David S Schrump is a Surgical Chief who oversees clinical and translational research pertaining to thoracic and gastrointestinal malignancies, including the development of innovative molecular approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of these neoplasms. He has pioneered the development of epigenomic therapies for thoracic cancers. Using unique in vitro models and correlative experiments with surgical specimens, he has characterized epigenetic responses to tobacco carcinogens, and identified novel therapeutic targets in lung and esophageal cancers and pleural mesotheliomas. His clinical protocols have demonstrated that chromatin remodeling agents simultaneously induce growth arrest and augment immunogenicity of thoracic malignancies; these efforts have provided rationale for combining epigenetic regimens with immunotherapies for these neoplasms.

Genetics, Epigenetics

Dr. Bennani-Baiti, a former Howard Hughes Scholar and Human Genetics Fellow at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, carried out research into the molecular mechanisms of gene regulation at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He later joined the faculty of St. Louis University School of Medicine wherein he continued this work. He currently leads several research programs at the Children′s Cancer Research Institute into the systems biology of childhood cancers, with a particular interest in sarcomas and other mesenchyme-derived tumors. He is also interested in the deregulation of signaling pathways (e.g. p53, Notch) and miRNAs in cancer, in epigenetics and epigenomics, and in novel methods to inferring tumor biomarkers and drug targets from Omics datasets. Dr. Bennani-Baiti is an active member of the American Association for Cancer Research, AACR Pediatric Cancer Working Group, Epigenetics Society, International Society for Systems Biology, and Society for Mathematical Biology.

Epigenetics

Alyssa Alabassi is a British entrepreneur and UK trained and qualified practicing surgeon with extensive knowledge of the various layers of the health system in UK. She worked in an Advanced Computation Laboratory at Cancer Research UK devising IT solution for connected and integrated care pathways. She chaired international business meetings on Big Data, Population Based Solutions, Predictive Analysis and Connected Objects. Her research interest is in Breast Cancer and Familial Breast Disease and has successfully setup prevention clinics for patients at high risk of developing breast cancer.

Cancer

Kári Stefánsson, M.D., Dr. Med. has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director since he founded deCODE genetics in August 1996. Dr. Stefánsson was appointed the Chairman of the Board of Directors of deCODE genetics in December 1999. From 1993 until April 1997, Dr. Stefánsson was a professor of Neurology, Neuropathology and Neuroscience at Harvard University. From 1983 to 1993, he held faculty positions in Neurology, Neuropathology and Neurosciences at the University of Chicago. Dr. Stefánsson received his M.D. and Dr. Med. from the University of Iceland and is board-certified in neurology and neuropathology in the United States. He has published numerous articles on the genetics of common/complex diseases and has been among the leaders of the world in the discovery of variants in the sequence of the human genome that associate with the risk of common/complex traits. Dr. Stefánsson was chosen by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential men of the year for 2007 and by Newsweek as one of the 10 most important biologists of the 21 century. He was the recipient of the Jakobus Award 2007, The World Glaucoma Association Award for present scientific impact 2007, The European Society of Human Genetics Award 2009, and The Andre Jahre Award 2009.

Neuroepigenetics

Marvin H. Caruthers is a Distinguished Professor at the University of Colorado. A Guggenheim Fellow, Dr. Caruthers completed the Ph.D. at Northwestern University and post-doctoral studies at MIT. Professor Caruthers interests include nucleic acids chemistry and biochemistry. Approximately 35 years ago, the methodologies for chemically synthesizing DNA/RNA were developed in his laboratory and incorporated into instruments for synthesizing DNA/RNA as used by biochemists, biologists, and molecular biologists. He is the recipient of several academic and research awards including The National Academy of Sciences Award in the Chemical Sciences, The Prelog Medal, The Economists Award in Biotechnology, and The US National Medal of Science. Dr. Caruthers is an elected member of The US National Academy of Sciences, The American Academy of Arts & Sciences, The National Inventors Hall of Fame, and a Corresponding Member of the German Academy of Science Gottingen. He is a co-founder of Amgen and Applied Biosystems.

Bio-Organic & Bio-Inorganic, Nucleic Acids, Chemical Biology/Genetics

Dr. Hanna, the founder and CEO of Ribomed Biotechnologies, received her Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of California, Davis and did her postdoctoral work in Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics as an American Cancer Society Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley. She was an Assistant Professor of Biological Chemistry at the University of California Irvine College of Medicine, where she received Young Investigator awards from the American Cancer Society and the Beckman Foundation, and an Associate Professor of Biochemistry until she founded Ribomed. Dr. Hanna is the inventor of the Abscription/CAPS technology. She has been awarded over $10 million in grants and contracts and her work has resulted in numerous publications and patents. Dr. Hanna also serves on the Grant Review Board for Praespero, an autoimmune disease foundation.

genetics, genetics disorders, cancer biology

David S Schrump is a Surgical Chief who oversees clinical and translational research pertaining to thoracic and gastrointestinal malignancies, including the development of innovative molecular approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of these neoplasms. He has pioneered the development of epigenomic therapies for thoracic cancers. Using unique in vitro models and correlative experiments with surgical specimens, he has characterized epigenetic responses to tobacco carcinogens, and identified novel therapeutic targets in lung and esophageal cancers and pleural mesotheliomas. His clinical protocols have demonstrated that chromatin remodeling agents simultaneously induce growth arrest and augment immunogenicity of thoracic malignancies; these efforts have provided rationale for combining epigenetic regimens with immunotherapies for these neoplasms.

Genetics, Epigenetics

Dr. Zhang graduated from Johns Hopkins University with PhD. He has worked at Harvard University Genome Centre as Senior System Biologist for years before joining University of Hong Kong in 2013. Dr. Zhang lab has broad interest in the interaction between genetics and epigenetics components, and its implications in tumorigenesis (Nature Immunology 2012). Epigenetic factors, such as chromatin-remodelers, epigenetics enzymes, and non-coding RNA, are key players to shape epigenetic landscape. His lab has made some breakthrough recently in cancer (epi)genetics, such as systematically cataloguing all of the chromatin regulators involved in tumorigenesis (Nucleic Acids Res 2017), developing a novel method to identify chromatin regulators (CRs) functioning as tumorigenesis driver, building a computer server to identify cancer master regulators, identifying a liver cancer stemness subtype regulated by a core microRNA regulatory circuitry, and characterizing DNA methylation at enhancer with causal effects on tumorigenesis (papers under revision).

genetic and epigenetic regulation in development and diseases

Dr. Alvaro Macieira-Coelho completed an MD at the University of Lisbon, Portugal, was an intern at the University Hospital, was a research associate at the Wistar Institute in Philadelphia, and completed a PhD at the University of Uppsala, Sweden. He was appointed Head of the Department of Cell Pathology, Cancer Institute, Villejuif, France and Research Director at the French National Institute of Health. He has authored 150 peer-reviewed articles and published nine books. Awards: Fritz Verzar prize, University of Vienna; Doctor Honoris Causa, University of Linköping; Johananof International visiting professor, Mario Negri Institute, Milan; Seeds of Science Career prize, Lisbon.

cancer, genetics

Kári Stefánsson, M.D., Dr. Med. has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director since he founded deCODE genetics in August 1996. Dr. Stefánsson was appointed the Chairman of the Board of Directors of deCODE genetics in December 1999. From 1993 until April 1997, Dr. Stefánsson was a professor of Neurology, Neuropathology and Neuroscience at Harvard University. From 1983 to 1993, he held faculty positions in Neurology, Neuropathology and Neurosciences at the University of Chicago. Dr. Stefánsson received his M.D. and Dr. Med. from the University of Iceland and is board-certified in neurology and neuropathology in the United States. He has published numerous articles on the genetics of common/complex diseases and has been among the leaders of the world in the discovery of variants in the sequence of the human genome that associate with the risk of common/complex traits. Dr. Stefánsson was chosen by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential men of the year for 2007 and by Newsweek as one of the 10 most important biologists of the 21 century. He was the recipient of the Jakobus Award 2007, The World Glaucoma Association Award for present scientific impact 2007, The European Society of Human Genetics Award 2009, and The Andre Jahre Award 2009.

neurology, neuropathology, and neurosciences

Alyssa Alabassi is a British entrepreneur and UK trained and qualified practicing surgeon with extensive knowledge of the various layers of the health system in UK. She worked in an Advanced Computation Laboratory at Cancer Research UK devising IT solution for connected and integrated care pathways. She chaired international business meetings on Big Data, Population Based Solutions, Predictive Analysis and Connected Objects. Her research interest is in Breast Cancer and Familial Breast Disease and has successfully setup prevention clinics for patients at high risk of developing breast cancer.

