Editorial Board
Kurt S. Zänker, MD, DVM, PhD, a Professor at the University of Witten/Herdecke, Germany, at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Human Medicine, Institute of Immunology & Experimental Oncology, is an immunologist and a tumor immunologist. He has authored and co-authored more than 650 publications. He has edited 24 books and special issues of journals. Kurt S. Zänker´s research focuses on basic sciences in cell migration, a molecular pre-requisite for metastasis formation, and on cell fusion, a pre-requisite for new hybrid cell entities, which are candidates for therapy resistant malignant cells. In clinical research, he focuses on therapeutic strategies to prevent the re-activation of the migratory machinery of malignant cells.
Dr Christian Bronner received his Master degree and his PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Strasbourg, France (1984-1986). Since 2011, he is Project leader at the famous IGBMC research center in the department of Functional Genomic and Cancer (Illkirch, France).
Dr Bronner’s research topic centers on elucidating the cellular and molecular mechanisms of cancer cell signaling and gene regulation. In particular, he is deeply interested in defining epigenetic molecular mechanisms by which cancer cells transmit their carcinogenic signature to daughter cells. He discovered the human UHRF1 gene which is now known to play a fundamental role in the epigenetic code inheritance. Dr Bronner has published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers in the fields of pulmonary physiology and molecular cancer.
Dr. Zhao is President and Chief Sientific Officer of OG Pharmaceuticals, Director of The Nanjing Han & Zaenker Cancer Institute, Chairman of EnoGene Fundation. He has over 20 years of experience in the research and development of technology for cancer diagnosis and drug discovery. Dr. Zhao holds a Ph.D. in cancer pharmacology from Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC). Previously, Dr. Zhao was a Guest Scientist in Witten/Herdecke University, Germany, Research Associate in Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, USA. and Research Fellow in Medical School of The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, USA. Dr. Zhao has authored more than 40 papers, 10 patents and 4 books.
Bernard Lopez has completed his PhD at the age of 27 years from University of Lyon I and postdoctoral studies from Curie Institute (Paris), followed by a sabbatical from and Brandeis university (Waltham, Ms, USA). He is first class research director at CNRS (French state organisation for basic research). He has published more than 90 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as a scientific advisor of many organizations.
Dr. Martini teaches in several university courses in the Medical Faculty, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Faculty of Medical Biotechnology, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Pathology postgraduate school, Doctoral school of oncology, University masters (first and second level). His research interest included Hematopathology, glial and central nervous system cancer, gastrointestinal tumor, lung cancer, thyroid cancer and Genitourinary cancer. Dr. Martini is the author of 145 scientific publications cited by PubMed.org.
Dr. Balasubramanyam is at present Dean of Research Studies & Senior Scientist at the Madras Diabetes Research Foundation (MDRF), Chennai, India. Since PhD (1987), he has been actively engaged in Disease-Biology research with special reference to studying molecular mechanisms (including omics advancements) of diabetes and its complications. During the years 1991-95, he worked as a post-doctoral scientist at the New Jersey Medical School, USA. Notably, Dr. Balasubramanyam is an expert member in several research committees and funding bodies & he has authored more than 100 research publications and edited a few special volumes on recent trends in diabetes research.
Shrikant S. Mantri, B. Pharmacy, M. Tech, a Senior Scientist at the National Agri-Food Biotechnology Institute(NABI), INDIA, is a computational biologist. His research focuses on integrative analysis of multi-omics data to decipher pathways and networks involved in multiple cellular processes and its alterations during disease. Shrikant has expertise in high performance computing, big-data mining, multi-dimension data analysis and integrative analysis, epigenome data mining, computer aided drug design, and next generation genomics data analysis.
Prof Chim’s research leadership in myeloma and DNA methylation in blood cancers is internationally recognised. He is an invited member of the International Myeloma Working Group, founding Executive Council Member of Asian Myeloma Network, founding member of International Academy of Clinical Hematology, invited member of the Global Committee of the European Society for Blood & Marrow Transplantation, invited member of the Chinese American Hematologists and Oncologists and Chairman of the Education Program of the Asia Pacific Hematology Consortium. He founded the Hong Kong Society of Myeloma and is its current Chairman. He has authored >240 publications in leading international journals.
