2nd International Conference on Influenza September 12-13, 2016 Berlin, Germany

Professor John Oxford is Scientific Director of Retroscreen Virology Ltd., and Professor of Virology at St Bartholomew’s and the Royal London Hospital, Queen Mary’s School of Medicine and Dentistry. He is a leading expert on influenza, including bird flu and the 1918 Spanish Influenza, and HIV/AIDS. He was educated at the University of Reading, gaining a Bachelor of Science degree in 1963 and the University of Sheffield where he was awarded a PhD in 1966. British-born, his research interest is the pathogenicity of influenza, in particular the 1918 Spanish Influenza strain. This research has been featured on science television programs in the UK, USA, Germany and The Netherlands. Professor Oxford was fortunate in his early career to work under Sir Charles Stuart-Harris, who in 1933 had isolated the influenza virus and who was a great inspiration to the young John Oxford. Professor Oxford then moved to Canberra to work under Professor Graeme Laver, whose work with the crystallization of the influenza protein formed the basis for the development of the Tamiflu vaccine.

My research interests are 1918 Spanish Influenza Pandemic and also Universal Influenza Vaccines with 2 EU grants.

Dr.Wilson received a B.Sc. in Biochemistry from Edinburgh University, D. Phil. in Molecular Biophysics from Oxford University, and did postdoctoral research at Harvard University. Dr. Wilson has been a Professor at The Scripps Research Institute since 1982 and is Hansen Prof. of Structural Biology and Chair of the Dept. Integrative Structural and Computational Biology. His laboratory focuses on recogntion of microbial pathogens by the immune system and structure-based design of vaccines and therapeutics. Dr. Wilson is a Fellow of the Royal Society, Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, has a D.Sc. from Oxford University, and published over 665 papers.

Structural Studies of the Immune System, Viral Pathogens, and Vaccine Design

Professor Kevin Downard conducted his postdoctoral studies and held a subsequent academic position at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology after completing his PhD degree at the University of Adelaide in Australia. For the past 18 years he has held professorial positions in the USA and Australia and, most of that time, his research has focused on the development and application of new advanced mass spectrometric and bioinformatic approaches to improve the molecular surveillance, study the evolution, and identify and develop new therapeutics against the influenza virus. He has twice received international fellowships from both the Australian Academy of Science and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and has received large continuous research funding from the Australian Research Council. He is the only Australian to be recognised by the world’s largest mass spectrometry society (ASMS). He is frequently invited to give keynote lectures at national and international conferences on respiratory pathogens, vaccines, infectious disease, diagnostics and analysis.

Research interests include identification and development of antiviral inhibitors to the influenza virus by exploring their mechanism of action; development and application of mass spectrometry and bioinformatic approaches to survey and characterise influenza virus without sequencing; application of a protein footprinting technology to study proteins and their complexes and oxidative damage to them associated with disease pathogenesis.

Since 2005 - a CSO at XENOTOX, Inc. Have a medical background (M.D., 1970), Ph.D. in Biochemistry (1973), D.Sc. in Molecular Toxicology (1983). Hold progressively responsible positions: Group Leader (74-79), Head of the Laboratory (1979-87), Department Chair (1987-91), all at Russian Academy of Science. In the US: a Senior Scientist at NCI, NIH (1991-95), Professor (since 2010 - visiting) at Mount Sinai School of Medicine (1995-to date). Author of 5 monographs and 250+ peer reviewed publications. By using enzyme-kinetic and inhibitory analyses, pioneered in revealing TCDD-induced CYP1B1 (FEBS Letters, 1987). Invented the recombinant and TCDD-induced microsomal and isolated monooxygenase isoforms CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, to study regulatory effects of bioflavonoids on procarcinogens metabolism in humans (BBA, 1994). Since the discovery of trans-activation effect of TCDD on HIV-1 (BBRC, 1991), have established Xenobiotical Virology, a biomedical discipline dealing with mechanisms of dioxin effects on DRE-containing genes of human viruses, transcription factors and cytokines linked to inflammation and malignancy pathways.

