Rwik Sen

Aurora

Department of Craniofacial Biology

University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

United States

About Me

Obtained Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, Microbiology, and Biochemistry from Southern Illinois University. Research involves understanding how craniofacial development and defects are regulated by epigenetics and mitochondrial metabolism. Also studying cardiac defects and epigenetics. I have studied transcription and DNA repair. Expert in various microbial and vertebrate model systems.

Stefano Bonacci

Research Scientist

GlaxoSmithKline Vaccines srl

Italy

About Me

Dr. Stefano Bonacci is currently working as Research Scientist in GlaxoSmithKline, Preclinical Evidence & Bioassays Function, Siena, Italy. He received his PhD from Siena in 2008. His research interests include: high-throughput automation of lab processes, robotics applied to protocols, vaccine development, protein-protein interactions, protein chip technology, enzyme characterization.

Silvia Cantara

Assistant Professor

Department of Medical Surgical and Neurological Sciences

University of Siena

Italy

About Me

Dr. Cantara is currently a researcher at the Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, Unit of Endocrinology, University of Siena, Italy. She received a Ph.D. in Molecular Medicine from the University of Siena, Italy, in 2004, studying molecular aspects of angiogenesis. She completed post-doctoral research at the Department of Molecular Biology (University of Siena), investigating the role of the circulating progenitor endothelial cells in neo-vascularization and angiogenesis. After, she moved to the Department of Medical, Surgical, and Neurological Sciences and completed a project on the in vitro and in vivo modulation of oncogene(s) implicated in thyroid cancer. Dr. Cantara became researcher of the University of Siena, Italy in 2010 and actively participated to pilot studies determining the role of molecular analysis in refining the diagnosis of thyroid cancer. Dr. Cantara’s current research program is focused on the genetic screening of thyroid tumor specimens, genetic alterations responsible for the familial form of thyroid cancer and genetic factors implicated in other endocrine disorders and obesity.

Sabry Attia

Department of Pharmacology Toxicology

King Saud University

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

About Me

Dr. Attia is a Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology at College of Pharmacy at Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt. Dr Attia now works full time as a Professor at College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. He received his Ph.D. in Genetics at Technical University of Munich, Germany in 2004. Dr. Attia also has worked as a postdoctoral fellow at GSF-Institute of Experimental Genetics and Helmholtz Zentrum München-Genome Analysis Center, Germany. This period of research was concerned with developing new methodologies for drug screening, mutagens detection and prevention. During his scientific career, Dr. Attia has developed an expertise in several advanced techniques and research protocols related to molecular cytogenetic. Since 2001, Dr. Attia authored and co-authored over 140 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, and supervised and co-supervised number of graduate and postgraduate students. He is a reviewer and editor for many reputable international journals. He has received grants from federal and local agencies and from various foundations. He has been an invited speaker in many national and international conferences and he is the recipient of numerous national and international awards and honours for his contribution to the scientific research.

Mahara Angélica Valverde Ramírez

Researcher at Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas

Genomic Medicine and Environmental Toxicology

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México

Mexico

About Me

Currently, my lines of research are focused on the study of DNA damage and repair capacity in different biological systems to understand the acquisition of genetic instability in carcinogenesis and disease. Studies of biomonitoring the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects induced by mixtures of xenobiotics. My main experience is in the Comet assay, being a pioneer in the assay using epithelial biomatrices.

Zhou B Peter

Associate Professor

Department of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry

University of Kentucky

United States

Biography

Zhou B Peter received extensive training in breast cancer research at the Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology and Breast Cancer Research Program at the MD Anderson Cancer Center prior to the faculty appointment at UTMB and UK Markey.

Yu-Fei Jiao

Professor

Department of Pathology

Harbin Medical University

China

Biography

Yu-Fei Jiao received the B.S. degree in clinical medicine from Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China in 1985 and the M.S. degree in pathology from Graduate School of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China, in 1990. Moreover, he obtained the Ph.D. degree in laboratory medicine and pathology from Graduate School of Kochi Medical School, Kochi, Japan, in 1999.

Vincenzo Desiderio

Assistant Professor

Department of Experimental Medicine

Lab of Histology and Embryology, Second University of Naples

Italy

Biography

Vincenzo Desiderio graduated in Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at the University Federico II of Naples with an experimental thesis in onco immunology. He worked as research assistant in both academic and industrial field for few years before joining a PhD program in biotechnology held between the Second University of Naples (SUN) and the University of Michigan (UofM). In 2013 he got the position of Assistant Professor at the SUN lecturing Medical Histology and Embryology in the Medical School program specifically dedicated to international students. His research activity has focused on stem cells biology and cancer stem cells identification and characterization leading to the publication of more then 30 papers in peer review journals. He is member of the Italian Society of Flow Cytometry recognized as expert in the national register of cytometrists.

Vicki Plaks

The lab of Prof. Zena Werb

University of California

San Francisco, United States

Biography

Vicki Plaks presently a specialist in The lab of Prof. Zena Werb, University of California, San Francisco and she completed her Ph.D. degree, from The Feinberg Graduate School, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel and the topic of her Ph. D. thesis is In vivo MRI studies of angiogenesis in reproduction and embryonic development in transgenic mice. She has experience with cases of birth complications and oncology during her internship led her to pursue research at the Weizmann Institute, Israel her M.Sc. studies focused on understanding drug mechanism of action and therapeutic response to a novel anti-cancer vascular photodynamic therapy. Her postdoctoral fellowship at UCSF, California focused on mechanisms governing mammary biology and breast cancer. She is having membership in American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), Member, Society for the Developmental biology (SDB), Member, Society for the Study of Reproduction (SSR), Member and Vicki Plaks is honored with many awards and fellowships.

Vicente Notario

Professor

Radiation Medicine

Georgetown University

United States

Biography

Vicente Notario graduated with a B.Sc. degree from the University of Salamanca, Spain, in 1974, and received his Ph.D. in Biology from the same institution in 1977. After completing post-doctoral training in the Department of Biochemistry of the University of Cambridge, England, and the U.S. National Cancer Institute, he joined the Department of Biochemistry at the Georgetown University Medical Center (G.U.M.C.) as a Research Assistant Professor, in 1986. Currently, Dr. Notario is Professor in the Departments of Radiation Medicine and of Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology. He is also Director of the Division of Radiation Research in the Department of Radiation Medicine. Dr. Notario has been Leader of the Radiation Biology & DNA Repair Program and the Molecular Targets & Therapeutic Resistance Program of the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, at the G.U.M.C. For over twenty years. His laboratory has focused on understanding molecular and cellular mechanisms of cancer initiation and progression as well as those involved in the acquisition of resistance to anti-cancer therapy, with emphasis on pathways that may be exploited to improve the treatment of metastatic cancers and to sensitize human tumors to chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation therapies. Dr. Notario has authored more than 135 publications. The quality and clinical significance of Dr. Notario’s contributions have been recognized and, consequently, continuously funded by the U.S. National Cancer Institute since 1986. Dr. Notario has also received international recognition in the form of numerous invitations to speak at specialized meetings and to become a member of the Editorial Boards of journals such as Cancer Research, The International Journal of Oncology, Current Cancer Therapy Reviews, The Open Cancer Journal, The Journal of Cell Death, The World Journal of Clinical Oncology, and others. Dr. Notario’s expertise in Experimental Molecular Carcinogenesis has been recognized also through invitations to participate in U.S. and international scientific review and advisory committees, such as those for the U.S. National Institutes of Health, the American Association for Cancer Research, the U.S. Department of Defense, the Israel Science Foundation, the Italian National Center for Rare Diseases, the Italian Association for Research on Cancer, and the Department of Education and Science of Spain. In addition, Dr. Notario has been invited to act as an ad hoc expert reviewer for over 50 specialized U.S. national and international scientific journals. His service to Georgetown University included terms in the G.U.M.C. Research Committee and various faculty search committees, the Medical School Admissions Committee and the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center Executive Committee and is currently serving as Chairman of the Georgetown Institutional Biosafety Committee.

Sophia Ran

Associate Professor

Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology

Southern Illinois University

United States

Biography

Sophia Ran is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology at SIU School of Medicine and a member of the SIU Simmons Cancer Institute (SCI). Dr. Ran is a member of the American Association of Cancer Research (AACR). She is a coordinator of monthly research seminars in SCI, serves on the organizing committee for the bi-annual SCI Research Symposium as well as on various committees of the School of Medicine.

