Committee Members

Mr. Sundarraj Lakshmiah is a Consultant (Locum) in Oral & Maxillofacial / Head & Neck Surgery at Leicester Royal Infirmary, UK. He is also an Honorary Lecturer at the Leicester Cancer Research Centre, University of Leicester. With expertise in oral, maxillofacial, and head and neck surgery, his work bridges clinical practice and academic research, particularly in advancing cancer research and treatment. Mr. Lakshmiah is committed to improving patient outcomes through both surgical excellence and teaching.

Master’s degree Internal Medicina at Hospital General San Juan de Dios, Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala Postgraduate degree Medical Oncology Insituto Nacional de Ciencias Medicas y Nutricion “Salvador Zuriban”, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico National Award for Research in Medical Oncology 31st National Oncology Congress Mexican Society of Medical Oncology Currently Chief of the Hemato-Oncology Unit at Hospital General San Juan de Dios, Guatemala Principal Investigator: ONCOMEDICA Research Center

Dr. Sundarraj Lakshmiah is a highly experienced Locum Consultant in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust in the United Kingdom. He brings over 20 years of clinical and academic expertise in head and neck surgery, oral oncology, and reconstructive microsurgery. Dr. Lakshmiah began his medical journey in India, where he earned his Bachelor of Dental Surgery and later completed his Master’s in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (MDS). He then moved to the UK and completed his Fellowship in Dental Surgery (FDS RCS) in Oral Surgery and Oral Medicine. In 2008, he obtained his medical degree (MBChB) from the University of Liverpool, further enhancing his qualifications and clinical capabilities.

Dra. Karla Alejandra Lopez Gastelum is a full-time research professor at the Universidad de Sonora in Mexico, affiliated with the Department of Food Research and Graduate Studies. As a Level 1 member of Mexico’s National System of Researchers (SNII), she is recognized for her scholarly contributions in food science and technology. Her work focuses on advancing food research through innovative, evidence-based methodologies, contributing significantly to the academic and scientific community in Mexico and beyond.

Ana Medina Colmenero is a dedicated medical professional specializing in oncology. She is affiliated with the Centro Oncológico de Galicia in A Coruña, Spain. Her work focuses on cancer research and clinical oncology.Ana actively contributes to advancing cancer immunotherapy and patient care.She is known for her collaborative spirit and scientific integrity.Ana engages in multidisciplinary research and academic initiatives.She promotes innovation through evidence-based medical practices.Her work continues to impact oncology and improve patient outcomes.

Sos Agaian is a Distinguished Professor of Computer Science at College of Staten Island and the Graduate Center, CUNY. Prior to joining the City University of New York, Dr. Agaian was a Peter T. Flawn Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering with the University of Texas at San Antonio. His main research interests are in Computational Vision and Machine Learning, Big and Small Data Analytics, Multimodal Biometric and Digital Forensics. He has authored over 600 peer-reviewed research papers, ten books, and nineteen edited proceedings. He is listed as a co-inventor on 44 patents/disclosures. Dr. Agaian was elected IEEE Fellow, SPIE Fellow. Dr. Agaian received his M.S. degree (summa cum laude) in Mathematics and Mechanics from Yerevan State University, Armenia; his Ph.D. in Mathematics and Physics from the Steklov Institute of Mathematics, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS); and his Doctor of Engineering Sciences degree from the Institute of Control Systems, RAS.

Dr. Musie Ghebremichael is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Associate Investigator in Biostatistics at Massachusetts General Hospital. He also serves as Director of the Biostatistics and Database Cores at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard. His research focuses on statistical methods for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and immunologic studies. He earned his Ph.D. in Statistics from Rice University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Yale University.

Leng Chee Chang is a Professor at the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, and an Associate Member of the University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center. She is also affiliated with the Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science (TCBES) program. Dr. Chang holds a PhD in Natural Product Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an MS in Organic Chemistry from the National University of Malaysia. Her research focuses on the discovery of bioactive natural products for therapeutic applications, particularly in cancer treatment.

Dr. David K. Imagawa, MD, PhD, is a highly respected surgeon and academic leader specializing in hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery. He holds the Suzanne Dykema Endowed Chair in Pancreatic Cancer and serves as Chief of the Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreas Surgery, Professor of Clinical Surgery, and Vice Chair for Academic Affairs at the University of California, Irvine. Dr. Imagawa earned both his MD and PhD in Pharmacology from Johns Hopkins University and completed surgical training and fellowships at UCLA. He is a pioneer in minimally invasive liver and pancreatic procedures and has led over 120 clinical trials and authored more than 130 peer-reviewed publications. His clinical expertise includes pancreatic cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, bile duct and gallbladder cancers, and islet cell transplantation. He chairs the Liver & Pancreas Tumor Board at UCI Medical Center and serves on numerous national surgical associations. Dr. Imagawa is also a founding advisor to Bruin Biosciences, contributing to innovations in liver cancer therapy. Recognized for his excellence, he has received UCI’s John E. Connolly Award, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Liver Health Foundation, and has been named among America’s Top Doctors. He is deeply involved in mentoring, research, and advancing surgical education.

Dr. Gabriella Moreira Santos, MD, graduated from the Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santos at 2020 and is a gynecologist and obstetrician (OBGYN) graduated from IAMSPE/HSPE in 2024 (São Paulo – Brazil). Is currently a final-year resident physician in mastology at the Brazilian Institute for Cancer Control(IBCC), acting in both areas.

