PhD student researching drug repurposing for medulloblastoma brain cancer at Monash University (Department of Pharmacology).

Ms Kamilla Khojayeva is affiliated with the Research Administration at Nazarbayev University.

Mr Takumi Kobayashi is affiliated with Chiba University.

Dr. Desak Gede Budi Krisnamurti, S.Farm., Apt., M.Biomed, is a lecturer and biomedical researcher at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia. She currently serves as Head of the Department of Medical Pharmacy, Coordinator of the Herbal Drug Development Research Cluster, and Deputy Coordinator of the Vaccine Innovation Research Group. She also leads the e-Learning Cluster at IMERI, where she focuses on technology-enhanced learning for medical education. Her research spans herbal drug development, antiviral and anti-inflammatory therapeutics, molecular pharmacology, and preclinical disease models, with numerous publications as first and corresponding author in international journals. She is also actively involved in digital education innovation, MOOC development, and interactive learning content design. Dr. Krisnamurti has presented her work at various national and international conferences and contributes as a researcher, educator, and reviewer in the fields of biomedical science, pharmacology, and medical education innovation.

Prof Chien-hsing Lee is a Professor at Kaohsiung Medical University.

Professor Dave Lewis is a prominent educator in the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Leeds, specializing in pharmacology, scientific ethics, and education for professional and sustainable development. He is recognized for implementing innovative,, authentic assessments and the 3Rs framework (Replacement, Reduction, Refinement) in animal research.

Dr. Jingjing Li obtained his Ph.D. degree in Pharmacology at the University of Hong Kong in May 2020 and received post-doctoral training at the Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, the University of Hong Kong, from October 2020 to December 2021. Currently, he is working as a Research Assistant Professor in the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. In the past 12 years, his research fields have been mainly focused on cancer and cardiovascular pharmacology, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. He has well-established experience and publication record in Pharmacology field (Publications: 80+; H-index:27; Total citations: 2000+), especially for the development of novel anticancer and cardioprotective agents from natural products.

Chloe is a PhD candidate in Medicinal Chemistry at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, supervised by Dr Manuela Jörg and Associate Professor Karen Gregory. Her research focuses on designing chemical tools to better understand adenosine receptors, which play important roles in many human diseases.

Doctor of Pharmacology, with a main research focus on the prevention and treatment of kidney disease using natural products.

Dr. You-Cheng Liao is a Postdoctoral Researcher specializing in Cancer Molecular Biology and the development of innovative therapeutic strategies at Taipei Medical University. His past key research focuses on investigating the oncogenic role of the a9-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor (a9-nAChR) in Breast Cancer progression and developing RNA nanotechnology-based targeted delivery systems for aggressive cancers like Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. His current research elucidates how aberrant sialylation and PLOD2 glycosylation drive immune evasion, and he develops metabolic and glycosylation-targeted strategies to enhance NK and γδ T cell–based immunotherapy. His recent studies identify NGI-1 as a promising adjunct for overcoming glycan-mediated resistance in GBM. An Early Career scientist with expertise in molecular, cellular, and animal models, Dr. Liao has authored and co-authored multiple SCI publications and was awarded 1st place in the Oral Presentation Competition at the 38th Joint Annual Conference of Biomedical Science Taiwan.

Dr Chih-Yang Lin is affiliated with Shin-Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital.

Assistant Professor Syuan-Ling Lin is affiliated with the Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences at China Medical University.

Assistant Professor Shan-chi Liu is an Assistant Professor at Mackay Medical University.

Yiman Liu, an assistant research fellow at the State Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicine Modernization of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Youth Editorial Board Member of Central South Pharmacy and the Committee Member of the Respiratory Pharmacology Professional Committee of the Chinese Pharmacological Society；awarded by the National Funded Postdoctoral Researchers Program in 2025, deeply participated 2 National Science and Technology Major Projects and 3 provincial/ministry projects; published 11 SCI-indexed papers including 6 as first or co-first author, and has contributed as an editorial board member to the monograph Cell Autophagy and Aging.

Miss Ngoc Bao Khanh Luc earned her Pharmacist degree from one of the top medical training institutions in Vietnam. During the university studies, she developed in-depth knowledge in the fields of antioxidant, hepatoprotective, and toxicity-related pharmacology of herbal medicines. Her excellence and dedication led her to receive the First Prize at the SCPharmres Conference 2023 and an award at the 2023 National Euréka Award in Vietnam. She is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at the Graduate Institute of Natural Products, School of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taiwan (R.O.C.), focusing on the pharmacological evaluation of medicinal plants on neutrophilic inflammation. Her education and research training have established a strong foundation in experimental pharmacology, and she remains committed to advancing her expertise in natural product research targeting neutrophil-mediated inflammation.

Associate Professor Ju-fang Liu is an Associate Professor at Taipei Medical University.

Meihan Liu is a Ph.D. student in Biomedical Sciences at the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau. She obtained a B.Sc. in Pharmacy from Shandong University and an M.Sc. in Chinese Medicinal Science from the University of Macau. Her research focuses on chronic inflammation in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus. During her Ph.D. study, she studies immune regulation and metabolism.

