Prof. Dr. Petra A. Thürmann, MD, is Director of the Philipp Klee-Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Helios University Clinic Wuppertal, Germany. Since 2021 she is Vice-President of the University of Witten/Herdecke. After studies of Medicine at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University in Frankfurt/Main she received a board certified specialist’s degree in Clinical Pharmacology in 1992 and PhD (Habilitation) in 1997. In 1997 appointment at the HELIOS University Clinic in Wuppertal and 1998 at the University of Witten/Herdecke. Petra Thürmann was member of the Executive Committee of IUPHAR between 2004 and 2018. She is member of the Drug Commission of the German Medical Association, served from to 2011 until 2023 at the Advisory Council on the Assessment of Developments in the Health Care System (German Ministry of Health) and belongs since 2023 to the Expert Advisory Council “Health and Resilience” of the Federal Government of Germany. Her research interest is focused on geriatric pharmacotherapy (e.g. PRISCUS list), drug therapy safety as well as gender medicine.

Dr Anh Nguyen is an ARC DECRA Research Fellow and Head of GPCR EcoPharmacology Lab at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Her research focuses on decoding drug-receptor interactions at G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to drive the discovery of next-generation therapeutics, particularly allosteric and biased ligands, for cardiovascular and neuronal diseases. She leads an innovation-driven program that integrates molecular pharmacology, computational modelling, high-throughput screening, and artificial intelligence to develop a cutting-edge GPCR-targeted drug discovery platform. Dr Nguyen also pioneers research into how environmental pollutants, especially micro- and nanoplastics, disrupt GPCR signalling, contributing to cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. As head of a multidisciplinary team, she drives transformative approaches in pharmacology and invites workshop participants to explore the future of AI in drug development.

Dr Gabriels is a Pharmacology researcher in the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology at the University of the Witwatersrand (South Africa). He holds a PhD in Pharmacology from the University of Cape Town. Dr Gabriels adopts multi- and interdisciplinary scientific research approaches. His research projects have been funded by the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and the South African National Research Foundation (NRF), and he is an NRF-rated scientist. Dr Gabriels’ research interests focus on investigating contamination, adulteration, and label information in nutritional, dietary, traditional, complementary and alternative, and energy supplement, products. Central to this work is the assessment of product quality, safety, and the potential adverse wellness and health impacts associated with consumption. His research spans both declared and undeclared constituents in commercially available products, guided by the overarching theme, ‘From the laboratory to legislation.’ Dr Gabriels currently supervises postgraduate research projects at Honours, Masters, and PhD levels. These projects fall within several broad research areas: 1. Protein Supplement Quality, Adulteration and Toxicity – Many protein supplements contain significantly less protein than advertised and are sometimes adulterated with nitrogen-rich compounds. These adulterants may be harmful and have demonstrated cytotoxic effects on C2C12 mouse skeletal muscle cells, highlighting safety concerns and insufficient regulatory oversight. 2. Cytotoxicity, Mechanisms of Action, and Anticancer Potential (Mushrooms and Medicinal Plants) – This work focuses on Ganoderma lucidum, Trametes versicolor, and South African medicinal plants that show cytotoxic and anticancer activity involving apoptosis, necrosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS), as well as their interactions with chemotherapeutic agents and associated safety profiles. 3. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) Comorbidities and Clinical Management – This research examines hospitalized T2DM patients, who exhibit high comorbidity burdens, particularly hypertension and HIV. Metformin remains the primary treatment, with no clear association observed between glycaemic levels and comorbidity status. The findings underscore the need for early, systematic screening for hypertension, dyslipidaemia, and related conditions. 4. Molecular and Toxicological Mechanisms of Melamine, Cyanuric Acid and Related Compounds – This work explores the interactions of melamine, cyanuric acid, uric acid, and melamine–cyanurate with CaSR and other receptors. Supported by computational and experimental analyses of stability and metabolism, these studies highlight mechanisms of renal toxicity, kidney-stone formation, and broader health implications, while also identifying potential therapeutic targets. 5. Analytical, Physicochemical and Machine-Learning Approaches for Adulteration Detection – This research focuses on comprehensive material characterization, advanced analytical detection, and chemometric and machine-learning classification models to enable accurate identification of adulteration. Supply-chain and regulatory analyses further assist in tracing contamination sources and guiding safety improvements.