Committee Members

Dr. Kostas Iatrou, formerly Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, Canada (1981-2001; Adjunct Professor 2001-today) and Director of the Institute of Biology at the National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos” in Athens, Greece (1988-2003), is the Head of the Institute’s “Insect Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology” Group. His expertise is in insect developmental genetics, molecular biology and biotechnology. His interests are focused on the regulation of specific physiological processes in insects of relevance to medicine and agriculture and the design of novel methods for efficient and environmentally safe control of their populations. Besides their basic research activities, the teams he directed in Calgary and Athens have developed important biotechnological tools and applications derived from insect systems. These include proprietary lepidopteran insect cell-based expression systems and engineered baculovirus-based platforms that have found multiple uses in the biomedical and agricultural fields. The latter include cell-based high throughput screening platform development for identification of leads with potential drug and insecticide applications, the use of engineered baculoviruses for continuous protein production in insect systems and the development of baculovirus-based mammalian cell transduction vectors for gene and cell therapy applications. For his work, Dr. Iatrou has received a number of fellowships and awards from organizations such as the International Agency for Cancer Research, the European Molecular Biology Organization, the Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research, the Leukemia Society of America, the Medical Research Council of Canada, the Alberta Heritage Foundation of Medical Research, the Japanese Society for the Advancement of Science and the Fulbright Foundation.

Sergei M. Danilov has completed his PhD at the age of 28 years from National Cardiology Research Center, Moscow, Russia and postdoctoral studies also there He is the Principal Investigator and Head of the laboratory of ACE biology in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care in the Department of Medicine in the University of Illinos at Chicago. His laboratory developed more than 40 mAbs to ACE. He has published more than 200 papers on ACE biology and immmunochemistry in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of Biomedicines.

Irena Roterman-Konieczna has completed her PhD at the age of 30 years from Nicolaus Copernicus Medical Academy Krakow, postdoctoral studies from Cornell University – H.A.Scheraga Group. She was director of Bioinformatics and Telemedicne Department – Jagiellonian University – Medical College. She has published more than 140 papers (PubMed) in reputed journals and has been serving as cheif editor of the journal Bio-Algorithms and Med-Systems (2005-2020) . She has published more than 5 books – open access: Springer (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-31557-2, https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-319-65639-7), Elsevier (https:// www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780081029817/from-globular-proteins-to-amyloids). The main interest: protein folding as the process with active participation of environment.

Degree in human medicine from Humboldt University Berlin, specialist training in paediatrics at the Medical Faculty of the Technical University of Dresden. Additional scientific training at the Institute for Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, TU Dresden. Internships at the Institute for Toxicology at the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg and in the Division of Applied Physiology at the Ruhr University in Bochum. Scientific and clinical experience in the field of paediatric sleep medicine, including several years as a member of the board of the German Sleep Society (DGSM). His publications have been cited 845 times.

Benoit Coulombe is a professor at the Université de Montréal and director of the Translational Proteomics Laboratory at the Institut de recherches cliniques de Montréal (IRCM). His research focuses on the PAQosome, a complex crucial for the assembly of multiprotein structures in cells​ (BioMed Dept)​​ (PAQosome)​.

Alexios Vlamis is an Assistant Professor at the University of Patras in Greece. He obtained his undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of Athens in 1987. He pursued further studies in the UK, earning an MSc in Clinical Biochemistry from the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1988, and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Sussex.

From 1994 to 2003, he worked at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, where he was promoted to Associate Professor in 2003. He continued part-time until 2010 before joining the University of Patras in 2011.

His research interests include biochemistry and microbiology, with significant contributions in these fields. Notably, he has explored the use of cheese whey by-products for the production of recombinant proteins from Escherichia coli, addressing environmental concerns related to whey disposal.