Siva K Gandhapudi

Department of Physiology

University of Louisville, College of medicine Health Science center

United States

Biography

Siva K Gandhapudi completed his Ph.D. in Immunology in University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY and M. S in Soil microbiology University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY. Siva K Gandhapudi is a biomedical Research scientist with more than 9 years’ experience in basic research and 1 plus years’ experience clinical research. He has research expertise in the area of Immunology and research interest in hematopoiesis and Immunotherapy, Vaccine adjuvant development, Inflammation and Immune responses to stress.

Shyamal Dilip Desai

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

LSU Health Sciences Center

United States

Biography

Shyamal Desai is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center-School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA. Dr. Desai obtained her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Biochemistry from the University of Bombay, India in 1981 and 1983 respectively. She received her Doctorate in Biochemistry from the University of Bombay, India in 1991. Dr. Desai received New Jersey Cancer Research Award for Scientific Excellence in 1996 and 2003. She also received the American Association for Cancer Research-AFLAC Scholar Award in Cancer Research in 1999. Dr. Desai is serving as an editorial board member of the Journal of Antivirals and Antiretrovirals and the Experimental Cell Biology and Medicine.

Sharad Singhal

Associate Professor

Molecular Biology and Immunology

University of North Texas

United States

Biography

Sharad Singhal is a recipient of Junior Research Fellowship of council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1985-1987.­ Recipient of Senior Research Fellowship of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, 1987-1989.­ Postdoctoral Fellow, Department of Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, 1989-1992.­ Instructor, Department of Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, 1992-1997.­ Assistant Professor, Department of Human Biological Chemistry and Genetics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, 1997- Feb 1999. Arlington, Arlington, TX March 1999- October 2004. Arlington, Arlington, TX November 2004-November 2007.­ Associate Professor, Department of Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Forth Worth, TX December 2007-Present.

Selva Baltan

Associate Staff

Department of Neurosciences

Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation Cleveland, OH

United States

Biography

Selva Baltan received her MD from Hacettepe University, Turkey, and her PhD in Neurophysiology from McGill University, Canada. She did postdoctoral work at Washington University, MO, USA, and is now assistant professor at the Department of Neurology, University of Washington, WA, USA. Her research focuses on the mechanisms of brain cell damage in white matter after stroke.

Sanjay K Srivastava

Professor

Cancer Biology

Texas Tech University

United States

Biography

Sanjay K Srivastava is a Professor of Biomedical Sciences at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC), Amarillo, Texas, specializing in cancer biology and nutritional chemoprevention. Prior to his arrival at TTUHSC in 2007, Dr. Srivastava served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and was a full member of the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. He also served as Research Scientist at Mercy Cancer Institute, Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh and did his post-doc from University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Texas. Dr. Srivastava received a B.S. in Physics, Chemistry & Math and a M.S. in Biochemistry from Lucknow University, India. His Ph.D. is in Biochemistry and Toxicology from Industrial Toxicology Research Center, Lucknow and Kanpur University, Kanpur, India. His research interests include cancer biology, chemoprevention of cancers by naturally occurring nutritional agents, chemical carcinogenesis and cell signaling. Dr. Srivastava is currently funded by two R01 grants from the National Cancer Institute, NIH. He has authored more than 100 research papers and book chapters and is a member of the American Association for Cancer Research, Society of Toxicology and AAPS. Dr. Srivastava is in the editorial board of several journals and ad-hoc reviewer of numerous scientific journals including Cancer Research, Carcinogenesis, Neoplasia and Molecular Pharmacology and also member of the study section of the National Institute of Health (NIH), Department of Defense and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Dr. Srivastava has been recipient of several awards including TTUHSC “President’s Excellence in Research Award”. His research work has been featured by news agencies including BBC, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, Science News etc. and can be obtained from the following: BBC News-Pancreatic Cancer.

Sandip Kumar Mishra

Institute of Life Sciences Nalco Square

India

Biography

Sandip Kumar Mishra is a Scientist-D, Institute of Life Sciences (Govt. of India), Nalco Square, Bhubaneswar-751023, Orissa, India (Since September 2007---continuing) and worked as an Instructor in the Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX-77030, USA, (From 2004-2007). He is an Associate Editor of World Journal of Cancer Research by American Scientific Publishers.

Qingrong Huang, PhD

Associate Professor

The State University Princeton Junction New Brunswick, NJ, USA

New Jersey, United States

Biography

Qingrong Huang is an Associate Professor, Department of Food Science, Rutgers University at New Brunswick. 9/2008-8/2009 Cluster Coordinator, Nanotechnology Application to Foods Cluster, Center for Advanced Food Technology, Rutgers University 1/2008-present, Full member of Graduate Programs in Molecular Biosciences, UMDNJ/Rutgers University, and Department of Molecular Biology & Biochemistry-Rutgers 1/2003-present, Full member of Graduate Program in Bioresources Engineering-Rutgers University at New Brunswick. 9/2002-6/2008, Assistant Professor, Department of Food Science, Rutgers University at New Brunswick. 1/2000-8/2002, NIST ATP Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University/IBM Almaden Research Center Advisors: Drs. Curtis Frank and Robert Miller 2/1999-3/1999 Visiting Scientist, Intense Pulsed Neutron Source Division, Argonne National Laboratory. 6/1998-1/2000, Postdoctoral Research Associate, Department of Chemistry, Indiana-Purdue University, Advisor: Dr. Paul Dubin2 8/1993-5/1998, Research/Teaching Assistant, Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln. 9/1989-7/1993, Research Assistant, Laboratory of Polymer Physics, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. 2010 American Chemical Society Young Scientist Award finalist. Distinguished Speaker, College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois, November 19, 2009. Received 2007-2008. The Professor Endel Karmas Award for Excellence in Teaching Food Science, Department of Food Science, Rutgers University. Honorable Speaker for the Polymer Science Lecture Series, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, May 2007. Honorable Speaker for the Polymer Science Lecture Series, State Key Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, May 2006.

Barbara Jarzab

Professor of Medicine

Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology

Gilwice, Poland

Biography

Professor Barbara Jarzab M.D., Ph.D., endocrinologist and nuclear medicine specialist, head of Department of Nuclear Medicine and Endocrine Oncology at Maria Sklodowska-Curie Memorial Cancer Center and Institute of Oncology, Gliwice Branch, Gliwice, Poland, a comprehensive cancer center and research institute that takes care of Silesian patients, an industrial part of Poland with 4,6 million population. Areas of research involvement: functional genomics of endocrine tumors with focus on gene expression profiling of thyroid cancer and genetic predisposition to endocrine disease (thyroid cancer, pheochromocytomas, Graves disease). Clinical activity: radioiodine therapy of differentiated thyroid cancer and benign thyroid disease, radiopeptide imaging and therapy of neuroendocrine tumors, new methods of diagnosis and therapy of progressive endocrine gland cancer, including multikinase inhibitors clinical trials in thyroid cancer. Coordinator of multidisciplinary consortium which introduced first in Poland DNA microarray technologies implemented in analysis of cancer transcriptome. Correspondent Member of Polish Academy of Arts and Sciences and correspondent Member of Polish Academy of Sciences, member of the Committee for Human Genetics and Molecular Pathology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, President of Polish Group of Endocrine Tumors of Polish Society of Endocrinology, Acting Representative of European Task Group for Endocrine Cancer. Previous positions: Secretary of European Society of Endocrinology, Secretary of European Thyroid Association – Cancer Research Network, member of European Thyroid Association Executive Committee.

Mazin Al Salihi

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery

Emory University School of Medicine

United States

Biography

Prior to coming to the United States, Dr. Al Salihi was an attending cardiac surgeon at Ibn Al Bittar Cardiac Surgery in Baghdad; held several positions at the Iraqi Center for Heart Diseases, including general director; and worked as a cardiac surgeon at Al-Issra General Hospital in Amman, Jordan. Upon arriving in the states in 2008, he studied for the three steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) and recertified his credentials at Kaplan Institute, Akron, Ohio. He then joined the Cleveland Clinic as a clinical associate staff surgeon while completing fellowships in cardiac surgery and heart and lung transplantation. He joins Emory as its first surgeon dedicated primarily to heart and lung procurement for transplantation. His clinical interests also include minimally invasive valve surgery and VATS thoracic surgery, and his research focus is ex vivo lung perfusion.

