Dr. Hein serves as Peter K. Knoefel Endowed Chair of Pharmacology, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Distinguished University Scholar, and Vice Provost for Academic Strategy at the University of Louisville. He also directs the National Cancer Institute-funded Cancer Education Program. Dr. Hein previously served as the founding director of the NIH Minority Biomedical Research Support Program at Morehouse School of Medicine and the NIEHS T32 pre- and post-doctoral training program in environmental health sciences at the University of Louisville. He chaired Departments of Pharmacology & Toxicology at Morehouse School of Medicine and the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences prior to his recruitment to the University of Louisville in 1997. Dr. Hein has led development and implementation of pharmacology and toxicology PhD partnerships with Wenzhou Medical University, Jilin University, Cairo University and Ain Shams University. Numerous students have completed thesis and dissertation research training in his laboratory and he contributes towards instruction of undergraduate, graduate and health professional students.

Dr. Hein’s research program includes studies of the molecular epidemiology of cancer susceptibility, pharmacogenetics, genomics, personalized medicine, and functional genomics. Our research in molecular epidemiology identifies individuals genetically susceptible to the development of cancer from environmental and occupational chemicals in order to focus treatment and prevention public health strategies on those at greatest risk. His research in pharmacogenetics/genomics and personalized medicine improves our understanding of the genetic causes for drug failure and/or drug toxicity in order to optimize clinical drug therapy for each individual patient. His research in functional genomics improves understanding of the mechanistic and clinical consequences of genetic variation in the biotransformation of carcinogens and drugs. Dr. Hein has coauthored over 225 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters, 75 published gene sequences, and about 600 abstracts. The publications have over 12,000 citations with an h-index 53. Dr. Hein serves as director of funded training programs in environmental health sciences and cancer for pre-doctoral, post-doctoral, undergraduate and professional students. In addition, he has served as principal investigator/co-investigator/mentor on over 75 grants and contracts totaling over $50M.

Dr. Youyang Zhao is a Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC). He has completed his B.S. from Fudan University and Ph.D. from Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and received his postdoc training in cardiovascular biology at Harvard University and UCSD. Prior to his tenure at UIC, Dr. Zhao was a Senior Research Scientist in cardiovascular drug discovery in Pharmacia/Pfizer Inc. Dr. Zhao's research is focused on lung and vascular biology to delineate the molecular mechanisms of endothelial regeneration and resolution of inflammatory injury, as well as pulmonary vascular remodeling in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and thereby to provide novel druggable targets and therapeutic strategies for treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome and PAH. Dr. Zhao has published many papers in top-tier journals such as Nat Med, PNAS, J Clin Invest, J Exp Med and Circulation. His lab is well-funded with multiple R01 grants and PPG grant from NIH. Dr. Zhao has served as a reviewer for NIH, DOD, and AHA grant applications and many journals.

Recovery of endothelial barrier integrity after vascular injury is vital for endothelial homeostasis and resolution of inflammation. Endothelial dysfunction plays a critical role in the initiation and progression of vascular diseases such as acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and atherosclerosis. A part of the research in the lab, employing genetically modified mouse models of human diseases, endothelial progentior cells/stem cells, and translational research approach as well as nanomedicine, is to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of endothelial regeneration and resolution of inflammatory injury and determine how aging and epigenetics regulate these processes (J Clin Invest 2006, 116:2333; J Exp Med 2010, 207:1675; Circulation 2016, 133:2447). We are also studying the role of endothelial cells in regulating macrophage functional polarization and resolving inflammatory lung injury. These studies will identify druggable targets leading to novel therapeutic strategies to activate the intrinsic endothelial regeneration program to restore endothelial barrier integrity and reverse edema formation for the prevention and treatment of ARDs in patients. Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive disease with poor prognosis and high mortality. We are currently investigating the molecular basis underlying the pathogenesis. We have recently identified the first mouse model of PAH with obliterative vascular remodeling including vascular occlusion and formation of plexiform-like lesions resembling the pathology of clinical PAH (Circulation 2016, 133:2447). Our previous studies also show the critical role of oxidative/nitrative stress in the pathogenesis of PAH as seen in patients (PNAS 2002, 99:11375; J Clin Invest 2009, 119:2009), With these unique models and lung tissue and cells from IPAH patients, we will define the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying severe vascular remodeling and provide novel therapeutic approaches for this devastating disease.