Cancer

Sinisa Dovat completed his clinical training in Pediatrics at Pennsylvania State University, and in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at UCLA-Children’s Hospital. He received his research training at Cornell University Graduate School of Medical Sciences and at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute at UCLA. As an independent investigator at University of Wisconsin, he focused his work on the regulation of the tumor suppression in childhood leukemia. He is the recipient of The Young Investigator Award by The American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and has been included in the best doctors in America list. Since September 2010, he has been serving as the Four Diamond Endowed Chair and Director of Translational Research and Developmental Therapeutics in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA. His research interests include epigenomic regulation and transcriptional control of cellular immortalization and senescence in leukemia and experimental therapy of malignant diseases.

Genetics

Malgorzata Wiench is a Lecturer in Cancer Biology at University of Birmingham. Uniquely based between the School of Dentistry and the Institute of Cancer and Genomic Medicine, she aims to understand the mechanisms by which chromatin organization and DNA methylation regulate gene expression in health and disease and to develop the basis for patient-tailored epigenetic cancer therapies. The investigations focus on the role of nuclear receptors, DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation in the functioning of distal regulatory elements. She has received grants from the Marie Curie Action (FP7) and Royal Society.

Epigenetics, Cancer biology

Bernd Kaina completed his PhD in Genetics from Universtity of Halle, Germany in 1976. He completed his Postdoctoral training at the Institute of Genetics in Gatersleben and continued his studies on DNA repair in the Department of Molecular Biology in Leiden, Netherlands and at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg and, as a Heisenberg Fellow in the Department of Genetics of the Nuclear Research Center in Karlsruhe, Germany. In 1993, he obtained a full professorship at Institute of Toxicology of the University of Mainz and, since 2003; he acts as a Director of the Institute. His research program focuses on MGMT and the regulation of repair genes, DNA damage signaling, genotoxicity, cancer formation and death of cells exposed to radiation, chemical genotoxins and anticancer drugs. In a translational research program, his group studies the mechanisms of resistance of glioma, melanoma and other cancer cell types to alkylating anticancer drugs.

Cancer

Mario Bauer is a specialist in environmental health at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research. His scientific work is focused on identification and risk assessment of environmental and individual genetic dispositions accounting for environment-related diseases. He is an expert in toxicology. Beyond his research interests he gives private lectures and seminars in environmental medicine at the University of Leipzig.

Environmental epigenetics, Aryl hydrocarpon receptor signaling

Dr. Bennani-Baiti, a former Howard Hughes Scholar and Human Genetics Fellow at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, carried out research into the molecular mechanisms of gene regulation at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He later joined the faculty of St. Louis University School of Medicine wherein he continued this work. He currently leads several research programs at the Children′s Cancer Research Institute into the systems biology of childhood cancers, with a particular interest in sarcomas and other mesenchyme-derived tumors. He is also interested in the deregulation of signaling pathways (e.g. p53, Notch) and miRNAs in cancer, in epigenetics and epigenomics, and in novel methods to inferring tumor biomarkers and drug targets from Omics datasets. Dr. Bennani-Baiti is an active member of the American Association for Cancer Research, AACR Pediatric Cancer Working Group, Epigenetics Society, International Society for Systems Biology, and Society for Mathematical Biology.

Dr. Bennani-Baiti is interested in the mechanisms of tumor pathogenesis, as well as in tumor, metastasis, and prognosis markers, with a current focus in childhood cancers. He has recently developed bioinformatic and mathematical methods to uncovering genes significantly associated with particular disease states from small-size cohorts (which cannot be analyzed with conventional statistical methods for lack of statistical power), the only cohorts available for most childhood and adult cancers. Using such methods, he has for example discovered the first metastasis and prognosis molecular markers of Ewing′s sarcoma, a highly aggressive tumor of bone and soft tissues that afflicts mostly children and young adults. He is also interested in inferring signaling pathway status and connectivity directly from tumor specimen. He is also conducting investigations into the epigenetic mechanisms of tumorigenesis.

Barbara Burwinkel is the head of the Molecular Epidemiology Group at the German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, and head of the founder professorship “Molecular Biology of Breast Cancer” at the University Clinic Heidelberg. She has working experience both in biotech and academia and has been awarded several research awards. Her research focus is the development of blood-based molecular marker sets for diagnosis, early detection, prognosis and prediction of breast and ovarian cancer including the development of new methods like CATS (Capture and Amplification by Tailing and Switching) for NGS library generation.

Human Genetics, Next Generation Sequencing,Cancer Biomarkers, Genetic Epidemiology, Genetics, Cancer Genetics, Epigenetics, Cancer Cancer Diagnostics, Cancer Epigenetics, PCR, Gene Expression, Breast Cancer, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, Oncology, Genotyping

H.E. Dr. Maryam Matar is the former Director General of the Community Development Authority (CDA), which undertakes to formulate social policies and deliver social services that are in line with and contribute to the achievement of the social development objectives of Dubai Strategic Plan 2007 – 2015, launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on February 3rd, 2007. In 2005, Dr. Matar was the leader of the executive team that set up social development strategies for Dubai Strategic Plan. Born in 1975, Dr. Matar holds a B.A. in Medicine and Surgery (1993-1998) and a degree from the Family Medicine Residency Program with distinction. She is also a graduate of the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development with distinction, second batch (2003-2004). Furthermore, Dr. Matar is the founder and Executive Director of two non-profit civil associations, “UAE Down’s Syndrome Association” and “UAE Genetic Diseases Association”, which support families from 17 different nationalities. In addition, she has initiated several national community outreach programs such as “UAE Free of Thalassemia by 2012” and established a number of Wellness Centers in Higher Colleges of Technology and Dubai Ladies Club.

Genetics

Shu-Chun Chang is Assistant Professor of Ph.D. Program for Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University. Dr. Chang trained in extracellular biology and glycobiology and began work on cancer research as her PhD study in Imperial College Lonfon from 2007 to 2011. She continued to work in the field of Immunology/inflammation as a Post-Doc at National University of Singapore (NUS, 2011-2015). She has published more than 10 papers in reputed journals. Her current interests are in chronic inflammation-associated tumors (e.g., colon cancer and breast cancer), and this has a profound impact in identifying new molecular therapies for autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiency and cancers.

Immune-overactivation and protumorigenesis, chronic inflammation-associated tumors, tumour microenvironment

Dr. Ting-Yuan (TY) TU is currently an Assistant Professor at Department of Biomedical Engineering at National Cheng Kung University (NCKU) in Taiwan. In collaboration with Singapore-MIT Alliance for Research and Technology Centre (SMART), he received his Ph.D. in Mechanobiology from National University of Singapore in 2015, Singapore. Prior to joining NCKU, he was an Application Scientist at Clearbridge Biomedics, in which his role was focused on developing downstream assays for analysis of circulating tumor cells (CTCs) for clinical applications.

In addition to studies on the clinical applications of circulating tumor cells, Dr. Ting-Yuan (TY) TU’s current research interests lie in the development of better biomimetic tumor microenvironment for cancer drug discovery, including the development of in vitro tumor models, 3D tumor invasive co-culture microfluidic platforms, and the investigation on migration of 3D tumor in hydrogels.

Dr. I.M. Bennani-Baiti currently serves as the Executive Editor of Cancer Epigenetics and Clinical Cancer Epigenetics. Dr. Bennani-Baiti has longstanding interests in pediatric cancer, epigenetics, epigenomics, chemistry, and biomathematics. He has extensive experience in reviewing and editing research papers, serving since 2009 as Executive Editor or Editor to nine biomedical journals, and as a Reviewer to more than a dozen other journals. AUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine Human Genetics Fellow, he is also a Howard Hughes scholar who served on the Faculty of St. Louis University School of Medicine under the chairmanship of Dr. William Sly, a member of theNational Academy of Sciences, USA, who characterized the syndrome named after him. Other tenures include theMemorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York alongside Dr. Mark Ptashne, Lasker Award laureate and member of the National Academy of Sciences, USA. Dr. Bennani-Baiti is a member of the Society for Mathematical Biology, the American Chemical Society, and the AACR Pediatric Cancer Working Group. He is also a member of the New York Academy of Sciences, USA, and President of the Cancer Epigenetics Society (https://ces.b2sg.org).

Dr. I.M. Bennani-Baiti is interested in all aspects of epigenetics research that may have a bearing on cancer biology, diagnosis, management, or treatment. He is also interested in bioinformatics methods that enable inference of biological significance from underpowered studies, as well as mathematical algorithms that help query cell signaling and gene networks directly in patient samples.