Porunelloor A Mathew

Associate Professor

Molecular Biology and Immunology

University of North Texas

United States

Biography

Porunelloor A Mathew is an Associate Professor of Molecular Biology and Immunology, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, and Associate Director for basic research, Institute for Cancer Research, UNTHSC, Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Mathew received his PhD in Biochemistry in 1987 from University of Pune, India. He did postdoctoral fellowships at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and UT Southwestern Medical Center. He is a reviewer for several journals. Dr. Mathew was awarded a US patent for “Immuno activation of CS1 receptor in Natural Killer cells to inhibit tumor cell growth”. Dr. Mathew’s research has opened new NK cell based targeted immunotherapy for cancer.

Paul Tchounwou

Professor & Director

NIH RCMI Center for Environmental Health

Jackson State University

United States

Biography

Paul Tchounwou is an Associate Dean of the College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Presidential Distinguished Professor & Director of the NIH RCMI-Center for Environmental Health and at Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi, USA. He earned his Sc.D. at Tulane University Medical Center (TUMC), New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Currently, he is also Adjunct Professor at TUMC. He has published 134 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters, and made over 300 presentations at national and international conferences. He is currently Editor-In-Chief of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI, Basel, Switzerland), and of Environmental Toxicology (John Wiley & Sons, New York, USA). He has taught toxicology, epidemiology, risk assessment and public health-related courses for more about 20 years. He is member of Delta Omega Honorary Public Health Society, American Association for the Advancement of Science, American Association for Cancer Research, American Public Health Association, National Environmental Health Association, Society of Toxicology, and New York Academy of Science. He is a reviewer of journals in the area of toxicology and health risk assessment. He has received several awards including the Millennium Award for Excellence in Research; National Role Model Award; AACR Faculty Scholar Award for Cancer Research and International Order of Merit.

Noula D Shembade

Microbiology and Immunology

University of Miami

United States

Biography

Noula D Shembade is an Assistant Professor of the Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami FL June 2008- June2009 Associate Scientist, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami FL May, 2005- June 2008 Post-Doctoral Associate, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL , USA.

Rachana Garg

School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

United States

Biography

My interest in cancer research started when I undertook a dissertation project during my undergraduate studies at the Division of Molecular Oncology, Institute of Cytology and Preventive Oncology (ICPO), under the guidance of Dr. B.C. Das (Founder Director of ICPO, India). This research was focused on dissecting the relationship between human papilloma virus and AP-1 transcription factor in the development of oral cancer. I had the opportunity to work with biopsy tissue specimens from patients with oral premalignant lesions. During this project, I learned numerous molecular biology techniques and inherently developed a strong penchant to pursue a research career in the oral cancer field. After qualifying through a competitive nationwide exam, I was awarded a prestigious five-year predoctoral fellowship from the CSIR foundation, India. As a CSIR research fellow, I joined ACTREC, a pioneering institute dedicated to cancer research in India. My Ph.D. research in Dr. Maru’s laboratory involved studying the chemopreventive role of dietary curcumin in regulating phase I/II enzymes in vivo via AhR and Nrf2 transcription factors. Moreover, I demonstrated that curcumin regulates phorbol ester-induced biochemical and molecular alterations in murine skin via protein kinase C. With the notion of identifying potential clinical biomarkers and to continue my research interest, I studied the effect of dietary turmeric at different stages of oral carcinogenesis in an experimental animal model. I observed that dietary turmeric modulates DMBAinduced p21, MAPKinases and transcription factors (AP-1 and NF-kB) to alter cellular responses related to inflammation, proliferation and apoptosis. In Dr. Maru’s lab, I acquired significant expertise in molecular carcinogenesis and chemoprevention and became highly proficient in the use of in vivo models, including DMBA-induced hamster buccal pouch model of oral cancer. My time in his lab was very productive, with my thesis work culminating with six publications, (four as first author: Garg et al. Carcinogenesis 2008; Garg et al. Carcinogenesis 2008b; Garg et al. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2008 and Garg et al. JEPTO 2009), a book chapter, and a review article. I am proud that my work led to several prizes and awards at national/international conferences. I then intended to extend my research to a challenging area: to explore the signaling networks underlying carcinogenesis with the purpose of providing a molecular basis for drug design. Therefore, I moved to the US to join Dr. Marcelo Kazanietz’s Laboratory at the University of Pennsylvania, as a postdoctoral fellow. Dr. Kazanietz is one of the prominent researchers in the field of PKC signaling and cancer. Initially, I started with an ongoing project in the laboratory wherein we observed that transgenic overexpression of PKCe in the mouse prostate induces preneoplastic lesions, and I was the co-author of a 2011 Cell Cycle paper reporting the results of the work. Our study was highlighted in the News and Views Section of Cell Cycle. Dr. Kazanietz then allowed me to design my own project in which I combined my doctoral expertise with the knowledge of PKC biology acquired in his laboratory and successfully demonstrated, through a mechanistic study, that PKCe facilitates the assembly of TNFR-I complex to regulate the NF-kB pathway in prostate cancer (Garg et al., JBC 2012). My thorough bioinformatics analysis to dissect the transcriptional networks controlled by PKC isozymes recently resulted in another first-authored publication (Garg et al, PLoS One 2013). Besides, I encapsulated our current understanding of PKCs in a recently published review article (Garg et al, Oncogene, 2013). I am currently working on two projects that are close to submission to major journals. In the first, by means of cellular and transgenic mice models, I demonstrated that COX-2, a well-known NF-kB regulated gene, acts as a potential mediator of PKCe oncogenesis in prostate cancer, a study that has been supported by a postdoctoral fellowship from the United States Department of Defense. As the PI of this DOD-sponsored grant, I gained experience in cellular, genetic, pharmacological and bioinformatics approaches to delineate signaling pathways that contribute to malignant transformation and developed skills working with xenograft and transgenic mice models. In the second, I identified cooperativity between PKCe and Pten loss for prostate cancer progression.

Mukesh Verma

Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences

Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program , National Cancer Institute

United States

Biography

Mukesh Verma is Chief of the Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program′s (EGRP). Dr. Verma joined EGRP as a Program Director in 2004. In 2005, he was appointed Acting Chief of EGRP′s former Analytic Epidemiology Research Branch (AERB). When EGRP reorganized in 2007, he was appointed Acting Chief of MTB and of the Host Susceptibility Factors Branch (HSFB), for which he served as Acting Chief through 2008. Before joining EGRP, he was a Program Director in NCI′s Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP). He also was Coordinator of DCP′s Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Programs. He was on the faculty in the Biochemistry Department of Georgetown University before joining NIH.

Mong-Hong Lee

Professor

Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology

University of Texas

United States

Biography

Mong-Hong Lee is currently Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology of University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and a faculty member at The University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at Houston (GSBS). In 1993, Dr. Lee received his Ph.D. degree in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology from the University of Pittsburgh, where he received the Stanton C. Crawford Award for teaching excellence. He then went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship while serving as a research associate at Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (1993-1997). After completing his fellowship, Dr. Lee came to M. D. Anderson in 1997 as an Assistant Professor (tenure track). He was promoted to his current position of Professor (tenured) in 2010. During his time at M. D. Anderson, Dr. Lee has been the principal investigator or a co-principal investigator for nine funded research projects. He also has been a grant reviewer for several funding agencies. Dr. Lee has been honored for his research activities, led by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Research Award (2001), Fleming and Davenport Research Award (2001), and William G. McGowan Foundation Research Award (1998). In addition to research, for more than a decade, Dr. Lee has been a key contributor to the education of trainees at M. D. Anderson and the GSBS in a variety of ways. For example, at the GSBS, he has been the course coordinator for the Molecular Genetics of Human Cancer seminar since 2006 and an instructor for the Cancer Cell Signaling course since 2000. Dr. Lee has had a wealth of direct interaction with trainees throughout his career. Specifically, he has directly supervised 40 graduate students, 12 clinical residents and fellows, 12 undergraduate and Allied Health students, 9 postdoctoral research fellows, and 1 medical student. Furthermore, he has chaired or served on 71 examining committees, 67 advisory committees, and 39 supervisory committees. UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center and the UT GSBS at Houston have well recognized Dr. Lee’s educational efforts. In 2009, he received the John P. McGovern Outstanding Teaching Award, which is given annually to a faculty member at M. D. Anderson and/or the GSBS. Most recently, he has recently been named the February 2010 Faculty Educator of the Month at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Also, he received the M. D. Anderson Outstanding Educator Award in 2003. Currently, Dr. Lee is an ad hoc reviewer for 25 journals. He also has been a guest editor for the journal Breast Diseases. Over the course of his career, Dr. Lee has authored more than 50 articles published in peer-reviewed journals, 4 book chapters, and 3 invited articles.

