Immunology & Immunogenetics

Charles J Malemud is Associate Director of the Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program at University Hospitals Case Medical Center Professor of Medicine Anatomy Division of Rheumatic Diseases Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio. He received the Ph.D. in Experimental Pathology from the Department of Biology at George Washington University Washington DC 1969-1973. He completed his BS in Biology at Long Island University 1966. He was elected to James Shannon Award Who´s Who in Healthcare and Medicine. He is serving as an editorial board member of 9 reputed journals and a peer-reviewer for numerous scientific journals. He has published a total of over 300 peer-reviewed papers abstracts and book chapters.

Biology of the Musculoskeletal System
Intracellular Signal Transduction Pathways Inflammation
Pro-inflammatory, Anti-Inflammatory & Anabolic Cytokines
Apoptosis
Matrix metalloproteinases
Osteoarthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Fibromyalgia
Autoimmune Disorders

Timothy B. Niewold is an Chairman of the Federation of Clinical Immunology Societies (FOCiS) Centers of Excellence, 2012-2015 Scientific Advisory Board Member, American College of Rheumatology Research and Education Foundation, 2012-2013 Medical-Scientific Advisory Council Member, Lupus Foundation of America, 2011-present Advisory Editor, Arthritis and Rheumatism Journal, 2010-2013 Associate Scientific Advisor, Science Translational Medicine Journal, 2011-2012

Type I interferon in autoimmune diseases
Heterogeneity in the molecular pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases
Genetic basis of lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus)

Jeffrey Isenberg earned his Bachelor’s at the University of Pennsylvania and completed his medical training at Tulane University School of Medicine, where he simultaneously earned a Masters of Public Health. He interned at Roosevelt-St. Luke’s Hospital and completed general surgery training at Staten Island University Hospital. He further specialized in reconstructive, hand and microsurgery with fellowship training at Yale University, the University of Connecticut and the University of Southern California. He then completed a post-doctoral research fellowship in the Laboratory of Pathology of the NCI, NIH funded by a Cancer Research Fellow Training Award. He worked as areconstructive microsurgeon

Enhancement of tissue blood flow, perfusion and wound healing and stem.

Deepak Shukla has received his Ph.D. in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) during the period of 1990-1996. Currently, he is working as the Marion Schenk Esq. Professor of Ocular Virology in the Departments of Ophthalmology &Visual Sciences and Microbiology & Immunology at UIC College of Medicine in Chicago, IL. He is also the Director of Ocular Virology Laboratory at UIC. He serves on the editorial boards of prestigious journals, has been a regular reviewer for over a dozen reputed scientific journals, and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed papers including publications in top rated journals such as Cell, Journal of Clinical Investigation, Journal of Cell Biology, Journal of Biological Chemistry etc. He has also written two book chapters and holds two international patents for his discoveries. He was the lead discoverer of 3-O sulfated heparan sulfate as the host cell membrane receptor for herpes simplex virus. He has received outstanding research awards from many organizations including American Herpes Foundation, Research to Prevent Blindness Inc. an

Cell biology of virus entry into human cells
Host cell membrane receptors for viruses such as herpes viruses.
Membrane receptors and membrane morphology facilitate viral infections.
Research on heparan sulfate proteoglycans
Studies on HVEM, a member of tumor necrosis factor receptor family and nectin-1 and a member of immunoglobulin superfamily.

Michael G. Hanna is the founder of Vaccinogen and the discoverer and developer of OncoVAX® an autologous vaccine designed to provoke a specific immune response against colon cancer cells. His previous accomplishments include Chairman (Emeritus) and Chief Scientific Officer of Intracel Resources, Chief Operating Officer of Organon Teknika/Biotechnology Research Institute and Sr. Vice President of Organon Teknika Corporation. Prior to that (1975-1982) Michael G. Hanna was Director of the National Cancer Institute, Frederick Cancer Research Center. OncoVAX® is an autologous vaccine designed to provoke a specific immune response against colon cancer cells. The product is comprised of irradiated tumor cells obtained from the patient after surgery and it is administered along with the BCG vaccine. Vaccinogen believes OncoVAX® is the first product to show a significant reduction in recurrence of disease in Stage II colon cancer patients in a major, long-term clinical trial. Except for surgery, there is no medically accepted treatment for Stage II colon cancer. Trials using adjuvant chemotherapy have not demonstrated any patient benefit to date. He led the team that achieved FDA regulatory approval of TICE BCG for treatment of carcinoma in situ (CIS) bladder cancer. Worldwide registration was achieved in 1991 and it is standard of care for prophylaxis of recurrence of superficial bladder cancer and therapy of CIS. He received a doctoral degree in experimental pathology and immunology from the University of Tennessee. He has over 225 publications to his credit, has 11 patents in immunotherapy and has been the recipient of numerous honors, and served on many editorial boards

Vaccinogen, Inc.,
USA

Kota. V Ramana is a Professor at Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA. He has received a Ph.D. in Biochemistry from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India in 1998. The chief objective of his investigations is to examine the involvement of oxidative stress signals in inflammation and to delineate the role of aldose reductase in the pathways used by activated macrophages and monocytes to control inflammation. He uses various genetic biochemical and cell biological approaches to analyze inflammatory responses regulated by aldose reductase in various inflammatory pathologies such as sepsis uveitis asthma and cancer. He is serving as an editorial board member of 6 other journals and reviewer of several journals.

Signal transduction in immune cells
Oxidative stress signaling in inflammatory complications
Role of polyol pathway enzymes in inflammatory pathologies

Jianfei Yang is a senior scientist and a project leader in the Th17/Treg cell company at Tempero Pharmaceuticals, a GSK company. He received a Ph.D. in Pathology from Niigata University School of Medicine in Japan in 1997. He then obtained postdoctoral training in Ken Murphy’s lab at HHMI and Washington University School of Medicine. In the past 15 years, he has been studying the role of CD4+ T helper cells in immunity and diseases. He has 10 years of experience in autoimmune disease research and pharmaceutical drug development. He has published numerous papers and patents. Currently, he is interested in targeting Th17 and/or Treg cells for the treatment of immunological diseases. He has published more than 100 technical papers in international conferences and journals.

Visual signal processing and multimedia networking.

Carina Venter is currently appointed as a Senior Research Fellow at the University of Portsmouth where she is doing a Post Doc in the area of Food Hypersensitivity (FHS). She recently completed her Ph.D. from the University of Southampton investigating the prevalence and incidence of FHS in childhood. She is also working as a Senior Dietitian at The David Hide Asthma and Allergy Research Centre where she sees adult and paediatric patients, as well as taking part in research.Carina graduated as a dietitian in South Africa in 1993. In 1997 she moved to the United Kingdom and worked at the Good Hope Hospital in Sutton Cold field before moving to the Isle of Wight. Her research career in Food Hypersensitivity started at the David Hide Centre followed by studying the Postgraduate Diploma in the Mechanisms and Management of Allergic Disease at the University of Southampton and she now lectures in this course. Carina is a member of the advisory board of Allergy. UK and deals regularly with nutritional queries from members of the public. She is also a member of the European Academy for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, the British Society for Allergy and Clinical Immunology, American Academy of Asthma, Allergy and Immunology and the British Dietetic Association as well as the UK representative of the American Overseas Dietetic Association. She has had a number of publications in international journals and has authored book chapters in FHS.

Food allergy, and food hypersensitivity

Ruo-Pan Huang is a founder and CEO of RayBiotech, Inc. and adjunct Associate Professor of Emory University. As a pioneer in the development of protein array technology, he and his team have developed many innovative protein array technologies and products which now are widely used worldwide by many investigators. He has published about 100 scientific research papers. He also serves on the editorial board of several journals such as Cancer Genomics and Proteomics, journal of analytical oncology and open journal of proteomics and on several other committees, including an NIH study section and Chinese National Natural Science Fund. His research has been funded by NIH, ACS, Emory University and others. During his tenure, he has received several awards, including the American Cancer Society Young Investigator Award.