Professor Ailin Liu is a Ph.D. supervisor at the Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College. She has been engaged in computational pharmacology and the discovery for new drugs against viral infection and Alzheimer’s disease for more than 10 years. She has led and participated in numerous national and provincial/ministerial-level scientific research projects. Based on these projects, she has published over 160 research papers, published more than 20 professional books as an editor-in chief or an editorial board member.

Dr. Pei-Feng Liu is a professor and chairman in the Department of Biomedical Science and Environmental Biology at Kaohsiung Medical University, where she leads a research program focused on tumor biology, bacterial pathogenesis, molecular medicine, biomarker discovery, and therapeutic targets. She obtained her Ph.D. from the Department of Life Science at National Tsing Hua University and received extensive postdoctoral and visiting-scientist training in medical research institutes in San Diego, USA. Her research emphasizes the identification and validation of molecular biomarkers in cancer and infectious diseases to improve understanding of disease mechanisms and to advance diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapies. She has published 89 papers with H index 27 and i10 index 57 in highly impacted international journals (https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=l9Vp7A4AAAAJ&hl=zh-TW).

Prof Yi-Ching Lo is a Professor at Kaohsiung Medical University.

Thomas completed his Integrated Master of Pharmacology at the University of Bristol in 2024. Thomas’ master’s thesis, supervised by Prof. Eamonn Kelly, focused on quantifying the intrinsic efficacy of select benzimidazole ‘nitazene’ opioids using TRUPATH assays of G protein dissociation. In 2025, Thomas began his PhD at Monash University through the Drug Discovery Biology programme under joint supervision of A/Prof. Nicholas Veldhuis and A/Prof. Daniel Poole from the Integrated Neurogenic Mechanisms lab and A/Prof. Lauren May from the GPCR Cardiac Biology lab. His PhD research focuses on conducting AI-powered virtual ligand screens and molecular pharmacology assays to identify and characterise novel non-opioid analgesics. Aside from his research, Thomas is a teaching associate for undergraduate pharmaceutical science units at Monash University as well as the My Green Lab representative for the INM lab.

Miss Irina Lotsaris is an emerging pharmacologist completing her PhD at the University of Sydney. Miss Lotsaris’ research focusses on using in vitro techniques to characterise and develop drugs for membrane proteins, with an emphasis on drug discovery and characterisation of the solute carrier 6 transporter family. This project ties in her bachelor’s degree, where she majored in medicinal chemistry and neuroscience at the University of Sydney, with a first-class honours in pharmacology. She has attended major international-level conferences including the 2025 Biomolecular Horizons conference and the 2026 Gordon Research Conference for membrane transporter proteins and has won numerous awards for different projects encompassed in her PhD. Miss Lotsaris is often commended on her enthusiastic and captivating presentations, inspiring great discussions in drug design and development, and promising insights into the use of combined in silico and in vitro approaches in the pharmacology field.

Chitaranjan Mahapatra is a PhD student in System Pharmacology at IIT Bombay, Mumbai, India with a background in biomedical and electrical engineering. His research combines electrophysiology and computational modeling to investigate ion channel dynamics and pharmacological mechanisms in cancer and neurological disorders, with multiple publications and awards recognizing his contributions.

Masato Inazu is a professor at the Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo Medical University. His research focuses on the biological roles of choline and choline transporters in human health and disease, with particular emphasis on cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Prof. Inazu’s work explores innovative therapeutic strategies targeting the non-neuronal cholinergic system, aiming to translate fundamental discoveries into clinical applications.

Prof. Bikash Medhi is Professor of Pharmacology at Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, and Chair of the Basic and Translational Section of International Union of Basic and Clinical Pharmacology. His work advances clinical pharmacology, neuropsychopharmacology, and translational drug research with a strong bench-to-bedside focus. His research spans epilepsy, neurodegenerative disorders, stroke, psychiatric illnesses, and pharmacogenomics, emphasizing rational therapeutics and novel target identification. Prof. Medhi integrates in silico modeling, in vitro assays, in vivo pharmacology, and clinical studies to address unmet medical needs and optimize therapy. A prolific author, he has published extensively and mentored PhD, MD, DM, and MPharm scholars, many now leaders in academia, clinical practice, and regulation. He has received multiple honors and serves on national advisory committees, ethics boards, and scientific forums, shaping pharmacology education and policy in India.

Dr Grace Mennen is a researcher and academic affiliated with Monash University.

I am a second year Ph.D. student at Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences

Ms Mayuka Morita is an academic and researcher affiliated with Chiba University.