MM Misro

Professor

Reproductive Biomedicine

National Institute of Health & Family Welfare

India

Biography

MM Misro is Professor in Reproductive Biomedicine in the National Institute of Health and Family Welfare, New Delhi, India. He is a postgraduate in Zoology with specialization in Physiology and Biochemistry and completed his PhD in Male reproductive Physiology with special emphasis in Contraceptive Technology Development. He was Fellow of Rockefeller Foundation and did his post-doctoral training in the Department of Pharmacology in the University of Iowa during 1984-1986. He is currently a member of the Editorial Board in the International Journal “Current Women’s Health Reviews and peer reviewer for many International Journals.

MJ Molina-Garrido

Director of the Unit of Cancer

Hospital General Virgen de la Luz in Cuenca

Spain

Biography

MJ Molina-Garrido is presently Director of the Unit of Cancer in the Elderly Hospital Virgen de la Luz de Cuenca. She is having a Master degree in Geriatrics and Gerontology at the Autonoma University of Barcelona. She has received a Doctor of Medicine from the Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche.

Mfon Samuel Cyrus-David

Internal Medicine

The University of Texas Health Science Center

United States

Biography

Mfon Samuel Cyrus-David is a Principal Investigator, the University of Texas Medical School at Houston Cancer Bioinformatics Program (UTHealth-HMS CaBIP). The faculties of this program meet on a monthly basis to evaluate its progress, and plan for the future. The objectives of the UT Health-HMS CaBIP are to design, integrate, implement, operate and maintain cancer site-specific databases on all the types of cancers that are managed at the UT - Memorial Hermann Cancer Center, and the affiliated health establishments of the UT Medical School Houston, TX, such as the Memorial Hermann Hospital (MHH) at the TMC, and the Harris County Hospital District’s (HCHD) Lyndon B. Johnson General Hospital, Houston Texas, and its satellite health centers.

Marighoula Varla Leftherioti

Head of the Immunobiology Department and the Recurrent Abortion Outpatient Clinic

General District-Maternity Hospital “Helena Venizelou”, Athens

Greece

Biography

Medical Doctor specialized in Medical Biopathology – Immunology, possessing a Doctorate from the Medical School of the “National and Kapodistrian” University of Athens, Greece. She is involved in Immunology since 1979 and is familiar with all lines of Laboratory Immunology with professional experience in the Immunology Departments of big hospitals in Athens area and training in European Immunology Departments. She has worked on the pre- and post-transplant immunological monitoring of kidney recipients, on HLA-typing for disease associations. She worked as Director to the Hellenic Transplant Service and established the first Bone Marrow Donor Registry in Greece. Her current interest is Reproductive Immunology and the investigation of couples with immune-mediated fertility problems. Her research interest focuses on the study of NK cells in pregnancy failure and on the effect of intravenous immunoglobulin G infusions (IVIG) on the immune response of aborting women (Th2 shift). With her team, she was the first to investigate the role of the NK cell receptors’ repertoire in couples with RSA, to present the role of a KIR/HLA-C allorecognition system in pregnancy, and to suggest that specific combinations of maternal inhibitory KIRs and fetal HLA-C molecules may provide reduced NK cell inhibition at the feto-maternal interface and predisposition to implantation failure and/or fetal loss. During the last years she has started studies on Pre-Implantation Factor – PIF. Apart from her scientific work, she is an active member of Scientific Societies (three times President of the Hellenic Society of Immunology), and current President of the European Society for Reproductive Immunology (ESRI).

Matthew E Witek

Assistant Clinical Professor

Radiation Oncology

University of Wisconsin-Madison

United States

Biography

Matthew Witek received his Master’s in Clinical Pharmacology from Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 2003. He worked in Dr. Scott Waldman’s laboratory evaluating the role of enterocyte-specific proteins in the development and management of gastrointestinal malignancies. Matthew then studied medicine at Jefferson Medical College and pursued a Radiation Oncology Residency from 2010-2014 at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. During this time, he evaluated the temporal relationship between combined radio- and immunotherapy in the laboratory of Dr. Adam Snook. Matthew currently is Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin where his clinical practice focuses on skin cancers and malignancies arising in the head and neck region.

Matteo A Russo

Professor

Department of Experimental Medicine

University of Rome Sapienza

Italy

Biography

Matteo A Russo graduated in Medicine and Surgery (1969), Catholic University of Rome. Italy. He is Assistant Professor of General Pathology (1970), University of Rome, Sapienza, Italy. Associate Professor of Experimental Oncology (1980), University of Rome, Sapienza. Full Professor of General Physiopathology (1986), University of Rome, Sapienza, Italy. Fulbright Scholar 1974-1976, University of Pennsylvania and Temple Univ, Phila., Pa., USA. Visiting Professor of Pathology, Thrombosis Center, Temple University, Phila (1977-1979). Adjunct Professor of Pathology and Pharmacology, (1980-1990). Temple University, Phila, Pa.USA. He has obtained many research grants, both in USA (US-Environmental Protection Agency#CR-808949 and WW Smith Charitable Trust) and Italy (MURST, CNR, AIRC, etc). Award for Experimental Oncology, Fondazione Assicurazioni Generali di Trieste (1982). Member of many scientific Societies (SIP, SIC, etc.) Member of the Superior Committee of Public Health (2003-2005). Director of the Research Doctorate in Human Pathology of Univ of Rome, Sapienza. Malpighi award from the Malpighi and Holding International Altay Foundation (2005) Member of the National Committee for the Research of the Ministry of Health (2000-2009). Member of the Scientific Committee for the Excellence Centre of “Regione Lazio” (2006-). President of Biomedical Laboratory Technician School at Sapienza University of Rome. President of Ethical Committee of ASL of Frosinone, Italy (2004-2010) Member of Scientific Committee of IRCCS San Raffaele Pisana, Rome.

Masayoshi Yamaguchi

Department of Hematology and Biomedical Oncology

School of Medicine, Emory University

United States

Biography

Masayoshi Yamaguchi, Ph.D., IOM, FAOE, DDG, DG, is Adjunct Professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA (2013-); Visiting Professor in Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA (2012–2013); Visiting Professor in Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Missouri-Columbia, MO, USA (2012); Visiting Professor in Department of Foods and Nutrition, The University of Georgia, GA, USA (2011 – 2012); Visiting Professor in Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and Lipids, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, GA, USA (2007 – 2011); Professor in Laboratory of Endocrinology and Molecular Metabolism, Graduate School of Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Japan (1993 ~ August 2007); Associate Professor in Graduate School of Nutritional Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Japan (1991~1993); Assistant Professor in School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Japan (1987~1991); Visiting Assistant Professor in The University of Texas Medical School at Huston, USA (1988); Assistant Professor in Shizuoka College of Pharmacy, Japan (1986~1987); Visiting Assistant Professor in Texas Tech University School of Medicine, USA (1985); Visiting Lecturer in The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, USA (1981); Research Associate in Shizuoka College of Pharmacy, Japan (1973 ~ 1986). He received a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences from Shizuoka College of Pharmacy (1976, Japan). He has completed his B.S. in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shizuoka, Japan (1971). Dr. Yamaguchi is engaged in the fields of bone and calcium endocrinology and cell calcium signaling since 1971, and these researches are developed in the aspect of biochemistry, molecular biology, endocrinology, metabolism, nutrition, pharmacology, and toxicology. Dr. Yamaguchi has an interesting for cell signaling mechanism, bone biology, nutritional factor and osteoporosis prevention, diabetic osteoporosis, and cancer bone metastasis and osteolysis. Moreover, Dr. Yamaguchi discovered two novel proteins and genes; cell signaling suppressor protein (named regucalcin; 1978) and transcriptional factor RGPR-p117 (regucalcin gene promoter region-related protein; 2001) in mammalian cells. Dr. Yamaguchi generated regucalcin transgenic rats, which were registered as international patents (USA, EU, Japan, and Korea), and this animal is found to induce osteoporosis and hyperlipidemia. Recently, Dr. Yamaguchi proposes that regucalcin is a target molecule in carcinogenesis of various cancer cell types. Currently, the research of regucalcin is focused as a scientific topic. Dr. Yamaguchi published over 500 English articles to professional journals with peer-review. In addition, Dr. Yamaguchi registered over 20 national and international patents in the fields of his research interesting. Dr. Yamaguchi is serving as editors and editorial board members of reputed 40 international Journals. He received many honor and awards; Prize for Sato Memorial Fundation (1992, Japan/USA), Senji Miyata Foundation Award 2005 (Japan), Japan Society for Biomedical Research on Trace Elements Award 2007, The Lifetime Achievement Award from International Biographical Centre (IBC) (2004, England), The World Lifetime Achievement Award from American Biographical Institute (2004, USA), The Distinguished Service to Science Award from IBC (2007, England), and many others. Dr. Yamaguchi is listed in various biographies; Who’s Who in the World (2005-, Marquis Who’s Who, USA), Who’s Who in Sciences and Engineering (2004-, Marquis Who’s Who, USA), International Biographical Dictionary (2006-, IBC, England), and others.