Ray Biotech, Inc
USA

Sergei A. Grando is a board-certified dermatologist with more than 30 years experience. He is a leading expert and researcher in eczema and other autoimmune blistering diseases. He is conducting a clinical trial for the treatment of pemphigus with a non-hormonal medication. Grando has published more than 225 papers, monographs and book chapters, and has been awarded numerous research grants from the National Institutes of Health and other funding agencies. He was awarded as a Doctor of the Year, 2010, International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation and Vice Chair, a medical advisory board of the International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation. His Academic Distinctions includes 2010- present Vice Chair, Medical Advisory Board of International Pemphigus and Pemphigoid Foundation 2005-Honorary Chair for California, NRCC Physicians’ Advisory Board. 2004- Vice Chair, Dermatology Foundation of California 2002-present Honorary Member Ukrainian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists, Cosmetologists, Ukraine 2001-Clinical Innovator Award, Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute, USA 1995-FIRST Award, NIH, NIAMS, USA and He have 250 publications.

University of California
USA

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 Ph.D. from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, 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. 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.

Nanotechnology based drug delivery of proteins/peptides, siRNA and miRNA to target cancer and chronic inflammation.
Drug discovery for novel anticancer targets for cancer cell survival, death, arrest, and repair.
Development of immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory bioactives, proteins and peptides for neuroprotection.
Development of complementary alternative medicine from the milk derived proteins including metal binding protein Lactoferrin, and herbal preparation derived active components with a special focus on the treatment of solid tumours colon and breast cancers.

Kenneth K. Wu is a Distinguished Chair Professor, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taiwan. Currently he is President, Distinguished Investigator and Acting Director for National Health Research Institutes, Taiwan. He received SANOFI Prize, SANOFI Association for Thrombosis Research and International Society of Thrombosis and Haemostasis in 1997. Previously he is Member in American Association of Physicians in 1997. He has number of publications in reputed journals.

Prostaglandin and nitric oxide synthesis and biological activities
Haemostatic and genetic risk of arterial thrombosis.
Identification and purification of endogenesis factors that central cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression in proliferating cells, elucidation of mechanisms by which salicylate inhibits transcriptional activation, and the novel actions of prostaglandins on adult cell and embryonic stem cell survival, differentiation and proliferation.

Jianguo Liu has completed his postdoctoral training at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. He is currently tenured associate professor at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He has published more than 40 peer-reviewed papers in reputed journals, serves on editorial boards of biomedical journals and as ad-hoc reviewer for many reputed scientific journals.

His primary research interest focuses on the interaction between cytokines produced in macrophages/DCs and T cell development in tumors and autoimmune diseases.

Kaihong Su obtained her doctorate degree and post-doctoral training from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). After being a faculty member at UAB for 5 years, she joined the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2008 to continue her research. The long-term goal of her lab is to understand the molecular mechanisms for autoimmune diseases, including SLE and RA. She has published 26 papers in reputed journals and served as ad-hoc reviewer for a number of scientific journals.

Immunology
autoimmune diseases
autoantibodies and neutrophils

Lijuan Yuan has received Ph.D. in Immunology and Virology, 1996-2000. Food Animal Health Research Program, Department of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center OARDC, The Ohio State University. She was honored with Pfizer award at veterinary college´s 2011 Research Symposium. Currently, she held a position as Assistant Professor, Virology and Immunology. Center for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA.

Pathogenesis and innate and adaptive immune responses induced by enteric viruses (i.e. norovirus and rotavirus) in gnotobiotic pig models of human enteric virus infection and diseases, mechanism of immune modulation by probiotics,
The development of safer and more effective vaccines against viral gastroenteritis

Under the supervision of Dr. Aaron B. Waxman and Dr. Charles A. Hales, has been focused on understanding the mechanisms of acute lung injury against fungal and viral infections and non-infections. After completion of his postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, he joined as an assistant professor in the Nanomedicine Research Center-Division of Allergy and Immunology, Internal Medicine at University of south florida. He has published many peer-reviewed papers in top journals such as Journal of Immunology and Circulation research. He serves as a reviewer for numerous medical and pharmacological journals. His current research is funded by National Institute of Heath RO1 and American Heart Association.

Pathogen-Associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs) and Danger-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs);
viral and fungal infections of the lung;
pulmonary hemorrhage syndrome associated with dengue fever; and lung injury.

Esma S. Yolcu is Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, Director of Imaging Facility at the Institute for Cellular Therapeutics, and member of James Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY. After receiving her Ph.D. from University of Ankara, Turkey, she joined the Institute for Cellular Therapeutics at the University of Louisville to pursue her postdoctoral training followed by promotion to a faculty position in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. Her research focuses on the modulation of the immune system for the treatment of autoimmunity and graft rejection. Her work has been funded by various federal and nonfederal funding agencies, including NIH, American Heart Association, and American Diabetes Association. She is the recipient of several awards, member of various national and international societies, serves on Editorial Board of two scientific journals, and published over 67 peer-reviewed papers, abstracts, and review articles in high ranking journals, such as Immunity, Circulation, and Journal of Immunology.

Transplantation tolerance
bone marrow transplantation,
type 1 diabetes,
apoptosis graft versus host diseases,
Islet transplantation and heart transplantation

Jiansong Tong, is a research associate from Department of Cell Biology in The Scripps Research Institute at La Jolla, CA. He got his Ph.D. degree from Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology in Iowa State University at Ames, IA in 2009. He completed his MS in Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2004 and my BS in Sichuan University in 2001. He has published four research papers on peer-reviewed scientific journals such as PNAS, JBC etc. Currently, he is a reviewer for several journals including Journal of Molecular Biology, Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Journal of Cancer Science etc.

Autoimmune response, inflammation signaling pathway, and TLR receptor

Charles J Malemud is Associate Director of the Rheumatology Fellowship Training Program at University Hospitals Case Medical Center Professor of Medicine Anatomy Division of Rheumatic Diseases Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine Cleveland Ohio. He received the Ph.D. in Experimental Pathology from the Department of Biology at George Washington University Washington DC 1969-1973. He completed his BS in Biology at Long Island University 1966. He was elected to James Shannon Award Who´s Who in Healthcare and Medicine. He is serving as an editorial board member of 9 reputed journals and a peer-reviewer for numerous scientific journals. He has published a total of over 300 peer-reviewed papers abstracts and book chapters.

Biology of the Musculoskeletal System Intracellular Signal Transduction Pathways Inflammation Pro-inflammatory, Anti-Inflammatory & Anabolic Cytokines Apoptosis Matrix metalloproteinases Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibromyalgia Autoimmune Disorders Research Interest

I am Oliver, Associate Professor in Unit for Laboratory Animal Medicine (ULAM) and Department of Microbiology and Immunology. I am also an affiliated member of the Center for Computational Medicine and Biology (CCMB) and a member of the (Comprehensive Cancer Center) in the University of Michigan (UM) Medical School. Our laboratory research is focused on host-Brucella interaction and bioinformatics. I had my D.V.M. education at Jiangxi Agricultural University and my M.S. degree (Co-advisors: Professors Zhongzhi Zhang and Hanchun Yang) in Infectious Diseases and Veterinary Preventive Medicine at China Agricultural University in China. I obtained my professional assistant veterinarian license during my two-year employment at Beijing Xijiao Livestock and Poultry Company, Beijing, China. My training in Brucella research started in 1996 in Dr. Gerhardt Schurig’s immunology laboratory at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). I obtained my Ph.D. in Dr. Schurig's lab in 2000. I then worked in the same lab as a postdoc for half a year. I obtained my M.S. degree (research advisor: Dr. Pedro Mendes) in computer science in Virginia Tech with a focus on bioinformatics in May 2002. After graduation I worked as a senior research associate for three years in Dr. Bruno Sobral’s group at the Virginia Bioinformatics Institute (VBI). I joined UM in July 2005 as an assistant professor and became an associate professor in September 2011 (with tenure).