Dr Jenny Wang is Head of the Cancer and Stem Cell Laboratory at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. She returned to Australia in 2011 from Children’s Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, where she undertook postdoctoral research in Leukemia Stem Cell Biology (2005-2011). The main research focus in Dr Wang’s Laboratory is to develop novel therapeutic strategies specifically targeting leukemia stem cells that are often resistant to commonly used cancer therapies and that are now believed to be the engine driving the growth of a tumor and the major cause for treatment failure and relapse in leukemia.

cellular and molecular mechanisms, genetic and/or epigenetic genes, oncogenic pathways in leukaemia stem cells.

David Ligon brings more than 30 years of experience in Information Technology to the table, with a focus on Web and Systems design as well as Technical Documentation, Education, Grants and Leadership. David first gained global leadership experience and recognition by leading the iPad Revolution in Special Education. The collaborative presentation was delivered by colleagues Scott Meech and Eric Sailers at ISTE2011 in Philadelphia and was well received. While leading the IT Department for a school district in Phoenix's East Valley, David Ligon initiated an effort to bring 21st Century Technology into the schools by exploring appropriate use of social media for K-12. As part of that research, David established a global collaborative network of Education Technology Leaders, and other professionals, including John C. Maxwell, whom later included David as a contributor to his book on Leadership entitled "Everyone Communicates: Few Connect" on page 252. Once again David has risen to another global leadership effort, this time in the vitally important field of Epigenetics--the 21st Century science of approaching cancer diagnosis and treatment from a genetic-based viewpoint. Given David's passion for cutting-edge research and technology, it was only natural his direction would evolve in life to combine all these gifts into Epigenetically focused and Knowledge Management-based Cancer Research Portal of the 21st Century to foster communication and collaboration in the industry--all with the Goal of Saving Lives through Awareness and Knowledge-sharing.

Epigenetics and Cancer

Dr. Mukesh Verma is a Program Director and Chief in the Methods and Technologies Branch (MTB), Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program (EGRP) of the Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS) at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH) with expertise in implication of epigenome, microbiome, metabolome, and genomic information for risk assessment and understanding disease etiology. He represents NCI in Common Fund Programs on (1) Epigenomics, (2) Metabolomics, and (3) Molecular Transducers of Physical Activity. Before coming to the DCCPS, he was a Program Director in the Division of Cancer Prevention (DCP), NCI, providing direction in the areas of biomarkers, early detection, risk assessment and prevention of cancer, epigenetics, epidemiology, and cancers associated with infectious agents. Since joining the NCI, he has sought to champion the visibility of and investment in cancer epigenetics research both within the Institute and across other federal and non-governmental agencies, and to raise public awareness about controlling cancer. Dr. Mukesh Verma holds a M.Sc. from Pantnagar University and a Ph.D. from Banaras Hindu University. He did postdoctoral research at George Washington University and was a faculty member at Georgetown University Medical Center. He has published 161 research articles and reviews and edited five books in cancer biomarkers, epigenetics and epidemiology field. Home Page http://epi.grants.cancer.gov/mtb/

Epigenome, Microbiome, Metabolome, and genomic information for risk assessment and understanding disease etiology.

As Surgical Chief, Dr. Schrump oversees clinical and translational research pertaining to thoracic and gastrointestinal malignancies, including the development of innovative molecular approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of these neoplasms. He has pioneered the development of epigenomic therapies for thoracic cancers. Using unique in-vitro models and correlative experiments with surgical specimens, he has characterized epigenetic responses to tobacco carcinogens, and identified novel therapeutic targets in lung and esophageal cancers and pleural mesotheliomas. His clinical protocols have demonstrated that chromatin remodeling agents simultaneously induce growth arrest and augment immunogenicity of thoracic malignancies; these efforts have provided rationale for combining epigenetic regimens with immunotherapies for these neoplasms.

1) thoracic surgery, 2) cancer epigenetics, 3) microRNA, 4) lung cancer, 5) esophageal cancer, 6) malignant pleural mesothelioma

Jörn Walter (PhD) is professor and head of the Department of Epigenetics/Genetics. He has a strong record on DNA-methylation biology and mapping, marker development and epigenomic data interpretation. For BLUEPRINT he is leader of WP16 (training, communication & networking)

Genetics, Molecular Biology

Dr. Bennani-Baiti, a former Howard Hughes Scholar and Human Genetics Fellow at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, carried out research into the molecular mechanisms of gene regulation at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He later joined the faculty of St. Louis University School of Medicine wherein he continued this work. He currently leads several research programs at the Children′s Cancer Research Institute into the systems biology of childhood cancers, with a particular interest in sarcomas and other mesenchyme-derived tumors. He is also interested in the deregulation of signaling pathways (e.g. p53, Notch) and miRNAs in cancer, in epigenetics and epigenomics, and in novel methods to inferring tumor biomarkers and drug targets from Omics datasets. Dr. Bennani-Baiti is an active member of the American Association for Cancer Research, AACR Pediatric Cancer Working Group, Epigenetics Society, International Society for Systems Biology, and Society for Mathematical Biology.

Dr. Bennani-Baiti is interested in the mechanisms of tumor pathogenesis, as well as in tumor, metastasis, and prognosis markers, with a current focus in childhood cancers. He has recently developed bioinformatic and mathematical methods to uncovering genes significantly associated with particular disease states from small-size cohorts (which cannot be analyzed with conventional statistical methods for lack of statistical power), the only cohorts available for most childhood and adult cancers. Using such methods, he has for example discovered the first metastasis and prognosis molecular markers of Ewing′s sarcoma, a highly aggressive tumor of bone and soft tissues that afflicts mostly children and young adults. He is also interested in inferring signaling pathway status and connectivity directly from tumor specimen. He is also conducting investigations into the epigenetic mechanisms of tumorigenesis.

Kári Stefánsson, M.D., Dr. Med. has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a Director since he founded deCODE genetics in August 1996. Dr. Stefánsson was appointed the Chairman of the Board of Directors of deCODE genetics in December 1999. From 1993 until April 1997, Dr. Stefánsson was a professor of Neurology, Neuropathology and Neuroscience at Harvard University. From 1983 to 1993, he held faculty positions in Neurology, Neuropathology and Neurosciences at the University of Chicago. Dr. Stefánsson received his M.D. and Dr. Med. from the University of Iceland and is board-certified in neurology and neuropathology in the United States. He has published numerous articles on the genetics of common/complex diseases and has been among the leaders of the world in the discovery of variants in the sequence of the human genome that associate with the risk of common/complex traits. Dr. Stefánsson was chosen by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential men of the year for 2007 and by Newsweek as one of the 10 most important biologists of the 21 century. He was the recipient of the Jakobus Award 2007, The World Glaucoma Association Award for present scientific impact 2007, The European Society of Human Genetics Award 2009, and The Andre Jahre Award 2009.

neurology, neuropathology, and neurosciences

H.E. Dr. Maryam Matar is the former Director General of the Community Development Authority (CDA), which undertakes to formulate social policies and deliver social services that are in line with and contribute to the achievement of the social development objectives of Dubai Strategic Plan 2007 – 2015, launched by H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum on February 3rd, 2007. In 2005, Dr. Matar was the leader of the executive team that set up social development strategies for Dubai Strategic Plan. Born in 1975, Dr. Matar holds a B.A. in Medicine and Surgery (1993-1998) and a degree from the Family Medicine Residency Program with distinction. She is also a graduate of the H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Program for Leadership Development with distinction, second batch (2003-2004). Furthermore, Dr. Matar is the founder and Executive Director of two non-profit civil associations, “UAE Down’s Syndrome Association” and “UAE Genetic Diseases Association”, which support families from 17 different nationalities. In addition, she has initiated several national community outreach programs such as “UAE Free of Thalassemia by 2012” and established a number of Wellness Centers in Higher Colleges of Technology and Dubai Ladies Club.

Genetics

Dr. Kaina obtained his Ph.D. in Genetics in 1976 from the Universtity of Halle, Germany. He completed his postdoctoral training at the Institute of Genetics in Gatersleben and continued his studies on DNA repair at the Department of Molecular Biology in Leiden, Netherlands, at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg and, as a Heisenberg fellow, at the Department of Genetics of the Nuclear Research Center in Karlsruhe, Germany. In 1993, he obtained a full professorship at the Institute of Toxicology of the University of Mainz and, since 2003, he acts as a director of the Institute. His research program focuses on MGMT and the regulation of repair genes, DNA damage signaling, genotoxicity, cancer formation and death of cells exposed to radiation, chemical genotoxins and anticancer drugs. In a translational research program, his group studies the mechanisms of resistance of glioma, melanoma and other cancer cell types to alkylating anticancer drugs.