Kar Muthumani

Research Assistant Professor

Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine

University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, United States

Biography

Kar Muthumani is Research Assistant Professor at the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He received his BS, MS with honors and his PhD from the Madurai Kamaraj University, India. He completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, PA, USA.

Kailash C Chadha, PhD

Associate Professor

Molecular and Cellular Biology

Roswell Park Cancer Institute

United States

Biography

Kailash C Chadha is an Associate Member, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology Roswell Park Cancer Institute Buffalo NY 14263 Associate Research Professor, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology University of New York at Buffalo Roswell Park, Associate Professor of Oncology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute Buffalo, Research Professor Niagara University, New York 14109 and Research Assistant Professor of Medicine, Department of Medicine School of Medicine State University of New York at Buffalo NY 14214, USA.

Junpeng Qi

Research Associate

Department of Cancer Biology

The Scripps Research Institute

United States

Biography

Junpeng Qi received his Ph.D. degree from Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2012. He then joined Eli Lilly China Research and Development Center as a Research Scientist developing new drugs for Type II Diabetes. And now, he is a research associate focusing on antibody engineering for cancer therapy at The Scripps Research Institute, Florida.

Jon S. Cardinal

Department of Surgery

West Virginia University

United States

Biography

Jon Cardinal, MD FACS is an Assistant Professor and Surgery Program Director at the West Virginia University School of Medicine. He completed his undergraduate degree at Duquesne University after which he matriculated at Georgetown University Medical School, graduating AOA. His general surgery internship and residency were completed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) followed by a one-year fellowship in hepato-pancreatico-biliary (HPB) surgery, also at UPMC. During his surgical training, Dr Cardinal actively participated in basic science research in which he investigated the molecular mechanisms responsible for sterile inflammation. Dr Cardinal joined the department of surgery at WVU in 2012 and has been the program director for the general surgery residency since 2014.

Jing Gung Chung, PhD

Professor

Biological Science and Technology

China Medical University

China

Biography

Jing-Gung Chung is a Professor, Chairman, Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (2002-2005) and Associate Professor, Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan (1993-2002).

Jessica Partin

Department of Surgery

West Virginia University School of Medicine

United States

Biography

Jessica Partin, MD is an assistant professor in the Department of Surgery in the West Virginia University School of Medicine and Chief of Breast Surgery at West Virginia. She earned her medical degree at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia amd completed a residency in general surgery at WVU in Morgantown, WV. She also completed a Society of Surgical Oncology Breast Oncology Fellowship at Akron General Medical Center, in Akron, Ohio. She stayed on as staff at Akron General Medical Center and served as the Medical Co-Director of the Reflections Breast Health Center and as assistant program director for the Breast Oncology Fellowship and also served as a clinical associate professor at Northeast Ohio Medical University. In addition, she worked as a clinical consultant of the Breast Care Center for the Aultman Hospital Foundation in Canton, Ohio. Since coming to West Virginia University, Dr. Partin serves as the Chair of the Breast Program Leadership and as the CoC Cancer Liaison Physician.

Janaina Fernandes

Institute of Biophysics, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro

United States

Biography

Janaina Fernandes is an Adjunct Professor of the Institute of Biophysics at Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. She has received a PhD in Biophysics from the Institute Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. 2001-2005. Received the Carlos Chagas Filho Awards (2008). She is serving as reviewer for the Lung Journal (New York) and as reviewer for research grant application for the Brazilian Health System, Brazilian Health Ministery, and as Editorial board Member for the Journal of Bioequivalence & Bioavailability and Journal of Bioanalysis & Biomedicine. She is author and co-author of international patents and articles on medicinal chemistry, mostly in natural products research.

Jagat R Kanwar

Associate Professor

Immunology and Molecular Biomedical Research Institute for Technology Research & Innovation, Deakin University

Australia

Biography

Jagat R Kanwar is an immunologist and molecular biochemist with an international reputation in investigating fundamental and applied molecular aspects of cancer and chronic inflammation. He did his PhD from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, India. Before joining Deakin University in 2006, he was a Senior Scientist/Senior Research Fellow in the University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. During the past decade his research both academic and commercial has centered on understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms and/or finding treatments for a variety of chronic inflammatory diseases and different types of cancer. Dr. Kanwar has published 55 research articles, 12 invited reviews and 5 book chapters, in highly ranked, international, peer-reviewed journals. These publications have added to the body of knowledge in the fields of immunology, cancer gene therapy, nanomedicine, cell biology and biotechnology, and have extended these disciplines. He is a key inventor on 9 international patents and has provided consultancy to 5 Biotechnology based companies. He is a member of editorial board for 7 international journals and a nominated member of more than 12 national and international societies including American Society of Nanomedicine. He has extensive and close collaborations with colleagues from New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, India, China and USA.

Gloria I Sanchez

Associate Professor

Group Infection and Cancer Lab

University of Antioquia

United States

Biography

Gloria I. Sanchez is an Associate professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Antioquia in Medellin, Colombia and leader of the research group Infection and Cancer. She earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2000 at which time she joined the University of Antioquia where she started a research program focusing on the area of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Cancer. From 2004-2006, she completed Postdoctoral Fellowships at the Catalan Institute of Oncology in Barcelona, Spain, at the Department of Internal Medicine and Human Genetics at University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Michigan. During postdoctoral training, she participated in a multicenter worldwide study defining the time trends of HPV infection in cervical cancer and defining the role of HPV on Head and Neck and other human cancers.

Gary Guishan Xiao

Director

Genomics and Functional Proteomics Laboratories, Creighton University

United States

Biography

Gary Guishan Xiao is a Director of the Functional Genomics and Proteomics laboratories at the Creighton University. Osteoporosis Research Center is an internationally recognized expert in the field of proteomics and metabolomics of cancers and bone disease. Dr. Xiao earns his Ph.D. in molecular computational biology about a dozen years ago, focusing on structural modeling of ligand-enzyme interaction and prediction of protein refolding pathways during protein translational process. Dr. Xiao had his postdoctoral research trained in Baylor College of Medicine and UCLA, focusing on pharmacokinetics and biochemistry of non-steroid inflammatory drugs such as aspirin-derivatives and their target, human prostaglandin H synthases H1 and H2, and cell cycle regulation, especially, the role of c-Myc in cardiac termination differentiation. Dr. Xiao’s research at harbor UCLA medical Center and City of Hope National Cancer Center were highly focused on genomic and proteomic interpretations of diet-induced obesity/diabetes and its complications such cancers and osteoporosis. Dr. Xiao joined Osteoporosis Research Center at the Creighton University Medical Center since 2007. Dr. Xiao has been regular reviewer or ad hoc reviewer for several medical journals, different funding agency such as NIH and several journal Editorial Board members.