Brucella microbiology and immunology research Vaccine Ontology Ontology of Adverse Events

Yehuda Shoenfeld is the founder and head of the Zabludowicz Center for Autoimmune Diseases, at the Sheba Medical Center which is affiliated to the Sackler Faculty of Medicine in Tel-Aviv University, in Israel. Dr. Shoenfeld is the Incumbent of the Laura Schwarz-Kipp Chair for Research of Autoimmune Diseases at the Tel-Aviv University. His clinical and scientific works focus on autoimmune and rheumatic diseases, and he has published more than 1700 papers in journals such as New Eng J Med, Nature, Lancet, Proc Nat Acad Scie, J Clin Invest, J Immunol, Blood, FASEB, J Exp Med, Circulation, Cancer and others. His articles have had over 31,000 citations. He has written more than three hundred and fifty chapters in books, and has authored and edited 25 books, some of which became cornerstones in science and clinical practice, such as "The Mosaic of Autoimmunity", "Infections and Autoimmunity" and the textbook "Autoantibodies" and "Diagnostic criteria of autoimmune diseases", all of which were published by Elsevier and sold by the thousands. He is on the editorial board of 43 journals in the field of rheumatology and autoimmunity and is the founder and the editor of the IMAJ (Israel Medical Association Journal) the representative journal of science and medicine in the English language in Israel, and also is the founder and Editor of the "Autoimmunity Reviews" (Elsevier) (Impact factor 6.6) and Co-Editor of "Journal of Autoimmunity" (Impact factor 7.4). For the last twenty years Dr. Shoenfeld has been the Editor of "Harefuah" The Israel journal in medicine (Hebrew) and he has edited the Israel Medical Encyclopedia (10 volumes, 5000 items). He had organized over 20 international congresses in autoimmunity. He is the editor-in-chief for Journal of Autoimmunity along with M. Eric Gershwin (University of California, Davis). According to the Journal Citation Reports, the journal has a 2012 impact factor of 8.145, ranking it 11th out of 137 journals in the category "Immunology”. This journal is a peer-reviewed medical journal covering research on all aspects of autoimmunity. It was established in 1988 and is published 8 times per year by Elsevier.

Autoimmune Diseases

Director of endocrinology at flinders medical centre with a conjoint position as professor of medicine at flinders university, nikolai petrovsky is also vice-president and secretary-general of the international immunomics society. active in diabetes, endocrinology and vaccine research, he is the founder of vaxine, a company funded by the us national institutes of health to develop novel vaccine technologies. in 2009 vaxine won the amp innovation award at the telstra business awards and australia's coolest company award from australian anthill magazine. nikolai petrovsky has developed vaccines against influenza, hepatitis b, sting allergy, malaria, japanese encephalitis, rabies and hiv, has authored over 90 papers and chapters and is a regular invited speaker at international vaccine conferences.

Pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes Obesity and type 2 diabetes Vaccine development Immuno-informatics

Michael G. Hanna is the founder of Vaccinogen and the discoverer and developer of OncoVAX® an autologous vaccine designed to provoke a specific immune response against colon cancer cells. His previous accomplishments include Chairman (Emeritus) and Chief Scientific Officer of Intracel Resources, Chief Operating Officer of Organon Teknika/Biotechnology Research Institute and Sr. Vice President of Organon Teknika Corporation. Prior to that (1975-1982) Michael G. Hanna was Director of the National Cancer Institute, Frederick Cancer Research Center. OncoVAX® is an autologous vaccine designed to provoke a specific immune response against colon cancer cells. The product is comprised of irradiated tumor cells obtained from the patient after surgery and it is administered along with the BCG vaccine. Vaccinogen believes OncoVAX® is the first product to show a significant reduction in recurrence of disease in Stage II colon cancer patients in a major, long-term clinical trial. Except for surgery, there is no medically accepted treatment for Stage II colon cancer. Trials using adjuvant chemotherapy have not demonstrated any patient benefit to date. He led the team that achieved FDA regulatory approval of TICE BCG for treatment of carcinoma in situ (CIS) bladder cancer. Worldwide registration was achieved in 1991 and it is standard of care for prophylaxis of recurrence of superficial bladder cancer and therapy of CIS. He received a doctoral degree in experimental pathology and immunology from the University of Tennessee. He has over 225 publications to his credit, has 11 patents in immunotherapy and has been the recipient of numerous honors, and served on many editorial boardsBiography

Cancer Vaccines

Lewellys F. Barker, MD, MPH, is currently Senior Medical Advisor at Aeras, a non-profit product development partnership based in Rockville, Maryland, which is conducting R&D on new TB vaccines. He served in the US Public Health Service as a medical research laboratory and clinical investigator and senior manager with the NIH Division of Biologics Standards and the US Food and Drug Administration Bureau of Biologics, and at the Division of AIDS of the US NIH/NIAID, with responsibilities for product development, regulation, and public health applications. He also worked as a Senior Vice President at the American Red Cross with responsibility for the Red Cross blood program. His major career activities have included preclinical and clinical research on viral (e.g., hepatitis, HIV, smallpox), rickettsial and bacterial (TB) vaccines, immune globulins and diagnostics for detection, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. He is a graduate of Princeton University and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and School of Public Health and trained in Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital and New York University/Bellevue Hospital.

viral (e.g., hepatitis, HIV, smallpox) Rickettsial and bacterial (TB) vaccines Immune globulins and diagnostics for detection Treatment and prevention of infectious diseases.

Howard L. Kaufman is the Director of the Rush University Cancer Center. He also serves as an Associate Dean of the Rush University Medical Center and is Professor of Surgery, Internal Medicine-Medical Oncology, and Immunology & Microbiology at Rush University Medical College. Dr. Kaufman completed medical school at Loyola University in Chicago, surgical residency at Boston University and fellowship training in Tumor Immunology and Surgical Oncology at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Maryland. He serves on several editorial boards and has published over 200 manuscripts, books, book chapters, review articles and abstracts. He is as a consultant to the NCI and several pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies and was recently appointed to the Board of Directors of the iSBTc. He has conducted over 50 clinical trials, including Phase I, II and III investigator-initiated, industry-sponsored, NIH-sponsored, cooperative group and multi-institutional studies related to the role of immunotherapy and surgical resection as treatment options for patients with melanoma and other cancers.Biography

Cancer immunotherapy Melanoma vaccines. Research Interest

Anil Shanker is an Associate Professor in the Biochemistry and Cancer Biology at Meharry Medical College. He is also a member of Vanderbilt-Ingram Comprehensive Cancer Center at Vanderbilt University. Dr.Shanker obtained his PhD from Banaras Hindu University in 1999. He performed his postdoctoral studies in tumor immunology at the CNRS/INSERM Center of Immunology, France and the National Cancer Institute,Maryland. His laboratory focuses on understanding functional cross-talk between T lymphocytes and natural killer cells and their activation signaling mechanisms in tumor models. He has over 30 research publications to his credit in cancer and immunology journals.

Host-Tumor Interactions and Thoracic/Head and Neck Cancer Research Functional cooperativity and signaling mechanisms in immune effector cells Tumor cell-death sensitizing and immunostimulatory agents in adoptive immunotherapy settings Pharmacological activation of Notch 1 signaling to enhance lymphocyte functions and overcome tumor-associated immunosuppression

Following a 5-year career as a Medical Laboratory Scientific Officer in histocompatability testing at the Royal Postgraduate Medical School London, I moved into academic research with Professor Barry Kay at the Brompton Hospital, London. This was followed by a year spent as a visiting Fellow at the Allergy Division, National Children's Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. I then returned to London and completed my PhD at the National Heart & Lung Institute, University of London, Brompton Hospital. A postdoctoral position with Colin Sanderson at the University of Oxford was followed by a move in 1992 to the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Leicester Medical School as a senior research fellow/honorary lecturer and later honorary senior lecturer. I was awarded a Wellcome Trust Career Development Fellowship in 1995 and joined the Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Aberdeen as a Senior Lecturer in 1997 being appointed Reader in 2004. Visiting Professor of Immunity and Inflammation, Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College, Dublin. My research career in asthma and Allergy spans some 25 years and has resulted in the publication of over 150 papers, editorials and review articles in major international scientific and medical journals.

My major interests involve elucidation of the molecular mechanisms controlling the initiation and resolution of the inflammatory processes underlying asthmatic and allergic disease, with an emphasis on the role played by the cells of the bronchial epithelium and eosinophils together with expertise in the anti-inflammatory properties and potential side-effects of antihistamines.

Kaihong Su obtained her doctorate degree and post-doctoral training from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). After being a faculty member at UAB for 5 years, she joined the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 2008 to continue her research. The long-term goal of her lab is to understand the molecular mechanisms for autoimmune diseases, including SLE and RA. She has published 26 papers in reputed journals and served as ad-hoc reviewer for a number of scientific journals.Biography

Immunology autoimmune diseases autoantibodies and neutrophilsResearch Interest

Gregory Lee completed his Ph. D from California Institute of Technology and postdoctoral studies from University of California, San Diego. He became a full Professor at University of British Columbia in 1989, and retired in 2012 with the title of Professor Emeritus. He is the co-founder of Vancouver BioTech Ltd. He has published more than 200 papers, including 30 papers in cancer research. He has been serving as an editorial board member of the Journal of Carcinogenesis and Mutagenesis, and the Journal of Cancer Science and Therapy since 2012.