DNA repair and genotoxic signaling Mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis Mechanisms of anticancer drugs and DNA damage-triggered apoptosis

Alyssa Alabassi is British entrepreneur and UK trained & qualified practicing surgeon with extensive knowledge of the various layers of the health system in the UK. She worked in an advanced computation laboratory at Cancer Research UK devising IT solutions for connected and integrated care pathways. She chaired international business discussions on Big Data, Population Based Solutions, Predictive Analysis and Connected Objects in healthcare delivery. Alyssa’s specialty is Breast Cancer and Familial Breast cancer and has successfully setup prevention clinics for patients at high risk of developing breast cancer.

Cancer

Epigenetic and transcriptional regulation in cancer.

Scientific Director Department of Urology, Director Center for Clinical Research Speaker. Prof. Schüles working group is specifically focused on finding out whether this is due to the removal of methyl groups from the chromatin or more likely due to the lack of demethylation. The group aims to obtain detailed information about the role of LSD1 by specifically looking at the dysregulation of it. As overexpression of LSD1 leads to the development of prostate and lung tumours in old mice the researchers will focus on finding out why this happens.

Basic epigenetic mechanisms in cellular assays and explorative mouse models Validation of epigenetic control in animal models of disease Transfer of epigenetic principles to clinical applications

M. Cristina Cardoso studied Biology at the University of Lisbon (Portugal) and did her post-doctoral training at the Harvard Medical School (Boston, USA) where she worked on cell cycle regulation during terminal differentiation and functional organization of the mammalian nucleus. She then became a group leader at the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (Berlin, Germany) and since 2008 she is a full Professor for Cell Biology and Epigenetics at the Department of Biology of the Technische Universität Darmstadt (Germany). Her main research area is the cell biology of the mammalian (epi)genome. She is also interested in developing methods for the intracellular delivery of peptides and proteins and studying protein-protein interactions in living cells.

Replication, Translation and Reprogramming of the Epigenome

Mario Bauer is a specialist in environmental health at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research. His scientific work is focused on identification and risk assessment of environmental and individual genetic dispositions accounting for environment-related diseases. He is an expert in toxicology. Beyond his research interests he gives private lectures and seminars in environmental medicine at the University of Leipzig.

Environmental epigenetics, Aryl hydrocarpon receptor signaling

Barbara Burwinkel is the head of the Molecular Epidemiology Group at the German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, and head of the founder professorship “Molecular Biology of Breast Cancer” at the University Clinic Heidelberg. She has working experience both in biotech and academia and has been awarded several research awards. Her research focus is the development of blood-based molecular marker sets for diagnosis, early detection, prognosis and prediction of breast and ovarian cancer including the development of new methods like CATS (Capture and Amplification by Tailing and Switching) for NGS library generation.

Human Genetics, Next Generation Sequencing,Cancer Biomarkers, Genetic Epidemiology, Genetics, Cancer Genetics, Epigenetics, Cancer Cancer Diagnostics, Cancer Epigenetics, PCR, Gene Expression, Breast Cancer, Single Nucleotide Polymorphism, Oncology, Genotyping

Dr. Nezami is a board certified physician graduated from USC and UCSF residencies. He has functioned as a faculty teacher during his training as well as invited presenter at society of teachers in Family medicine. He has been in practice for 18 years and currently is the president of Pacific Medical Center of Hope in California. He is promoting research in conventional oncology, in cutting edge. Dr Nezami serves as national and international speaker in oncology and epigenetic science. He has been involved in many research projects and publications, presentations ( including integrative medicine, Epigenetic therapies 2013 Barcelona Conference on Epigenetics and Cancer, Society of integrative oncology, American Association for Cancer Research ( AACR), Molecular Medicine Triconference, World Molecular Imaging, and World Pharmaceutical Congress, NCI-AACR, .... Author, Integrative Medicine, A Clinician Journal, as well as author and coauthor in oncology literature. (Surveillance in lymphoma, published 2006, Cancer Science 2015, JCT 2015, 2016, Precision medicine,.....). He is a co author of Weil’s " Textbook for integrative oncology." (2014) Dr. Nezami is an inventor and innovator and has designed new method of treating advanced cancer, called Modified Multi Molecular Targeted Epigenetic Therapy (MTET). With this method, during the last 7 years, he has successfully treated many patients, mostly with advanced stage four cancer who had failed all other conventional methods. Several cancer institutions, including MD Anderson cancer center and private oncology centers have already started investigating his method in either preclinical or clinical settings, showing extra ordinary results. ( His case studies have been approved by the NCI oncology and research consultants to be an effective method of treating cancer.) Dr. Nezami has served as principal investigator by NIH, National Institute of Health; for TACT trial and has been involved both in research and publications, as coauthor, with National cancer institute (NCI) in the best case series of complimentary and alternative cancer therapies in the country. He also serves as speaker and medical consultant for Caris Life Sciences ( Caris Oncology Laboratory) and provides scientific expert review at Journal of Cancer Therapy ( JCT) and British Journal of Medicine and Medical Research, ( BJM) as well as serving as peer review expert in multidisciplinary scientific journals, ( ex. "Archivum Immunologiae Et Therapiae Experimentalis"), in oncology. His main area of interest are integrative oncology and epigenetics. He currently teaches and consults other physicians and oncologists and is extensively involved in research and pursuing clinical trials in this field.

Sequential targeted therapy in Cancer Applications and methods of treating actionable targets in multiphase approach

Yiu-Lian is the Innovation Lead for Diagnostics, at Johnson & Johnson Innovation, London. Prior to joining Johnson & Johnson Innovation, Yiu-Lian was Divisional Vice President for R&D at Abbott Molecular. In this position, she was responsible for R&D strategic oversight, menu expansion, and the development of next generation molecular diagnostic platform technologies. Previously, she was the Executive Director of Molecular Diagnostics and Companion Diagnostics Development at Novartis Oncology. Yiu-Lian brings a broad and extensive background in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries including experience in technology and product development, blood testing/screening, vaccines and IVD Immuno and molecular diagnostics, as well as therapeutic drug/vaccine development. Yiu-Lian received her M.S. in Life Sciences from The National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan, and her MBA from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She earned her Ph.D. in Molecular Physiology and Biophysics from Vanderbilt University and was a post graduate fellow at Johns Hopkins University. Yiu-Lian also has 24 publications in Pper review journals and several issued patent applications.

Her main research interest is in the field of diagnostic and drug co-development

Barbara Wollenberg Professor at Universitätsklinikum Schleswig- Holstein , Lübeck Germany. She studied medicine at Saarland University in Saarbrücken and at LMU Munich, Germany. She got Heisenberg Fellowship from the German Research Foundation (DFG) at the Helmholtz Centre in Munich, Germany. Barbara Wollenberg worked as a C4 professor of otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery at the Lübeck Campus of the University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. She worked Vice dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lübeck, Germany and Review board member of the German Research Foundation (DFG). She achieved many awards like Monika Kutzner Prize for cancer research from the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW), 2001, Anton von Troeltsch Prize from the German Society of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery for "Immunological therapies for patients with cancers of the head and neck", 1999. Her main specialization is in the field of Biochemistry, immunology. Apart from this she is also an eminent Specialist in otorhinolaryngology and head and neck surgery, allergology, treatment of tumours using drugs, palliative medicine, ultrasound trainer.

Her main research interest is in the field of Tumour biology, Immune system responses to tumours and Development of vaccines.

Winson Y. Cheung is a medical oncologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at UBC Division of Medical Oncology of the British Columbia Cancer Agency. He is also the Director of Undergraduate Education at UBC Department of Medicine since February, 2014 and Chair of GI Systemic Therapy at BC Cancer Agency of Vancouver Centre. Winson Y. Cheung received his medical degree at UBC, Medical Oncology training at the University of Toronto and subsequently obtained a Masters of Public Health degree at Harvard University. His area of specialization is in the treatment of head & neck as well as gastrointestinal malignancies. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including the National Cancer Institute of Canada Dorothy Lamont Award, the Novartis Oncology Canadian Investigator Award, the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer Investigator Award, and several merit awards from American Society of Clinical Oncology. Winson Y. Cheung has many research publications in reputed scientific journals, engages actively in diverse research projects, and takes great pride in mentoring young trainees, many of whom have subsequently won prizes for their research work.

Winson Y. Cheung’s most recent research projects have focused on the emerging area of geriatric oncology, particularly studying the appropriate use of systemic therapy in elderly cancer patients, as well as treatment disparities and cancer survivorship. His primary research interest is health services and outcomes research with the aim to ensure appropriate access to cancer care and enhance delivery of cancer therapies to all patients. He works closely with large administrative datasets to answer a wide spectrum of relevant clinical research questions. Most recently, he conducted analyses which revealed that expectations for follow-up care between cancer survivors and their physicians were discordant and how this discrepancy may pose a negative impact on patient outcomes.

