Nancy B. Schwartz received a B.S. in Chemistry and a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the University of Pittsburgh and is currently Professor, Departments of Pediatrics and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Chicago. She has served on several NIH study sections, foundation review boards, and editorial boards. She is director of the Kennedy Research Center, NIH M.D./Ph.D. GDTP, HHMI Med-into-Grad, and NIH PREP. She has had continuous R01 research funding, received both a MERIT award and a Mentor of Excellence from NIH, and is Director of a P01 and a P30 Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Center. Her current research focuses on the role of glycoconjugates in the developing limb and brain using a combination of molecular, genetic and biochemical approaches. Ongoing projects include identifying mutations responsible for the chondrodystrophic conditions in several model systems; elucidating the underlying pathophysiology of the matrix deficiencies: developing novel genetic models to study proteoglycan function during skeletal development; creating models to study cortical development in altered micro environments; and elucidating the role of proteoglycans as biomodulations of growth factor signaling.

1. Chondrogenesis

2. Gliogenesis

3. Proteoglycans

4. Glycosyltransferase

Our long-term goals are to understand the inflammatory mechanisms triggered by trauma in the central nervous system. We are interested in the effects of chronic inflammation on genotoxic and epigenetic outcomes, cell death, impaired blood brain barrier and immunological activation in CNS and resultant developmental and adult outcomes. We have developed interventions ranging from endogenous receptor antagonists and gene specific “decoy” inhibition of transcription factor binding to gene promoter sites as potential therapies. We also study the role of trauma-induced post-translational modifications that regulate intracellular trafficking in stress response mechanisms. Our hypothesis is that oxidative stress in the nervous system, caused by chronic or acute trauma, triggers inflammatory responses that result in the uncoupling of gene networks responsible for the resultant deficits. Our studies focus on: the Bcl-protein family and inflammatory cytokines. We rely on in vitro and in vivo rodent models for perinatal ischemia, spinal cord and head injury.

Dr. Boyd received a B.S in Physiology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign and an M.S. in Biology from the University of Memphis. He then received his Ph.D in Molecular Biology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1986. Dr. Boyd carried out postdoctoral studies at the University of California, San Diego and the Salk Institute before moving to The Ohio State University College of Medicine as Assistant Professor of Pharmacology in 1990. Dr Boyd is currently Associate Professor of Neuroscience in the Department of Neuroscience. Dr. Boyd is a reviewer for numerous journals and has served on multiple NIH study sections. He has been active in graduate education, recently completing a four-year term as Associate Director of the Integrated Biomedical Science Graduate Program (IBGP).

Research activities in my laboratory have emphasized a molecular biological analysis of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Neuronal nAChRs mediate synaptic transmission in many parts of the vertebrate central nervous system, in autonomic ganglia, retina, and adrenal medulla. We have studied transcriptional regulation of nAChR subunit genes as well the identifying a new allosteric site on the a4b2 neuronal nAChR. This site is being explored for its potential as a binding site for new drugs which modulate nAChR activity and could be used to aid smoking cessation. We have also cloned the zebrafish neuronal nAChR genes and determined the expression pattern of zebrafish neuronal nAChR genes during development. The information derived from these studies is being used to develop zebrafish as a model for studying the role of nAChRs in normal development of the nervous system and the mechanisms by which nicotine perturbs vertebrate nervous system development

Miguel Angel Medina Torres has received his PhD in University of Malaga during the period of 1989. Currently, he is working as full Professor in University of Malaga

Search for compounds with modulatory effects on angiogenesis. Characterization of the structure/function relationship and turnover mechanisms of L-amino acid decarboxylases in Eukaryotes: Molecular basis and pharmacological implications. Anti-inflammatory strategies. Application of bioinformatics, biophysical and systems biology approaches to the study of polyamine and biogenic amine metabolism and to the systemic study of rare diseases

Prof. Dao Wen Wang has received his PhD in Tongji Medical University during the period of 1992. Currently, he is working as Professor in Huazhong University of Science & Technology.

My Interesting research fields include Molecular biology of hypertension, genetherapy, and prediction of cardiovascular diseases

Molecular biology
Yeast genetics
Transcription and replication of nucleic acids

Thimios Mitsiadis was born in Greece (Larissa), and he is from 2006 Professor of Oral Biology in the Medical Faculty at the University of Zurich, Switzerland. He conducts research in the fields of stem cells, genetics, molecular and experimental biology related to craniofacial developmental processes. He obtained his DDS degree from the University of Athens (Greece). He got specializations in Restorative Dentistry (1987) and in Pediatric Dentistry (1988) from the University of Lyon (France). There, he also obtained a Master Degree (DEA) in Immunology, Genetics and Differentiation and his PhD Degree in Developmental Biology (1993). He conducted Post-doctoral studies in the University of Helsinki (Finland), Karolinska Nobel Institute (Sweden), and Yale University (USA). From 1996-2002 he was Professor at the University Aix-Marseille (France), Visiting Professor at the Ecole Normale Superieure de Lyon (2003), Clinical Senior Lecturer at King’s College London (2003-2006), and Associate Professor at Dental School of Athens (2004-2005).  