Virology

Founder and CSO (Vorstand F&E) of CILIAN AG, Münster

Enzyme preparation for oral substitution therapy, continuous fermentation, purification of proteins, process improvement.

Dr. Oliver Planz is Professor and head of the group “Translational Immunology of Infection” in the Department of Immunology at the University of University of Tübingen, Germany. He completed his PhD from Institute of Virology, University Giessen. His area of interest mainly focuses on microbiology, immunology and virology.

My research interest is the treatment of influenza with compounds inhibiting cellular targets are a prerequisite for viral did replication. These compounds can Either used as single drugs or in combination with existing anti-viral drugs like oseltamivir. In the areas of disease prevention and treatment, the use of existing drugs in combination has become important to complement to the continued development of new therapeutic agents. Hyperactivation of the Ras-dependent Raf / MEK / ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway is frequently Observed in human malignancies. Components of the MAPK pathway are viewed as attractive candidates for the development of targeted therapies of cancer. Substances inhibiting MEK are in a current state of clinical evaluation in cancer.

Dr. Reza Nassiri is Associate Dean of Global Health; Director of Institute of International Health; Professor of Clinical Pharmacology, Professor of Family and Community Medicine, and lecturer in Global Health, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. His research interests focuses on Clinical Pharmacology of HIV/AIDS & TB, prevention and control of infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, community health, global health, and socio-ethical determinants of health. Prof. Nassiri works on international public health issues and has expertise in global health education, research, policy and governance. He has made contributions in various fields of medical sciences including clinical investigation and health education. One the basis of his extensive experience and expertise in HIV/AIDS and TB, he developed Clinical Research Programs in Brazil, South Africa, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Mexico. The core foci of such programs are socio-cultural, bio-ethical determinant of HIV/AIDS and TB prevention, control, and intervention.

Virology, Infectious Disease

Manmohan Singh, Ph.D. is currently the Head, Translational Research and Drug Product and Analytical Development within Seqirus. Prior he was Head of Technical Development (TD) within Novartis Vaccines in Holly Springs, NC USA. He joined NVD TD in 2012 and prior to that had spent 16 years in the Research Division of formerly Chiron and now Novartis Vaccines. He was part of the Chiron/NVD vaccines research team that over the years has developed several innovative antigen and adjuvant delivery technologies. He is a licensed Pharmacist and holds a Masters and a PhD in Pharmaceutics from the National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi India. Dr. Singh is the author of over 120 original research publications, editor of four books on vaccine research and development and is an inventor on over 47 issued patents.

His research interest focuses on Vaccines, Drug Discovery, Biopharmaceuticals, Immunology, Clinical Research etc.

Dr. De-chu Christopher Tang is the Founder of VaxDome LLC and Vaxin Inc. (Vaxin’s nameplate was changed to Altimmune, Inc. in 2015). He obtained his PhD in Microbiology from Indiana University in 1989. He carried out his postdoctoral work at Baylor College of Medicine, Duke University, and University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. He joined the faculty at University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in 1994; subsequently founded Vaxin Inc. on UAB campus in 1997; and was responsible for Vaxin’s daily operation as the Chief Scientific Officer until 2012. Dr. Tang was one of the pioneers during the development of DNA vaccines, noninvasive skin-patch vaccines, adenovirus-vectored nasal vaccines, adenovirus-vectored poultry vaccines, as well as the protective innate-adaptive immunity duo platform technology. He received the Wallace H. Coulter Award for innovation and entrepreneurship in 2000; and Vaxin Inc. was selected as a Tech Museum Awards Laureate in 2007. Dr. Tang was selected as a Distinguished Overseas Scientist by the South Korea KOFST Brain Pool Program in 2012; subsequently joined Chung-Ang University and International Vaccine Institute (IVI) in Seoul; and was appointed as a Scientist at IVI after the Brain Pool Program Award expired in 2013. He founded VaxDome LLC in Birmingham, Alabama, USA in 2014.