Maria Angelica Cortez

Instructor

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston, Texas

Texas, United States

Biography

From an early age, I have had both a curious nature and a passion to reduce human affliction, and these traits led me to a career in oncology research. Since 2004, I have been focusing on the identification of novel drug targets for cancer. During my Master’s and Ph.D program at University of Sao Paulo, one of the most prestigious academic centers in Brazil, I focused on mechanisms of resistance to standard chemotherapy in acute Leukemias and the molecular pathways underlying Glioblastoma tumorigenesis. Upon completing my Ph.D. program, I was recruited to MD Anderson to pursue analogous translational research projects. As a postdoctoral fellow at MD Anderson Cancer Center, I was afforded the opportunity to explore cutting-edge science in exciting and novel areas of microRNA and long noncoding RNAs with potential roles in cancer at Dr. George Calin’s lab. Since 2011, I joined Dr. James Welsh’s laboratory to explore new mechanisms of tumor immune evasion and identification of new potential therapeutic targets to overcome resistance to immunotherapies in combination with standard therapies such as radiation.

EI Han

Division of Radiological Sciences

Washington University School of Medicine, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology

United States

Biography

FEI Han is currently working as Visiting scholar, Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine in Saint Louis (2006-present) Attending Doctor & Instructor, Department of Pathology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine (2013-2015). Resident Doctor, Department of Pathology, Shanghai Chest Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiaotong University (2010-2013) Research Assistant, Department of Nephrology, Shanghai Sixth People’s Hospital Affiliated Shanghai Jiaotong University (2009-2010).

Zhichao Fan

Research Associate

Division of Inflammation Biology

La Jolla Institute for Allergy & Immunology

United States

Biography

Fan got his Ph.D. from Fudan University, China, and he worked in Xunbin Wei’s lab to study cancer and immunology using biomedical optical imaging. Fan has participated in developing the home-made optical instrument – in vivo flow cytometer (IVFC), which enable non-invasive and real-time monitoring of circulating cells in vivo, and made it work in dual colors. He established high-metastatic orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) mouse model and monitored the dynamics of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) using our IVFC.

Nicholas van Panhuys

Principal Investigator

Department of Translational Medicine

Asthma and Allergy Group, Sidra Medical and Research Center

Qatar

Biography

Dr. van Panhuys received his Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand in 2007, for work conducted at the Malaghan Institute of Medical Research and his BSc(Hons) in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from Victoria University, Wellington, New Zealand in 2002. Following his Ph.D. Nicholas was awarded the NZ Foundation for Research Science and Technology Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award to travel to the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Maryland and was subsequently appointed as a Research Fellow in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in 2012. Dr. van Panhuys subsequently joined Sidra in 2015 as a principle investigator to establish a group specializing in asthma and allergy research.

Thomas G Bird

Senior Clinical Research Fellow

Honorary Consultant in Hepatology

Wellcome Trust

United Kingdom

Biography

Dr. Thomas G Bird qualified in Medicine from Oxford in 2002. He is now an Honorary Consultant Hepatologist in the Scottish Liver Transplant Unit in Edinburgh. He gained a PhD (2011) studying liver regeneration with Professors Forbes and Iredale investigating stem cell mediated liver regeneration and has published high impact papers on the role of liver progenitor cells in regeneration. He is currently a Wellcome Trust Clinical Intermediate Fellow based at the Beatson Institute for Cancer Research. In addition to his research in liver regeneration he leads research to optimize the use of serum biomarkers in hepatocellular carcinoma surveillance.

Smita S. Chandran

Research Fellow

National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health

United States

Biography

Dr. Smita Chandran received her Ph.D. in Immunology from the University of Maryland at Baltimore in 2009. She then trained as a postdoctoral fellow at the Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH from 2009-2011. She is currently a Research Fellow at the Surgery Branch, national Cancer Institute, National institute of Health in Bethesda.

Ann Richmond

Ingram Professor and Vice Chair Associate, Director of Education

Department of Cancer Biology

Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center

United States

Biography

Dr. Richmond received her PhD from Emory University in 1979. She joined Vanderbilt University Dept. of Cell Biology 1989. Currently, she serves as the Ingram Professor of Cancer Biology and Vice Chair of that department. A major question we are trying to answer in my laboratory is "What is the role of the inflammatory response in tumor progression". We are studying the role of proteins that promote the migration of inflammatory cells into tissues. These "chemotactic" proteins can educate leukocytes to either stimulate or inhibit tumor progression. These factors can also stimulate the growth of the tumor and recruit blood vessels into the tumor to provide a continuous supply of nutrients to feed tumor growth. We have tested with a variety of pharmaceutical drugs that shut down the inflammatory process and alter the expression of genes that recruit inflammatory cells into the tumor microenvironment. We are also evaluating how to deliver therapies that teach the patient's leukocytes to fight the growth of the tumor and switch from a pro-tumorigenic to an anti-tumorigenic state. We have also learned that this inflammatory process, combined with other genetic and environmental factors, contributes to mutations in genes that regulate the growth of cells. Some of these mutations make the cells capable of continuous growth and enable the cancer cells to spread throughout the body and grow in distant organs. By determining what genes become mutated or amplified in each patient's tumor and then providing therapies that specifically inhibit the activity of that mutated or amplified gene, we can deliver "personalized cancer treatment" that addresses the problem in that person’s specific cancer. This works so much better than the "one size fits all" approach often used previously in chemotherapy. Recently we have determined that inhibition of aurora kinases induce tumor cells to undergo senescence and when we inhibit aurora kinases while at the same time activate the tumor suppressor p53 or the death receptor DR5, melanoma cells die and tumors regress. We are also interested in evaluating how therapeutic agents that target driver mutations such as PI3K, RAS or BRAF affect the tumor microenvironment and the immune response to the tumor. We postulate that in some instances drug resistance comes in part due to deleterious effects of the therapy on the tumor microenvironment. We collaborate with medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, bioengineers, cellular and molecular biologists, and scientists in pharmaceutical companies to address the scientific questions we are asking. This TEAM interaction enables us to optimize our studies to make important breakthroughs in tumor biology and tumor therapy. Our research is funded by the TVHS Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Cancer Institute, and the Department of Defense. I work with a wonderful group of postdoctoral fellows, students, and laboratory scientists who dedicate their lives to providing better treatments for cancer patients.

Rajendra Karki

Postdoctoral Research Associate

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

United States

Biography

Dr. Rajendra Karki is elucidating the roles and regulation of NLRs in inflammasome-dependent and -independent functions in inflammatory and infectious disease models. During this time, he identified novel functions for several members of the NLR family in infection, inflammation and cancer. He has contributed to a total of 23 peer-reviewed research publications and reviews (eg. Cell, Cell Host Microbe, Nature Immunology, Journal of Experimental Medicine, Journal of Clinical Investigation).

Qiang Nai

Professor

Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology

University of Tennessee

United States

Biography

Dr. Qiang Nai received his medical degree from the Shandong Medical University, China, and Master of Public Health from Beijing Medical University, China. He obtained PhD degree in Neuroscience from the Medical College of Ohio in 2002. Dr. Nai did the post-doctoral training in neuroscience at the University of California, San Diego, and the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada. He joined the faculty at the Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, University of Tennessee, Health Science Center in 2007. His academic activities resulted in a number of articles published in high profile journals. Dr. Nai has interest in becoming a physician-scientist, and he joined the residency program in internal medicine at the Raritan Bay Medical Center in 2013. He developed intense interest in Hematology and Oncology and has been actively involved in multiple projects in the clinical research and cancer patient management.

Peiwen Fei

Associate Professor of Cancer Biology

University of Hawaii Cancer Center, University of Hawaii

United States

Biography

Dr. Peiwen Fei has been independently leading research programs for nearly ten years by the end of academic year 2014-15. During this period, she and her team have worked very diligently and obtained sustained-NCI funding since early 2009 (up to 2019 at the moment). Peers have recognized her work as a leading field in the utilization of the Fanconi Anemia-BRCA tumor-suppressor pathway to provide novel insights into our understanding of human tumorigenesis and cancer treatment, and our publications were highlighted in four different scientific news media). Dr. Fei has also established both domestic and international collaborations to help others and improve ours. In addition, Dr. Fei have actively served University of Hawaii as well as scientific communities (journal board member, Journal editor, Journal reviewer, and Grant reviewer for both Federal and non-federal grant applications).