Prof. Meriem Tazir is a neurologist at the university hospital Mustapha in Algiers practicing as head department for 20 years. She leads a team of about fifteen senior neurologists and a dozen young residents. She created a scientific society called the Association for the Development of Neurogenetic Research, which has held an annual scientific congress for 16 years. She has been director of the NeuroSciences Research Laboratory at Algiers university since 2007 and has led several research projects in collaboration with international teams and authored some fifty scientific articles.
Vincenzo Russo, MD PhD MMSc, graduated in Medicine and Surgery from Second University of Naples (SUN) in 2005. His specialist training in Cardiology was undertaken at Monaldi Hospital in Naples, Italy. He achieved the Specialization Degree in Cardiology in 2010 and Master Degree in Clinical Training and Management in Cardiology at the University of Padua in 2011. He earned PhD in Pathophysiology of the Cardio-Respiratory System from Second University of Naples in 2013. Since 2010, he serves as Consultant Cardiologist at Monaldi Hospital (Naples)and as Honorary Fellow in Cardiovascular Diseases at School of Medicine - University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”.
Dr Toma is senior research officer at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) and holds a conjoint lecturer position at University of New South Wales. He obtained his PhD in human genetics at the University of Bologna (Italy) and carried out research projects in the genetics of neurodevelopmental disorders at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics (University of Oxford, UK) and in the genetics of psychiatric and Mendelian diseases at the University of Barcelona (Spain). Dr Toma has extensive experience in association studies, linkage studies, copy number variant (CNV) analyses and whole exome/genome sequencing. He has identified novel candidate genes for autism spectrum disorder and bipolar disorder, and suggested new genetic mechanisms.
Dr. Brandon Pearson is an Assistant Professor in Environmental Health Sciences at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. His research works at the intersection of neuroscience, molecular and cell biology and epigenetics to yield novel risk candidates for neurological diseases and aging. Dr Pearson obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Hawaii in Behavioral Neuroscience, a M.S. from Bucknell University and a B.S. from the University of New Mexico. Dr. Pearson obtained additional research training in ecotoxicology from Los Alamos National Laboratory, in cell biology and gene transcription at UNC-Chapel Hill, and the epigenetics of aging and intergenerational inheritance at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Dr Corrado Romano is a Pediatrician and Medical Geneticist. He’s currently the Head of Department of Laboratories, the Director of Pediatrics and Medical Genetics and of the Laboratory of Medical Genetics at the IRCCS Associazione Oasi Maria Santissima in Troina, Italy. He’s also in charge of the Regional Center of Expertise for Genetic Rare Diseases associated to Intellectual Disability or Brain Aging. His mission is Research and Care for people with Neurodevelopmental Disorders. His current projects involve Trisomy 21, Genetic Rare Diseases, and Genomic Disorders. He’s author of 285 research articles, and his H index is 40 in Google Scholar.
Prof. Chatzaki holds a B.Sc in Biology (University of Athens), and a Ph.D from the University of London. She has worked as a Post-doctoral Scientist in the Dept. Pharmacology, University of Crete, Greece, investigating extra-pituitary actions of neuropeptides and as an investigator at Neurocrine Bioscience Inc, CA, USA, in pre-clinical R&D of small molecule antagonists. She is currently Professor in the Laboratory of Pharmacology of DUTH, leading a team investigating medical applications of epigenetic biomarkers. She has a large publication record with international recognition. Her research has received funding primarily by the EEC and the Greek Government and by industry.
Laurent Metzinger has completed his PhD in Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical studies in Strasbourg, France and was a postdoctoral fellow from the University of Oxford (UK) in a leading lab on Duchenne muscular Dystrophy (Pr. Kay Davies). He works on microARN regulation in INSERM-U1088 in Amiens, which focuses on vascular calcifications related to chronic kidney disease. He has authored some of the first papers showing a role for microRNAs in CKD and published in reputed journals, including Nature and Cell. He teaches Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology in the Pharmacy School of Amiens.
Dr. Palmirotta received his M.D. degree in 1991 and Ph.D. in 2001 at the University of Chieti, Italy. From 2001-2006 he is Contract Professor of "Heredity and cancer" Residency School of Oncology, "Tor Vergata" University, Rome. 2007-Present he is Professor of "Medical Genetic" Technician School, University of Rome La Sapienza. His major scientific interest focused on translational research involving new diagnostic approaches for cancer diagnosis, translational research in Oncology, Biobanking and biobanking applied sciences etc. He is author of 113 papers published in international, more than 10 book chapters and more than 200 abstracts presented at national and international meetings.