Thimios Mitsiadis conducts research in the fields of stem cells, genetics, molecular and experimental biology, and developmental and evolutionary biology related to craniofacial developmental processes. Prof Mitsiadis is interested in molecules involved in Notch and BMP signalling pathways.

Dr. Yu Xue is a professor at the Department of Systems Biology of College of Life Science and Technology of Huazhong University of Science and Technology. He received his B.S. in Polymer Materials and Technology in 2002 and B.E. in Computer Science and Technology in 2003 from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). He completed his Ph.D. training in Cell Biology and Bioinformatics in USTC (2002-2006). During the past several years, Dr. Xue has published extensively on computational studies of post-translational modifications (PTMs), including developing novel GPS (Group-based Prediction System) series algorithms, studying several new PTMs (eg., epigenetic modifications), constructing easy-to-use softwares and databases, and proteome-wide analysis of PTMs substrates, etc. His group is currently combining systems biology, bioinformatics, and molecular & cellular biology approaches to study genetic variations that potentially influence protein modification status.

Bioinformatics & Systems Biology, Post-translational modifications of proteins and Protein-protein interaction

Dr. Rhoel R Dinglasan, PhD, MPH completed his Masters in Public Health and Masters in Philosophy in Molecular Vector Biology at Yale University. In 2004, he completed his PhD at the University of Maryland, School of Medicine, in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology and the Center for Vaccine Development. From 2004-2008, he was a Dmitri V. d’Arbeloff (Millipore Foundation) and a NIH Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) Postdoctoral Fellow at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH). Dr. Dinglasan is an Assistant Professor at the W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology and a member of the Johns Hopkins Malaria Research Institute at JHSPH.

His primary research focus is on vector host-pathogen interactions, Glycoproteomics and the development of novel drug- or vaccine-based malaria transmission-blocking interventions.

Dr Jenssen earned his PhD at the University of Tromsø, Norway in 2004, did a post doc at CMDR, University of British Columbia, Canada, followed by a research associate position at the same university. In 2009 he joined as a faculty member the Dept. of Science, Systems & Models, at Roskilde University, Denmark. He is serving as a reviewer for 12 peer-reviewed journals, has reviewed international grants for the past two years, serves on several editorial boards and has published close to 50 research articles, review papers and book chapters.

Emerging infectious diseases and the escalating incidence of drug-resistant bacterial strains has fueled the hunt for new anti-infective drug candidates in recent years. A potential new therapeutic approach for treating infectious diseases is the use of cationic host defence peptides, also known as antimicrobial peptides. My research focuses on using sophisticated computer-aided prediction models to aid the development of novel peptide and peptidomimetic molecules that may potentially be used to treat both viral and bacterial pathogens. My work encompasses the generation of both directly antimicrobial peptides and those that do not directly kill the pathogen, but instead fight infection by stimulating the host’s natural innate immune system to promote the clearance of infection.

Dr. Chunying Li is an Assistant Professor of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology at Wayne State University School of Medicine, and also holds joint appointments at Cardiovascular Research Institute, and Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University. Dr. Li received his PhD in Physiology in 2005, and did his Postdoctoral training during 2005-2008, both at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He was an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Le Bonheur Childrens Medical Center, University of Tennessee Health Science Center during 2008-2009. He was a recipient of numerous awards and honors, such as The Leonard Share Young Investigator Award (2004), American Heart Association BGIA award (2007-2010), and Pardee Foundation Research Award (2011-2012). Dr. Li has published highly-referred manuscripts in top-tier journals such as Cell, Nature, J Exp Med, PNAS. His research interest lies in the organization and regulation of macromolecular signaling complexes in cystic fibrosis, inflammation, and cancer biology.

PDZ-mediated macromolecular complexes in health and diseases; CFTR macromolecular signaling complex in cystic fibrosis and secretory diarrhea; CXCR2 macromolecular signaling complex in vascular diseases, inflammation, and cancer biology; Spatiotemporal dynamics and regulation of macromolecular signaling complex in live cells and animals.

Dr. Yunfu Lin has received his PhD in Fudan University during the period of 1990 to 1993. Currently, he is working as an Assistant Professor in Baylor College of Medicine. He has authored more than 30 research articles/books

Genomic instability, DNA recombination and repair, Trinucleotide repeat diseases

Dr. Pandey received his Ph.D. from Lucknow University, Lucknow, India in 2005 in the area of Biochemistry. He has multidisciplinary research experience and is an author of several papers in the field of Endocrinology, hormones and aging in international top peer reviewed medical journals including Endocrinology, journal of Endocrinology, journal of Nutritional biochemistry and Gastroenterology, Journal of Leukocyte Biology and Enzyme and Microbial Technology.