Allen Chen, MD is internationally renowed for his clinical-translational research in human papillomavirus-related head and neck cancer. He earned a BS from Cornell University, MD from Yale University, and completed training in radiation oncology at UCSF Medical Center and the University of Texas-MD Anderson Cancer Center.  He previously served as Chairman of Radiation Oncology at the University of California, Irvine, and Vice-Chair at the UCLA-David Geffen School of Medicine. As a physician investigator, Dr. Chen has published more than 300 articles on cancer treatment and also was Chair of Radiation Oncology and Associate Director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center.  Dr. Chen holds dual MBA degrees from UCLA School of Management and the National University of Singapore.

Dr. William W. Yu is a research scientist at Rice University, USA, with extensive expertise in nanomaterials and quantum dots. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Shandong University in 1991 and completed his Ph.D. in 1997 at the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences. His research focuses on solution-dispersible nanomaterials, including quantum dots, metal nanoparticles, and metal oxide nanocrystals, with applications in alternative energy and biomedicine. Dr. Yu has authored numerous scientific publications, including notable work on PbSe/CdSe/ZnSe hierarchical nanocrystals published in Langmuir. He has held previous research positions at Louisiana State University in Shreveport and actively contributes to the scientific community through editorial roles in journals such as Soft Science and Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Applications. His contributions have significantly advanced the design and photoluminescent properties of nanocrystals. Dr. Yu remains a respected figure in nanotechnology and continues to develop innovative materials for energy and biomedical applications.

Dr. Linda M. Park-Fuller is a retired professor known for her influential work in performance studies, narrative communication, and applied theatre. She taught at Arizona State University’s Hugh Downs School of Human Communication, where she explored the power of personal storytelling in promoting social justice and education. Her research often examined how autobiographical performance can foster healing, activism, and community awareness. Notable works include “Performing Absence” and “A Clean Breast of It,” both highlighting the transformative potential of staged personal narratives. Park-Fuller also investigated the use of Playback Theatre in conflict resolution and dialogue. She emphasized its role in building empathy and understanding across diverse groups. Her work bridged theory and practice in innovative ways. As both a scholar and performer, she advanced the field of performative pedagogy. Her legacy continues to influence students, educators, and theatre practitioners. Dr. Park-Fuller remains a respected figure in communication and theatre studies.

Bardia Hajikarimloo, MD, has been a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Neurosurgery at the University of Virginia (UVA) since 2024. His research focuses on machine learning in neurosurgery, stereotactic radiosurgery, and neuro-oncology. With extensive publications, he specializes in systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and advanced statistical modeling. His interests include AI-driven predictive modeling, brain tumor imaging, and cerebrovascular neurosurgery. Dr. Hajikarimloo is dedicated to advancing data-driven innovations in neurosurgical practice through high-impact research.

Anna Boguszewska-Czubara is a professor at the Medical University of Lublin, Poland, in the Department of Medical Chemistry. She earned her PhD in Biochemistry in 2009 and holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry from Maria Curie-Skłodowska University. Her primary research interests include antioxidant mechanisms, oxidative stress, and the toxicological effects of heavy metals. She has contributed significantly to medical and pharmaceutical chemistry, with over 125 scientific publications and more than 1,800 citations. Dr. Boguszewska-Czubara’s work also explores synthetic opioids, anticancer agents, and antibacterial compounds. She leads and participates in various national and international research projects. In addition to her scientific endeavors, she is committed to science communication and public engagement. She is involved in educational outreach initiatives such as “Check What You Eat.” Her academic and professional activities contribute to both the scientific community and public health awareness.

Doctor of Philosophy in Colin Ratledge Center for Microbial Lipids under the supervision of prof. Dr. Song Yaunda, Shandong University of Technology Zibo, china. My interests are Lipid extraction from fungi and algae, functional foods, food composition, nutritional Health assessment of chronic diseases, Bio-fortification, food and nutrition, Biotechnology, food technology and food processing.

Catherine Dixon, MN, RN, CON(C), is the Territorial Manager of Cancer Care with the Northwest Territories Health and Social Services Authority, in the Northwest Territories, Canada. A registered nurse since 2013, she has advanced through clinical and leadership roles in oncology, including Cancer Nurse Navigator and Territorial Specialist in Cancer Care. Certified in Oncology Nursing since 2017, Catherine holds a Master of Nursing (2021) and is committed to health equity, evidence-based practice, and patient-centred care. She leads system-wide cancer care initiatives across the NWT and has been published twice on topics related to cancer care in northern and rural and remote contexts, contributing to national dialogue and innovation.

Sofia Azhar is a researcher at the Joint College for Health, focusing on crises in outpatient palliative care and the factors influencing their occurrence. She is supervised by Prof. Dr. Maria Wasner (Catholic University of Applied Sciences Munich) and Prof. Dr. Anne Herrmann-Johns (University of Regensburg).

Behnaz Elhaminia received her B.S. degree in computer engineering, in 2014, and the M.S. degree in 2018, both from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (FUM), Mashhad, Iran. She was a research student of MVLab (Machine Vision Laboratory) in FUM during her studies. She joined the CISTIB research group at the University of Leeds as a PhD student in September 2019 supervised by Dr Ali Gooya and Prof. Alejandro Frangi. She has been awarded a Faculty of Engineering Doctoral Academy Scholarship for her research.

Formerly a Consultant Breast Surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare Trust (Charing Cross Hospital) from 2006 to 2014 in London SW6, and previously at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Fulham Road, London SW3, I have contributed to the field through various presentations and posters on tumour volume analysis. My work has been presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium in 2007, 2008, and 2009, as well as at the Chicago ASCO in 2015 and the European Congress of Radiology (ECR) in Vienna in 2016.