Research and Development of Antibody-Based Anti-Cancer Drugs. RP215 monoclonal antibody was shown to recognize specifically a carbohydrate-associated epitope located on the variable regions of cancer cell expressed immunoglobulins, designated in general as CA215.Structural elucidation of carbohydrate-associated epitope in CA215 which is recognized by RP215 monoclonal antibody (Mab). Humanizations of RP215 Mab for preclinical studies. Generations of Rat anti-idiotype Mabs as candidates for the development of anti-cancer vaccines in humans. Establishment of an Anti-GnRH receptor Mab, GHR106, as a substitute of short-acting GnRH analogs for antibody-based anti-cancer drugs, as well as preclinical studies. Elucidation of mechanisms of action for RP215 and GHR106 as antibody-based anti-cancer drugs. Elucidation of a carbohydrate-associated epitope recognized by RP215 monoclonal antibodies.

Michelle L. North, PhD, is a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. She is supported by an Ontario Ministry of Research and Innovation Post-Doctoral Fellowship Award, and her research focuses on epigenetics and the developmental origins of allergic disease. She is also involved in clinical studies in the Environmental Exposure Unit at Kingston General Hospital. Her research interests also include the relationship between air pollution and allergic disease. She completed her PhD at the University of Toronto, in the Institute of Medical Science, with specializations in Environment & Health and Biomedical Toxicology. Her doctoral thesis focused primarily on murine models of allergic airways inflammation and airways hyperresponsiveness and was supported by a Charles Best Canada Graduate Scholarship Doctoral Award.

Epigenetics Air pollution Ozone Arginase Nitric oxide synthase Developmental origins of allergy Atopy Cord Blood Murine models Airways hyperresponsiveness

Amina S. woods is a recepient of 2011 NIDA Investigator recipient of Woman Scientist Achievement Award. Amina S. woods is an investigator at integrative neuroscience branch, structural biology unit, NIDA. Woods obtained her B.Sc degree in chemistry at Loyola College. After graduation, she joined Department of Pathology and went to University of Maryland Medical School and obtained her M.S. She received a Ph. D in Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She has undergone Post-doctoral training in Oncology Immunology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (Advisor Elizabeth Jaffee).

Functional proteomics, mapping and imaging of the brain’s and other organs, lipidome and proteome of leucocytes, protein modeling and bioinformatics

Ljudmila Stojanovich received her PhD in Medicine, with the thesis Neuropsychiatric manifestations in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus” in 1999. She is the scientific director in the Bezhanijska Kosa, University Medical Center of Belgrade University, where she is currently a Research Professor. Her research focuses on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Antiphospholipid Syndrome, and Vaccination in patients with Autoimmune Rheumatic diseases. She is an author of three monographs and of about 250 articles on various aspects of Rheumatic disorders, published in international and domestic journals and in conference proceedings. She is in Editorial Boards/Reviewer in the Current Contests or Science citation index, like Lupus, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, The Journal of Vaccine, The Journal of Rheumatology, Allergologia et Immunopathologia and others. She is a member of number International Project, like of the European Forum on Antiphospholipid Antibodies”, “Multicentre Studies Antiphospholipid Antibodies, Infections and Autoimmune Diseases. She is a mentor/Supervisor of a numbers of post-doc students.Ljudmila Stojanovich received her Ph.D. in Medicine, with the thesis “Neuropsychiatric manifestations in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus” in 1999. She is the scientific director in the Bezhanijska Kosa, University Medical Center of Belgrade University, where she is currently a Research Professor. Dr. Stojanovich’s research focuses on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Antiphospholipid Syndrome, and Vaccination in patients with Autoimmune Rheumatic diseases. She is an author of three monographs and of about 250 articles on various aspects of Autoimmune Rheumatic disorders, published in international and domestic journals and in conference proceedings. She is in Editorial Boards (Editorial Boards LUPUS (LONDON). /Reviewer in the “CURRENT CONTENSTS” or “Science citation index”, like LUPUS REWIEWER DATABAS, Cellular and Molecular Neurobiology, The Journal of Vaccine

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ,Antiphospholipid Syndrome ,Neuropsychiatric Lupus

Sulie Chang, currently the Director of the Institute of NeuroImmune Pharmacology (I-NIP) and Professor of Biological Sciences and Neuroscience at Seton Hall University. Sulie Chang was previously a faculty member at Tulane Medical School and the Louisiana State University Medical Center. She joined Seton Hall University (SHU) in 1994 as an Assistant Professor of Biology rising through the academic ranks to become Professor of Biological Sciences in 2002 and Professor of Neuroscience in 2003. Between 1999 and 2005, I served as the Chairperson of the Department of Biological Sciences. Under her leadership as Department Chairperson, the Ph.D. program of Molecular Bioscience was implemented in 2004. Sulie Chang received her first NIH R01 grant in 1989 and have been funded continuously by NIH since then. She currently havetwo R01s (PI) and one RC2 awards. Sulie Chang is also a recipient of a K02 Independent Scientist Career Award since 2003.

Sulie Chang 's research has focused on the interactions between the nervous and immune systems in health and disease. Particularly, it has been predominantly in the area of neuroimmune modulation of substances of abuse including morphine(suppressant), cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine (stimulant) and alcohol (depressant).

Maria Grazia De Simoni, Doctoral Degree in Biological Sciences in 1977, University of Milano, Italy, 110/110 summa cum laude. 1981: PhD in Neuropharmacology. 1981-1982: European Community fellowship for "Advanced Professional Training", INSERM U 171, Universitè Claude Bernard, Lyon, France. Presently: Head of the Laboratory of Inflammation and Nervous System Diseases, Mario Negri Institute Milan, Italy. She developed a long lasting expertise in experimental models of CNS diseases.Author of more than 110 scientific papers on peer-reviewed international journals.

The main scientific interests presently include the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion and of traumatic brain injury; the inflammatory response as target of therapeutic strategies; peripheral inflammatory markers in CNS diseases; the protective mechanisms of stem cells. Member of the Scientific Board of Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sull’Invecchiamento Cerebrale (AIRIC) and of the Editorial Board of Stroke, a Journal of Cerebral Circulation.

Matevz Leskovsek, PhD, is a founder and managing director of Breathinglabs.com, a company that produces human computer interfaces for breathing exercises, breathing games, and breathing entertainment. Dr. Leskovsek specializes in biofeedback, cardio-respiratory interaction, and neurology/brain research. He has led Society of Young researchers of Slovenia through fund raising and organization of an annual Mentor of the year award, that has been, among others, praised by the leading scientific journal Nature (Slovenian Scientists Reward Mentors, Nature, 09th June 2011).

Dr. Leskovsek specializes in biofeedback, cardio-respiratory interaction, and neuroplasticity. He also led Society of Young researchers of Slovenia through fund raising and organization of an annual Mentor Of The Year Award, that has been, among others, praised by the leading scientific journal Nature (Slovenian Scientists Reward Mentors, Nature, 09th June 2011).

Hervé, JF, Perron has completed his PhD in 1991 (Virology) and HDR (Professor Thesis; Biology) in 2000 from the Faculty of Medicine, Joseph Fourier University, Grenoble-France. He isolated and characterized a novel retroviral element from Multiple Sclerosis (MSRV), itself defining a novel family of human endogenous elements (HERV-W). He reviewed about a hundred manuscripts for more than 40 scientific and medical journals and is author in about 70 peer-reviewed publications. He is presently Chief Scientific Officer of Geneuro SA, Geneva-Switzerland. Geneuro develops innovative humanized antibody treatments for Multiple Sclerosis and for other diseases involving HERV-W as psychoses associating neuroinflammation.

Hervé Perron was Research Director of R&D within bioMérieux for the development of in vitro diagnostics in the domain of Neurological diseases. He was Scientific Director of bioMérieux STELHYS, a spin-off dedicated to the evaluation of developments of upstream research projects. Hervé is a co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of GeNeuro and the general manager of GeNeuro-Innovation.

