Insights of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Science

Prof. Cody P Coyne is a professor of Molecular Pharmacology and Immunology, Department of Basic Sciences at Mississippi State University, USA. Prof. Cody P Coyne received his Ph.D from University of California at Davis. He received his Diplomate from American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. His research interests includes in Application of molecular biology and proteomics analyses to delineate mechanisms of disease associated with immunological processes and neoplastic conditions as an investigational basis for the molecular design of pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical agents. Investigations have also been devoted to the development of novel vaccine preparations.

Prof. Raffaele Saladino is a Professor of Department of Organic Chemistry at University of Tuscia, Italy. He received his PhD in chemical science in 1993. Prof. Raffaele areas of research are focused on organic synthesis and medicinal chemistry, with particular attention to the chemistry of natural substances. His research interests also include Synthesis of antiviral, antioxidant and anticancer compounds. Design of novel drugs for Parkinson and other Central nervous System disorders, Drug delivery, Extraction and characterization of natural substances from vegetables, Nutraceuticals and cosmetics, Biocatalysis and bionanotechnologies.

Prof. Guo Ping Zhou is a Professor of Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine at University of California, USA. He received his Ph.D from University of California, USA in 1996. Prof. Zhou determined the 3D NMR structures of some proteins, protein-DNA complexes, super lipids such as dolichol and other polyisoprenyls, as well as polyisoprenol recognition sequences. Prof. Zhou has successfully introduced the elegant wenxiang diagrams to elucidate the mechanisms of the coiled-coil proteins, proteinlipids, protein-DNA interactions, and prion protein misfolding observed by NMR. Meanwhile, he has also published many papers in Bioinformatics. Prof. Zhou’s current research is focused on investigation into the relationship between the functions and structures of polysialyltransferases. In addition, Prof. Zhou has also edited some special issues on the fields of structural biology and medicinal chemistry for several influential scientific journals.

Prof. Marcella Reale is Professor in Department of General Pathology and Immunology, University Chieti Pescara, Italy. She got awarded her PhD in Experimental Medicine from La Sapenza, University of Rome, Italy. She have authored of 140 peer-reviewed pubblication and 3 book chapter in neuroimmunology,inflammatory diseases and cytokines. She is referee of 35 National and International Journals, and member of 5 International Editorial Boards. Her research interests Inflammation, cytokines, neurodegenerative disease, neuroinflammation, autoimmune diseases, probiotics and inflammation.

Dr. Arun K Iyer is a Director of Use-inspired Biomaterials and Integrated Nano Delivery (U-BiND) Systems Laboratory at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He also serves as a Scientific Member of the Molecular Therapeutics (MT) Program at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Dr. Iyer received his PhD in 2008, in Polymer Engineering, under the mentorship of world renowned scientist, Prof. Hiroshi Maeda at Sojo University in Kumamoto, Japan. His areas of research are broadly focused on designing use-inspired bio- and nano-medical technologies aimed towards clinical translation using biocompatible delivery systems that have enhanced disease targeting with reduced toxicity burden to patients. Dr. Iyer has wide expertise in biomaterials and nanomedicine, polymer chemistry and formulation development, drug and gene delivery systems, molecular and functional imaging, micro and nanoparticles for treating diseases such as infection, inflammation and cancer. He has five patents issued/pending. Dr. Iyer has authored more than 75 publications in peer reviewed International Journals and books of high repute.

Dr. Russell Dahl is CEO, President, and Founder of Neurodon LLC. Neurodon is developing breakthrough therapies for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease,having recently discovered small molecules that show efficacy in animal models for both diseases. In addition to his leadership at Neurodon, Dr. Dahl also currently serves as a Director of a specialty biotechnology company in New York and a consulting Global Vice President of an international drug discovery company in China. Previously, Dr. Dahl led all small molecule drug discovery efforts for Celladon Corporation, a clinical-stage public biotechnology company. Prior to his pursuit of entrepreneurial drug discovery, Dr. Dahl held multiple leadership roles in Big Pharma, including stints at DuPont Pharmaceuticals, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Vertex Pharmaceuticals.

