Dr Quynh Nhu Dinh is a research fellow working in the Centre for Cardiovascular Biology and Disease Research at La Trobe University under the mentorship of Prof Thiruma Arumugam. She completed her PhD in 2017 in the Department of Pharmacology at Monash University, and her thesis examined the roles of inflammation, ageing and sex differences in hypertension. Dr Dinh specialises in using mouse models of hypertension and vascular dementia. Her current research focuses on understanding the pathophysiology of hypertension and vascular dementia, and also evaluates potential therapeutic interventions. She has published in leading journals such as Cardiovascular Research and British Journal of Pharmacology (>1000 citations). Currently, Dr Dinh is a co-program manager for the Annual Scientific Meeting of Hypertension Australia and a co-lead for the Australian National Hypertension Taskforce Working Group: raising and maintaining awareness at all levels.

Amelia is in the final year of her PhD with the Neuropharmacology research group in the Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology at the University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on CNS innate immunity and understanding the cGAS-STING pathway and its role in driving neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in traumatic brain injury (TBI). She has first-authored two publications during her candidature, the most recent of which was published in May in the British Journal of Pharmacology titled ‘Pharmacological inhibition of STING reduces neuroinflammation-mediated damage post-traumatic brain injury.’

Lucas is currently completing his Honours year for a Bachelor of Medical Science with the Ion Channel Drug Discovery Group at the Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney. His research aims to address the current gap in knowledge on the effects of variants on nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) function through creating functional assays that are able to determine the functional profile of variant nAChRs found in Autosomal Dominant Sleep-related Hypermotor Epilepsy (ADSHE) patients. These assays will be able to assign pathogenicity to novel variants. Following the completion of his degree, Lucas aspires to continue to study and work within the medical and health field.

Liu Sha, an Associate Professor and Graduate Supervisor at Chengdu Medical College, obtained a Ph.D. in Medicine from the Pharmacology Department of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine in 2015. Our team is dedicated to the development, optimization, and exploration of new targets and mechanisms of unsaturated fatty acyl amino acids in the central nervous system, obesity, and tumors. As the first and corresponding author, I have published 14 research papers in domestic and international journals, such B.R.B, J.P.S etc. Additionally, our research has received support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China, the Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province, and other projects, with three national invention patents granted or applied for. We also emphasize talent cultivation by forming the “running snail” and guiding undergraduate students to achieve various awards, such as the Silver Award in the International University Student Competition. Our primary research interests include:  Investigating new compounds, specifically unsaturated fatty acyl amino acids, to discover those with significant pharmacological activity and to explore their potential mechanisms.  Utilizing molecular docking and molecular dynamics techniques to calculate the binding modes and binding energies between unsaturated fatty acyl amino acids and their targets, thereby predicting possible action targets.  Conducting research on metabolic diseases such as tumors, obesity, diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease by integrating multi-omics and bioinformatics methods with newly synthesized compounds from this project, aiming to discover new therapeutic targets.

In 2020, Michael obtained his PhD in Biological Sciences from the University of Auckland. He then moved to the University of Otago to help Prof. Debbie Hay to establish a research lab. In 2022 Michael was awarded with a Neurological Foundation of New Zealand First Fellowship to investigate CGRP and its related peptides and receptors in brain regions relevant to migraine. Michael is currently co-Principal Investigator on Marsden Funded project, alongside his mentor Prof Debbie Hay, continuing his work with CGRP in the context of migraine.

Dr. Irwin Kashani is an Advanced Trainee in Clinical Pharmacology at Flinders Hospital, where he plays a pivotal role in both clinical practice and research. Under the mentorship of Professor Arduino Mangoni and Dr TIlenka Thynne, Dr. Kashani actively contributes to the Southern Oncology Clinical Research Unit (SOCRU) and is a co-investigator in multiple oncology clinical trials. His work spans oncology, complex hypertension, endocrinology, and gastroenterology clinics, reflecting his comprehensive expertise in multidisciplinary patient care. Dr. Kashani’s research focus includes evaluating the impact of biologics and small molecule therapies on mental health outcomes in autoimmune conditions. He is currently developing a systematic review and meta-analysis on this topic, employing rigorous methodologies such as the JBI framework. His clinical trials experience also extends to large IBD studies conducted at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, where he completed advanced GCP training. A committed educator, Dr. Kashani regularly presents at journal clubs, teaches junior staff, and participates in quality improvement initiatives. His leadership and adaptability have been honed through roles in high-pressure medical and surgical settings, and he brings a patient-centered approach to his practice. Dr. Kashani is passionate about the intersection of molecular therapies and clinical pharmacology, combining his interest in acute medicine with chronic disease management. With several international publications and oral presentations to his name, he strives to advance evidence-based practice while fostering therapeutic relationships with patients.