Dr. Yumin Zhang, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics and the Department of Neuroscience at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. Dr. Zhang obtained his MD in Binzhou Medical School, China, PhD in Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel, and postdoc study in the Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. The major research interest in Dr. Zhang’s lab is to study how modulation of the arachidonic acid metabolism and the endocannabinoid system can impact the pathogenesis and treatment for neurological diseases, including traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis.

neurological diseases, including traumatic brain injury and multiple sclerosis

Professor Jagat R Kanwar is the Head and team leader of Nanomedicine-Laboratory of Immunology and Molecular Biomedical Research (NLIMBR), School of Medicine, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Australia. Professor Kanwar has an international reputation and expertise in investigating fundamental and applied molecular signalling aspects of pathogenesis of cancer, chronic inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases, thereby, leading to the development of treatment strategies from bench to bedside. He has more than 150 research publications in high impact factor and peer reviewed international journals, 27 book chapters and 3 edited books. Prof Kanwar’s research has generated several patents/PCTs with more than five licensed patents for commercialization to BioPharma industry. His group is currently working on drug discovery and nanomedicine for oral and systemic drug delivery of a range of natural bioactive and biomacromolecules (proteins/peptides, siRNAs and aptamers) for targeting survivin, HIF-1α and other apoptotic and inflammatory cell signalling molecules in cancer, chronic inflammation and neurodegenerative disorders. His research combines Immunology with state of the art and cutting edge techniques in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Nanobiotechnology and visualization to investigate the pathways in which key molecules are regulated in both normal and disease states. A number of in vitro human cell/tissue based co-culture models for cancers, microbial infections; autoimmune diseases; chronic inflammatory diseases (osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease), gut health, neurodegeneration and immunomodulation have been developed by his group. Kanwar’s main research objective is to understand and target the mechanisms involved at the molecular and sub cellular level which gives us an edge over the prevalent targeting techniques. He carries out both academic and commercial research projects and develops new approaches for the diagnosis, treatment, and nanomedicine based new generation delivery systems. His recent research focus on locked nucleic acid (LNA) LNA-modified aptamers conjugated "double targeted nano-bullet nanocapsules" with natural anti-tumour proteins which specifically target cancer cells. University, Australia. Professor Kanwar has an international reputation and expertise in investigating fundamental and applied molecular signalling aspects of pathogenesis of cancer, chronic inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases, thereby, leading to the development of treatment strategies from bench to bedside. He has more than 150 research publications in high impact factor and peer reviewed international journals, 27 book chapters and 3 edited books. Prof Kanwar’s research has generated several patents/PCTs with more than five licensed patents for commercialization to BioPharma industry. His group is currently working on drug discovery and nanomedicine for oral and systemic drug delivery of a range of natural bioactive and biomacromolecules (proteins/peptides, siRNAs and aptamers) for targeting survivin, HIF-1α and other apoptotic and inflammatory cell signalling molecules in cancer, chronic inflammation and neurodegenerative disorders. His research combines Immunology with state of the art and cutting edge techniques in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, Nanobiotechnology and visualization to investigate the pathways in which key molecules are regulated in both normal and disease states. A number of in vitro human cell/tissue based co-culture models for cancers, microbial infections; autoimmune diseases; chronic inflammatory diseases (osteoarthritis, inflammatory bowel disease), gut health, neurodegeneration and immunomodulation have been developed by his group. Kanwar’s main research objective is to understand and target the mechanisms involved at the molecular and sub cellular level which gives us an edge over the prevalent targeting techniques. He carries out both academic and commercial research projects and develops new approaches for the diagnosis, treatment, and nanomedicine based new generation delivery systems. His recent research focus on locked nucleic acid (LNA) LNA-modified aptamers conjugated "double targeted nano-bullet nanocapsules" with natural anti-tumour proteins which specifically target cancer cells.

Cancer and inflammatory autoimmune diseases;Cancer cells;stem cell capture;Disease specific biomarkers and Exosomes.

James R. Mansfield is a scientist with over 25 years of experience in spectral imaging, in-vivo spectroscopy and applied data analysis, directed towards finding of novel optical methods for the diagnosis and monitoring of medical conditions. He is currently the Global Head of Imaging, Quantitative Pathology Solutions, at PerkinElmer where he is a senior application scientist for their Quantitative Pathology products, including the Vectra Automated Quantitative Pathology Imaging System and the Mantra Quantitative Pathology Workstation. Before PerkinElmer he worked at Cambridge Research & Instrumentation, where he helped develop their multispectral imaging systems. Prior to that he worked at the National Research Council of Canada as a research scientist and at several small companies developing non-invasive spectroscopic methodologies. His research has included projects ranging from the development of the first of several spectral imaging systems able to map out skin oxygenation levels to developing methods for the non-invasive determination of the severity of rheumatoid arthritis and is currently focused on developing methods for simultaneous phenotyping of multiple subsets of immune cells in-situ in FFPE tissue sections. He is an associate editor of the American Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, holds 6 patents, has over 50 publications and has served as an invited speaker, session chair and organizer at a variety of international conferences.

Cancer Immunology; Cancer Immunotherapy

Okamura completed his doctorate in medical genetics in 1988. From 1989 to 1991, he was a research fellow at the Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, under a famous researcher of bladder carcinogenesis, Dr. Samuel M. Cohen. Dr. Okamura studied bladder carcinogenesis and molecular biology. Over the past 30 years, he has continued to conduct clinical and translational research, mainly on BCG immunotherapy for non-muscle invasive bladder cancer. He has published more than 25 papers as a first author.

Tumor, Cancer, Vaccines

Mark S. Kindy, Ph.D. is Professor of Neurosciences at the Medical University of South Carolina, Adjunct Professor of Bioengineering at Clemson University, Adjunct Professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of South Carolina, Adjunct Professor of Management and Entreprenurialism, School of Business, College of Charleston. He received his BA in zoology from the University of Massachusetts in 1980. Dr. Kindy received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Boston University School of Medicine from 1982-1987. He was a post-doctoral fellow at the Salk Institute from 1987-1989 in Molecular Biology and Virology. From 1989-2002, Dr. Kindy was a faculty member in the Department of Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky and rose from Assistant Professor to Full Professor. Dr. Kindy is currently the Admiral Pihl Endowed Professor in the Department of Neurosciences. Dr. Kindy is also a Research Career Scientist at the Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston. Dr. Kindy has served on many NIH, AHA, AA review panels, has reviewed for many journals and is currently on the editorial board of 10 journals. Dr. Kindy has over 140 peer reviewed publications and is funded by the NIH, VA , NSF and several foundations.

Cancer Immunology; Cancer Research; Neurological disorders; Biotechnology Bioengineering Inflammation Immune function in disease Vaccines

Prof. K.N. Leung received his B.Sc. Degree in Biochemistry from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and obtained the Ph.D. Degree in Microbiology and Immunology from The Australian National University. After two years of postdoctoral work at the Pathology Department of the University of Cambridge, he returned to the CUHK as a Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry in 1983. Prof. Leung was the former Dean of General Education in Chung Chi College, the Associate Dean of Science (Education) of CUHK and the Chairman of the Hong Kong Society for Immunology. He is now an Adjunct Professor in the School of Life Sciences, CUHK and the School of Science and Engineering, CUHK (Shenzhen).

Cancer immunotherapy; Nutrition; Immunity and cancer;

The translational research team at the Department of Cellular Therapy headed by Prof. Gunnar Kvalheim participates in developing new immunotherapy treatments for cancer. This includes the clinical development and testing of improved cancer vaccines and adoptive T cell therapy.

Immunology and Immunotherapy; New immunotherapy treatments for cancer

After obtained his M.D. and Ph.D. in Gastroenterology at the Fourth Military Medical University of China in 1992, he did post-doc research on molecular biology at University of Louvain, Belgium, 1994, then at Stanford University, 1996. He moved to the Georgetown University and developed a novel non-viral tumor-targeted delivery system for cancer therapy, which is in Phase II clinical trials. In 2002, he joined the faculty at University of Michigan to discover the novel small molecule inhibitors of anti-apoptotic proteins. He is a co-inventor of the first Bcl-2 inhibitor that entered into clinical trials. In 2010, he obtained a Rising Star Award and became an Associate Professor with Tenure at University of Kansas Cancer Center. He has >25 patents with four INDs in advanced clinical trials. He is now a Professor of Cancer Biology at University of Kansas and has been funded by NIH, DOD and Komen Foundation. He is now working on cancer drug discovery and immunotherapy targeting cancer stem cells.

Cancer; Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy; Cancer Stem cells; Cancer Antibodies

Research Scientist at the Wayne State University and Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI. Research interests include elucidating novel targets for therapy in aggressive breast cancers with special focus on key signaling pathways and microRNAs-mediated regulation of metastases and drug-resistance.

