Committee Members

Jhan Sebastián Saavedra Torres is a medical researcher specializing in clinical immunology and the study of microgravity’s impact on cellular function. He is currently a member of the research team at the University of Cauca in Popayán, Colombia, where he contributes to a research line focused on microgravity and cellular changes. In addition, he is pursuing a residency in Family Medicine at the Universidad Javeriana de Cali, Colombia, which enables him to integrate clinical practice with advancements in applied research.

Shu-Ching Hsu’s illustrious academic journey and extensive expertise in immunology position her as a leading figure in the field. With a solid educational foundation from National Taiwan University and extensive post-doctoral training at IMB, Academia Sinica, and Tulane University, Dr. Hsu commands a comprehensive grasp of various facets of immunological research. Since joining NHRI as an Assistant Investigator in 2005,  Hsu has been dedicated to tackling critical challenges in immunology and vaccinology. Her pioneering work focuses on developing human hematopoietic stem cell (HSC)-reconstituted humanized experimental models and exploring the regulatory mechanisms of human immunity through HSCs and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Beyond these endeavors, she has made substantial contributions to patient-derived xenografts (PDX) and patient-derived organoids (PDO), advancing their potential in personalized medicine.

Silvia Pisani is currently a researcher at the Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia and at the IRCCS Policlinic San Matteo (Pavia). She obtained her degrees in Pharmacy and in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology from the university of Pavia. She received her PhD in Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences from the University of Pavia in 2019. Moreover, she obtained a second level master’s degree in “Mesenchymal cells in regenerative medicine and cell factory management” from the University of Torino. Her research involves electrospinning and rapid prototyping techniques for the manufacturing of 3D-scaffolds for tissue regeneration and drug delivery. She also works in the field of head and neck cancer therapy via exploiting electrochemotherapy and nanotechnology synergism. She was involved in the NFFA- Europe (Horizon 2020 EU) project at FORTH (Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas), Crete (Greece). She has been working with the research groups of Prof. Kit Parker DBG, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Boston, USA, and Prof. Adriele Prina-Mello’s Lab, the School of Medicine, Trinity College.

Anine Crous is a senior lecturer and NRF Y-rated researcher at the University of Johannesburg’s Laser Research Centre. Her research encompasses photobiomodulation, stem cells, photodynamic therapy, and cancer stem cells, with an emphasis on 3D cell culture and organoid models. She has published over 30 academic works and supervises master’s, PhD, and postdoctoral researchers. Dr. Crous serves as Membership Director of WALT and Chair of OPTICA’s Therapeutic Laser Applications group. She has received multiple research grants and is recognized for her leadership in basic science focussing on regenerative medicine and stem cell-based therapies, advancing innovative approaches in personalized healthcare.

Tetsumori Yamashima (MD, PhD) graduated from Kanazawa University Graduate School of Medical Sciences in Japan at 1975, and participated in the research of neuronal death and adult neurogenesis of hippocampus, using ~400 Japanese macaque monkeys with a gene homology of ~94% to humans. He formulated the alpain-Cathepsin Hypothesis’ as a mechanism of delayed CA1 neuronal death after transient brain ischemia. For the past decade, he proposed that lipid -peroxidation product, 4-hydroxynonenal derived from omega-6 cooking oils is a real culprit of Alzheimer’s disease. Using the same experimental paradigm, he studied about adult neurogenesis occurring in the dentate gyrus of monkeys after ischemia/reperfusion. He found that the ‘Vascular Adventitia’ of the SVZ capillaries and arterioles is a source of neural progenitors, and PUFA, its receptor GPR40, and CREB greatly contribute to the synthesis of BDNF. The differential display, Western blotting, immunofluorescence and electron microscopic analyses, combined together, disclosed that two cell adhesion molecules, i.e., DSCAM and PSA-NCAM contribute to the adult neurogenesis specific for primates. PSA-NCAM contributes to building networks among newborn neurons, while DSCAM to building networks with pre-existing granular neurons.

R.Secunda has completed her MD at the age of 27 years from Tamil Nadu Dr.M.G.R Medical University and working as a faculty at Department of Regenerative Medicine and Research at Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital.Chennai.She has more than fifteen years of teaching medical undergraduate and post graduate students. She has been  actively involved in Research in the field of Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine for more than 15 years. She has published more than 20 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an resource person for Regenerative Medicine and ISO 15189-2022

Insup Noh is currently a professor of Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and founder of Convergence Institute of Biomedical Engineering and Biomaterials at the General Graduate School in the Seoul National University of Science and Technology (SeoulTech), Seoul, Korea. He is also director/founder of Convergence Program of Healthcare & Biomedical Engineering at the Graduate School of Industry. Both convergence programs are jointly operated by the two national institutes of SeoulTech and Korea Institute of Radiological and Medical Sciences (KIRAMS).