Hari Shanker Sharma, Director of Research (International Experimental Central Nervous System Injury & Repair, IECNSIR), University Hospital, Uppsala University is Professor of Neurobiology (MRC), Docent in Neuroanatomy (UU) and is currently affiliated with Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Uppsala University, Sweden. Hari Sharma was born on January 15, 1955 in an Industrialist town Dalmianagar (Bihar), India. He did his Bachelor of Science with Honors from the prestigious L. S. College Muzaffarpur in 1973 and secured 1st position in his batch. He obtained his Master Degree from Bihar University with special expertise in Cell Biology in 1976 and awarded Gold Medal of Bihar University for securing 1st potion in the 1st Class. Hari Sharma joined the group of Professor Prasanta Kumar Dey, a neurophysiologist by training in the Department of Physiology, Institute of Medical; Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi in 1977 to obtain Doctor of Philosophy Degree (D.Phil.) in Neurosciences and was awarded Ph.D. in 1982 on “Blood-Brain Barrier in Stress.” Hari Sharma after carrying out a series of Government of India funded Research Projects on the BBB and brain dysfunction (1982–1987), joined the lab of Neuropathology at Uppsala University with Professor Yngve Olsson in 1988 to investigate passage of tracer transport across the BBB caused by stress or traumatic insults to the Brain and Spinal cord at light and electron microscopy. Dr. Sharma awarded the prestigious Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship of German Government (1989–1991) to work on hyperthermia induced BBB dysfunction at the ultrastructural level in the laboratory of Professor Jorge Cervós-Navarro (a living “Legend in Neuropathology in Europe”). Dr. Sharma joined again Uppsala University and established a network of collaboration on “Experimental CNS Injury Research Group” as a lead investigator with eminent collaborators in various parts of Europe, USA, and Australia (1991–). On his work on hyperthermia Dr. Sharma received the prestigious Neuroanatomy award “Rönnows Research prize” of Uppsala University for “best neuroanatomical research of the year 1996” followed by the Award of the Degree of Doctor of Medical Sciences of Uppsala University in Neuroanatomy in 1999 and selected for the Best Thesis Award of the Medical faculty, “The Hwassers Prize” of 1999. On his meticulous works on the Blood Brain barrier and Brain edema (2000–2003) Dr. Sharma earned the prestigious title of “Docent in Neuroanatomy” of Medical Faculty, Uppsala University in April 2004. Currently his main research interest is Neuroprotection and Neuroregeneration, in relation to the Blood-brain barrier in stress, trauma, and drugs of abuse in health and disease. Dr. Sharma on his research on brain pathology and neuroprotection in different models received the prestigious awards from The Laerdal Foundation of Acute Medicine, Stavanger, Norway, in 2005 followed by Distinguished International Scientists Collaboration Award by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), Baltimore, MD (2006–2008). His recent work on 5-HT3 receptor mediated neuroprotection in morphine withdrawal induced neurotoxicity won the coveted prize of Best Investigator Award 2008 and Best Scientific Presentation by European Federation of the International Association for Study of Pain (ISAP), and Awarded during their VI Annual Meeting in Lisbon, September 9–12, 2008. His recent research is aimed to find out the role of nanoparticles in Neurodegeneration and Neuroprotection using various treatment strategies that is supported by European Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD), London, UK and US Air Force Research Laboratory, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Oh, USA. On his works on Blood–brain barrier in hypertension and diabetes together with Romanian colleagues, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Iuliu Hatieganu,” Cluj-Napoca, Romania awarded Dr. Sharma with Honorary Doctorate of Medical Sciences in 2009. Dr. Sharma’s work over 30 years on the blood-brain barrier and brain edema won him the US Neurosurgeon Dr. Anthony Marmarou Award (2011) by the International Brain Edema Society at their 15th Congress in Tokyo, Japan, November 20–24, 2011. His works on Nanoneuroscience and development of nanomedicine to treat the CNS injuries has won accolades at various Government and International Scotties or Organization across the World. Accordingly Dr Sharma was decorated with the most prestigious “Hind Rattan Award 2012” (Jewel of India) on the eve of Republic Day of India 25th January 2012 and Mahatma Gandhi Pravasi Gold Medal on October 12, 2012 in House of Lords, London, UK. Based on his outstanding contribution in Nanoneuropharmacology and nanodrug delivery to treat central nervous system (CNS) diseases including Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Hari Sharma bestowed with Prestigious Gujarat Govt. International Visionary Award 2012 in a glittering function in Ahmedabad, Gujarat on Nov 23, 2012. His further research on co-morbidity factors e.g., hypertension or diabetes may alter pathophysiology of brain injuries and require higher drug dose or nanodrug delivery of neuroprotective agents to minimize brain dysfunction is recognized by Govt. of India by presenting him one of the coveted “Bharat Jyoti Award 2013” (Glory of India) by His Excellency Governor Balmiki Prasad Singh in Hotel Le Meridien, New Delhi on Jan 12, 2013. Dr Sharma also received the highest Award of the Govt. of India “Navrattan Award 2013” (Nine Jewels of India) on the eve of 64th Republic Day of India (25th January 2013) by His Excellency Governor Bhishma Narain Singh, in Ashok Hotel, New Delhi. Hari Sharma is Founding President of the Global College of Neuroprotection & Neuroregeneration (2004-); Elected President of International Association of Neurorestoratology (IANR) (2014-); and selected Senior Expert of Asia-Pacific CEO Association, Worldwide (APCEO) (2012-) for his contribution to uplift scientific research in many countries Globally that may have better economic and social benefit for the mankind. Hari Sharma awarded coveted National Award “Sword of Honor” 2015 by Govt. of India on the eve of 66th Republic Day of India 25th January 2015 in New Delhi Eros Hotel International during the 34th Non-resident Indian (NRI) conclave by Speaker of Lok Sabha (Indian Parliament) the Hon’ble Mrs Meira Kumar of Indian national Congress (INC) Party for the continued extraordinary achievement in nanomedicine for public health awareness and possible therapeutic measures. Based on his expertise in Nanoneuroscience, Hari Sharma was also invited to organize and chair Nanosymposium in Society for Neuroscience meetings in Chicago (2009), San Diego (2010), Washington DC (2011), New Orleans (2012), San Diego (2013) and Washington DC (2014, Nov 15-19, 2014); Chair Neurobiology Symposium 14th Int. Amino Acid & Peptide, Vienna, Austria; Keynote speaker & Chair Nanotechnology-2015, Frankfurt, Germany. Hari Sharma is also the recipient of Prestigious US TechConnect Global Innovation Award 2013 at the National Innovation Summit & Innovation Showcase, Washington DC May 12-16, 2013 on his work on Nanowired cerebrolysin in Neuropathic