Cancer Metastasis; Pathology/ Medicine

In 2001, Dr. Han obtained his Ph.D degree in clinical hematology from Chinese PLA Postgraduate Medical School, and worked in Dept. of Molecule & Immunology of Chinese PLA General Hospital. In 2003, he did postdoctoral work at the University College London. In 2006, he was promoted to professor of molecular and cellular biology. Now, he is the Director of Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Director of Clinical Translational Ward, the General Hospital of PLA. Since 2001, he focused on mechanism research involved in cancer-treatment resistance and clinical translation of cell therapy. He has published over 80 articles.

Cancer- Treatment resistance, Clinical translation of cell therapy

Rupinder K Kanwar completed her PhD from PGIMER, India. Since then she has worked in India, New Zealand and Australia, in a variety of positions supporting and building new research programs related to interdisciplinary research, international collaborations and large-scale initiatives ranging from biomedicine to nanomedicine. She has 15 years’ experience in drug discovery targeting cancer and chronic inflammation, and delivered both academic and industry-oriented research with 75 peer reviewed publications. Dr Kanwar is a key inventor in more than 20 published and live patents/ applications. Her current research focuses on targeting molecular pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases and cancer with nanodrug and nanodiagnostic developments. At Deakin University, she is providing leadership to her research team on deciphering novel molecular targets for protein biodrugs to treat cancer and cardiomyopathy. She serves as an editorial advisory board member and reviewer of several international journals. Dr Kanwar has been invited as a speaker, and chair in national & international conferences, and her research presentations won awards at conferences

Targeting molecular pathogenesis of chronic inflammatatory diseases and cancer with nanodrug and nanodiagnostic developments, nanoencapsulation of proteins and other biomacromolecules, in particular lactoferrin to target inflammation, cancer.

Ammu K Radhakrishnan is a Professor of Pathology, School of Medicine, International Medical University, Malaysia. She obtained her PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK. She was a post-doc at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, before returning to Malaysia. Her main area of research is developing novel cancer immunotherapy approaches to harness the potential of host immune system with the help of natural bioactive agents. She has supervised many postgraduate students and has many publications in Tier 1 and 2 journals. She is a Fellow of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and the Cambridge Philosophical Society

Cancer Immunology and Immunotherapy

Charles J Malemud received the PhD from George Washington University in 1973 and completed postdoctoral studies at the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1977. He is Professor of Medicine & Anatomy in the Division of Rheumatic Diseases and Senior Investigator in the Arthritis Research Laboratory at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. He has published more than 200 papers and reviews primarily in the field of chondrocyte biology. He is on the editorial board of several rheumatology, immunology and musculoskeletal journals and is Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Clinical and Cellular Immunology.

Biology of the Musculoskeletal System Intracellular Signal Transduction Pathways Inflammation Pro-inflammatory, Anti-Inflammatory & Anabolic Cytokines Apoptosis Matrix metalloproteinases Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Fibromyalgia Autoimmune Disorders Research Interest

Sudhir Gupta is a Professor of Medicine, Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, and Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Chief of the Division of Basic and Clinical Immunology, and the Director of the Jeffrey Modell Diagnostic Center in Primary Immunodeficiencies at the University of California, Irvine. He also serves as Director of Scientific Development at the Sass Foundation for Medical Research in New York. Dr Gupta received his medical and doctorate degrees from the King George's Medical College in Lucknow, India. Previous appointments include Associate Professor of Medicine and Immunology at the Weill Cornell Medical College, and Associate Member at the Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, both in New York, New York. Dr Gupta is board certified in Clinical Immunology by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada; he is board certified in Allergy and Immunology, and Diagnostic Laboratory Immunology by the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. Dr Gupta is a Master of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Gupta has served on a number of committees for many leading governmental bodies and organizations, including the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and the World Health Organization. Dr Gupta has made many original contributions in the field of cellular and molecular immunology as it relates to primary immunodeficiency diseases, AIDS, cancer research, and aging. These findings have been published in high-impact journals, including Science, Nature, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Journal of Experimental Medicine, the Journal of Clinical Investigation, the New England Journal of Medicine, and Aging Cell. Dr Gupta has published more than 500 scientific papers, invited reviews, and book chapters. He has edited 24 books in various areas of cellular, molecular, and applied immunology, including one on primary immunodeficiency.

Molecular signaling of apoptosis, Dendritic cell biology, B cell biology, Genetic basis of primary immunodeficiency diseases

Michael Tainsky is a molecular cell biologist who has been studying the molecular basis of human cancer for more than 30 years. In 1998, he came to the Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University School of Medicine after 13 years on the faculty of the University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, TX, and 8 years at NCI/NIH. He has studied the biological effects of oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, and transcription factor on tumor cells; and in the Li-Fraumeni Cancer Syndrome, he studied the mechanisms of cellular immortalization. Recently, he extended his mechanistic cancer research to translational applications of genomics and proteomics to molecular diagnostics of ovarian cancer. For the past 10 years, his laboratory team has developed the epitope cloning technology and protein microarray immunoassays to detect tumor autoantibodies in patients’ sera. His Epitomics Biomarker Technology identifies the autoantigen biomarkers using novel informatics tools for the classification of patients. In 2009, he published a 330-page book as editor in the Methods in Molecular Biology Series from Humana Press entitled Tumor Biomarker Discovery. He was invited to guest edit Special Issues of the journal Cancer Biomarkers on Antibody Biomarkers and Biomarkers in Ovarian Cancer. Dr. Tainsky holds the Barbara and Fred Erb Chair in Cancer Genetics at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute. He is a professor in the Department of Oncology.

• Molecular genetic mechanisms by which normal cells become malignant • Pathway analysis of gene expression changes leading to cellular immortalization • Development of novel cancer diagnostic tests for early detection of cancer in the form of a complex blood test

Martin D’Souza has completed his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh, PA. He is the director of Graduate Programs at Mercer University, College of Pharmacy and Co-Director of the Center for Drug Delivery. He has published more than 80 manuscripts and is on the editorial board of several journals.

The D'Souza nanotechnology laboratory mainly focuses on the design of novel patented technologies to deliver nano vaccines via the oral, buccal, parenteral and microneedle based transdermal route. Examples include: viral vaccines such as influenza vaccines, HIV and human papilloma vaccines (HPV); bacterial vaccines such as pneumonia, meningitis, TB and typhoid; and cancer vaccines, such as breast, melanoma, prostate, liver and ovarian. Recently, we also have been involved in tissue bio-engineering- applications including the use of cell encapsulation and thermo-sensitive gels for transplantation of pancreatic cells in diabetes.

Ahmed Hegazi (or Ahmed Gaffer Hegazi; احمد جعفر حجازى) (born May 31, 1948) is currently a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology in the department of Zoonotic Diseases, National Research Center, Egypt. Prof. Hegazi received his masters degree in 1979, and his PhD in 1981. Hegazi's research work has been focused lately on bee products and their therapeutic effects. Hegazi Organized and contributed to national and international research projects since 1977 and up till now; he has been the principal investigator on multiple research projects within the National Research Center. He has published 166 scientific papers and articles in national and international journals. He also served on the board of multiple national and international scientific journals. Dr. Hegazi is also the president of the Egyptian Environmental Society for Uses and Production of Bee Products, secretary of the Egyptian Society of Apitherapy, secretary general of the African Federation of Apiculture Associations, and a member of the International Apitherapy Commission (APIMONDIA). Awards First Class Decoration of Excellence, Egypt, 1995 The Senior Scientist Prize of National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt, 1996 The National Scientific Prize In Biological Sciences, Egypt, 1990 The Scientific Prize of The National Research Center, Cairo, Egypt, 1989 The Second Best Research Paper Award, International Congress of Propolis, Bones Airs, Argentina, 2000 Main Speaker Award,10th Academic Conference, PRA and NAS (Nippon Apitherapy Soc.) Japan, 2006 2 Bronze medals from The International Innovation Fair of the Middle East, Kuwait, 2007 Patents Patent No. 8901 at 22/08/2006: A novel drug from natural products with new therapeutic modalities in treatment of psoriasis Patent No. 1005 at 02/01/2006: A novel drug from natural resources for controlling Fascioliasis Patent No. 270: at 01/06/2005: A novel drug from medicinal plants with antiatherosclerotic (hypocholesterolaemic), antioxidant and cardio protective properties. Patent No. 272: at 01/06/2005: A novel drug from natural resources with antiatherosclerotic (hypocholesterolaemic), antioxidant and cardio protective properties. Scientific Activities Editor in the following International Journals: Research Journal of Allergy, 2007 International Journal of Virology, 2007 Current Research In Tuberculosis, 2007 Research Journal of Veterinary Science, 2007 Research Journal of Microbiology, 2007 International Journal of Cancer Research, 2007 Research Journal of Medicinal plants, 2007 Referee in the following International Journals: Journal of Planta Medica, 2005 Journal of Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2006 International Journal of Radiation Biology, 2007

