Biotechnology 2027

Dr. Naj Sharif earned his Bachelor of Science degree with Joint Honors in Biochemistry and Physiology, as well as a PhD in Neuroscience, from Southampton University in the United Kingdom. With more than three decades of experience in the pharmaceutical sector, he has held senior leadership roles across Discovery Research, Drug Development, and Regulatory Affairs. Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Sharif has worked with leading global pharmaceutical organizations, including Parke-Davis/Warner-Lambert (Pfizer), Syntex Research (Roche), Alcon-Novartis, and currently serves as Executive Director in the R&D Division at Santen Inc.

His research focuses on ocular and central nervous system pharmacology, intracellular signaling pathways, and the discovery and development of novel therapeutic agents

2015 Associate Dean Enterprise and Impact, LHS, Aston University.2013 Reader in Molecular Biology, Aston University.2013 BBSRC Commercial Innovator of the Year.2013 Aston Excellence Award for Outstanding Contribution to Innovation and/or Technological Improvement.2009-2012 Course Director, MSc Biotechnology.2006-2013 Senior Lecturer in Molecular Biology, LHS, Aston University.2005-2006 LHS Innovation Fellow, Business Partnership Unit (partial secondment).2004-2005 CEO, ProtaMAX Ltd.2003-2004 Medici Fellow (Commercialisation and Entrepreneurial Training).1995-2006 Lecturer in Molecular Biology, LHS, Aston University.1993-94 Research Fellow, Harvard Medical School (PI: Prof. C.C. Richardson).1989-92 PhD, UMIST (Supervisor: Prof. T.A. Brown).1986-89 BSc Hons Biochemistry (Class 1) UMIST (now integrated into the University of Manchester)

• Protein Engineering• Research at the interface between molecular biology and the physical sciences• Development of enabling technologies for biomedicines• Protein-DNA interactions of Cys2His2 zinc fingers• Protein-DNA interactions of single Cys4 zinc fingers

Dr. Zhan completed his undergraduate and postgraduate education in Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics at West China University of Medical Sciences, China, between 1989 and 1999. He subsequently pursued postdoctoral training in Oncology and Cancer Proteomics at the Cancer Research Institute of Hunan Medical University, where he spent two years advancing his expertise in cancer research. In 2001, Dr. Zhan moved to the United States and joined the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) as a postdoctoral researcher. During this period, his research focused on mass spectrometry technologies and cancer proteomics. In recognition of his scientific contributions, he was appointed Assistant Professor of Neurology at UTHSC in 2005.Dr. Zhan has made significant contributions to biomedical research, authoring 79 peer-reviewed scientific publications, including approximately 55 papers focused on disease proteomics and transcriptomics. In addition, he has contributed seven book chapters and is the holder of two United States patents, reflecting his commitment to advancing translational and personalized medicine research.

The studies of cancer proteomics and biomarkers, and the use of modern omics techniques and systems biology for PPPM in cancer.

Dr. Sandeep K. Vashist serves as Discovery and R&D Processes Manager at Immunodiagnostics Systems GmbH, Germany. Throughout his career, he has held leadership and scientific positions across academia, healthcare, and industry in Europe and Asia, contributing significantly to diagnostics, biotechnology, and healthcare innovation. His accomplishments include successful technology transfer initiatives, the development of numerous in vitro diagnostic (IVD) and point-of-care (POC) technologies, and an extensive publication record comprising over 250 peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and conference papers. He is also the author of two scientific books and an inventor on multiple patents. Recognized internationally for research excellence and innovation, he actively contributes as a journal editor, scientific reviewer, funding agency advisor, and technology consultant. His research interests focus on immunoassays, in vitro diagnostics, point-of-care testing, bioanalytical sciences, nanotechnology, and digital healthcare solutions

Immunoassays, IVD, POC technologies, bioanalytical sciences, nanotechnology, mobile healthcare.

Professor Vivian Alonso Goulart has been serving as an Associate Professor of Biotechnology at the Federal University of Uberlândia (UFU), Minas Gerais, Brazil, since 2011. Before joining UFU, she held the positions of Associate Professor and Director of Veterinary Medicine at Rio Verde University, Goiás, Brazil.

Nanobiotechnology Mesenchymal stem cells to regenerative medicine Biomarkers of prostate cancer (microvesicles, aptamers and cell-free DNA)

Dr. Olive earned his Ph.D. in Medical Microbiology from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago. Following postdoctoral research at the University of Illinois Medical Center focused on transcriptional regulation in SV40, he transitioned into industry, pioneering the application of DNA probe technologies for microbial diagnostics. Over his distinguished career, he has held key scientific and leadership roles in global health organizations and biotechnology companies. As a scientist in the World Health Organization's poliovirus eradication program, he contributed to international public health initiatives. He later advanced nucleic acid-based diagnostic technologies at GENE-TRAK/Vysis and co-founded Third Wave Technologies, where his team developed the innovative Invader nucleic acid amplification platform. Dr. Olive has also served in executive positions at Applied Spectral Imaging and LI-COR Biosciences, where he led the development of near-infrared imaging agents for image-guided cancer surgery. Currently, he works as an independent consultant and Adjunct Professor of Biology at Nebraska Wesleyan University. His research interests include molecular diagnostics, nucleic acid technologies, bacteriophage therapeutics, antimicrobial resistance, and the development of phage-based treatments for bacterial infections.

Methicillin resistant Staphylococci, passive antibiotic resistance, bacteriophage antimicrobials.

Dr. Yusuf TUTAR obtained his M.Sc. and Ph.D. at Oregon State University and Texas Tech University respectively. He pursued his postdoctoral study at National Institutes of Health (NIH/NIDDK), USA. His research focuses on Biochemistry, Biophysics, Genetics, and Molecular Biology with specialization in the fields of protein structure-function, protein folding, prion, microrna, pseudogenes, molecular cancer, proteomics, genomics, protein expression and characterization by spectroscopic and calorimetric methods. Dr. Tutar currently continue his research on drug design at University of Health Sciences, Istanbul, Turkey.

• Molecular Cancer Research and epigenetic (RT-PCR and Microarray). • MicroRNA, pseudogenes, and transfection. • Prion, translation termination in eukaryotes, and transcription initiation in prokaryotes. • Investigating structure-function relationship of biological macromolecules with biochemical, biophysical, genetics and molecular biological methods. • Recombinant DNA technology, molecular sub-cloning, transformation and protein expression. • Drug design, docking, molecular dynamics. • Nanoparticles for drug targeting. • Protein purification

Dr. Alexander Klibanov is a distinguished scientist, educator, entrepreneur, and innovator whose work has significantly influenced the fields of chemistry, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sciences. He completed his academic training at Moscow University, Russia, earning degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Enzymology before relocating to the United States to further his research career.

Dr. Alexander Klibanov’s research spans enzyme chemistry and biotechnology, antimicrobial polymer development, and the stabilization and formulation of macromolecular therapeutics. His work also includes medicinal and formulation chemistry, protein-based drug delivery systems, and the use of enzymes as stereoselective catalysts in organic synthesis.