Joaquin Medina Alcazar is a prominent researcher and group leader at the Centre for Plant Biotechnology and Genomics (CBGP), part of CSIC-INIA in Spain. With a distinguished career dedicated to advancing scientific knowledge, Joaquin has made significant contributions to the field of plant biotechnology and genomics.Joaquin’s research focuses on various aspects of plant biotechnology, including genetic improvement of crops, plant-microbe interactions, and sustainable agricultural practices. His work aims to enhance crop productivity, resilience, and nutritional value, addressing critical challenges in global food security and sustainable agriculture.Joaquin has authored and co-authored numerous research papers and articles in prestigious scientific journals. His work has been widely cited and recognized for its impact on the field of plant biotechnologyJoaquin has received several awards and honors for his contributions to plant science and biotechnology. His innovative research and dedication to advancing knowledge have earned him recognition from the scientific community.

Ali Khalvati is a distinguished professional from Canada, known for his significant contributions in academia and consulting. He is affiliated with the Technical University of Munich, where he engages in advanced research and academic activities. Additionally, Ali plays a key role at Viona Consulting, providing strategic solutions and insights to various clients. His career is marked by a unique blend of theoretical research and practical application, making him a sought-after expert in his field.

Professor Mohamed Kheireddine Aroua completed his PhD in 1992 at the University of Nancy 1, France. Before joining Sunway University, he served for more than 23 years at University of Malaya where he held many administration positions such as Deputy Dean at the Institute of Graduate Studies, Head of Chemical Engineering Department and Head of the Center for Separation Science and Technology. His research addresses the fundamental and technical issues related to water, energy and environment. He is interested in developing green solvents, sorbents and processes for CO2 capture and utilisation; treatment of water and wastewater using novel adsorbents and advanced electrochemical processes; production of biodiesel and transformation of its by-products to value-added chemicals; and providing safe water to communities in remote areas through the application of membrane technology. He has supervised the completion of 22 PhD and 20 Master’s students. His research has generated more than 150 articles in ISI-ranked journals and over 5,000 citations, and his h-index is 38.

Sompong O-Thong, a distinguished figure in the realm of agricultural biotechnology, was born on October 2, 1978. With a remarkable H-index of 38 and over 4459 citations to his credit, Dr. O-Thong has significantly contributed to the bioconversion of raw materials in Thailand. Educated at Thaksin University and Prince of Songkla University in Thailand, where he received his B.Sc. in Biology and M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biotechnology, Dr. O-Thong embarked on a career dedicated to exploring the biochemical processes of converting natural resources like oil palm, rice, cassava, and sugarcane into valuable bioproducts. His work initially focused on the foundational aspects of bioconversion, involving extensive research and experimentation. Sompong O-Thong’s research is highly regarded in the field of bioenergy, particularly in the biological conversion of organic wastes to valuable products through anaerobic digestion processes.

Emil Kartalov holds a B.S. in Physics, M.S. in Applied Physics, and Ph.D. in Applied Physics, all from California Institute of Technology. In 2004, Dr. Kartalov joined the University of Southern California (USC) as a postdoctoral scholar. In 2006, he won a K99/R00 career award from NIH and became faculty at USC in 2008. In 2016, Dr. Kartalov moved to the Naval Postgraduate School to take his current position as Associate Professor of Physics and Director of the Advanced Warfighter Technologies Laboratory. Dr. Kartalov has 32 issued US patents and 33 peer-reviewed publications.

Aniela Pinto Kempka: Bachelor’s degree in Food Engineering and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. Associate Professor level VI at the State University of Santa Catarina (UDESC), Department of Food Engineering and Chemical Engineering – Pinhalzinho- SC, Brazil. Permanent faculty member of the Postgraduate Programs in Food Science and Technology- UDESC and Multicentric in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology – PMBqBM, proposed and coordinated by the Brazilian Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (SBBq). Fellow of Research Productivity (PQ) from the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq). Experience in the area of bioprocesses (with emphasis on fermentative and enzymatic processes), more specifically: enzymatic and fermentative production of bioactive peptides and determination of specific bioactivities through in silico and in vitro studies; enzymatic extraction of compounds with bioactive properties from plant fractions and determination of specific bioactivities through in silico and in vitro studies; use of by-products and residues as fermentation media and inducers for the production of enzymes and bioactive substances. ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7864-7416. Web of Science ResearcherID: ITU-8282-2023.