Apitherapy, Immunology

Associate Professor Dr. Gamil G. S. Zeedan obtained Ph.D. Virology ,Cairo University Egypt , MVSCs Virology, Cairo University. BVSCs , Cairo University . 2015 up to date Assistant Professor of Microbiology and Virology at Clinical laboratory Sciences at College of Applied Medical Sciences Shaqra University Saudi Arabia,2014 -2015 Associate Professor of Microbiology at National Research Center Ministry of High Education - Cairo Egypt -Cairo Egypt, .10-2013 Assistant Professor of Microbiology at Faculty of Medicine and Applied Medical Sciences –Northern Border University (NBU)- KSA) for 3acdemic years 2007- 2010,Assistant Researcher at National Research Center- Ministry of High Education - Cairo Egypt. He teaching the following curriculum,Medical Microbiology and Virology, Diagnostic Microbiology ,Clinical Rotation of Microbiology and Clinical Rotation Immunology & Virology. 2015- up-to-date Microbiology at Clinical laboratory Sciences at College of Applied Medical Sciences Shaqra University Saudi Arabia . 2010-52013 Microbiology in faculty of Medicine and Applied medical Sciences - Northern Border University, Saudi Arabia. Participate in teaching Medical Microbiology ( Virology ) MICM 311 courses for 3rd-year Medical students (3 hours/week).Participate in teaching Diagnostic Microbiology

Microbiology and Virology

R. P. Iyer, (Kris), Ph.D., FRSC is the co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals. He has more than 25 years’ experience in Biotechnology industry in drug discovery and development in diverse therapeutic areas including antivirals, inflammation and immune-oncology. Kris is a leading innovator in the fields of nucleic acid chemistry, bioorganic chemistry and pharmaceutical sciences with over 100 publications and 200 issued, as well as, filed US and international patents. Prior to Spring Bank, Kris was the co-founder and VP of Discovery of Origenix Technologies and also served as Associate Director of Antisense Discovery at Hybridon, Inc. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of Spring Bank Pharmaceuticals and is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of Oligomerix, Inc., NY.

Cancer Immunology

Dr. Jerald C. Sadoff is currently the Head of Early Development of the Crucell Vaccine Institute which is the Center of Excellence for Vaccine Development for Johnson & Johnson Companies Worldwide. Dr. Sadoff has spent his entire career developing vaccines against a large number of bacterial, viral and parasitic diseases, 11 of which have been licensed for human use and several currently are in Phase IIB and Phase III clinical trials. He currently serves on several IPCAVD Scientific Advisory Boards for NIH sponsored HIV vaccine efforts and is on the NIAID AIDS Vaccine Research Working Group. Over the last 35 years, he has authored over 350 articles, book chapters, and abstracts and has 18 issued patents

Vaccine Development

Pierre A. MORGON is Chief Executive Officer of MRGN Advisors and Regional Partner for Switzerland at Mérieux Développement, an evergreen investment structure focused on medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and patient management services. He is also Chairman of the Board of Virometix since January 2017, a company developing proprietary synthetic nanoparticle platform in vaccines and immunotherapeutic drugs for viral diseases and cancer, as well as Non-Executive Director to the Board of Theradiag since March 2012, a company focusing on in vitro diagnostics in auto-immunity, infectious diseases and allergy, and Non-Executive Director to the Board of Eurocine Vaccines since December 2013, a company dedicated to developing nasal vaccines. He joined the board of Virometix as chairman in January 2017

Vaccines and Immunotherapeutic drugs for Viral diseases and Cancer

Benoit Tano, M.D. is a specialist, pioneer, and the Minneapolis area’s foremost expert in the field of Integrative Immunity. Dr. Tano is the founder of Integrative Immunity Health System, PC located in Edina, Minnesota. He is Johns Hopkins-fellowship trained in allergy and clinical immunology and authored the number one bestselling book, The Layman’s Guide to Integrative Immunity (2016). He combines his vast expertise in allergy and clinical immunology and in hormone imbalance syndrome to treat the root causes of 21st-century chronic diseases.

Clinical Immunology

Professor Andrzej K. Siwicki, VMD, Ph.D., DSc is a Head of Department Microbiology and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury and Department of Pathology and Immunology IFI in Olsztyn, Poland. He is author of over 500 original papers in reputed journals and about 200 scientific communications (index-h 32, index of citation: 4502). His fields of interest are modulation of defence mechanisms and protection against diseases by natural and synthetic products in animals, influence of pollutants on the cell-mediated immunity and restoration of immunity after suppression induced by xenobiotics. Developed a new possibility in the comparative immunotoxicology for control of effect of xenobiotics and pharmaceutical products on the defence mechanisms and protection against diseases. He attended scientific missions in USA, Japan, France and Israel, was a co-ordinator of USDA and FAO projects and he is professor conferring of 14 PhDs and 4 DSc.

Microbiology and Clinical Immunology

1998-2003 Member of the Institut Universitaire de France Junior, then Honorary position 1998-2000 Senior Scientist at the Mind Body Institute of Harvard Medical School, USA 31/05/1995 Habilitation for directing research in Natural Sciences, University Lille 1 3/02/1993 Ph.D. in Life Science and Health, University Lille 1

Immunology

Prof. Dr. Ignat Ignatov was born on January 1, 1963 in the town of Teteven, Bulgaria. Тhe family Ignatov is from village of Gradina, region of Pleven, Bulgaria. In 1976 descrebes a phenomenon in which little apertures act like optic lenses. In 1989 Ignatov majored in physics from “Kliment Ohridski” Sofia University with master degree. In the same year he began his professional work in the sphere of medical biophysics. In 1996 he founded the Scientific and Research Center of Medical Biophysics (SRCMB) of which he is also an owner. Prof. Dr. Ignat Ignatov was a consultant of the National Center of Public Health (NCPH) at the Ministry of Health until 2003. The Bulgarian scientist is involved in research projects for the study of biophysical and medical effects in the application of alternative methodics for the influencing of human health. Bulgaria has a Health Act, which authorizes the practice of non-conventional (alternative) methodics. Trainings are carried out. From 2007 Ignat Ignatov is honorable doctor in European Academy of Natural Sciences (Germany). From 2013 he is Doctor of Science and Professor in The Russian Academy for Natural History. Prof. Ignatov is Chief Editor of two US journals. The first is Journal of Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics. The second is Journal of Health, Medicine and Nursing. The Bulgarian scientist is editor in chief in European Journal of Molecular Biotechnology, European Journal of Medicine - international bilingual scientific Journal and Research & Reviews in Biosciences.

Medicine, Physiology and Biophysics

He graduated from Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine in 1990. He completed his specialist education in Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Internal Medicine Department in 1995 and his branch of Medical Oncology Unit in 1999. Associate Professor in 2000, Professor in 2007. Between 2004 and 2006, she worked as a guest lecturer at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, USA to study breast cancer. Hacettepe University Institute of Health Sciences in 2013 and Hacettepe University Cancer Institute in 2013-2016 and Hacettepe University Internal Medicine Department and Medical Oncology Department in 2013-2015.

Oncology

Sr. Research Associate at University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Former Research Assistant at Baylor College of Medicine Former Research Assistant at New York Medical College

Epidemiolgy, Biochemistry

Dr. Luiz Werber-Bandeira is a physician with emphasis in Clinical Immunology, head of Clinical Immunology at the Santa Casa da Misericórdia Hospital and responsible for all the professional team that compose the clinical body of Imunoderm, in the Botafogo neighborhood and Ilha do Governador, Rio de January. For 36 years in the profession, he has done Post-Doctorate in Immuno-Genetics from the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (FioCruz-RJ), a master's degree and a PhD from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). He is coordinator of the Postgraduate Course in Immunology and Clinical and Laboratory Allergy, organizer responsible for the Research Line of the Clinical and Experimental Immunology Unit of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia in Rio de Janeiro, as well as a professor who participates in the line of research in PhotoDermatology and Immunology of UFRJ.