Thanos Mitrelias is a director with 14 years of entrepreneurial and scientific activity. He has been the Founding CEO of two spin offs the University of Cambridge: Cavendish Nano Therapeutics aimed at offering advanced medical systems for the targeted eradication of cancer tumour and Cambridge Bio Magnetics established to commercialize a platform and disruptive technology to address needs in clinical diagnostics and the oil and gas industries. He is a frequent speaker and panelist in international business and scientific fore, such as the Horasis Global Business Conferences, where he usually speaks on knowledge based economy and entrepreneurship. He has been at the University of Cambridge since 1994, has several patent applications, has raised more than $5.5 million for numerous projects and has wide scientific and commercial expertise in biotechnology and Nano science. Mitrelias has also set up Academy Capital Partners, a management company that aims to raise a substantial venture capital fund aimed mainly at investments in early stage technology companies with proven market traction and innovative products. He is also actively engaged in activities in the Middle East aimed at transforming the region’s economy to a knowledge based economy. Dr Mitrelias is also currently involved in setting up various multi-million collaborative international projects with academic institutions in Peru and Brazil. He holds a PhD in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge, an MSc (Eng) in Materials Science awarded with Distinction from the University of Liverpool and a BSc in Physics from the University of Ioannina, Greece.

His main research interest is in the field of Biotechnology, Nano science, targeted eradication of cancer tumour and clinical diagnostics.

Waleed Seif El-Din Mohamed Mostafa is currently working as Professor of Cancer Biology at NCI of Cairo University, Egypt. He is the manager of Egyptian National Cancer Institute (ENCI) biobank Unit, and he is establishing Biomedical Informatics center at NCI of Cairo University. He received his PhD in Cancer Biology from NCI, Cairo University in 2003.He worked as lecture at National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt from 2003-2008. Also Waleed Seif El-Din Mohamed Mostafa served as Assistant Professor, Microbiology Department, and Applied Medical Science at Qassim University, Saudi Arabia. He is an active member of different association like -Egyptian Cancer Society (ECS), American Society for Clinical Laboratory science (ASCLS) and American Society of Microbiology (ASM). He has more than 20 research article in many reputed international journal. He handled many research project related to cancer virology and tumor immunology at NCI- Cairo University, Egypt.

His main area of research is cancer virology and tumor vaccine

Sanjay Gupta is Carter Kissell Associate Professor & Research Director in the Department of Urology at the Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Case Medical Center. He also holds secondary appointments in the Departments of Nutrition and Division of General Medical Sciences at Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. Dr Gupta obtained faculty position in 2002 at Case, School of Medicine.

Biomarkers of Prostate Cancer Chemoprevention of Prostate Cancer by Naturally Occurring or Synthetic Compounds Epigenetic Mechanisms of Gene Silencing in Prostate Cancer Identification and Characterization of Prostate Tumor Stem Cells Molecular Mechanisms of Prostate Cancer Molecular Targets of Prostate Cancer Prevention-based Clinical Trials with Promising Agents Role of Inflammation in Promoting Prostate Cancer Stem Cells as Therapeutics in Prostate Cancer

Chairman of The institute of Koryo Acupotomology INSTITUTE of INTERNATIONAL WOON-GI ACUPUNCTURE

professor of the course of woon-gi acupuncture system

Ying-Jan Wang has completed his PhD at the age of 34 years from National Taiwan University and postdoctoral studies from National Taiwan University, College of Medicine. He is the director of Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University. He has published more than 120 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of PloS ONE.

His main area of research is in the field of pancreatic cancer.

Abdelilah Aboussekhra is currently Principal Scientist at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh. He is head of the Cancer Biology and Experimental Therapeutics Section and acting Chairman of the Molecular Oncology Department at the Research Center. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Jun 1992 from Orsay University (Paris XI). From 1992 to 1995 he worked as Post-Doctoral fellow in the Imperial Cancer Research Found (Clare Hall, London) on the reconstitution of the nucleotide excision repair process in vitro using purified factors. In 1996 he joined the institute of cell Biology (ETH, Zurich) where he worked as associate scientist for 2 years on the role of chromatin in modulating nucleotide excision repair. He joined King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research center as Scientist and head of the DNA repair and Apoptosis section in 1998. His major research interest has been the role of the tumor suppressor p16 protein and tumor microenvironment in cancer development and therapy. He published more than 50 papers and reviews and received several research achievement awards.

His major research interest has been the role of the tumor suppressor p16 protein and tumor microenvironment in cancer development and therapy.

Azza Mahmoud Kamel is currently working as Emirate Professor of Clinical Pathology at National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt since 2007.Previously she worked as Professor of Clinical Pathology (1986- 2007) at National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Egypt, Founder and Head of BMT Lab. Unit (1993- 2007) and Head of Clinical Pathology Department (2005-2007). She pursued her Medical Degree (M.B., B.Ch.), Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University (June 1968), Master Degree (M. Sc.) in Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University (October 1972) and Doctorate Degree (MD) in Clinical Pathology (Immunology/Haematology), Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University (July 1976). She has 165 publications in many reputed journals. Azza Mahmoud Kamel conducted many workshops and completed many research projects. She received many awards like State Award in Medicine (1989), Medal of Excellence from the Egyptian Government (1994).She is an active member of Egyptian Society of Cancer, International Society of Hematology, European and African division (ISH), European Association of Hematology (EHA), American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), International Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis (ISTH).

Her main research interest is in the field of cancer pathology and hematology.

Abu-Helalah completed his medical degree from Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST) 2001. He moved in 2002 to the United Kingdon (UK) where completed a master degree in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Dundee in 2004 and a PhD in epidemiology and preventive medicine from the University of London in 2009. While he was in the UK, he worked as a Research Fellow in epidemiology and preventive Medicine at the St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London-UK, in 2007/2008. In 2009, he joined King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan as a Senior Officer for the cancer control program. In 2011, he joined the National Guard Health affairs as an Assistant Professor of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine. In February 2012, he returned to work in Jordan at the Faculty of Medicine, Mutah University. He was selected in 2013 as the regional director for Middle East and North Africa for the Global Center for Public Health and Disease Control, Ohio, USA. He also works as a consultant and technical expert for several regional and international organizations. He has conducted more than ten workshops in the above fields over the last two years and he has had important publications in these fields in peer-reviewed journals. On 9 April 2014, Dr Abu-Helalah was honoured by HRH Prince of Easter Region, KSA as the “Winner of the First place in the Prince of Easter Region Award for the Best Cancer Research in the Arab World” in the first round of this prize.

Abu-Helalah has special expertise and interest in chronic diseases control and prevention particularly cancer, diabetes, thyroid disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and smoking cessation. This is in addition to his experience in medical research and in applying evidence based medicine in clinical practice.

Dr. Fidan has received his MD and PhD in Hacettepe University. He is the Deputy Director of ENT Department. He is an Otorhinolaryngologist at Yunus Emre Government Hospital. He worked as a Visiting Scientist at Yale University ENT and Allergy Departments. He has more than 20 SCI indexed articles. Research interests are pulmonary hypertension, allergy, otology, rhinology and sleep medicine.

His research interests include: Otology and Audiology, Allergic Rhinitis and Immunology, Facial Plastic Surgery, Congenital Hear Loss and Sleep Disorders

Gennaro Galizia was born in Angri (SA - Italy) on November 25, 1954. Degree in Medicine and Surgery at University of Naples, 1978. Head of the Unit of Surgical Oncology of the Gastrointestinal Tract. Attending surgeon at Hepato-Biliary Surgical Unit of the Viet Duc Hopital of Hanoi - Vietnam in 1986; and at Second Dept. of Surgery of the Shimane Medical University of Izumo - Japan, in 1988. Author of the following medical books: 'Surgical Endoscopy', 1986; 'Abdominal Surgical Diseases', 1999; 'Biliary Diseases', 2000. Recipient award from Italian Ministry of Health for Researches on Gastrointestinal Malignancies. Member of the Italian Society of Surgery.

Surgery and Multimodal Treatment of Gastrointestinal and Hepato-Biliary Malignancies

Erivelto volpi graduated in santos medical school in 1986, he made his residency of general surgery and head and neck surgery at university of sao paulo medical school hospital from 1987 to 1990. In 1991 he was aproved as fellow of brazilian society of head and neck surgery and was a co-founder of post-graduate association of head and neck surgery department of university of sao paulo. He got his phd in 2011. He is also fellow of brazilian college of surgeons and founder of brazilian society of surgical endocrinology. Since 2009 he is director of latin american thyroid society.

