Vaccine Research

Dr. Vinod Nikhra is working as Consultant and Unit Incharge in Department of Medicine, Hindu Rao Hospital and NDMC Medical College, New Delhi. Hindu Rao Hospital is a multispecialty, thousand bedded, government hospital - recognized for DNB (Medicine) - in north Delhi. The present job includes clinical (Outdoor and Indoor patients) and administrative responsibilities. It also involves teaching to DNB (Post Graduate Course equivalent to M.D. in Medicine) students

Endocrinology and Metabolism, Neurology and Vaccines

Yoshinori Hayakawa has engaged in medical physics. He developed simultaneous neutron monitoring system for Boron-Neutron-Capture-Therapy. He has measured, first in the world, acoustic pulse generated in the body of treated patient by pulsed proton beam. The phenomenon may be used to monitor dose distribution in patients. He is interested in researches on human wellbeing. He has developed Computer Numerals, New Abacus Numerals, Computer Abacus, and Universal Literacy Alphabet for improving basic education to reduce poverty. Many of these can be observed in youtube without payment. He insists use of plant factory and space-based solar electric power generation against global cooling.

Vaccines against Infectious Diseases

Pierre A. Morgon is CEO of MRGN Advisors and Regional Partner for Switzerland at Merieux Development. He is also Chairman of the Board of Virometix, as well as Non-Executive Director to the Boards of Theradiag, of Eurocine Vaccines, and of Vaccitech. Pierre has over 30 years of experience in the global life science industry, especially with specialty care, vaccines and immunotherapy, at the helm of international operations, in C-level positions at global level in multinational corporations and as CEO of start-up companies. He is a lecturer in several MBA programs in world-class business schools and in life science conferences, and at the Mass Challenge biotechnology incubator in Switzerland. He holds a Doctorate of Pharmacy, a Master in Business Law and a MBA. He is also an alumnus of INSEAD and IMD.

Immunology, Biological industry and in healthcare

Pierre A. Morgon is CEO of MRGN Advisors and Regional Partner for Switzerland at Merieux Development. He is also Chairman of the Board of Virometix, as well as Non-Executive Director to the Boards of Theradiag, of Eurocine Vaccines, and of Vaccitech. Pierre has over 30 years of experience in the global life science industry, especially with specialty care, vaccines and immunotherapy, at the helm of international operations, in C-level positions at global level in multinational corporations and as CEO of start-up companies. He is a lecturer in several MBA programs in world-class business schools and in life science conferences, and at the Mass Challenge biotechnology incubator in Switzerland. He holds a Doctorate of Pharmacy, a Master in Business Law and a MBA. He is also an alumnus of INSEAD and IMD.

Immunology, Biological industry and in healthcare

Giulio Tarro graduated from Medicine School, Naples University (1962). Research Associate, Division of Virology and Cancer Research, Children’s Hospital (1965-1968), Assistant Professor of Research Pediatrics, College Medicine (1968-1969), Cincinnati University, Ohio. Oncological Virology Professor, Naples University (1972-1985). Chief Division Virology (1973-2003), Head Department Diagnostic Laboratories, (2003-2006). D. Cotugno Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Naples; Emeritus, 2006 -. Since 2007 Chairman Committee of Biotechnologies and VirusSphere, World Academy Biomedical Technologies, UNESCO, Adjunct Professor Department Biology, Temple University, College of Science and Technology, Philadelphia, recipient of the Sbarro Health Research Organization lifetime achievement award (2010). His researches have been concerned with the characterization of specific virus-induced tumour antigens, which were the "finger-prints" left behind in human cancer. Achievements include patents in field; discovery of Respiratory Syncytial Virus in infant deaths in Naples and of tumor liberated protein as a tumor associated antigen, 55 kilodalton protein overexpressed in lung tumors and other epithelial adenocarcinomas.

