (2007-2010). Her research explores oncogenesis mechanisms , cell signaling pathways , and natural product therapeutics , with emphasis on ethnobotanical compounds for cancer treatment. Current investigations include flavone cytotoxicity, sphingolipid transport modulation, and HER2-targeted therapies. Dr. Palau has received multiple teaching awards, including three Biomedical Graduate Student recognitions for instructional excellence. Her scientific honors include: Biomedical Graduate Student Professor of the Year (2013-2014, 2011-2012) Mini-Symposium selections at AACR annual meetings (2004, 2006) Science Signaling Editor's Choice award (2003) She secured NIH/NCI funding (K01CA102248) for her work on Muc4-ErbB2 signaling complexes. Dr. Palau teaches extensively in pharmacy and medical curricula, covering immunology, oncology, clinical trials, and pharmaceutical research methodologies.