Head Neck Surgery,Oncological Endocrine Surgery

Professor Zhenggang Zhu is a professor of Surgical Oncology in the Department of Surgery Rui Jin Hospital of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine His Academic Appointments are: Director of Shanghai Key laboratory of Stomach Neoplasm Director of Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery Honorary Chairperson of Chinese Gastric Cancer Association Vice President of Chinese College of Surgeons (CCS) Chairperson of Chinese Upper G-I Surgeon Society, CCS Honorary Chairperson of Shanghai Surgical Society Vice-director of Shanghai Anti-Cancer Association Chairperson of Shanghai Gastrointestinal Tumor Society Member of Council of International Gastric Cancer Association

Surgical Oncology; Stomach neoplasms, Cell Cycle, Apoptosis, Animal Experimentation, Functional

Professor Chandrakant.V.Patel has worked and trained in K.E.M. Hospital, Tata Memorial Centre, Westminster Hospital Royal Marsden Hospital & Christie Hospital and M.D. Anderson Hospital, Memorial Hospital. He is currently working for care of advanced cancer and terminal patients in rural India

Surgery, Oncology Surgical Oncology

Masakuni Noguchi, M.D., PhD is Professor of Breast and Endocrine Surgery, and Chief of Breast Center at Kanazawa Medical University Hospital, From 2006 to 2009, he was Professor of Breast Department at the Kanazawa University Hospital. From 1996 to 2004, he was a chief editor of “Breast Cancer” [the journal of the Japanese Breast Cancer Society (JBCS)]. He was a president of the JBCS from 2005 to 2006. Since 2015, he is an honorary president of the JBCS. He has published more than 237 articles in English and more than 10 books in Japanese.

His clinical and research interests are mainly related to surgical oncology of breast cancer.

Dr. George Fisher is the Colleen G. Haas Professor of Medicine at the Stanford Cancer Institute. He is a graduate of Stanford University and Medical School and completed his residency and oncology fellowship there as well. His research and clinical interest is in drug development and clinical trials applied to GI malignancies. He has been the President of the California Division of the American Cancer Society and the recipient of numerous teaching and patient care awards. Dr. Fisher is the vice chair of the ECOG-ACRIN GI Committee and is the ECOG liaison to the NCI Task Force on neuroendocrine tumors. In addition he serves on the scientific and medical advisory boards of PANCAN and the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation, which he co-chairs. He is also an active ASCO volunteer and chair of the 2016 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium.

Clinical Trials,Cancer therapy

Dr. Benigno received his M.D. degree from the Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center in New York City. He completed two fellowships in gynecologic oncology, one at the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta and the other at the M.D. Anderson Hospital and Tumor Institute in Houston. He was a visiting professor at the University of Saigon for three years during the War in Vietnam where he set up a residency training program for young Vietnamese surgeons. From 1974 to 1982, he was on the faculty at the Emory University School of Medicine where he was the Director of Gynecologic Oncology at Emory Hospital and at Grady Memorial Hospital. Recently, Dr. Benigno founded University Gynecologic Oncology where he serves as President. He also serves as the Director of Gynecologic Oncology at Northside Hospital.

Gynecologic Oncology,Ovarian Cancer.

To be Updated

Urology,Prostate cancer etc

Jan S. Lewin, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Head and Neck Surgery Department, and Section Chief of Speech Pathology and Audiology at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. Dr. Lewin received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan and her Ph.D. from Michigan State University. She is a recognized authority on functional outcomes in oncology patients. Dr. Lewin is a regularly invited participant to national and international cancer survivorship programs and public education networks. Under her direction, the Speech Pathology and Audiology program at M.D. Anderson is recognized as the premier program for functional rehabilitation of oncology patients.

Surgical prosthetic voice outcomes following tracheoesophageal voice restoration after total laryngectomy. Alaryngeal speech rehabilitation following surgical extirpation of the larynx. Swallowing outcomes in head and neck cancer patients treated with surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy.

Fallone is Director of the Medical Physics at the Cross Cancer Institute, and the University of Alberta. Prior he was Faculty at McGill University and University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Centre. He has directly supervised 80 graduate students, 25 medical physics residents, co-authored over 210 peer-reviewed articles, 90 peer-reviewed proceedings and chapters, 313 abstracts, 306/271 posters/conferences, 110 invited conferences, and 10 patents. He is recipient of $ 60M in research funds. He has received numerous international awards: most notably being Knighthood to the Order of Merit, Italy (highest recognition in Italy) for his contributions to cancer research.

Image-Guided Adaptive Radiotherapy (IGAR),Digital Electroradiography,Digital Portal Imaging and Automatic Image Registration and Verification,Inverse Treatment Planning,Conformal Therapy.

Dr. Bonnie Labdi earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Houston College Of Pharmacy in May of 2002. She completed two years of post-graduate residency through the University of Texas and Scott & White Hospital in June of 2004. She began working at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in 2004 as a Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, focusing on the areas of hematologic malignancies, specifically lymphoma and myeloma. She remained there for over 6 years before accepting a clinical management position at a two-hospital health system located in Beaumont, Texas. As a clinical manager, she sat on many institutional committees, utilizing her leadership skills and experience in the areas of patient safety, hospital accreditation, and health care management. Most recently, she accepted a clinical specialist position at Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas. Her primary areas of focus are in the areas of thoracic and head and neck medical oncology. She sees patients daily in clinic, working in collaboration with oncologists to formulate individualized treatment plans. Besides oncology, Dr. Labdi remains interested and active in the areas of supportive care, patient safety and quality improvement. She serves on several boards and committees of both national and international professional organizations, and is currently serving in her second year as Chairperson of the Publications Committee for the Hematology Oncology Pharmacists Association (HOPA). She has authored a book chapter and several peer-reviewed articles in the fields of oncology and supportive care. She most recently presented 3 talks at the Indo-Global Medical Summit & Expo in Hyderabad, India. She also presented a poster at the most recent World Conference on Lung Cancer annual meeting.

Oncology,Supportive care, Patient safety and Quality Improvement.

Dr. Brian Lawenda received the "Top Doctor" Award in radiation oncology by US News & World Report. He has been instrumental in bringing a new skin cancer treatment using High Dose Rate Brachytherapy to Southern Nevada. He incorporates Integrative Oncology and medical acupuncture into his practice and is the National Director of Integrative Oncology and Cancer Survivorship. Dr. Lawenda enjoys speaking to the community in regards to education on new technologies and cancer treatments that are offered at 21st Century Oncology and is involved with numerous support groups in the Southern Nevada area.

Radiation oncology, Integrative oncology and Medical Acupuncture

Dr S.Afshin Shorofi has attained his PhD from Flinders University of South Australia, where he subsequently started working as a Research Associate in Health Care for Older People. He is currently an Adjunct Research Fellow at Flinders University (Australia), and an Assistant Professor at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences (MUMS-Iran). In addition, Afshin is the deputy head of the Traditional & Complementary Medicine Research Center and the Center for History & Ethics Studies at MUMS. Afshin is holding adjunct academic positions in two research centers at MUMS, Traditional & Complementary Medicine Research Center and Orthopedic Research Center. He is nationally well known for his publications so that he has published 17 books in the fields of Nursing, Midwifery and Medicine irrespective of his papers in peer-reviewed journals. Afshin is also serving several well-reputed journals as an editorial board member or editorial advisory board member. Afshin has been awarded prizes and honors for teaching excellence, outstanding research and overall academic achievement.

His Research interests include aged care; complementary and alternative medicine; holistic care; research issues in health; pain management; and palliative care.

Dr. Bulent Ozpolat MD has completed his PhD in Immunology at The University of Texas –Houston, MD Anderson Cancer Center and postdoctoral studies focusing on cancer biology, and nanotechnology the same center. He is current servings as an Associate professor at the Department of Experimental Therapeutics at MD Anderson cancer Center. His research focuses on identification of novel molecular targets (genes, microRNA, proteins) 2) Development of targeted-therapies for these pathways utilizing nanotechnology by delivery of therapeutic peptides, small molecule inhibitors siRNA and microRNA. Dr. Ozpolat a member of Center for Targeted Therapy, Genetics and Genomics Center, Center for Targeted Therapy, Texas-Center of Cancer Nanomedicine, and Non-Coding siRNA Center at MDACC. He serve as a reviewer for US-Congressional directed Medical research and Department of Defense (DOD)-Breast cancer and Immunology study sections, Italian health Ministry, British Cancer Foundation grants and several journals as an Editorial Board member and holds several patents published more than 50 papers, 13 reviews and 12 book chapters. His research is supported by NIH, DOD, Susan Komen, and grants from Texas Stae (CPRIT), intuitional/internally funded grants/projects.