PhotoDermatology and Immunology

Dr. Ahmed Shoker was born in Egypt, graduated from the University of Alexandria, Egypt and moved to Canada in 1981. He received his training in general medicine at the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. He received his training in nephrology and transplantation at the University of Toronto where he received his fellowship training in transplantation between 1987 and1990. He then moved to the University of Saskatchewan. Currently, he is a Professor of Medicine and Nephrology at the University of Saskatchewan. He is the Medical Director of the provincial Transplant Program. His research interests include clinical trials and basic research in the field of immunosuppression and inflammation.

His current interest is the relationship between cardiovascular disease risk factors and inflammatory markers before and after kidney transplantation

As a Professor of Clinical and Chemical Pathology with an MD degree from the Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University and as the current Head of the Electron Microscopic Research Department in the Theodor Bilharz Research Institute , a medical research institution affiliated to the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research I focus my research on the role of immune cells in combating hepatic diseases caused by helminthic (schistosomiasis), bacterial or viral infections (hepatitis virus ) using electron microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy to visualize cellular changes accompanying such diseases. I was involved in scientific cooperative research with German and French institutions and I am very open to different cultures. I speak fluent English, German, French, and Arabic.

I focus my research on the role of immune cells in combating hepatic diseases caused by helminthic (schistosomiasis), bacterial or viral infections (hepatitis virus ) using electron microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy to visualize cellular changes accompanying such diseases.

Qingxian Lu received his Bachelor's degree from Shandong University, Master's from Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, and Ph. D.The University of Texas.

His interests are focused on elucidating molecular mechanisms of three closely-related receptor tyrosine kinases, called Tyro3, Axl and Mertk (TAM), in the regulation of phagocytic activity in professional and non-professional phagocytes, particularly in the retinal pigmental epithelium cells in the eye. Phagocytic clearance of the spent photoreceptor distal outer segment (OS) tips by the retinal pigmental epithelium (RPE) cells is essential to maintain photoreceptor homeostasis. Failure of RPE phagocytosis of the OS leads to retinitis pigmentosa (RP). Mutation in the Mertk receptor tyrosine kinase causes photoreceptor degeneration. To understand the molecular role of Mertk in phagocytosis, we have used Mertk mutated RPE cells as a model to identify Mertk downstream target genes or signaling molecules that are involved in regulation of the phagocytic events.

Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, USA

Immunology

Vaccinogen Inc., USA

cancer vaccines

Dr Mojtaba Mafi M.D., Medical Doctor/ Physician, graduated from Tehran University, School of Medicine with honour. I studied in neurosurgery ward and graduated with A score with a thesis on Meningioma Brain Tumor during 6 years. With continuing my practice with special consideration on psychosomatic disorders, I completed many post-graduate courses on health psychology, addiction medicine, sexual disorders therapy successfully. I passed many post-graduate courses in Neuro, approved by Medical sciences university. As well, I have been passed postgraduate courses on Nutrition, Gastroenterology and hepatology, Obesity treatment and diabetes approved by Tehran University of Medical sciences

Metabolic Disease, Obesity, Neuroscience of Nutrition, Metabolic Hepatitis, Celiac Disease Diet.

Dr. Tanveer Alam was born in Bijnor, India on 21st Jan. 1974. He received his Ph.D. Degree in the field of Natural Product Chemistry from School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India in 2000. From Nov. 2000 to Sept. 2001, he was a Post-doctoral Fellow at Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, India and worked on synthesis of water soluble derivatives of Silymarin. Upon completion of his education, he started his career as an Executive-R&D in a Flavour & Fragrances Company and after words he had served as Manager & Head-R&D in different National & Multinational Natural Products Industries. Dr. Alam has more than 19 years of R&D experiences in the field of Natural Products Chemistry. He has been worked as Associate Professor in Eritrea Institute of Technology, State of Eritrea. He is Ph.D. supervisor in JJT, University, Rajasthan, India and Visiting Professor in BioNatural Healing College, California, USA. He is Advisory Board Members in Pharma & Natural Food Colors Industries. He is also a Member of Editorial Boards and Referee for more than thirty National & International Journals. Since March 2015, Dr. Alam is looking the Production Unit for commercialization of Omani Medicinal & Aromatic Plants at University of Nizwa, Sultanate of Oman.

Pharmaceutical Chemistry (Natural Product Chemistry)

MS. SUCHI is an experienced International Pre School Principal/Manager who picked up Laughter exercises from many coaches around the world. She then designed ‘Laughter Therapy' which is being used in many places such as hospitals and Senior Activity Centres. She provides individual and group therapy in educational and home settings. A former Manager / Trainer is now engages in building social awareness about Holistic approach for recovery. Be it Depression, Anxiety caused by physical or emotional pain, Death in the family and the harm the unhappiness brings to people, families and communities. Her aim is to encourage people to seek help early and get on the path to recovery. Her works has been featured in local press, TV and Radio and has been an invited speaker at various community clubs and educational Institutions. She has also been awarded by MINDS and various community clubs in recognition of her social work.

Laughter Coach, Neurology/Psychiatry /Public Health, Neurology/Psychiatry /Public Health

Prof. Dr. C.P Abdolrasoul Aleezaadeh completed his Post Doctorate in (Psychology) at Approach of Applied Clinical Cognitive Neuropsychology from the USA. Prof. Dr. Aleezaadeh Completed his Ph.D. Degrees in Psychology in the USA. He completed his Master's Degree in Clinical Psychology at I. R. of the IRAN, Bachelor's Degree in General Psychology at I. R. of the IRAN, Bachelor's Degree in Homeopathic Medicine - I.R of IRAN (Berkeley International University - the USA) and, Advanced Curriculum in Traditional Medicine at W.M.C - I.R of IRAN (Tibbia College Gujranwala - Pakistan). Also, he has five Certificates/Documents in e-Marketing, Marketing, Marketing Management, Sales Management and, Sales Management (A Global Perspective) at Cavendish Caramad Institute - I.R of IRAN (Cavendish College - the UK) and, Instructor of first aid (initial, complementary and specialized). He is a full Expert International Faculty Professorship Member in the Brooklyn Central University, the USA, Associate Expert International Faculty Professorship Member at the University of Pacific Albion, the USA and, Associate Expert International Faculty Professorship Member in the Green Lake (Green Lake) University, the USA. Now he is working as an Assistant Professor at P.N.U and, U.A.S.T Universities; I.R. of IRAN.

Cognitive Sciences, Cognitive Neurosciences, Neuroimaging, Applied Clinical Neuropsychology, Brain (Cranial) Imaging, Traditional Medicine, Homeopathic Medicine and, Combination of Medical and Psychological trends for eradicating illnesses / sicknesses, Psychology, Cognitive Neuropsychology; Addiction Neurophysiology and, Neuropsychology, Biotechnological Researches, Nutrition and, Nutrient Industries, Psychopharmacology, Traditional Medicine Herbals/Medicinal Plants, Homeopathic Medicine Remedies.

Segundo Mesa Castillo. As Specialist in Neurology, he worked for 10 years in the Institute of Neurology of Havana, Cuba. He has worked in Electron Microscopic Studies on Schizophrenia for 32 years. He was awarded with the International Price of the Stanley Foundation Award Program and for the Professional Committee to work as a fellowship position in the Laboratory of the Central Nervous System Studies, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke under Dr. Joseph Gibbs for a period of 6 months, National Institute of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, Washington D.C. USA, June 5, 1990.

Neurology

Mr. De la Parra-Solomon is an entrepreneur focused on Information Technology, Education and Health. He is creative, results-driven and has 16+ years of Digital Strategy experience in architecture and implementation. Mr. De la Parra-Solomon is the Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder of the Quantum Brain Research Institute (www.quantumbrain.institute), a HealthTech initiative established in Tallinn, Estonia focused on Mental Health and Information Technology solutions.

HealthTech

Ms. Susanna Uusmaa is a biomedical scientist with broad expertise in Medical Sciences and in International Business. Holding an MSBS degree, she is result-driven to integrate modern smart technologies into making substantive contributions to the biomedical sector. Having conducted research in neuroscience and oncology and having proudly graduated from Tallinn University of Technology (TALTECH) and Tallinn University School of Natural Sciences and Health, Ms. Uusmaa takes an evidence-based approach to her professional objectives and also to her endeavors as a passionate healthy lifestyle entrepreneuse. With a background in biomolecular and medical sciences, she has recently co-founded Quantum Brain Research Institute ( https://quantumbrain.institute/ )with the aim of supporting the development of neuroscientific research for neurocritical treatment applications through instructive programs in mental health assessment and management.

neuroscience and oncology