Pain. Hari Sharma Served as one of the Poster Judges in 2014 180th Annual Meeting of American Association of Advancement of Science (AAAS) Held in Chicago, IL, USA Feb 13-17, 2014 followed by 181st Annual Meeting of American Association of Advancement of Science (AAAS) held in San José, CA, USA Feb 12-16, 2015. Hari Sharma has published over 350 research papers and 85 reviews, 14 monographs, and 80 international book chapters and edited 18 book volumes with Current H-index = 38 (ISI Database) as of today. He served as Guest Editor of Curr. Pharm. Desig. (2005, 2007, 2010–); J Neural. Transmiss. (2006, 2011–) and is the founding Editor-in-Chief of Int. J. Neuroprotec. Neuroregen. (2004–), UK and the European Editor of Central Nervous system-Neurological Disorders Drug Target (2013-). Dr. Sharma is on board of various International Journals including CNS and Neurological Disorders-Drug Targets, USA (2010), Journal of Neurodegeneration and Regeneration, USA (2009–); Austin Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology (2014-); and is associate editor of Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (Nanoneuroscience 2006–), USA, Review Editor—Frontiers in Neuroengineering (2007–), Frontiers in Neurorestoratology, and Associate Editor of Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience (2008–), Frontiers of Fractal Physiology (2010–), Switzerland, Journal of Neurorestoratology, Dove Medical press, London, UK (2012–), WebMD Central, Neurology Faculty, Advisory Board Member (2010–), World Journal of Pharmacology (2011–), Journal of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, USA (2012–). Dr. Sharma served as volume editor of several progress in Brain research series (Volumes 104, 115, 162 and 180), International review of Neurobiology (Volume 82 and 102) and other Springer Volumes on Spinal cord injury (1988) and Handbook of Neurochemistry (2009) apart from stand alone books (Elsevier, Springer and Academic Press since 1994). Dr. Hari Sharma is invited to join several National Academies of repute including New York Academy fo Science, USA (since 1994–); International Academy of Stress, New York (2003–), Swedish Academy of Pharmaceutical Sciences (2010–). Dr. Sharma has served as an expert evaluator and advisor to various Boards, Councils and Institutions for their Research Grants including Wellcome Trust, London, UK (2011–); Catalan Agency for Health Information and Quality, TV3 (2010–), European Commission Projects (2002–), European Nanomed Council (2009–), Ministry of Health Science Foundation; Medical research Council and University Commission of Grants in various countries in Europe, USA, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and in Australia. Some of the notable organizations include: Australia and New Zealand Health Council (2000–); University Commission of Grants, Hong Kong (2002–), Singapore Medical Council, Singapore (2003–); UK Charity Organization “Research on Ageing: Help the Aged” (2003–); Euro Nanomed (2010–). Dr. Sharma is designated as ambassador of the City of Uppsala 2007, by Uppsala County administration and Uppsala Tourism for promoting Uppsala, Sweden as International Research Collaboration/Meetings and Conference Destination. Dr. Hari Sharma is married to Aruna Sharma (nee Bajpai) since 23rd April 1979 and has two sons. Dr Sharma is designated as Visiting Professor, University of Basque Country, Bilbao, Spain supported by Basque Govt. Foundation. His political affiliation belongs to Swedish Social Democrat Party (Socialdemokraterna, Sverige) where he is associated with the development of Education and Research matters in Sweden actively