Andréia M. Leopoldino embarked on her academic journey in [Birth Year] in [Birthplace], Brazil, where she earned a degree in Biological Sciences from the esteemed Federal University of Minas Gerais from 1993 to 1998. Delving deeper into her passion for scientific inquiry, Andréia pursued a Master’s thesis in Biochemistry from 1999 to 2000, followed by a PhD in Biochemistry from 2000 to 2002, both at the same institution. Between 2003 and 2006, she served as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the University of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, engaging in collaborative research. In 2006, Andréia broadened her horizons with a brief yet impactful Postdoctoral Research Fellowship at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD, USA, where she gained exposure to cutting-edge methodologies. Andréia M. Leopoldino’s journey is a testament to her unwavering dedication to the pursuit of knowledge, establishing her as a respected figure in the field of Biochemistry.

Pankaj Singla currently holds the position of a Research Associate at the University of Manchester. Prior to this role, he served as an MSCA (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions) individual fellow at the School of Engineering, Newcastle University. Dr. Singla earned his Masters in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and subsequently pursued his PhD in the same field in India. During his doctoral studies, he embarked on a 5-month research visit at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK, supported by the Newton-Bhaba PhD placement fellowship.

Dr. Yin Lu, an esteemed Professor and Doctoral Supervisor specializing in drug toxicology research, currently serves as the Dean of the School of Biological and Environmental Engineering at Zhejiang Shuren University. Recognized as a top-tier talent in her field, Dr. Lu has garnered numerous accolades, including being selected for Zhejiang Province’s prestigious “Ten Thousand Talents Plan” and receiving awards such as the China Invention and Innovation Award. With over 62 published papers, 5 monographs, and 17 invention patents to her name, Dr. Lu’s contributions to academia and research are both prolific and impactful. Her leadership extends beyond academia, as she plays an active role in shaping national educational policies and initiatives. Dr. Yin Lu’s dedication to advancing knowledge and fostering innovation continues to leave a lasting mark on the scientific community.

Liu Wenjun (刘文军) is a Senior Principal Investigator at the Institute of Infectious Diseases. With extensive experience in the field, Wenjun is a leading figure in infectious diseases research. His work focuses on pioneering solutions to combat various pathogens. As a respected authority, Wenjun’s contributions drive innovation in the field, shaping the landscape of infectious disease management.

Dr. Che Zhang has been employed as a research fellow at the University of Melbourne since 2022. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Wollongong in 2021, with a specialization in Materials and Biomedical Engineering. Dr. Zhang’s research has focused on the interdisciplinary areas of Materials Chemistry and Biomedical Engineering. He excels in employing molecular dynamics simulations, first-principles calculations, and finite element simulations to investigate the convergence of materials science and biology. His work contributes to progress in vital fields such as biochemistry and energy.

Nicolaus Bijok is currently pursuing his doctoral studies at Aalto University, where his passion for research and academic excellence shines through. With a keen interest in his chosen field, Nicolaus is committed to delving into the depths of knowledge and making meaningful contributions to the academic community. Eager to explore new horizons and tackle challenging problems, he embodies the spirit of inquiry and innovation that drives progress in academia. As he navigates his doctoral journey, Nicolaus remains dedicated to honing his skills and expanding his understanding, poised to emerge as a leading voice in his field.

Professor Guodong Liu is a distinguished faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering at LinYi University. With an office located in the Middle Part of Shuangling Road, Linyi City, Shandong Province, he plays a vital role in advancing research and education in the field of chemical engineering.

His academic and professional journey is marked by his commitment to excellence in teaching and research. He has contributed significantly to the academic community, focusing on various aspects of chemistry and chemical engineering. Through his work, he has earned recognition both nationally and internationally.