Dr Rhys Grinter is a structural biologist and protein engineer at the University of Melbourne and a recipient of the CSL Centenary Fellowship. He leads an AI-enabled protein design research program focused on the development of next-generation protein therapeutics targeting both human receptors and bacterial pathogens. Dr Grinter’s research integrates de novo protein design, structural biology, and biochemical and biophysical characterisation to create high-affinity, mechanism-defined protein modulators. A major focus of his work is the design of novel antimicrobial proteins that disrupt essential bacterial processes, addressing the growing challenge of antimicrobial resistance. His broader research interests include GPCR pharmacology, host–pathogen interactions, and the translation of computational protein design into functional therapeutics.

Ms. Shu-Yen Fang is a PhD candidate in the Graduate Institute of Biomedical Science at Chang Gung University, Taiwan, where she is affiliated with the Division of Natural Products. Her research focuses on drug repurposing and small-molecule discovery for neutrophil-mediated inflammatory diseases, with particular emphasis on acute respiratory distress syndrome. She has developed a specialized receptor-based screening platform and evaluated approximately 400 compounds to identify novel antagonists capable of regulating neutrophil activation. Her work integrates natural product chemistry, immunopharmacology, and receptor-based drug discovery to explore new therapeutic approaches for controlling dysregulated neutrophilic inflammation. Ms. Fang has authored 4 peer-reviewed publications and has presented her findings at international scientific conferences, earning a Best Paper Award in 2024. She remains committed to discovering new anti-inflammatory compounds and advancing research in neutrophil-mediated inflammation.

Suleiman Al-Sabah obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Leeds, U.K., where he investigated the molecular pharmacology of the GLP-1 receptor. Following postdoctoral training at the University of Reading, U.K., where he was involved in developing novel techniques to study the activation of G protein-coupled receptors, he joined the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, Kuwait University, where he progressed through the ranks to become an associate professor in 2018. Suleiman Al-Sabah became the acting chairman of the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology in 2020 and the director of the Research Core Facility in 2022. Suleiman Al-Sabah maintains several local and international collaborations and continues researching the molecular pharmacology of G protein-coupled receptors and their potential as targets for novel therapeutics.