Prof. Reinhard Neubert is a Professor of Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics at Martin Luther University. He obtained his PhD from Martin Luther University in 1978. Prof. Reinhard research interests include Drug transport, Dermal drug delivery, Colloidal drug carrier systems, Phytopharmaceuticals and cosmeceuticals, Drug analysis based on capillary electrophoresis and HPLC-mass spectrometry, Molecular structure of the stratum corneum lipids. Prof. Reinhard has published more than 400 publications in international scientific journals. He is also Dean of Faculty of Natural Science 1 - Biosciences of the Martin Luther University.

Dr. Maria Antonietta is a Professor of Department of Human Anatomy at University of Bari, Italy. She obtained her PhD from University of Bari, Italy in 1994. Dr. Maria research studies include studies of the inflammatory mechanisms on in vitro and in vitro models; Granulocytes and Macrophages responses: modulation of their biological activities (polarization, phagocytosis, killing, super oxide anion and nitric oxide release, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induction, analysis of cytokine production and expression of cytokine receptors, apoptosis) by: (A) signaling molecules released from protozoa (Leishmania) or bacteria (LPS); (B) chemo tactic agents; (C) pharmacological agents. Computational biology applied in the areas of nucleic acid and protein sequence research, molecular evolution, molecular genetics whit particular reference to chemo kine receptors and mitochondrial carriers sequence evolution.

Prof. Salvatore Magazu is a Professor of Department of Physics and Earth Sciences at University of Messina, Italy. He obtained his PhD from University of Messina in 1984. The research topics addressed are manifold, and also different in some respects, emerges as a common leitmotif: the integrated use of experimental techniques of investigation, such as laser light scattering, infrared absorption, neutron scattering, etc. for the characterization of the space-time correlations of physical systems. Such an approach encompasses the analysis and monitoring of atmospheric, acoustic and electromagnetic pollution as well as the employment of Geographic Informative Systems for the analysis of geo referenced data and environmental risks (also in collaboration with ARPA Sicilia).

Dr. John F Bebawy is a Associate Professor of Department of Anesthesiology & Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, USA. He received his Doctor of Medicine from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine in 2003. Dr. Bebawy clinical and research interests and expertise relate to Neuroanesthesia, with a focus on interventions that affect cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular hemodynamics. He is a member of many national and international societies for the advancement of Neurosurgical Anesthesiology, has published widely on various topics in the field, and has spoken at many meetings throughout the world on areas within his expertise. Dr. Bebawy is devoted and committed to the betterment of patient safety through individualized and compassionate clinical care, as well as through his contribution to the scientific community.

Dr. Wang Guangshun is a Associate Professor of Department of Pathology and Microbiology at University of Nebraska Medical Center, USA. He received his Ph.D from Simon Fraser University, Canada in 1997, MS from Chinese Academy of Sciences, China in 1988. Dr. Wang laboratory is interested in host defense mechanisms and the development of novel antimicrobial agents against antibiotic-resistant pathogens. For this purpose, Dr. Wang's laboratory has constructed the most popular database for antimicrobial peptides (http://aps.unmc.edu/AP) and is using genetic and structural tools to better decipher the mechanism of action of these molecules. Dr. Wang research interests also includes Bioinformatics, Biomolecular NMR. He has published over 80 peered-reviewed articles, reviews, and book chapters. Prof. Wang has edited a book entitled "Antimicrobial Peptides: Discovery, Design and Novel Therapeutic Strategies".

Dr. Shaifali Bhalla is Associate Professor of Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Midwestern University Chicago College of Pharmacy. She received her PhD from the University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. Dr. Shaifali Bhalla's laboratory focuses on the role of the central endothelin system in pharmacological actions of opioid analgesics. Her findings show that endothelin-A receptors enhance opioid analgesia and reverse analgesic tolerance in mice and rats via a G-protein mediated mechanism. She and her group have recently shown that ETA receptor antagonists attenuate withdrawl symptoms of opioids in mice. Dr. Bhalla is presently investigating the mechanism by which endothelin-A receptor antagonists enhance opioid analgesia, reverse tolerance, and block withdrawl symptoms. Her research group is also exploring the role of endothelin-B receptors in neurovascular remodeling in the brain during opioid tolerance and withdrawal. Dr. Shaifali Bhalla's research interests also include a2-adrenergic receptors and imidazoline receptors in opioid analgesia. Prof. Shaifali Bhalla's research focuses on evaluating changes in receptor binding, receptor function, and expression after acute and chronic in vivo treatment with different opioids.

