Organizing Committee
Biography
I was promoted to Professor of Applied Microbiology in SIPBS at the University of Strathclyde in 2013. Previously I have been Secretary and UK representative to the European Federation of Biotechnology Working Party in Bioreactor Performance for 5 years. I am also coordinator of several significant research programmes funded by GSK/TSB, BBSRC Link, Marlow Foods, Masterfoods, DSM and Roche. My current project partners and sponsors include EU FP7, BBSRC, EPSRC, Ingenza, TAP, FossNIRSystems. I have acted in a consultancy role for many major EU biotechnology and food companies. My major areas of research interests include Industrial and Marine biotechnologies, reflected by significant grants from thee EU FP7 programme ( 7.5million euros) and also being part of the team which secured in the region of £13M for development of the Industrial Biotechnology Innovation Centre, Collaborative Masters in IB and equipment funding from the Scottish Funding Council. Key research areas include the understanding the physiology of microbial and animal cell cultures within fermenter and bioreactor systems; bioprocess technology, including reactor and fermenter design; measurement and control in bioprocesses, with particular emphasis on spectroscopic techniques (Near and Mid IR) and data handling. All of these areas have received substantial industrial funding support together with funding from public sources.
Research Interest
Fermentation Technology, Intermediate Microbiology, Advanced Microbial Techniques, Industrial Microbiology.
Biography
Heru Chen has completed his PhD from the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology with Prof. Richard K Haynes as supervisor. He got Post-doctoral training with Prof. Dr. Peter W. Schiller in the Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, Canada. Then he worked as a visiting scholar in Wuppertal University, Germany. Since March 2008, he has been a full-time Professor and research director in the Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Natural Products, College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, China. He has published more than 80 papers in reputed journals and serving as Editorial Board Members of several reputed journals
Research Interest
Biography
I graduated from the Faculty of Medicine, Colombo, Sri Lanka in 1991 and was appointed Lecturer in Parasitology at the Faculty of Medicine Colombo. I did my MSc in Molecular Parasitology at the University of Salford in 1995 and was awarded the Overseas Research student Award to do my PhD. My postdoctoral training was in Prof John Hyde’s laboratory at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) and I went on to work as a Post Doctoral Fellow at the Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocenter (MIB, University of Manchester). My work lead to the first annotated 2D gel maps for the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum and the development of a novel heavy isoleucine-based quantitative proteomic methodology to investigate the malarial proteome. I was appointed Senior Scientist at the Cancer Research UK Clinical Center at St James’s Hospital in, University of Leeds in 2007 where I worked on developing a novel label-free quantitative proteomics methodology to investigate formalin-fixed tissue archives. I took up my current role as Senior Lecturer at the University of Salford in April 2010.
Research Interest
Malaria continues to inflict a heavy mortality and morbidity burden with up to 3 million annual fatalities globally. Despite significant post-genomic technical advances, drug development has struggled compete with resistance acquisition. My research interests focus on drug discovery/screening and the development of proteomic/mass spectrometric methods to define mechanisms of antimalarial drug action. The emergence of resistance to the current frontline drug Artemisinin and the absence of affordable alternatives in the developmental pipeline make it imperative to explore new options for antimalarial drug discovery. The Malaria Proteomics Laboratory at the University of Salford is currently screening a range of compounds for potential antimalarial properties. The main areas of investigation are summarized below: Drug repositioning or re-purposing, whereby existing FDA approved drugs already used in other diseases are screened for antimalarial activity. The strategy affords a fast tracked route to discover new antimalarial options as well as synergistic compounds which could be used in combination with current frontline drugs impede the progress of resistance. Fluorescence-based in vitro drug susceptibility assays optimized in the laboratory are used in the preliminary screens. A second research strategy focuses on the investigation of a range of natural product options for antimalarial efficacy. A collaborative project with the National Institute for Pharmaceutical research and development (NIPRD, Nigeria) is currently exploring a series of ‘traditional fever cures’ for in vitro antimalarial activity. Potential leads are taken forward for bioassay guided fractionation and active compound isolation. Fractionation end points will be guided by proteomic/mass spectrometric parameters to improve on currently available drug susceptibility assays which are largely reliant on parasite death, a crude and late measure of antimalarial efficacy.
Biography
Dr. Milind J. Umekar, Principal and professor, SmtKishoritaiBhoyar college of Pharmacy, Kamptee completed his B.Pharm from Amravati University, M. Pharm and PhD( Pharm.Sci.) and MBA & PhD (Management) from RTM Nagpur University, Nagpur. Dr. Umekar has 20 years of teaching, research and administrative Experience. He has been a versatile guide and has guided 38 M. Pharm and 6 PhD students in various fields of pharmaceutical sciences. He has published more than 58 research articles in national and international journals. He is recipient of best research paper award at International conference of Ethnopharmacology, Petra, Jordan in 2015. He has been awarded with prestigious fellowship in Indian Pharmacological Society (FIPS). He has also authored various books on Biochemistry and Pharmaceutics. Under his able guidance institute has received various research grants worth Rupees 80 lakhs from SERB-DST and AICTE. Dr. MilindUmekar has been chairman and Member of LOC for reputed International Scientific Conferences like, 45th International Conference of Indian Pharmacological Society,2nd International Conference of Ethnopharmacology, 68th IPC, First and Second Pharma HR Summit .He has chaired many scientific sessions at conferences of IPC, APTI, ISP, IPS,PHRSI, INNOPHARM etc. He has been Convener and coordinator for many scientific workshops and seminars. Under his visionary leadership as a President, APTI,MS , he has made many reforms and has conducted several programs for the professional growth of Pharmacy teachers. Through his administrative skills and excellent directions his institute Smt. KishoritaiBhoyar college of Pharmacy has been ranked 34th at all India level by National Institute Ranking Framework, 2017, Ministry of HRD ,Govt of India. He has worked as Member, Board of Studies, RTM Nagpur University. He serves as an examiner for UG, PG and PhD courses at various universities. He is associated with 33 National and International Professional Bodies&Organisations. Currently he is Vice President, Association of Pharmaceutical Teachers of India, Vice President, Pharmacognosy Society of India, Secretary, Association of Unaided Private Pharmacy Colleges, and also Member, Indian Pharmaceutical Congress Association, worked as President of IPA (Nagpur Branch), State Coordinator of Society of Pharmacognosy. He is Founder Secretary of Pharma HR Society of India and National executive member of Indian pharmacology society. Dr. Umekar has been honored with Pharmacy Teacher of the Year Award, Maharashtra Pharmacist Association Award, Young Achiever Award, National Teacher Excellence Award, Best Teacher Award and Best Principal Award by various professional organizations.
Research Interest
Herbal formulations, Ayurvedic preparations, Acute and sub-acute toxicity studies for Herbal formulations, Standardization of Herbal preparations as per OECD and WHO guidelines. Phytochemistry, Pharmacological activity and pharmaceutical aspect of tradinally used medicinal plants.