Mukesh K. Pandey

Department of Radiology

Mayo Clinic

United States

Biography

Dr. Mukesh K Pandey has received his PhD in Synthetic Organic and Natural Product Chemistry from the University of Delhi, during the period of 2000-2005. Currently, he is working as an Assistant Professor of Radiology at Mayo Clinic Rochester MN USA. He is serving as an editorial member of reputed journals like American Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular imaging and the Journal of Cancer Science and Therapy. He has authored twenty-nine research articles/book chapters. He is a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry London and the American Chemical Society. He holds a designatory title of MRSC honored by the Royal Society of Chemistry London. He is one of the recipients of the Radiology advanced award from the Mayo Clinic Rochester MN in the year 2012.

Behjatolah Monzavi-Karbassi

Department of Pathology

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

United States

Biography

Dr. Monzavi-Karbassi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pathology at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA. Dr. Karbassi received his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from Institute of Molecular genetics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia in 1997. He then did a postdoctoral training in Immunology and tumor biology at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA from 1998 to 2002. He has published more than 40 research articles and earneda broad national and international recognition in his field. He has been serving as a reviewer for several cancer-related journals and on multiple grant review panels.

Katsuhiko Matsui

Associate Professor

Department of Microbial Science and Host Defense

Meiji Pharmaceutical University

Japan

Biography

Dr. Matsui received his Ph.D. in Microbiology from Meiji Pharmaceutical University, Tokyo, Japan. He has been studying the role of colonization by Staphylococcus aureus in patients with atopic dermatitis from 1999. His previous studies demonstrated that cell wall components of S. aureus contributed to an increase in mast cells, Th2 cells and eosinophil numbers in the dermis of skin lesions of atopic dermatitis patients, and also, they induced up-regulation of allergen specific IgE production and Th2 cells development. His current research interest focuses on regulation of Th1/Th2 cells development through Langerhans cells in order to cure allergic disease.

Carlos E Marroquin

Chief, Transplant

Immunology and Hepatobiliary Surgery

University of Vermont

United States

Biography

Dr. Marroquin has a background in transplant, general and surgical oncology and leads the transplant team at The University of Vermont Medical Center. He is committed to delivering comprehensive and quality care in the clinical setting to provide patients with the most current and appropriate treatment. Dr. Marroquin works with patients through evaluations, operations and post-surgical follow-ups. He has won numerous teaching awards and was a Delford Stickel Memorial Transplant Surgery Fellow at Duke University Medical Center. His research interests include multiple aspects of transplant surgery, particularly the improvement of quality measures related to transplant outcomes and living donors.

Mallika Tewari

Associate Professor

Banaras Hindu University

India

Biography

Dr. Mallika Tewari is Associate Professor & Head for the department of surgical oncology, Banaras Hindu University. Pursuing her career in Clinical academic Surgery she has published more than 100 papers and 7 book chapters. Dr. Tewari have also attended more than 50 conferences.

Guangan Hu

Research scientist

Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT

United States

Biography

Dr. Hu is currently a research scientist in the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT. His current research focuses on systems biology with 1) high-throughput drug screening on human macrophages for immunotherapy, 2) system biology of lung macrophages and diseases, 3) transcriptional regulation of memory CD8+ T cells. Dr. Hu obtained his PhD at Nanyang Technological University of Singapore in 2009 and then joined in Koch Institute at MIT as postdoc. Prior to his PhD, Guangan awarded his bachelor’s in bioengineering and master’s in molecular cell and biochemistry at Hubei University, China in 2003.

Binfeng Lu

Associate Professor, Associate Director of Graduate Immunology Program Faculty Director of Transgenic and Gene Targeting Facility

University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine

Pittsburgh, United States

Biography

Dr. Binfeng Lu is Faculty Director at Transgenic Gene Targeting Core, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He received his Major in Biology at Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. Dr. Lu received his Ph.D. from Integrated program of cellular, molecular and biophysical studies, Columbia University, New York. Dr. Binfeng Lu has served on many NIH, AHA, AA review panels, has reviewed for many journals. Dr. Binfeng Lu has many peer reviewed publications and is funded by the NIH, VA, NSF and several foundations. Dr. Binfeng Lu research interests include discovery of novel molecular and cellular pathways regulating key steps of T cell-mediated tissue-focused immune responses in antitumor immunity and autoimmunity. Binfeng Lu is having many honors and awards like AAI travel award, overseas outstanding young scientists award, Natural Science Foundation of China, Guest Professor and Ph.D. advisor, Wuhan University, Guest Professor and Ph.D. advisor, Soochow University.

Leandro Bueno Bergantin

Department of Pharmacology

Federal University of São Paulo

Brazil

Biography

Dr. Bergantin received his academic education at EPM-UNIFESP (Brazil) and UAM (Spain): degree in biomedicine (2008), MSc (2010) and PhD (2014). His research involves cell signaling mediated by Ca2+ and cAMP, skeletal and smooth muscles, peripheral and central nervous systems. His research work solved the enigma of the paradoxical effects produced by Ltype Ca2+ channel blockers (TOP 25 Hottest Articles - Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology - Cell Calcium - TOP 1 July to September 2013/ TOP 5 October to December 2013/ TOP 1 January to December 2013 full year/TOP 6 January to March 2014). Since 1975, several clinical and experimental studies have reported that acute and chronic administration of L-type Ca2+ channel blockers (CCB), such as nifedipine, produces reduction in arterial pressure associated with a paradoxical increase of sympathetic activity. Despite this sympathetic hyperactivity has been initially attributed to adjust reflex of arterial pressure, the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in this apparent sympathomimetic effect of the L-type CCB remained unclear for decades. In 2013, Dr. Bergantin and collaborators discovered that this paradoxical increase in sympathetic activity produced by L-type CCB is due to interaction of the Ca2+/cAMP signaling pathways. Then, the pharmacological manipulation of the Ca2+/cAMP interaction produced by combination of the L-type CCB used in the antihypertensive therapy, and cAMP accumulating compounds used in the antidepressive therapy, could represent a potential cardiovascular risk for hypertensive patients due to increase in sympathetic activity. In contrast, this pharmacological manipulation could be a new therapeutic strategy for increasing neurotransmission in psychiatric disorders and producing neuroprotection in the neurodegenerative diseases (Bergantin and Caricati-Neto, 2016 Eur J Pharmacol; Caricati-Neto et al., 2015 Pharm Res Perspect). Dr. Bergantin has published several articles in international journals, book chapters, and an international book. He is member of editorial board of several international journals.

Hank Schmidt MD PHD

Division of Surgical Oncology

Department of Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Dubin Breast Center of the Tisch Cancer Institute

United States

Biography

Dr Schmidt is a board-certified surgeon specializing in surgical oncology and particularly in care of patients with breast cancer. He is trained in Molecular Medicine and Genetics with post-doctoral experience in cell signaling, cancer biology, and translational research for development of novel targeted therapies. Currently he is director of the Cancer Risk Program at the Dubin Breast Center at Mount Sinai with expertise in management of patients at high risk for breast cancer and other malignancies. Dr Schmidt is a Principal Investigator of the Breast Cancer Biospecimen Repository and as a member of the Tisch Cancer Institute, he is involved in multiple clinical/translational studies aimed at improving outcomes for breast cancer patients.

Dongfeng Wu

Associate Professor

Bioinformatics and Biostatistics

University of Louisville

United States

Biography

Dongfeng Wu is a Member of American Statistical Association (ASA)International Biometric Society-East North American Region (ENAR) Editorial Services Editorial board member, Journal of Biometrics and Biostatistics;Editorial board member, Journal of Modern Applied Statistical Methods.Ad-hoc Member/Reviewer a. National Institute of Health (NIH), Special Emphasis Panel ZRG1 PSE-C (58) and ZRG1 PSE-J (58) R, challenge grant proposals review, May 2009. b. Judge for Research!Louisville, 2008, 2009. c. Educational Testing Service (ETS) AP reader of Statistics, June 5-11, 2009. d. Chaired a session at the Joint Statistical Meeting (JSM)2006, Seattle, WA, and section title: “Spline-based methods.”Referee Statistics in Medicine; Information Sciences; Quality of Life Research; Cancer; Statistical Methodology; Printice Hall; W.H. Freeman and Company. Other Services: At University of Louisville, SPHIS Faculty Forum Committee member, School Academic Affair Committee member, School Curriculum Committee member; Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Master’s Program Director. At Mississippi State University, University Academic Review Board, 2002-03, University of Grievance Panel, 2005-2007, Departmental Statistics Committee, Departmental Computing and Technology Committee, Departmental Assessment Committee, Departmental Evaluation of Teaching Assistants Committee.