His research focuses on development of the non-invasive drug-vaccine duo (DVD) platform technology that confers rapid-sustained-broad protection of vaccinees against pathogens, with neither the potential to induce drug resistance nor that to trigger harmful systemic inflammation.

Dr. Zhang received her Ph.D. (Summa Cum Laude) from University of Gottingen, Germany. She has over a decade experience in infectious diseases, in particular in HIV molecular epidemiology and molecular evolution. She is an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at University of Georgia, USA, and affiliated with Faculty of Infectious Diseases, Institute of Bioinformatics, and Biomedical and Health Sciences Institute at University of Georgia. She leads an interdisciplinary research group towards understanding pathogen diversity under various epidemiology settings. She enjoys teaching and educating next generation of critical thinkers and innovators in epidemiology.

Research Interests: • Molecular epidemiology of infectious diseases • Molecular evolution of viruses and their hosts • Comparative genomics • Computational immunology and virology

Prof. Guan is the Director of the State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases and the Center of Influenza Research, The University of Hong Kong. His research focuses on the ecology, evolution and pathogenesis of influenza and other emerging respiratory viruses. Over the past decade, his research team has made distinguished contributions to research in virology and to the control of emerging infectious diseases in China and the world. His contribution to the field is reflected in his publication record of over 280 peer-reviewed articles with >26,000 citations and an h-index of 79.

Prof. Guan’s research on influenza has 1) identified all the major precursors and transmission pathways of the H5N1 influenza viruses that currently circulate in Southeast Asia, Europe and Africa and provided most of the WHO recommended pre-pandemic H5N1 vaccines strains; 2) initiated the systematic study of H9N2 viruses, which, along with H5 viruses, are now regarded as the most likely novel influenza subtypes to cause a pandemic; 3) defined the critical role of domestic ducks in harboring and spreading influenza viruses; 4) made major contributions in recognizing the emergence, evolutionary history and development of the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus; and 5) revealed the genesis, infection source, evolutionary pathway and possible transmission route of the recently emerged H7N9 influenza virus.

Dr.A.K.Prasad is the currently working as President of Indian Virological Society.He is also the chairman of Influenza Foundation of India.He was elected Fellow of the Geriatric Society of India (FGSI) 2014 at their Nagpur Convention (8-9 November, 2014).He has also Published over 60 Research Papers in national & International Journals & 3 Books (Chapter on Influenza).He has also received Life Time Achievement Award conferred by the Geriatric Society of India on 06th November, 2014 at the Vaccine Advocacy for the S E Asian Countries held at Delhi.

Influenza Research, Virology

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). Editor in Chief of Journal of Vaccine Research and Development, Singapore.

His research interest are Viral Oncology, Tumor Liberated Protein (TLP), Emerging Viral Agents at Risk in Global Health Approaches to Early Diagnosis and Prompt Therapy.

Jerzy Radecki, professor of analytical chemistry, is working as a head of Department of Biosensors of IARFR PAS in Olsztyn (www.pan.olsztyn.pl). His research interest concerns the developing of new sensors and biosensors based on the intermolecular recognition processes occurring at the border of the aqueous and organic phase. Particularly, he is interested in functionalization of surface of solid electrodes with “host” molecules, which are responsible for “guest” molecules (analytes) recognitions. He is working on not only analytical aspects of developed sensors, but on the elaboration of the mechanism of analytical signal generation as well.

Particularly, he is interested in functionalization of surface of solid electrodes with “host” molecules, which are responsible for “guest” molecules (analytes) recognitions. He is working on not only analytical aspects of developed sensors, but on the elaboration of the mechanism of analytical signal generation as well.

