Emerging Infectious Diseases

Dr. Nassiri is a former Associate Dean of Global Health at the Michigan State University (MSU). He also served as MSU director of Institute of International Health. He is currently Professor of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Professor of Family and Community Medicine, and, lecturer in Global Health, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine. He currently works on international public health issues relating to chronic diseases and has expertise in global health. He has made contributions in various fields of medical sciences including clinical investigation and health education. On the basis of his extensive experience and expertise in chronic infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS, TB as well as antimicrobial resistance and human gut microbiome, he developed clinical research programs in Brazil, South Africa, Haiti, Dominican Republic and Mexico. He had served as editorial board member for the journal of HIV and AIDS Review. He is currently on editorial board member for AIDS Patient Care and STDs. Prof. Nassiri has delivered seminar presentations on Tropical Medicine, HIV/AIDS, TB, Global Health and public health interventions in numerous national and international conferences and workshops. He is internationally recognized for his work in the areas of building effective international partnerships particularly in global health, community health, clinical care capacity building, and technical assistance mechanism. He is the founder of Michigan State University Osteopathic and Primary Health Clinic in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. He has developed academic and research partnership programs with Federal University of Para Institute of Tropical Medicine in Belem, Brazil.

His research interests are Clinical Pharmacology of HIV/AIDS & TB, human gut microbiome, antibiotic resistance, prevention and control of infectious diseases, neglected tropical diseases, community health, global health, socio-ethical determinants of health, and community-based public health interventions. In collaboration with his Brazilian colleagues, he conducts research in the eastern Brazilian Amazon population on incidence and prevalence of HIV, TB, Hepatitis C, HPV, and antimicrobial resistance.

Dr. Qingzhong Kong graduated with B.S. and M.S degrees in Biochemistry at Nanjing University, China, in 1987 and 1990, respectively. In 1996, he completed a Ph.D. in Molecular Virology at the University of Massachusetts. From 1996 to 2000, he was a Research Associate in Molecular Immunology at Yale University, after which he joined the Department of Pathology at Case Western Reserve University as an assistant professor. Dr. Kong is currently a tenured Associate Professor of Pathology at Case Western Reserve University, where he also holds secondary appointments at the Department of Neurology and the National Center for Regenerative Medicine.

His laboratory focuses on prion diseases, functions of cellular prion protein, and muscle stem cells, including four main research areas: (1) etiology of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD) in humans; (2) public health risks of animal prions (Chronic Wasting Disease of elk and deer, atypical Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy of cattle, and Transmissible Mink Encephalopathy) and animal modeling of various human prion diseases (especially CJD); (3) the roles of the normal cellular prion protein in the biology and pathology of skeletal muscles and brain; and (4) muscle stem cells. His lab has created dozens of transgenic mouse lines for the above research areas, some of which are inducible by doxycycline or conditional when used with Cre recombinase expressing mice.

Yiping Li, Ph.D., Professor of Molecular Virology, Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), Guangzhou, China. Dr. Yiping Li received Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from China Agricultural University, Beijing, China. From 2003 to 2004 and 2006 to 2007, Dr. Li worked as a visiting scholar, project researcher, and postdoctoral researcher in the National Veterinary Institute, Technical University of Denmark (previous Royal Danish Veterinary Institute). In 2005, Dr. Li pursued hepatitis C virus (HCV) research in the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), University of Saskatchewan, Canada. To continue HCV research, in February 2008 Dr. Li joined the Copenhagen Hepatitis C Program (CO-HEP), Hvidovre Hospital and Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. After trainings as a postdoc and senior investigator, Dr. Li took a professor position in Zhongshan School of Medicine, SYSU in January 2014

Dr. Yiping Li’s research interests are in the infection and immunity of HCV. To HCV research, Dr. Li has made important contributions, which have included the discoveries on the host RNA insertion-mediated viral resistance to antiviral effect of miR-122 antagonism, the development of novel full-length infectious culture systems for HCV genotypes 1a, 2a and 2b, as well as chimeric culture systems for HCV genotypes 3a, 4a, 5a, and 6a. Dr. Li’s works have led to publications on well-known journals, such as PNAS, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, PLoS Pathogens, Virology. In addition, Dr. Li also worked on animal viruses and Campylobacter. Dr. Li’s research activities have produced 25 publications, 3 U.S. patent applications and 21 conference abstracts; these have included 12 first author publications (served also as corresponding author in 3 publications) and 5 oral presentations out of 13 first author abstracts in outstanding conferences.