Molecular biology, Single cell Study, Protein Biochemistry,  Animal handling, Computer Skills.

Dr. Sanjib Bhakta is a Senior Lecturer in Microbiology at Birkbeck, University of London. His continued research interestis focussedon developing novel therapeutics to tacklepersistence and drug resistance in Tuberculosis. Following aBSc(Hons), an MSc and a PhD in Molecular Biology & Biochemistry in India, Dr Bhakta joined the Oxford University as an ISIS innovation Senior Research Scholar anda Wellcome Trust International Travelling Fellow. He graduated from The Queen’s College, University of Oxford completing a DPhiland received a “Sir William Paton Prize” for the best research presentation in Pharmacology. He joined Birkbeck as a University Lecturerand became a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, UK after achieving a post graduate certificate in Teaching and Life Long Learning in Higher Education (PGCHE) from the University of London. He is a core memberof Tuberculosis Drug Discovery-UK, the Institute of Structural and Molecular Biologyand an affiliated Fellow of the Centre for Infection, Immunity and Disease Mechanism. He is an electedFellow of the Royal Society of Medicine and a Chartered Biologist in the UK.

The disease Tuberculosis (TB), once considered eradicated has now become a major global health concern. It is a condition that, if untreated, can last for several years during which patients are debilitated and may disseminate the causal pathogen, Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We characterise the structure, function, regulation and inhibition of key biochemical pathways in mycobacteriato identify and validate potential therapeutic targets in M. tuberculosisas well as to facilitate the development of a new drug treatment against the different physiological stages of M. tuberculosis infection.

Function and regulation of SAP gene in T lymphocyte as a regulator of DGK-A. Demonstrating that SAP mediates DGK-A inhibition upon TCR stimulation thus increasing diacylglycerol signaling and T cell responses.

·  Role of DGK-A in cell transformation promoted by v-Src and NPM-ALK.  In vitro evaluation of DGK-A as a possible pharmaceutical target for the control of tumor cell growth and dissemination.

· Activation of DGK-A by HGF and VEGF and molecular determinants of its interaction with Src.

Other interesting fields of research:

· Signaling pathways promoting hepatocyte survival such as PI3K, Src and DGK regulation upon adenosine and glicine release in liver preconditioning.

· The anti-apoptotic and pro-differenziative proprieties of Ghrelin in myocytes.

Tomoh is an assistant professor of the Department of Vascular Biology at the Institute of Brain Science, HirosakiUniversity Graduate School of Medicine, Japan.  He received his DDS degree in 1996 from Kyushu dental college and his PhD degree in 2004 from HirosakiUniversity, respectively.  He subsequently joined as a post-doctoral fellow in the laboratory of Dr Stephen Prescott at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah.  

His research has been focusing on molecular mechanism of retinoic acid-inducible gene-I (RIG-I)-dependent antiviral signalling

Dr. Calcaterra has published 26 full papers in prestigious journals indexed in PubMed. She has directed three doctoral theses (PhD) at the National University of Rosario. Currently directs other three doctoral theses and three young scientific researchers from CONICET. She is an associate professor since 2000 in the General Biology Area. She teaches cell biology and developmental biology.She has been involved in university management and advisory committees of science and technology.

Dr.Calcaterra is leader of the biochemistry and molecular biology of development at IBR-CONICET. The main goal of Dr. Calcaterra’ lab is to understand the role of single-stranded nucleic acids binding proteins, RNA or DNA, during embryonic development of vertebrates. The animal model used is Danio rerio.

Dr. Rituraj Purohit has received his PhD in Vellore Institute of Technology, University during the period of 2007-2010. Currently, he is working as Assistant Professor in Vellore Institute of Technology, University.

Mariateresa Volpicella, Ph.D., is a researcher in Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Sciences Biotechnology. She has a degree in Biology and a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of Bari.  Since 2004 she has worked on teaching lessons for the science-disciplinary BIO/11 (Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics, Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology II, Applied Genomics and Bioinformatics) for the three-year degree course in Biotechnology for Innovation in Processes and Products, and the Course Master Degree in Biotechnology for Quality and the Human Food Safety, at the Faculty of Sciences Biotechnologies. She is member of the Board for the Ph.D. Course in “Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Bioinformatics” at the University of Bari.

Plant molecular biology, Bioremediation

Dr. Yuqing Zhang got her PhD from Shandong University in 2005. Currently she is working in Weill Cornell Medical College. Dr. Zhang research interests include DNA damage/repair and cancer biology and therapy. Dr. Zhang has published more than 20 papers in high impact journals and has presented her work many times nationally and internationally. Dr. Zhang serves on the review panel and editorial board of several journals.

DNA damage/repair, cancer biology, cancer therapy, molecular biology, drug resistance.