Hanna Radecka was graduated from the Department of Chemistry of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń 1978. Since this year she was working as an academic teacher in the Chemistry Department of the Olsztyn University of Agriculture and Technology. She received a Ph.D. degree at this University in 1986. She was a visiting scientist at the Hokkaido University in Sapporo, Japan, in 1987-1988 and at the University of Tokyo in 1996, 1999 and 2001. In 2002 she has spend three months at Interuniversitair Micro-Elektronica Centrum (IMEC) in Leuven, Belgium. Since 1998, she is working at Department of Biosensors of IARFR PAS (www.pan.olsztyn.pl). In 2001 become assistant professor of analytical chemistry. In 2011 she received the title of professor of analytical chemistry and was nominated as the head of Laboratory of Bioelectroanalysis IARFR PAS.

Her research interest concerns the mechanism of the electrochemical signals generated at the organic/aqueous interface based on the formation of the supramolecular host-guest complexes. She applied this basic study for the developing of the sensors and biosensors, incorporated synthetic and naturally occurring receptors. Currently she is working on the development of the new biosensors for determination of: avian influenza viruses, possible biomarkers of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative diseases present in human plasma, as well as new analytical tools suitable for investigation of interactions between proteins and small organic molecules – potential drugs.

Kathleen Hefferon received her PhD in Molecular Virology at the University of Toronto. She worked as a post-doc at the Boyce Thompson Institute for Plant Research and later as the Director of the Human Metabolic Research Unit in the Division of Nutritional Science at Cornell University. Most recently, Kathleen has written two books on agricultural biotechnology and is currently teaching Virology at the University of Toronto.

Virology, biotechnology, vaccines, nutrition, global health

Charles Senessie is a Medical Doctor and has lectured Dermato-Venereology at the Department of Medicine, College of Medicine in Sierra Leone, was deputy head of College of Medicine medical team at the Connaught University teaching hospital in Freetown and Director of the Vinel Community hospital in Freetown Sierra Leone.In Switzerland he has worked as a Research Assistant at the Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine (ISPM), University of Bern, Physician at the University Children’s Hospital in beider Basel (UKBB) and part time Private Practitioner in Zollikofen. He has Worked as Consultant for the World Health Organization (WHO) Headquarters Geneva on several projects. He is currently working at the Division of Clinical Trials at Swissmedic in Bern Switzerland. He has concluded postgraduate studies in Epidemiology from University of London. He is currently pursuing PhD studies in International Health Research from Trident University International in the United States of America and a second PhD in Public Health from Walden University in USA. He is founder and President of the Afro- European Medical and Research Network and also CEO of Senessie Low-Income Countries Healthcare and Consultancy Services.

His research interest focuses on influenza, HIV/AIDS, immunology.

Sevgi Ciftci is the Associate Professor at the the Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Istanbul University, Turkey. Dr. Sevgi Ciftci obtained her BA in department of the medical biological sciences in Faculty of Medicine from the Dokuz Eylül University at Izmir- Turkey, and her PhD in Microbiology from the Medical Faculty of Istanbul University at Istanbul, in 2003.

Virology

Dr.Zenab Torky is an Assistant Professor of Microbiology in the department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, in Egypt. She also worked as a Visiting Scientist in the department of Biological Sciences, University of Louisville, USA. Dr.Zenab has also reviewed and edited many papers for the Food Safety Journal, and participated in two projects with members of the Remold laboratory in University of Louisville, to study the nature and conditions of adaptations of vesicular somatitis virus to a cancer cell line, using molecular biology techniques like genome sequencing and phenotypic characterization of recombinant viruses, to design oncolytic viruses that kill cancer cells, and sampling, genotypic and phenotypic characterization of Pseudomonas bacteria species isolated from human homes, and their pets.

Dr.Zenab’s main research interest is finding a way to protect living cells from viral infection, by studying ways to strengthen the immunity of the host by using natural compounds like antivirals, and studying their effect on viral replication.