Novel molecular targets,Immunology.

Dr.Gorijavolu Durgaprasad, completed his MBBS from Guntur Medical college and Post graduation from Osmania Medical College, Andhra Pradesh in the year 2000. He is currently working as Associate professor of Radiation Oncology and Palliative Medicine at Government Medical College and General Hospital, Anantapuramu, Andrapradesh, India. He started the Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine at M.N.J. Institute of Oncology and Regional Cancer Center, Hyderabad, India in the year 2007 with the support from INCTR, American Cancer Society and Pallium India and further he contributed a lot to the development of this department and transformed it into one of the Centres of Excellence in Palliative Medicine in India with teaching, training and research in pain management and palliative medicine.

Pain Management and Palliative Medicine

Thomas Mehrling MD, PhD is Chief Executive Officer of the 2013 founded Mundipharma EDO GmbH in Basel, Switzerland. The company is part of the independent associated companies of the Mundipharma Group. The company is developing a number of early stage oncology assets, small molecules and biologics, through pre-clinical and clinical research. The first compound EDO-S101 has rapidly progressed through the pre-clinical development stage and is now investigated in Phase 1 clinical studies. He is a board certified pharmacist/pharmacologist and obtained his PhD in pharmacological science based on pre-clinical research in serotonin-receptor antagonists for the treatment of nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. This work provided the pathway to the market for tropisetron (Navoban®). He also is a board certified physician and holds a medical doctor degree of the University of Frankfurt. He specialized and worked for several years in cardiology, hematology/oncology and pediatric oncology. Research during the time at the University focused on clinical research through small and large trials, mechanisms of multi drug resistance in cancer cells as well as the diagnosis of hematological malignancies. After years of practice at the University hospital and in a private oncology practice he joined in 1997 the Takeda Research & Development Centre Europe where he was responsible for the pan-European development of 3 new chemical entities in a global development team working from Japan across Europe and the Untied States. From there he moved to a Global CRO where he held the position of a Vice President Medical and Regulatory Affairs before he joined the Mundipharma Group in the year 2000. Since this time he went through various positions at Mundipharma starting with being responsible for the in-licensing of a first hematology/oncology product to found this new business and then to take on responsibility to develop, register and launch oncology products to the markets. Today, the Mundipharma Group is marketing DepoCyte® and bendamustine (Levact®, Ribomustin®, Treanda®) in Europe. Forodesine, the first selective PNP inhibitor for treating cancer in a variety of hematological malignancies is submitted to the Japanese authorities. In the Asian companies Mundipharma is also distributing Folotyn and Zevalin in selected markets. He is a member of AACR, ASCO and ASH as well as EMSO and EHA and lives in Basel where he enjoys the culture and atmosphere of the city.

Pre-clinical research, Chemotherapy, Hematology/oncology, Cancer cells, Hematological malignancies

Dr. David J. Bearss, Ph.D., brings a consistent and successful track record of drug discovery and development that spans the last 17 years in both academic and industrial settings. Dr. Bearss is an expert in small-molecule drug development and in the use of genetic model systems in drug discovery and has deep experience in translational research focused on drug development and the use of genetic markers to predict drug sensitivity. Dr. Bearss served as Chief Scientific Officer at SuperGen overseeing early drug discovery and development and subsequently as Co-director of the Center for Investigational Therapeutics at the Huntsman Cancer Institute, Associate Professor in the Department of Oncological Sciences at the University of Utah and Associate Professor of Physiology & Developmental Biology at Brigham Young University. Dr. Bearss has published more than 70 manuscripts and book chapters, has over 30 patents issued or pending and has won several awards for his scientific achievements.

Dr. Bearss is an expert in small-molecule drug development and in the use of genetic model systems in drug discovery and has deep experience in translational research focused on drug development and the use of genetic markers to predict drug sensitivity.

Han Myint is currently working as a Vice President, Global Medical Affairs- MDS/AML at Celgene,New Jersy. He worked as Director of Haematological Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplant Program at University of Colorado Denver. He also works Director, Hem/Onc Fellowship Program.

AML, Haematological Malignancies and Stem Cell Transplant. Hematologic Oncology.

Joseph Birkett is currently working as a Director and Owner in Crest Pharma Ltd. He has Very experienced drug developer with over 15 years experience across all phases (I-IV and post-marketing). He has extensive experience in haematology (NHL/CLL) and solid tumours. Experienced in the clinical development of Tyrosine Kinase inhibitors (Global clinical lead for Btk ONO-4059), Monoclonal antibodies (lead clinical scientist for pivotal Phase I/II GA101/Obinutuzumab studies), ASOs (Survivin and Eif4e), DNA repair. His experience includes in working with patient advocacy groups to enhance patient and doctor understanding of new and existing therapy options.

Pre-clinical studies, new therapies for the treatment of cancer, drug development process.

Martin Dyer is Professor of Haemato-Oncology and Honorary Consultant Physician at the Department of Haematology, University Hospitals Leicester since April 2001. He is also Director of the Ernest and Helen Scott Haematological Research Institute at University of Leicester since Jan 2014. He has a longstanding interest in the targeted therapy of leukaemia and lymphoma. He has been the lead investigator in the development of several targeted therapies using antibodies and small molecules, including specific BTK and BCL2 inhibitors. Most recently he has led the first-in-man study of the first selective BTK inhibitor, ONO/GS-4059. As an MRC Clinical Research Fellow in Cambridge in the 1980's, he was involved in the initial clinical evaluation of the CAMPATH-1 antibodies in patients with B-cell malignancies. Moving to the Institute of Cancer Research-Royal Marsden Hospital in 1990, he developed the inverse PCR method for cloning immunoglobulin translocations, leading to the identification of genes including BCL7, BCL9, BCL10 and CRLF2, among others. Scientifically, Prof. Dyer and his group currently studying the molecular genetics and proteomics of lymphoid malignancies, using functional analysis of novel genes associated with B-cell receptor signalling and apoptotic pathways to design new therapeutic approaches. A major aim of his group is the identification of mechanism-based synergistic combinations.

leukaemia and lymphoma,Cancer Research,molecular genetics and proteomics of lymphoid malignancies.

He took his degree "Summa cum laude" in Medicine at the Catholic University of Sacred Heart of Rome on july 17th 1967. In 1968, thanks to a grant from the Italian Foreing Office, He was enrolled to a six months clerkship at the Haematogical Division of Saint Louis Hospital in Paris. In January 1973 He was appointed assistant professor in Internal Medicine. Two years later he was appointed attending phisician and since then He has been working full time in the Hematological Division of the University Hospital Policlinico Gemelli of Rome. Since 1992 He is the head of the above mentioned Hematological Division. In 1981 Dr Leone spent 4 months in Seattle at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center working in Donnall Thomas's team of bone marrow transplantation. In 1988 He was awarded associate professor in Internal Medicine , and since then he has been holding the course of Medical Oncology (1988-90) and Hematology (90-) in the School of Medicine of the Catholic University. In 1995 he was awarded full professor in Hematology. Since then is director of the Institute of Hematology of the Catholic University. Dr. Leone is author/coauthor of more than 700 scientific publications of hematologic subject ( Myelodysplastic and Myeloprolioferative Syndromes, Leukemia, Lymphoma ,Bone Marrow Transplantation, Hemostasis and Thrombosis), most of them published on qualified journals as New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, PNAS, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Blood, Oncogene, Leukemia, Clinical Cancer Research , Experimental Hematology, British Journal of Hematology, European Journal of Haematology, Transfusion, Haematologica, Thrombosis and Haemostasis, Cancer etc.. Prof. Leone is an active member of numerous scientific societies (ASH, EBMT, EHA, ISEH,ISHT,SIE, SIES, SISET). In 2009 he established a new on line medical Journal the “Mediterranean Journal of Hematology and Infectious Diseases “ www.mjhid.org , indexed by PUBMED,Web of Science, Scopus , Google Scholar , DOAJ et al .

Myelodysplastic and Myeloprolioferative Syndromes, Leukemia, Lymphoma ,Bone Marrow Transplantation, Hemostasis and Thrombosis.

Francesco is a medical physician, specialist in Immunohematology with a particular interests in cellular processing and manipulation. He took his degree "summa cum laude" in Medicine at the University “La Sapienza” in Rome in April 1994 and currently he is working in Cryolab as Medical Director and in University of Rome Tor Vergata where is Aggregate professor in Immunology, Immunohematology and Cellular Therapy. He also worked as Facility Director in Pediatric Hospital Bambino Gesù. Its research activities are based on the study of hematopoietic stem cells transplant, cellular manipulations in haploidentical transplant and on the organization of biobanks. Additionally, Francesco has devised and implemented quality Plans and international excellence standards for continuous improvement in the stem cell processing laboratory. Since 2009 he was appointed as inspector for the Joint Accreditation Committee - International Society for Cellular Therapy & European Group for Blood and Marrow Transplantation."