Dr Tarro has been engaged in medical research for over 30 years. He was born on July 9 1938 in Messina, Sicily, where he attended High School, and in 1956 began his medical studies at Messina University and then in 1960 continued at Naples University from which he received his M.D. "summa cum laude» in 1962 and the professorship for Oncological Virology in 1972. His research work began in 1960 in the virology laboratory of the department of Medical Pathology at the University of Naples and continued during the entire period of his medical studies. In I963 and 1964 he was at the Polyclinic of the University in Naples receiving training in pathology, neurology and internal medicine. In 1965 he went to the Children's Hospital Research Foundation at the University of Cincinnati, where he worked with Dr Albert B. Sabin as a Research associate for three years and, subsequently, in 1968 and 1969 he was assistant Professor of Research Pediatrics at the same University. From there Dr Tarro went back to Naples and established a virology laboratory at the Hospital for Infectious Diseases with the help of a Research Contract from the National Cancer lnstitute (U.S.A.). In 1973 Dr Tarro worked as Senior Scientist at the Frederick Cancer Research Center with Dr Albert Sabin, who was then a special consultant for the National Cancer lnstitute. His most notable work provided experimental evidence for the association of herpesviruses with cancer of the cervix. Although at first controversial, this work has been carried out by several laboratories using different techniques. Dr Tarro's researches in Virology have been both basic and mission oriented. His basic researches have been concerned with antigens induced early during the replication cycle of herpes simplex virus (HSV). Specific antibodies were detected by the enzyme-Linked immunosorbent assay in the serum of patients affected with certain carcinomas of the head, neck and urogenital tract. His mission-oriented research has dealt with many aspects of various infectious diseases including broncho-pneumonia, encephalitis, cholera, and the diseases caused by different viruses. During 1979 he was engaged in research on an epidemic disease in Naples called the "dark disease". Dr Tarro isolated the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and found antibody evidence that this virus was behind the epidemic. The World Heath Organization expert were called in and agreed most cases of disease were caused by RSV. In 1981 he suggested the proper use of interferon to cure the cytomegalovirus infection affecting the pope John Paul the second who underwent long surgical operation and received huge blood transfusion after the killing attempt. Dr Tarro is currently engaged in scientific research related to the separation and identification of tumour antigens present on cell membranes and their potential value in immuno therapy for cancer. He has shown that specific soluble antigens may be used in various tests for a further understanding of their role in various cancer systems. Another study has involved the identification, isolation and characterization of specific virus-induced tumor antigens, which were the "finger-prints" left behind in tumors induced in man by human herpes viruses. IntramuraI activities have included being director of thesis and research for many candidates; director of medical research fellowships for medical students; participation in research planning for clinical colleagues; teaching virology, oncology and immunology to medicaI and graduate students. He is on the editorial board of various Italian medical journals. Dr Tarro has been elected to membership of many academies and societies. He has also been the recipient of many awards and honors. Dr Tarro is life president of the T. and L. de Beaumont Bonelli Foundation for Cancer Research officially recognized by Italian presidential decree n. 36 of January 3, 1978. The aim of the Foundation is the promotion of scientific research on cancer and was instituted thanks to the generous donation of the late Teresa Berger who Ieft to the foundation a Iarge part of her patrimony, whereas the late husband, the EarI Luigi de Beaumont Bonelli, Left most of his patrimony to the Nobel foundation. Son of Emanuel and Jannello Emanuela, his father was a doctor, an anatomic and clinical pathologist. His sister, Licia, teaches French and is married. Dr Tarro was on his own since the age of twenty, making the Iiving on scholarships, and used his earnings to purchase books. He enjoys soccer, swimming and good food. His favorite hobbies are art history and sightseeing.

Murine Virology, Antiviral Chemotherapy, Effects of inhibitors on viral replication, Studies on the role of herpes viruses in cancer, Tumor immunology, Pathology of AIDS.

María José Figueras is a researcher at the Department of Basic Medical Sciences of the URV, and a state ambassador for the American Society of Microbiology (ASM, American Society for Microbiology). The network of ambassadors of the ASM aims to promote knowledge of microbiology through state representatives throughout the world. Dr. Figueras now has the mission of strengthening the relationship between the ASM and the scientific community in Spain, as well as collaborating globally with the more than 70 ambassadors of the entity. The ASM is one of the oldest and largest scientific societies in the world. The entity currently has more than 40,000 members, almost half of whom reside outside the United States. Among its objectives is the improvement of health, the environment and economic well-being, through the development and communication of microbiological sciences. María José Figueras graduated (1979) and PhD (1986) in Biology from the University of Barcelona and specialized in electronic microscopy at the University of Groningen (Netherlands). He has developed his professional career in the Biology and Microbiology Unit of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the Rovira i Virgili University, where he has been Professor of Microbiology since 2000. In 2012, he received URV recognition for quality of its research with an impact superior to the world average in the area of Microbiology.

Water related and waterborne infections, Taxonomy and epidemiology of the emerging pathogens Aeromonas and Arcobacter and Taxonomy and epidemiology of the Legionella.

