Global Meet on Stem Cell Research and Molecular Biology

Clive Hayler has over 30 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical and life science industry. A first-class hons graduate in microbiology with postgraduate experience in the USA & Europe with BP Biotechnology, Filtration companies and SmithKline Beecham. He has won awards for Technical Innovation in the Cleanroom Industry. He has been the owner of 3 successful start-up pharma/ life sciences supply and advisory companies. Currently he works as a senior consultant to the pharmaceutical industry, UK National Health Service and NHSBT in ATMP strategy, design, operation and GMP compliance for stem cell therapy, regenerative medicine, tissue culture and bioprocessing. He is a qualified HACCP practitioner, (certified by the Royal Institute of Public Health), specialist in environmental monitoring and sterile product operations he is a Fellow of the Society of Environmental Engineers and FIOD.

Keiichi Fukuda, Professor of the Department of Cardiology, Keio University, is pioneer of the cardiac regeneration field and has been at its cutting edge for the past 20 years. He has made several contributions to both the fundamental biology of the stem cells and how to regenerate cardiomyocytes and to transplant them into the in vivo heart. He first reported that bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells can be induced to differentiate into cardiomyocytes in vitro. He first developed a method to generate iPS cells from peripheral circulating T lymphocytes using Sendai virus containing Yamanaka factors. He found several factors such as noggin, Wnt and G-CSF, and applied them to induce cardiomyocytes. He also developed novel method to purify the cardiomyocytes by the difference of metabolic energy pathway. He is planning to examine the transplantation of iPS-derived regenerated cardiomyocytes to the patients with congestive heart failure. He published more than 300 top-ranked papers including Nature- and Cell-sister journals. He served as an associate editor of JMCC and JCF, and a consulting editor of Circulation Research. He also worked as editorial board members for more than 10 international journals.

Dr. Abdelmonem A. Hegazy is currently working as Professor of Human Anatomy and Embryology Department in Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University (Egypt); as well as he is a Consultant of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility. He is the former chairman of the Anatomy and Embryology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University (Egypt); and Professor in King Saud and Majmaah Universities (KSA) 2009-2013 and Misurata, Faculty of Medicine (Libya) 2000. He is the Editor-in-Chief of National and International Journals including Journal of Human Anatomy (USA); Zagazig University Medical Journal (ARE) & Women Health and Complications (UK). Dr. Hegazy is also a referee member of scientific research submitted for promotion of professors in Egyptian Universities. Dr. Hegazy participates in a Zagazig University academic, scientific, educational and professional development activities in the fields of medical sciences development, including basic and clinical research, policy implementation, design programs, set coursework plans, curricula, syllabi, scientific conference paneling, as well as designing and delivering a wide scope of continuous professional development programs, including training, strategic planning, research methodology, scientific thesis and dissertation writing; research proposal, medical ethics, organization’s behavior issues, all with emphasis on system and staff development. Dr. Hegazy is a member of Institutional Research Board (IRB) unit, Egyptian Medical Syndicate, Egyptian Society of Anatomy, and Postgraduate and Scientific Research Affairs Committee, Faculty of Medicine. His pool of academics consists of original research articles/books/book chapters in various national and international accredited publishing houses. Dr. Hegazy has plenty of scientific publications and projects with many citations. He has got many national and international honors and awards. Dr. Hegazy has been supervising post graduate students in their thesis works. Dr. Hegazy is the Executive Editor of the Zagazig University Medical Journal. He is also a well-known reviewer/referee/editorial board member in many national/international indexed journals.

Dr. Pravin D Potdar has completed his PhD from Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai in 1991. Last 30 years, he has been working in the field of Cellular & Molecular Biology of Cancer. His present interest is in molecular profiling of cancer, cancer stem cells, understanding the mechanism of metastatic cancer, Circulating Tumor cells, personalized medicine immunotherapy of cancer and early biomarkers of cancer. Dr. Potdar is a recipient of National Cancer Institute, USA award and also holds Faculty position at M D Anderson Cancer Centre; Houston TX, USA. Dr. Potdar retired from Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai as a Head, Department of Molecular Medicine & Biology, after servicing there for 12years. Dr. Potdar had established Molecular Diagnostics & Stem cell Research Laboratory at Jaslok and carried out various research Programs in the field of Cancer Genetics & stem Cell Research. He has developed several innovated technologies which can help to diagnose and treat various cancers. Dr. Potdar also carried out extensive research in the field of stem cell research and developed several mesenchymal and hematopoietic cell lines from various normal and tumor tissues, adipose tissue, dental pulp cells, blood cells etc. So far, Dr. Potdar has published 81 papers in national & international journals. He holds position on Editorial Board of various international journals. Dr. Potdar was a Guest Editor for special issue on “ Circulating Tumor Cells” published by Journal of Cancer Metastasis & Treatment (JCMT), USA. Dr. Potdar’s name is included in Marquis “Who’s Who in World” Book 2012. Presently Dr. Potdar is a Faculty & Professor of Genetics and Stem Cell Biology at Dr. A.P J. Abdul Kalam Education & Research Centre, Mumbai. India as well as he holds the position of “Chairman” of their Ethics Committee of this Centre.

Jonathan Schwartz has over 30 years doing international business consulting for emerging medical technologies and has been focused on stem cell technologies and regenerative medicine for the past six years. He currently is the Managing Director of the Regenerative Cellular Institute in the United States and does business consulting for several companies globally, including, Mystem, Bioquark, WinCell, StemCells21, IntellihealthPlus, Al Mediq, Glo PRP, WeHealPlus, and Arpwave. He has previously worked in many capacities with Spacelabs Medical, GE Healthcare, Intellicell Biosciences, Coloplast, and Smith and Nephew. He has degrees from Queens College, Almeda University and NYU Medical School.

Professor Zodwa Dlamini is the Deputy Vice Chancellor; Research, Innovation & Engagements at Mangosuthu University of Technology and a Professor of Molecular and Functional Genomics. She was previously the Deputy Executive Dean at UNISA. She is also the current Vice-Chairperson of the South African Medical Research Council Board. She obtained her BSc and BSc.Hons. in Biochemistry from the University of the Western Cape, MSc from the University of Natal and PhD from the University of Natal. Her research interests include the “omics” technologies including the use of bioinformatics to provide unprecedented possibilities to identify the underlying molecular basis of cancer.

Dr. Tafesa Hailu is a veterinarian by profession and works with one of the government organisation in Ethiopia. He holds a BSc in veterinary medicine at Haramaya University. Tafesa has 3 years of drug quality and efficacy analysis. He has also been involved in fungal zoonotic Disease investigation in Ethiopia. Daniel grew up in one of the remote villages of Ethiopia and is passionate about controlling infectious diseases.

Girmaye Kenasa Rundasa (PhD) is a Lecture and Director for Energy and Environment Research Center in Wollega University, Ethiopia. I hold BSc degree in Biology, MSc and PhD degree in Applied Microbiology. During my PhD study I used to do molecular experiments such as sequencing of Prokaryotic organisms in University of Georgia, USA. My PhD research dissertation was rated as “Excellent/A+”. I have been teaching High school Biology, Microbiology and Molecular Biology courses of BSc and MSc students for 17 years in home university and other Ethiopian Universities. I have been advising 13 MSc students from Microbial biotechnology, Food biotechnology and Agricultural microbiology, and Environmental Microbiology specializations.