Epigenetics and Chromosome

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, in 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) isolated from patients’ peripheral blood. In addition to studies on CTCs, another aspect of his current research interest lies in the development of better biomimetic tumor microenvironment for cancer drug discovery, such as in vitro tumor models and 3D tumor invasive co-culture microfluidic platforms.

The research interests of Dr. Tu’s lab are focused on the development of better three-dimensional (3D) biomimetic culture systems for studying the mechanics of cells and tissues. Current research directions mainly lie in utilizing in vitro tumor model for integration of microfluidics for a series of development of platforms in cancer drug discovery. This includes development of 3D in vitro tumor model for therapeutic treatments, development of 3D co-culture invasive models using microfluidic system for small molecule drug discovery, and understating the mechanics of 3D tumor invasion and migration in hydrogel environment.

Xiaoying Cui has completed her PhD in 2004 from Harbin Medical University and Singapore General Hospital. Her postdoctoral studies are at the Queensland Brain Institute, the University of Queensland. She is currently a senior research fellow in the Neurodevelopmental Group in the Queensland Brain Institute. She has published more than 31 papers in reputed journals, which attracted over 1480 citations (Google Scholar) and has been serving as a reviewer for multiple renowned journals.

My research interest is epigenetic regulation of the development of the dopaminergic system and epigenetics in the brain tumors.

Dr. Giuseppe Lonetto is a molecular oncologist with a broad experience in cancer research. His background is in Medical Biotechnology with a Bachelor Degree obtained in 2007 at the University of Magnæ Græcia of Catanzaro (Italy). He continued his study at the University of Florence (Italy) where he pursued his Master degree in Medical Biotechnology and the PhD studies in Clinical Physiopathology in 2009 and 2013, respectively. Being affiliated to the Department of Critical Care he was exposed to both basic science and a clinical environment. His main scientific interest was the progression of prostate cancer under hypoxia and the role of pathways normally activated in stem cells in the progression of prostate cancer. This led him to appreciate from close distance the benefit of translating discoveries from “the bench (basic science) to bed (patients)”. He continued his education as a Postdoctoral fellow at the Molecular Cell Biology Department of the Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel) and he is currently Intern Research Scientist in the same institute. In this period of his career, he had the privilege to interact with top scientists in the field that boosted his interest and will to study and understand cancer biology.

Metabolic alterations of Cancer Cells and the role played by Stem Cells and development-related pathways in Cancer progression. His long-term goal is to penetrate the clinic with a breakthrough that will help oncological patients care and treatment.

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.