Murine Virology, Antiviral Chemotherapy, Effects of inhibitors on viraI replication , Studies on the role of herpes viruses in cancer , Tumor immunology, Pathology of AIDS

Matthias Giese has studied Molecular Biology and Biochemistry at the Saarland University/Germany. He got a first PhD in Tumor Immunology in the German Cancer Research Center/ Heidelberg. After his PostDoc, Matthias Giese joined the pharmaceutical industry. His team in Vienna/ Austria started the first European multicenter clinical trial with a personalized genetic engineered anti-melanoma vaccine. Also animal health was interested in his expertise in modern vaccine technologies and so he changed the company and headed from now on a global portfolio on innovative vaccine approaches for the next years. His sabbatical leave from the industry was a return back to his academic roots. At Leipzig University/ Germany Matthias Giese got a major PhD (venia legendi) in Molecular Virology. He developed a therapeutical DNA vaccine against a chronic viral infection. This vaccine was able to eliminate the virus and to cure the patient. Currently he is working again for the human pharmaceutical industry as independent consultant (IMV Heidelberg) and additionally he teaches graduate students as associate professor. His focus is on neoantigenes, therapeutical vaccines, and the interaction with immune checkpoint modifiers as combination therapy. Matthias Giese is author of the textbook “Introduction to Molecular Vaccinology“ and other specialized books on modern vaccines. He is an enthusiastic mountain marathon runner.

Therapeutical vaccines, cancer vaccines, neoantigens, novel adjuvants, chronic infections,neurological disorders, modulation of checkpoint inhibitors, signal cascades and immune responses.

Dr. Farshad Guirakhoo, a virologist by training, was named one of the 50 Most Influential People in Vaccines in VaccineNation’s 2014 list. His most recent assignment was CTO at Vaxess Technologies. Prior to this, he served as CSO at Hookipa Biotech and Executive Director of External R&D at Sanofi Pasteur. Before joining Sanofi Pasteur in 2007, he was with Acambis for 15 years as Head of Research and co-invented the ChimeriVax-technology platform in association with St. Louis University. This platform has successfully been applied in the development of vaccines such as IMOJEV™, PreVenile™, Dengvaxia™, and WN human vaccine. Dr. Guirakhoo has broad experience in the application of gene expression technologies and molecular virology for the construction and production of recombinant proteins, human antibodies, and attenuated viral vectored vaccines for the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. Dr. Guirakhoo is the author of over 80 peer-reviewed publications and holder of multiple patents.

Application of genetics, gene expression technologies and molecular virology for the constructions and productions of recombinant proteins, human antibodies and attenuated viral vectored vaccines for prevention and treatment of infectious diseases.

Dr Kedzierska trained as a viral immunologist and has over 14 years of experience in researching the immune responses to acute (influenza) and chronic (HIV) viral infections. Her expertise in both the murine system and human settings allows her to translate any of the key findings obtained from an easily manipulated mouse model into human viral immunology. Her PhD work undertaken at the Burnet Institute in Melbourne has provided an important contribution to our knowledge of AIDS pathogenesis by proposing the mechanisms of why HIV-infected patients develop specific opportunistic infections as their disease progresses, ultimately the cause of their death. Her PhD work was recognised by prestigious awards, including a 2001 Premier’s Commendation for Medical Research, 2002 Monash University Mollie Holman Doctoral Medal for the Best PhD Thesis and the NHMRC Peter Doherty Postdoctoral Fellowship to pursue her postdoctoral research with Nobel Laureate Professor Peter Doherty. She joined Professor Doherty’s laboratory upon his return to the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Melbourne in July 2002. During the four-year postdoctoral position she has further contributed to the field of viral immunology and developed her own research interests related to the cellular and molecular aspects of CD8+ T cell immunity to influenza virus infection. After being awarded the NHMRC RD Wright Fellowship and a NHMRC Project Grant, she established her independent research group in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology. She aims to understand how immunological T cell memory is generated, whether it is feasible to elicit immunity towards escape viral variants, and how T cell receptor repertoire relates to T cell phenotype, function and viral escape.

Viral immunology, T cell memory formation, influenza (Immunology).