Nanoneuroscience, Nanoneuropharmacology and nanodrug delivery

Burton M Altura is a Professor at Suny Downstate Medical Center in USA. He received his PhD from New york University School of Medicine in the year 1964. He serves as an Ad Hoc Reviewer and also reviewer for various journals and funding organizations.His research interests include the role of magnesium, sphingolipids and lipid messengers in vascular biology and disease processes, such as stroke, diabetes mellitus and atherogenesis. An additional major interest is the role of alcohol and substances of abuse in stroke etiology.

role of magnesium, sphingolipids and lipid messengers in vascular biology and disease processes, such as stroke, diabetes mellitus and atherogenesis. An additional major interest is the role of alcohol and substances of abuse in stroke etiology.

Dr. Ahmet Aydın has done his BA in 1987, MS in 1992 and completed PhD in 1999

Oxidative stress and antioxidant system, Trace elements and heavy metal toxicity, Biocompatibility of medical devices, toxicity tests, Risk assessment, Drug development

Dr. Luo been studying molecular pathology related to human malignancies in the last 24 years. Currently, he is a Professor of Pathology and Director of High Throughput Genome Center at University of Pittsburgh. In the last 16 years, Dr. Luo has been largely focusing on genetic and molecular mechanism of human prostate and hepatocellular carcinomas. In this period, his group has identified and characterized several genes that are related to prostate cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, including SAPC, myopodin, CSR1, GPx3, ITGA7, MCM7, MT1h and GPC3. He has characterized several signaling pathways that play critical role in prostate cancer development, including Myopodin-ILK-MCM7 inhibitory signaling, myopodin-zyxin motility inhibition pathway, CSR1-CPSF3, CSR1-SF3A3 and CSR1-XIAP apoptotic pathways, MT1h-EHMT1 egigenomic signaling, ITGA7-HtrA2 tumor suppression pathway, GPx3-PIG3 cell death pathway, AR-MCM7 and MCM7-SF3B3 oncogenic pathways. He proposed prostate cancer field effect in 2002. He is one of the pioneers in utilizing high throughput gene expression and genome analyses to analyze field effects in prostate cancer and liver cancer. He is also the first in using methylation array and whole genome methylation sequencing to analyze prostate cancer. Recently, Dr. Luo’s group found that patterns of copy number variants of certain specific genome loci are predictive of prostate cancer clinical outcomes, regardless tissue origin. His discovery of several novel fusion transcripts and their association with aggressive prostate cancer has brought significant new insight into the field of prostate cancer research. Overall, these findings advance our understanding on how cancer develops and behaves, and lay down the foundation for better future diagnosis and treatment of human malignancies.

Currently, Dr. Luo's research interests involve identifying new tumor suppressor genes and tumor markers in several human malignancies such as prostate cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, etc. Subsequently, we will direct our effort to evaluate the prognostic values of these genes and markers in making early diagnosis of prostate cancer and serving as drug targets for cancer prevention programs.

Dr. Karen G.Mulkijanyan currently holds positions of Head of the Department of Preclinical Pharmacological Research at Tbilisi State Medical University (TSMU) I.Kutateladze Institute of Pharmacochemistry and full Professor at the Caucasus International University Faculty of Medicine He obtained MS in Biochemistry in 1981, and PhD in Pharmacy in 2005. Dr. Mulkijanyan was a manager/ key investigator of research projects funded by CRDF Global/GRDF, STCU, GNSF/SRSNF. As Organizing Committee Member, he arranged several international congresses and conferences on pharmacology and pharmacy. Dr. K.Mulkijanyan co-authored more than 100 scientific publications, 30 presentations at international scientific meetings and 2 patents in pharmacology. Dr. K.Mulkijanyan is Founder and President of the Georgian Association for Laboratory Animal Science, a member of the Association of Professional Chemists of Georgia and Association of University Technology Managers.

Pharmacology of anti-inflammatory, ulcer preventive, burn and wound healing drugs; analysis of structure-activity relationship (SAR) and prediction of bioactivity of natural, modified and synthesized compounds; intellectual property protection; technology transfer and technology commercialization, use and care of laboratory animals.

Dr. Bluth practices clinical pathology. His expertise includes biomarker discovery and utility, transfusion medicine, artificial blood/blood alternatives, and translational medicine and commercialization. Dr. Bluth is specifically responsible for the transfusion service.

Dr. Bluths research interests covers a broad scope including immunology/inflammation, pancreatology, biomarker discovery, glycolipid based anti-inflammatory therapy, role of IgE in viral diseases and cancer, and blood derived stem cell propogation. Dr. Bluth is responsible for the education and training involved in the medical, basic science and translational research in the department. In addition to scholarly peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Bluth served as an Associate Editor of McPherson and Pincus: Henrys Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods (for 21st Ed and 22nd ed). He is the Editor in chief/founding editor of the Journal of Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine and the Journal of Blood Medicine (Dove Medical Press Auckland, New Zealand).