Dr. Strazzullo is staff researcher at the Institute of Genetics and Biophysics “A. Buzzati – Traverso”, of the Italian National Research Council. She obtained the postgraduate degree in Medical Genetics at the University of Rome “La Sapienza”. Dr Strazzullo authored over 30 manuscripts. Her main scientific interest is the comprehension of the contribution of the regulative mechanisms of gene expression to human physiology and pathology. Dr Strazzullo collaborates as reviewer with international journals and national funding agency.
Dr. Tao obtained his PhD degree from the University of Hong Kong and did his postdoc training in Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He is currently a full Professor in The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Dr. Tao has nearly 30 years of experience in cancer research, especially on cancer epigenomics (CpG methylome), methylated tumor suppressor genes and epigenetic biomarkers. He has published 145 papers and 3 book chapters. He serves as an academic editor and a regular reviewer for multiple scientific journals, and a reviewer for several research grant agents, notably, the National Natural Science Foundation and Ministry of Science and Technology of China. Dr Tao has been a vice-President of the international Epigenetics Society since 2008.
PFC obtained his Ph.D in molecular biology from "Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes Paris La Sorbonne" in 2004, then embarked on a post-doctoral to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. PFC's lab focuses its researches on the link between epigenetic and the phenotypes of apoptosis resistance and immune escapes in cancer cells. By dissecting molecular mechanisms of epigenetics, PFC' lab aims to develop innovative biomarkers and epidrugs in order to use it in personalized medicine against cancer.
Dr. Chan obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry from the university of Glasgow, UK. Currently Dr. Chan is the Senior Director of Biology at Foghorn Therapeutics. He has nearly 20 years of experience in research, discovery and development of medicines to treat cancers. Previously, Dr. Chan has lead oncology drug discovery programs at Novartis and Schering Plough. He has published more than 30 scientific publications and patents in cancer research, epigenetics and drug discovery.
Dr. Alfred Cheng obtained his PhD degree in Medical Sciences at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK). During his postdoctoral training at Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, he developed an integrative genome-wide and bioinformatics approach to interrogate gene regulatory network in cancer. Currently Dr. Cheng is an Associate Professor at the School of Biomedical Sciences, CUHK. His main scientific interests are transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms in cancer cells and tumor microenvironment. He has published more than 80 scientific publications including
Dr William Cho is a Biomedical Scientist in Queen Elizabeth Hospital. His main research interests have been focusing on cancer studies utilizing high-throughput technologies to discover biomarkers for cancer diagnosis, treatment prediction and prognostication. He is a Guest Professor of a number of Universities. Dr Cho has published over 250 peer-reviewed papers (
Dr. Costa graduated in Biological Sciences, and holds a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Pisa, Italy.
Subsequently, Dr. Costa worked at New York University, Medical centre (U.S.A.) and at the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Trieste, Italy. At present Dr. Costa is working in the Institute of Neuroscience CNR Pisa, Italy and is associate scientist at Scuola Normale Superiore (Pisa).
Ivana de la Serna attended Cornell University and graduated with a B.S. in 1984. After working for several years she attended graduate school at the University of California, Davis. Dr. de la Serna performed her doctoral studies on the transcriptional regulation of ribosomal gene expression in Neurospora crassa under the guidance of Dr. Brett M. Tyler and obtained a Ph.D. in 1998. From there she went on to the University of Massachusetts College of Medicine for postdoctoral training where she worked with Dr. Anthony Imbalzano. It was at the University of Massachusetts that she began her studies on the SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex in muscle differentiation. In 2005, Dr. de la Serna joined the faculty of the Department of Biochemistry and Cancer Biology at the University of Toledo, College of Medicine (formerly the Medical College of Ohio). There she focuses her research on chromatin remodeling in melanocyte differentiation and the deregulation of gene expression in melanoma.
Dr. Deng obtained a Sc.M. Degree in Oncology from Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China. Currently, he is a Professor and Vice Director at Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/ Beijing), Peking University. Dr. Deng is also selected president of the Cancer Causes and Carcinogenesis Committee, Chinese Anticancer Association. He has published more than 120 scientific papers and is a named inventor of 7 issued patents.