Hematopoietic stem cells transplant,cellular manipulations in haploidentical transplant and on the organization of biobanks.

Yasser Mostafa Kamel is currently working for International PAREXEL as a Senior Medical Director, Canada. He previously worked as an Executive Director-Clinical development at GSK. He is an International Medical Leader at Hoffmann La Roche. He completed his Master’s degree at Brunel University London in Molecular Medicine and Cancer Research. He is also done his masters in clinical oncology at Cairo University -School of Medicine.

Cancer research, clinical Research,Hematology

Prof. Dr. J. J. Michiels Multidisciplinairy Internist Blood Coagulation & Vascular Medicine Center, Erasmus Tower, Veenmos 13, 3069 AT Rotterdam, NL, Professor of Nature Medicine & Health Clinical and Molecular Genetics Blood & Coagulation Research, University Hospitals Antwerp, Brussels and Martin-Bratislava International Consultant Bloodcoagulation & Vascular Medicine Consultant Academic, Pharmaceutical and Industrial Medicine Editor Journal of Hematology & Thromboembolic Diseases, Editor World Journal of Hematology, Editor in Chief World Journal of Clinical Cases.

Leukemia, Hematology and Thromboembolic Diseases, Haemostasis, Bool & Coagulation Disorders.

Salem is the Prof. of Immunology at Tanta University, Egypt and was Assistant Professor at Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, USA. He is the Founder and Director of Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, Tanta University and Chairman of Egyptian Association for Cancer Research. He published 111 articles, a member of several editorial board, ad hoc reviewer for 80 journals, gave scientific talks in Egypt, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, USA, China and Canada. His research focuses on how cancer escapes from host immunity, in particular lymphoid and myeloid immunosuppressive cells and developing anticancer immunotherapy.

Immunology,cancer,lymphoid and myeloid immunosuppressive cells and developing anticancer immunotherapy.

Khaled Aboul-Enein is currently working for National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Megalab.as a professor. He is owner of mega lab. He was also worked as a Hospital manager National Cancer Institute, Cairo University. He completed his Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) at National Cancer Institute, Cairo University in Clinical pathology and Oncologic Laboratory Medicine.

Cancer.Hematology, Clinical research

Zlate Stojanoski is currently working for Head of Ward for Allogeneic stem cells transplantation in University Clinic of Hematology since 20years He also worked as Medical faculty at University Sts Cyril and Methodius.He competed his MD PhD in Hematology at Medical faculty - University Sts Cyril and Methodius

Stem cell transplantation and Hematology.

Daniela Capdepon MD, graduate of the University F. Medical Barceló in 2001 with honors and highest academic average. Completed residency in Internal Medicine at the Municipal hospital and COBA oriented Graduate Clinical Oncology from 2002 to 2004. Then she began to study the specialty of Clinical Oncology at the University of Salvador, trained in gastric tumors in Udaondo Hospital, Hospital Marie Curie Cancer Center and Henry Moore and learned to prepare and deliver chemotherapies and concurrences to form the pallium Center for palliative treatment of pain. Graduated in the specialty of clinical oncologist and palliative medicine subspecialty in Pain in 2006 of Salvador University, Buenos Aires. Works as in Municipal Hospital and Italian Society of Zarate and Campana. Fellow in Fundaleu as subinvestigadora in Oncohematology and trained in liquid tumors, LLC, ALL MM, NHL LH. during 2006-2007. In 2008 she built her own Cancer Center and works as a medical director, in Campana Cancer Center, where cancer care is done in outpatient chemotherapy treatments and pain and palliative treatments. The cancer centre works with a specialized team with various advanced research in the field of oncology.

Tumors,ALL,Cancer, Oncology and Oncohematology.

Kamal S. Saini is currently working as a Medical Director Oncology. He worked as Associate Scientific Director at Breast International Group. He was Clinical Research Fellow at Institute Jules Bordet. He has certifications entitled “12th ECCO-AACR-EORTC-ESMO Workshop on Methods in Clinical Cancer Research (Flims, Switzerland) 2010” and “ESMO Translational Research Unit (TRU) Visit fellowship to University Medical Center Groningen (Groningen, The Netherlands) 2010” and many more.

Cancer research,Oncology

Gehan Lotfy has completed her MD at the age of 35 years from Minia University and pediatric oncology board at 2015. She is the director of pediatric hematology and oncology unit. She had published more than 10 papers in reputed journals and had shared in many international pediatric hematology and oncology congresses. She is an Egyptian pediatric board trainer since 2011.

Molecular biology, Genetics, Immunology, Oncology, Pediatrics, Hematology

Georgios Stamatakos received the Diploma degree in electrical engineering from the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), Greece, the M.Sc. degree in bioengineering from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, U.K., and the Ph.D. degree in physics from NTUA. He is a Research Professor at the Institute of Communication and Computer Systems (ICCS), NTUA. He is the Founder and Director of the In Silico Oncology and In Silico Medicine Group.

His research interests include multiscale cancer modeling, patient individualized cancer treatment optimization, in silico oncology (being his primary field of activity), bioinformatics, electromagnetic propagation and scattering, bioelectromagnetics, radiation safety and biooptics.

Prof. Dr. Norbert Graf is Professor of Paediatrics and Director of the Clinic for Paediatric Oncology and Haematology and a Dean for students at the Faculty of Medicine of Saarland University in Germany. He is the chairman of the Renal Tumour Study Group of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP-RTSG). He is an Associate Member of COG (Children’s Oncology Group, North America) and closely collaborating with the COG Renal Study Group. He was the coordinator of the EU funded project p-medicine and is enrolled in several other ongoing European projects. Norbert Graf has more than 25 years of experience with clinical trials.

His research interests include pediatric oncology, especially nephroblastoma and brain tumors, clinical trials, ethical issues in medicine, eHealth, eLearning and medical education.

Annick Beaugrand Graduated in Medicine from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (2003), Medical Residency in Pediatrics by HUEC (2006) Specialization in pediatric oncology at the Federal University of Parana (PR / Brazil-2008) and the Institut Gustave Roussy (France- 2008 -2011), Degree from the University Paris XI (Paris / France, 2009) in child oncology. Currently a doctor in the House of support to children with cancer and substitute teacher at the Pediatric Department of the Federal University of RN – Brazil and Pediatric Professor of Federal University of RN, Brazil.

Health Sciences, Medicine, Pediatrics Oncology

Herman Suit was born on February 8, 1929 in Houston Texas and educated in the Houston public schools and the University of Houston obtaining a B. Sc in August 1948. He graduated from Baylor Medical School [AOA] in 1952, MD and M.Sc [biochemistry]. In 1970, Suit was brought to MGH as Chief of Radiation Oncology and a Professor at Harvard Medical School. After 30 years, Suit was exceedingly pleased to transfer the Chief’s position to Jay S Loeffler on October 1, 2000 and to observe his clear success.

Suit’s clinical interest focused on sarcomas of soft tissue as these were judged to be highly radiation resistant. He demonstrated a gain by use of pre rather than post operative radiation therapy due to the much smaller treatment volume.

Colleen Huber NMD is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor in Tempe, Arizona. She is President of the Naturopathic Cancer Society. She is Co-Founder and Secretary of the American Naturopathic Research Institute / Naturopathic Oncology Research Institute (ANRI / NORI), and Co-Chair of the International Naturopathic Clinical Research Institute (INCRI) at www.NaturopathicStandards.org. She is a Fellow of the Naturopathic Oncology Research Institute. She is the owner and Medical Director of NatureWorksBest Medical Clinic. The data supporting the clinic’s results in cancer treatment is on the website www.NatureWorksBest.com. Dr. Huber is a credentialed physician at Phoenix area sub-acute in-patient facilities, where she practices up to the full-scope of practice for naturopathic physicians licensed in Arizona. She graduated from Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe. Many of her health articles have appeared on www.mercola.com. Her book, Choose Your Foods Like Your Life Depends On Them, as well as her cancer treatments and cancer prevention, which have been featured in the Defeat Cancer book. She authored the largest and longest study in medical history on sugar intake in cancer patients, which was reported in thousands of media outlets around the world in 2014. Her academic writing has appeared in The Lancet and Cancer Strategies Journal, and other medical journals.

Pathophysiology, genetics and epigenetics of MDS (role of transcription factors in regulation) Inflammatory responses and GVHD (effects of alpha1 anti-trypsin [AAT]) Separation of GVHD and GVL effects by AAT Iron and allogeneic responses (in vitro, in vivo)