Gemma Arderiu has been working in biomedical research for more than 25 years with a well-established career in the scientific, clinical, and academic aspects on cardiovascular diseases joining institutions like Hospital Clinic (Barcelona), Theodor Kocher Institute (Bern – CH), UCSF (San Francisco – US) and ICCC (Barcelona). Currently, she is a leader of the “Cell Therapy and Angiogenesis in Ischemic Diseases” group at the Sant Pau Research Institute-IIB Sant Pau (Barcelona). During all these years, her interest has been to improve the health and well-being of patients around the world focusing on the discovery of new therapeutic targets to treat bleeding disorders and ischemic diseases.

Sam El Osta is an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow and head of the Epigenetics in Human Health and Disease lab, with over 200 publications in top journals. He leads training programs for early-career scientists in epigenetics technologies and supervises national and international students. An Adjunct Professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and Honorary at University College Copenhagen, he is committed to equity, diversity, and inclusion. Currently, he holds a Danish Diabetes Academy professorship at Steno Diabetes Centre Copenhagen. His research aims to bridge clinical gaps in epigenetics and diabetic complications, driving advancements in gene targeting and drug design.

Jeong-A Kim is the Director of Hematology at St. Vincent Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea. She graduated from the College of Medicine at The Catholic University of Korea and completed her hematology training during her fellowship at Samsung Medical Center. Dr. Kim joined the hematology team at St. Vincent Hospital, where she has made significant contributions. Her research interests include immunological tolerance, and she conducted notable research on myeloid-derived suppressor cells at IUPUI’s Hal Broxmeyer Lab in the USA, with findings published in Blood. Dr. Kim focuses on immune-suppressive T cells for treating graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) post-stem cell transplantation. Her goal is to develop these cultured cells into a cell therapy for preventing and treating aGVHD in clinical settings.

Dr. Sarah Alenezi is a triple board-certified dermatologist by the Kuwaiti Board of Dermatology, the European Board of Dermatology-Venereology and the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom. She subsequently completed a clinical fellowship in General and Cosmetic Dermatology at the Dr. Phillip Frost Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, as well as at the Florida Academic Dermatology Center, under the mentorship of Dr. Paolo Romanelli, Dr. Martin Zaiac and Dr. Fransisco Kerdel. Currently, she is pursuing a second clinical fellowship in Hair Disorders under the guidance of Dr. Mariya Miteva. Drawing on this diverse expertise, she hopes to continue healing patients suffering from all manner of dermatologic disorders.

Shen-Liang Chen acquired his PhD from Queensland University in Australia and completed postdoctoral training  in Chang Gung University in Taiwan. He started his academic appointment in National Central University as an Assistant Professor and moved the rank up.  Currently, he is the Distinguished Professor in the Department of Life Sciences, National Central University in Taiwan.  His study focuses on the transcriptional regulation of skeletal muscle myogenesis, especially the regulation by transcription factors, such as PGC-1α, involved in oxidative metabolism. Dr. Chen is also involved in the study of liver cancer research focusing on the role of thyroid hormone  and its receptors.  He has published >40 original research articles on these two fields in the past years.

Maria Angelica Miglino is a professor at the Department of Surgery at FMVZ USP. She received her PhD in 1985 from PPG Functional Anatomy: Structure and Ultrastructure ICB/USP. She was a member of the Fapesp and CNPq Area Committee. In addition, to being the Vice-Coordinator and Area Coordinator (Veterinary Medicine) of Capes.

Marcela Nilda Garcia has completed his PhD in Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (FCM) of Universidad Nacional de La Plata (UNLP). She is actually an accredited researcher at the UNLP. She is a Specialist in University Teaching and an Adjunct Professor of Cytology, Histology, and Embryology at the FCM-UNLP. She has also taught numerous postgraduate training courses. She is President of the Bioethics and Research Ethics Committee (COBIMED) of the FCM-UNLP. She has presented multiple papers at national and international conferences, some of which have received awards. She has published numerous scientific papers in indexed scientific journals and has written book chapters. She is the Director of several research projects. She is the supervisor of several doctoral theses. She started research on HLA-G with Dr. Carosella at CEA Paris, and is currently working on different lines related to the subject. She is co-author of a patent registered with the European Patent Office on the allogeneic use of a human mesenchymal stem cell line for dermal wound regeneration in humans.