Dr. Barakat is an Assistant Professor at the school of Pharmacy at the University of Alberta, Canada. His research stands at the multidisciplinary interface of physics, biology and computer science. Dr. Barakat’s major focus is on developing and applying state-of-the-art computational drug discovery tools to discover new antiviral and immunotherapeutic drugs. Dr. Barakat has made great contributions in understanding the nature and biophysical processes underlying protein–drug, protein–protein and drug off-target interactions and predicting drug-mediated toxicity. He also received numerous awards including the CIHR and AIHS postdoctoral fellowships, the prestigious University of Alberta dissertation award and many distinction awards throughout his undergraduate and graduate studies. Dr. Barakat is also the editor of the Journal of Pharmaceutical Care & Health Systems and serves as a guest reviewer for several journals.

Host Immune Defences & Immunotherapy

Hiroshi Ohrui was born in 1942. He received his B.S. (1965) and Ph.D. degrees (1971) from The University of Tokyo under the direction of Professor Masanao Matsui. He joined RIKEN in 1966 as a researcher. In 1981, he moved to Tohoku University as Associate Professor in the Department of Food Chemistry, Faculty of Agriculture. In 1977, he was promoted to Full Professor, Graduate School of Life Science. In 2006, he moved to Yokohama University of Pharmacy as Professor. He worked for Dr. J. J. Fox at Sloan Kettering Institute for Cancer Research (1972-1973) as a Research Associate, and for Dr. J. G. Moffatt at Syntex Research (1973-1974) as a postdoctoral fellow. He worked for The Technical University of Darmstadt as an invited professor by DAAD (1990). He has received several awards including The Agricultural Society of Japan Award for Young Scientists (1974), Inoue Prize for Science (2001), Japan Prize of Agricultural Sciences (2004), The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry Award (2004), and The Japan Academy Prize (2010).

His research interests cover organic synthesis, chemical biology, and chiral discrimination.

To be Updated

Virus Cell Interaction. The African swine fever virus model

To be updated

Infectious Diseases, Internal Medicine

To be Updated

Microbiological Studies

Dr. Keivan Zandi completed his Ph.D in Medical Virology from Tarbiat Modarres University, Iran. He is currently working as an associate professor in Department of Medical Microbiology, University Malaya. He has published more than 60 research papers in various Scientific Journals and has several patents on his name. He is actively severing as an Editorial Board Member for Scientific Reports with Nature publishing group as well as several other journals such as International Journal of Virology, SM tropical Medicine Journal, International Journal of Pharmacology, American journal of Drug Discovery and development, International Journal of Drug Discovery and Biotechnology journal.

Medical Microbiology

Professor Ludmila Viksna is one of the most experienced experts in Infectology and Hepatology in Latvia. She is Chief Specialist of Infectology in Riga East Clinical University Hospital, Chief Infectologist of Ministry of Health of the Republic of Latvia, Head of the Department of Infectology and Dermatology in Riga Stradins University, Corresponding Member of Latvian Academy of Sciences and President of Association of Infectologists and Hepatologists of Latvia. Professor L.Viksna is the author of 5 books, more than 300 publications and she holds 15 patents.

Hepatitis, Tuberculosis and Borreliosis.

Dr. Edmond Puca has received his PhD in University Hospital Center Mother Teresa during the period of 2010-2014. Currently, he is working as infectologue in University Hospital Center “Mother Teresa”.He is a member of Albanian Society of infectology.He is serving as an editorial member as well as reviewer for several reputed journals.

His research includes sepsis, HFRS and leptospirosis

Associate Professor Angelika Krumina is PhD of Medical Sciences, Leading Researcher in Infectology field in Riga East Clinical University Hospital. A.Krumina is Scientific Expert of Latvian Academy of Sciences, Board Member of Latvian Medical Association and Member of European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. During 2011-2012 she was Project Coordinator in State Programme of Latvian Academy of Sciences. Currently she is Work Package 6 leader in Latvia of Baltinfect project of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) of the European Commission.

Her major scientific interests are Human herpes viruses HHV- 6 and HHV-7 and Vector - borne infectious diseases.

Sunil Kumar Gupta has completed his PhD at the age of 32 years from King George\'s Medical University, Lucknow, INDIA. He is the Research Scientist of Bioinformatics, a premier Biotech Park, Lucknow India. He has published more than 12 papers in reputed journals and presented more than 15 research findings in National and International conferences.

His Research interest is in the area of infectious diseases specially on Genus Flavivirus.