He graduated from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM, 1985-1989), Assistant Professor of the Department of Veterinary Surgery at UNAM 1989-l993. He is diploma in Surgery and Orthopedics in small species. He is founding President of the Association of Veteran Doctors Specialists in Small Species of Celaya, External Advisor of IDEXX Laboratories, and world leader in diagnostic equipment since 2003. He is currently Director of cirugiaveterinaria.mx National and Latin American Speaker in the area of diagnosis and Surgery. He is author of video books of continuous training in veterinary surgery.

Prevalence of zoonotic diseases in animals.

Dr. Sanjay K Rai is currently Professor at Centre for Community Medicine, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India. He completed his MBBS from GSVM Medical College, Kanpur and MD (Community Medicine) from the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi. Before joining AIIMS, he has worked at Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, and Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh. Professor Rai has over 100 publications to his credit and is reviewer of several national and international journals. Professor Rai has been Principal Investigator/Co-Investigator for more than 25 research projects. Currently he is involved in research on human influenza disease burden in India and vaccine effectiveness trial studies in collaboration with Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, and University of Alabama, USA. He is member of many technical/expert groups constituted by Government of India, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), International Clinical Epidemiology Network (INCLEN) and Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI). He has contributed in many national health programmes including National AIDS Control Programme, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP), National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP) and National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). Dr Rai is national trainer on HIV / AIDS Counseling (since 1997), Sexually Transmitted Infection (STI) (since 2008), and IMNCI (since 2007). He is also faculty member for “CME programme for PAN-African e-network project of AIIMS”, a project started by the Hon'ble President of India in 2009 and which broadcasts to 35 African countries. Professor Rai is working in the area of HIV / AIDS and providing technical support to National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. NACO has designated him as focal person for providing technical support to HIV Sentinel Surveillance (HSS) of five northern states (Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, and Delhi) of India. Professor Rai is having many awards and honors to his name including “Dr J. E. Park Memorial Oration” of Indian Public Health Association (IPHA) in 2012, and has also been conferred “Fellowship” of IPHA. He is currently (2016-19) Vice President of Indian Public Health Association (IPHA), and FAIIMS Executive Committee member for 2016-2018.

Infectious diseases and Public health.

Dr.R Harihara Prakash is the Principal and Professor at K M Patel Institute of Physiotherapy,Karamsad. He has 18 years of professional experience in clinical as well as academics. He is a Doctorate in Physical Therapy from National University of Medical Sciences, Spain. He was awarded with Rashtriya Vidhya Saraswathi Puraskar Award for his excellent contribution in academics. He was former Dean, Faculty of Physiotherapy, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Punjab. He is in the Editorial Board and peer reviewer for some international journals. He is also in the panel of NAAC. He has obtained various skills by certification in the field of neurology, osteopathy, manual therapy from various countries. He has published and presented research papers in various national and international conferences. He is an eminent speaker and an academician.

Physiotherapy in preventive and promotive health.

Dr. Masoud haghkhah is 56 years old, and was born in Jahrom, Fars province, Iran.He graduated from School of Veterinary Medicine, Shiraz University with a DVM degree in 1987.He worked in the Department of Pathobiology as an instructor for several years.He completed his PhD studies at University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK in 2003. The title of his PhD thesis was “Study of Virulence Factors of Staphylococcus aureus”.He came back to his home country and continued his job in the same department. Now, he is an associate professor at the Department of Pathobiology, and involved in teaching several courses at BSc, MSc, DVM and PhD levels.He has also supervised several theses at postgraduate levels.His research interests are diagnostic aspects and virulence factors of S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and Mycobacteria. Currently he is the dean of the school from 2014.

Diagnostic aspects and virulence factors of S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and Mycobacteria.

Dr. Pankaja Raghav is Post graduate (MD) from Aurangabad University and joined D Y Patil Medical College, Pune (1998-2010), she was appointed as Head of the Community medicine Department at ACS Medical College, Chennai (2010 -2012) and now she is working as Professor & Head of the Department of Community medicine & Family medicine at AIIMS, Jodhpur since 2012. She also did postgraduate diploma in hospital & health management (PGDHHM) in 2006 & FAIMER Fellowship in 2013.She has 17 years of post MD teaching & research experience. She has carried out a number of research studies in the fields of nutrition, communicable diseases, non-communicable chronic diseases, child behavior, adolescents, accidents, substance abuse & medical education. She has published over 30 research articles in national and international journals of repute and has been on editorial board for the journals.Awarded the “Most Popular and the Best Teacher” of Padm. D. Y. Patil Medical University in 2008 and University Gold Medal for PGDHHM , IGNOU ,New Delhi; award was given by Vice President of India. She is the life member of many professional bodies to name a few Founder Member and Vice President of Indian Public Health Association, Rajasthan Chapter Member of ‘Consultation Group’ of experts and stakeholders to understand epidemiology of re-emerging H1N1 and other communicable diseases. She is a Member of National Academy of Sciences (India).

Non-communicable diseases, Nutrition and Medical education.