Demir Akin

Deputy Director

Radiology - Nuclear Medicine

Stanford University

United States

Biography

Demir Akin Congretionally Directed Medical Research Programs, Breast Cancer Research Program, National Cancer Institute, Alliance for Nanotechnology in Cancer, Radiation Oncology Program, CDMRP/DoD, American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), U.S. Civilian Research and Development Foundation (CRDF).

Dae Joon Kim

Department of Pharmacology

University of Texas

United States

Biography

Dae Joon Kim is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas, USA. Chair of Chemical Carcinogenesis Poster Session, The 48th Annual Meeting of Society of Toxicology, March 2009. Postdoctoral Representative for Dermal Toxicology Specialty Section, Society of Toxicology, 2008 - 2010. American Association for Cancer Research, 2005 - present. The American Society for Cell Biology, 2003 - present. Society of Toxicology, 2002 - present.

Chulso Moon

Director

Department of Medical Oncology

The South Western Medical Center

United States

Biography

Chulso Moon is having 1. Tenure Track Professorship in the Department of Oncology, Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2001-2007). 2. Principal Investigator, The Head and Neck Cancer Research Institute, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (Director: Dr. David Sidransky) (2001-). 3. Attending physician, The Johns Hopkins Hospital (2001-2006). 4. Principal investigator, ONXY-015 cancer genetherapy program for advanced head/neck cancer (2001-2003). 5. Adjunct Professorship, Department of Otolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, The Johns Hopkins University school of Medicine (2008- Present). 6. Preceptor, Graduate Program in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology, The Johns Hopkins University school of Medicine (2005- Present, Thesis Advisor for Juna Lee, 2010 Ph.D. Candidate). 7. Director of Medical Oncology, Cleo Craig Memorial Cancer Clinic, The South-Western Medical Center, Lawton OK (2010-Present).

Christian Rolfo

Department of Oncology, Phase I- Early Clinical Trials Unit

University Hospital Antwerp

Belgium

Biography

Christian Rolfo is part of the working group of the ETOP mesothelioma (European Platform Thoracic Oncology), led by Prof. Rolf Stahel. He is a member of Translational Oncology Multidisciplinary group of university research Institute of Health Sciences (IUNICS) at the University of the Balearic Islands He is member of prestigious Societies Including IASLC, ESMO and ASCO. He was appointed in February 2011 visiting professor in Medical Oncology by the Molecular and Clinical Genetic Oncology Unit at the Interdepartmental Center of Research in Clinical Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Palermo (Italy). In addition to teaching duties at the University of the Balearic Islands. From October 2012 is Senior Staff Member in the Department of Oncology, University Hospital Antwerp, Belgium, headed by Prof. Marc Peeters. Dr. Rolfo works in Phase I - Early Clinical Trials Unit and Development of new drugs, as well as clinical research projects in thoracic tumors and teaching duties at the University of Antwerp. In November 2012 Dr. Rolfo was distinguished with the title of Senior Fellowship of New Westminster College in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Charles Kumar Thodeti

Integrative Medical Sciences

Northeast Ohio Medical University

United States

Biography

Charles Kumar Thodeti is an Assistant Professor of Vascular Biology at Department of Integrative Medical Sciences, NEOUCOM(North Eastern Ohio Universities College of Medicine) Faculty, School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Ohio. He has received PhD in Zoology (Biochemistry &Physiology) from S.V. University, Tirupati, India, 1994. He has completed his M.S. in Zoology S.V. University, Tirupati, India, 1987. He is serving as an editorial board member of 1 journal and reviewer of 3 journals.

Ardeshir Hakam, MD, MBA

Associate Professor

Oncologic Sciences & Pathology

University of South Florida

United States

Biography

Ardeshir Hakam is an Associate Professor of Oncology, Pathology and cell biology. Currently, he is Director of Surgical Pathology at Moffitt Cancer Center and research institute and Program Director of Oncologic Surgical Pathology Fellowship at the University of South Florida. Dr. Hakam is a board-certified Pathologist and Cytopathologist. His training includes Anatomic & Clinical Pathology Residency at University of Hawaii, school of Medicine and fellowship trainings in Genitor-urinary pathology at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Oncologic Pathology and Cytopathology at University of South Florida, College of Medicine. He has published many peer reviewed articles, and abstracts in national meetings.

Anil Wali

Program Director

National Cancer Institute

United States

Biography

Anil Wali is a Program Director in the Diversity Training Branch for the Center to Reduce Cancer Health Disparities. He provides technical and scientific expertise and grants program administration guidance to trainees and early stage investigators. Dr. Wali joined CRCHD in 2009 from Wayne State University, Detroit Medical Center and NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute where he served as Associate Professor in the Departments of Surgery and Pathology. Dr. Wali also served as Principal Investigator on a Veterans Administration Merit Review award funded project on the Role of Ubiquitin-Proteasome Pathway in Mesothelioma Carcinogenesis. Dr. Wali conducted NCI Clinical trial on asbestos exposed patient populations to determine their risk for developing Lung Cancer and Mesothelioma using high throughput Genomics and Proteomics technologies. Dr. Wali received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Kashmir, in Srinagar, India. He earned his Ph.D. at the Postgraduate Institute in Chandigarh, India. Dr. Wali completed postdoctoral training at the Institute for Environmental Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania at the FELS Institute for Cancer Research at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA and in the Department of Pathology at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.

Andras Falus

Professor of Immunology and Genetics at Dept Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology

Semmelweis University

Budapest, Hungary

Biography

Andras Falus (born 1947), PhD, DSc, med. habil. Professor of Immunology and Genetics at Dept Genetics, Cell and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest. Professor of Immunology and Sytems Biology of Pazmany Peter Catholic University. Member of Hungarian Academy of Sciences and Academia Europeae. Former President of Hungarian Society of Immunology. Founder of Hungarian Biobanking system. Member of Henry Kunkel Society of Rockefeller University, NY. Founder Editor of Immunome Research, member of Board of Autoimmunity and Cellular Molecular Life Sciences. Co-founder and Chairman of of Eduvital Nonprofit health Education Society.

Ajay Rana

Professor

Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics

Loyola University

United States

Biography

Ajay Rana is Professor in the Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics. He completed his education at Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Jadavpur University, Calcutta, India.

Shuo Chen

Professor and Research Director

Department of Developmental Dentistry

The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio

Texas, United States

Mohammad Hasanzadeh

Assistant Professor

Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis

Tabriz University of Medical Sciences

Iran

Ved Pal Singh

Professor

Department of Biochemistry

Innovative College of Pharmacy

India

Rameshwar NK Bamezai

Professor

School of Computational and Integrative Sciences

Jawaharlal Nehru University

New Delhi, India

Carina Alexandra Fernandes Ladeira

Adjunct Professor

Laboratorial Biomedical Sciences

School of Health Technology of Lisbon

Lisbon, Portugal

Afshin Amini

Department of Surgery

St George Hospital, The University of New South Wales

Sydney, Australia

Michael Eckart

Director

Protein and Nucleic Acid Facility

Stanford University

United States

Khandelwal Sharad Ratan

Associate Professor

Department of Microbiology

Institute of life sciences, HPT/RYK College, Nashik

India

Meena Upadhayaya

Professor

Institute of Medical Genetics, Cardiff University

United Kingdom

Richard J Simpson

Professor

Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

University of Melbourne

Australia

Gregory S Yochum

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

Pennsylvania State University

United States

Muhammad Akram

Associate Professor

Chairperson of Department of Eastern Medicine, Directorate of Medical Sciences

Government College University Faisalabad

Pakistan

Rahul S. Shinde

Principal Investigator

Immunology, Microenvironment and Metastasis program

The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia

United States