Dr. Jae Park is a principal investigator at Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, USA. He received his Ph.D at University of Georgia in 1992. Dr. Jae Park research is focused on allied two prong-research approach; searching natural bio-active compounds and investigating their molecular and cellular actions using in vitro and in vivo models, related to preventing/treating several human diseases including inflammation, CVD (cardiovascular diseases), CKD (chronic kidney diseases), neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. This combined research project would optimize simultaneously defining therapeutic agents as well as elucidating their molecular/cellular actions/efficacy in vitro and in vivo via complementing their critical needs for proposed projects. Dr. Park has sufficient knowledge and experts in compound isolation, chemical synthesis, natural therapeutic agent database, in silico molecular modeling, organic chemistry, molecular and cellular biology and biochemistry, able to execute proposed projects successfully.

Dr. Wooten is an Associate Professor of Medicine, in the section of clinical pharmacology for the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine. He received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Creighton University in 1985 and completed a one-year clinical pharmacy residency at the University of California-San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center in 1986. Dr. Wooten's responsibilities include teaching pharmacology to medical students, as well as students in both the Anesthesia Assistant and Physician Assistant Programs. Dr. Wooten has been a faculty member with the UMKC School of Medicine since 1998. Before joining University of Missouri-Kansas City, he worked as a clinical pharmacy coordinator in several hospitals in the Kansas City area and was also a faculty member for a family practice residency program. Dr. Wooten’s professional interests include all aspects of internal medicine and medication use in the elderly.

Dr. David R Chafin is a Principal Scientist at Ventana Medical Systems inc., USA. He received his PhD from University of Iowa in 1995, USA. Dr. David research interests are varied from molecular biology, nanotechnology and fluidics and most recently developing novel immuno histo chemistry assays. Dr. David is a classically trained biochemist that has a passion for disciplined hypothesis driven science. Most recently Dr. David studied formalin chemistry to understand how to better preserve solid tissues more efficiently and with higher medical content. Dr. David has been the technical lead for the pre-analytics project for the last eight years. This project aims to provide standardization of routine tissue collection. Early efforts have focused on ways to optimize fixation of tissues with formalin providing high quality with exceptional turn-around time and higher medical content. Dr. David holds several patents in the areas of automated immuno histo chemistry as well as novel fixation protocols.

Dr. Maria Cristina Bonferoni is an Associate Professor of Department of Drug Sciences at University of Pavia. She received her PhD in 1991. Dr. Maria research interests concern pharmaceutical development of conventional and controlled release formulations. Early work involved the study of hydrophilic polymers for oral matrix tablets. Swelling/erosion and diffusion/dissolution processes occurring in hydrophilic matrices have been studied and related to polymer rheological behaviour (viscosity and visco elasticity) under different conditions of pH and ionic strength. Other research interest involved muco adhesion mechanisms, development of muco adhesive dosage forms and of methods to measure muco adhesion properties.

Dr. Donatella Del Bufalo is a Senior investigator of Preclinical Models and New Therapeutic Agents Unit at Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Italy. She received her PhD from University of Rome "La Sapienza", in 1991. Dr. Donatella research interests include experimental chemotherapy of tumors, and demonstrated the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of several antineoplastic, antiangiogenic and epigenetic drugs, and oligonucleotide antisenses as therapeutic agents able to induce apoptosis and/or autophagy in cancer cells. Recently, Dr. Donatella has contributed to the discovery of new functions of bcl-2, such as the ability to modulate expression of microRNA, and to interact with proteins involved in mitochondrial mRNA homeostasis.

Dr. Monica Maria is an Associate professor of Department of Physics at University of Babes-Bolyai. She received her PhD from Julius Maximilians University, Germany in 2003. Dr. Monica research interests are mainly focused on the elucidation of the structure and adsorption behavior of pharmaceutical and biological relevant compounds by using Raman spectroscopy and SERS and TDM by vibrational spectroscopic methods. Dr. Monica is also interested on the study of the optical and structural properties of metallic ordered and disordered nanostructures for their further use as SERS substrates in biomolecular and pollutants detection as well as the development and application of nanostructured materials for wastewater treatment via photocatalysis. She is the author or coauthor of more than 85 publications in peer-reviewed journals and three books.