Dr. Fukushige received his PhD degree in Molecular Biology from Osaka University (Japan). Dr. Fukushige is currently an Associate Professor of Department of Molecular Pathology and of Center for Regulatory Epigenome and Diseases at Tohoku University School of Medicine (Japan). Dr. Fukushige’s research interests are epigenetic regulation of cancer-related genes and identification of new epigenetic biomarkers of cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
Dr. Hervouet obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Molecular Biology in the University of Lyon, France where he studied the links between OXPHOS and tumorigenesis . Then, he had a post-doctoral position in the INSERM French institute in the University of Nantes where he studied the links between apoptosis-cancer and epigenetics regulation. Currently Dr. Hervouet is an assistant professor in the University of Besançon, France, to continue his work on epigenetics and cancer and characterizing the links with autophagy.
Dr. Hoque is an Associate Professor of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Urology and Oncology at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. His major research interests includes: a)To understand molecular biologic basis of head and neck, lung and genitourinary cancer b)To develop and validate genetic and epigenetic approach for early cancer diagnosis, cancer risk assessment and cancer prognosis and c)To identify molecular alterations due to environmental exposures. He has published over 100 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editor and/or editorial board member of several bio-medical journals. He has been also serving in NIH and several grant review study sections.
Dr. Suming Huang received his PhD degree in Molecular Virology from Mississippi State University in 1996. Dr. Huang is currently an Associate Professor of Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at University of Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Huang’s research is focused on delineating the epigenetic pathways that regulate the cellular proliferation and differentiation and further determining how these networks are perturbed in cancer and leukemia. He has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles.
Dr. Qi Ma obtained a doctorate (Ph.D.) in Bioinformatics from the University of California, San Diego. He got his Master (M.S) in Biology from Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago. Currently, he is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in department of Medicine, from University of California, San Diego. He published his scientific discoveries in multiple publications as Nature, Cell, Molecular Cell and so on. His primary research interests are Bioinformatics and Epigenetics in study of gene transcription regulations. His major research focus on studying the biological model of gene transcription by comprehensive analyzing and integrating of multiple diversified functional genomic data and tools, especially by the High-throughput sequencing data.
Dr. Della Ragione obtained a PhD in Advanced Biology in 2005 from the University “Federico II”, Naples, Italy, and a Specialisation in Medical Genetics cum laude in 2009 from University of Ferrara, Italy. From 2015 she’s principal investigator at CNR, Naples. Her current scientific interests include the study of epigenetic changes in Rett syndromes focusing on the role of MECP2 in chromatin organization by using cellular and animal models. Currently, she’s also interested to the study of lipids deregulation in Rett syndrome and its molecular bases.
Claudia A Rainho received her Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) and MSc in Human Cytogenetics at the Londrina State University (UEL) and completed her PhD at the Institute of Biosciences of Botucatu, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil, on transcriptional control of the imprinted genes in human cancer. In 2002, she was appointed to an Early Careers Fellowship and then as an Assistant Professor of Human Molecular Genetics at Department of Genetics, Institute of Biosciences, UNESP. Her research career has focused primarily on the relationship between epigenetic alterations and human diseases.
Dr. Huidong Shi is a professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University at Augusta, Georgia. He is a member of the Molecular Oncology Program at Georgia Cancer Center. Dr. Shi obtained his PhD in 1999 from Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan and completed his post-doctoral training at University of Missouri-Columbia in 2003. Dr. Shi’s laboratory is currently utilizing next-generation sequencing platforms for genome-wide DNA methylation analysis in various cell types and tumor models. He is interested in understanding how DNA methylation and other epigenetic marks become disrupted and lead to common human diseases such as cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and immunological disorders.
Dr. Steven S. Smith, B.S., Ph.D. is a Professor of Molecular Science at the Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope in Duarte California.
Dr. Smith has made numerous contributions to the study of DNA methylation in human cells. His research led him to propose that the phenomenon of DNA methylation and its epigenetic effects are tightly linked to the requirements imposed on biology by DNA conformation space. Current research in that area continues to shed light on the interplay between DNA conformation, DNA methylation and cancer.
Dr. Vega-Palas obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a doctorate (Ph.D.) from the University of Seville, obtaining the extraordinary graduation and Ph.D. awards. He is currently a Scientific Researcher in the Institute of Vegetal Biochemistry and Photosynthesis (IBVF), CSIC, Spain.
Dr. Vega-Palas has worked with three different model systems (cyanobacteria, yeast and Arabidopsis thaliana) studying the regulation of gene expression and the structure and function of telomeres. He has demonstrated the existence of euchromatic telomeres and has proposed that subtelomeric heterochromatin controls telomere function.