Retno Murwanti, D.V.M., M.Sc., Ph.D., is a distinguished academic and researcher at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Indonesia, specializing in toxicology, pharmacology, and preclinical safety evaluation of drugs and bioactive compounds. She earned her Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Japan (2008–2011), focusing on preventing experimental colorectal carcinogenesis using MUC1 vaccine-based strategies. Her doctoral training was supported by the Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship from the Japanese Ministry of Education. Retno is actively involved in the international scientific community through memberships in organizations such as AACR, EACR, JCA, FIP, IUPHAR, Ikatan Ahli Farmakologi Indonesia, and the Indonesian Society for Cancer Chemoprevention. Her research centers on in vivo toxicological and preclinical studies, including acute and subchronic toxicity, safety profiling of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical products, and evaluation of immunological, physiological, and molecular responses. She also mentors students, promotes ethical animal research, and advances scientific collaboration and public health through her work at UGM.

Dr. Urmila M. Aswar is Professor and Head of the Department of Pharmacology at Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune. With over 20 years of teaching and research experience, she has devoted her career to advancing pharmacological sciences, specializing in neuropharmacology, metabolic disorders, and herbal medicine. She holds an M.Pharm. and a Ph.D. in Pharmacology, with expertise in preclinical studies and drug evaluation, and has led numerous funded projects with multiple publications to her credit. Throughout her academic journey, Dr. Aswar has mentored numerous postgraduate and doctoral students, fostering research excellence and scientific inquiry. She has received multiple prestigious awards, including the Women Achiever Award from the Rotary Club of Pune in 2023, and has secured research grants from both national and international organisations. Her research focuses on integrating traditional medicinal knowledge with modern pharmacological approaches to discover novel treatments for neurological and metabolic disorders. Dr. Aswar actively contributes to the scientific community as a resource person, committee member, and reviewer for various journals and forums. Committed to education and innovation, she strives to bridge the gap between traditional medicine and contemporary drug discovery, mentoring the next generation of researchers and advancing healthcare through rigorous scientific exploration.

Dr. Nurulhuda Mustafa is Deputy Director of the MSc in Medical Pharmacology programme and Lecturer in the Department of Pharmacology at the National University of Singapore. Her research focuses on the discovery and development of targeted therapeutics for blood cancers, including antibody-based therapies and proteolysis-targeting chimeras (PROTACs), with a particular interest in overcoming therapeutic resistance and translating mechanistic insights into novel treatment strategies. She develops pharmacology curricula and industry-integrated learning experiences spanning undergraduate and postgraduate education, connecting drug discovery, clinical pharmacology, regulatory science, and emerging technologies. Her educational scholarship explores the application of artificial intelligence, sustainability, and authentic learning in pharmacology education. Her current work lies at the interface of translational therapeutics and pharmacology education, with a focus on strengthening connections between scientific discovery, professional practice, and healthcare innovation.

Assistant Professor Masatoshi Nakatsuji is an academic at Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University.

Keith Ncube is a Lecturer in Pharmacology at the University of Pretoria and a PhD candidate working in experimental and translational pharmacology. His doctoral research focuses on the use of three-dimensional tumor spheroid models for drug testing in triple-negative breast cancer, with particular emphasis on the mechanisms of chemoresistance. His work aims to improve the physiological relevance of preclinical pharmacological screening through the optimization of spheroid-based assays and the use of both two-dimensional and three-dimensional model systems. He has contributed to peer-reviewed publications on tumor spheroid characterization, drug responses in triple-negative breast cancer models, and pharmacological topics related to chronic disease management. In addition to his research activities, he is involved in undergraduate teaching and academic mentorship, focusing on innovative teaching approaches for evolving student cohorts and science communication aimed at broader academic and public audiences. His broader research interests include spheroid assay development and pharmacological strategies to address drug resistance in cancer treatment.

Deborah completed her Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours) at Monash University in 2023. Deborah undertook her honours year in the Analytical & Structural Neuropharmacology lab, where she investigated allosteric modulation at the delta opioid receptor (DOR). She then commenced her PhD through the Drug Discovery Biology Doctoral Program at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences. Supervised by Dr Arisbel Batista Gondin, Dr Jesse Mobbs, A/Prof Celine Valant and A/Prof David Thal, Deborah’s PhD project investigates novel approaches to target the opioid receptors, integrating both pharmacological and structural approaches in her work.

Dr Nikita Nirwan is a researcher affiliated with Dabur Research Foundation.

Yoorim Noh is a master’s student at Inha University. Her research focuses on the mechanisms of resistance to mirvetuximab soravtansine in ovarian cancer, particularly the regulation of FOLR1 expression. Her broader research interests include cancer metastasis, recurrence, and resistance to anticancer therapies.

Reiko Ishii-Nozawa, Ph.D. received her Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Sciences from Meiji Pharmaceutical University in 1987 and joined Fujinaga Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. in 1988. In 1989, she was appointed as a Research Assistant in the First Department of Pharmacology at Meiji Pharmaceutical University. She earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences in 1998, with a doctoral dissertation entitled “Characterization of the Facilitatory Modulation of Adrenergic Neurotransmission via Prejunctional Purinoceptors in Rabbit Ear Artery.” Her research interests include basic and clinical studies on autonomic nervous system regulation, cancer-related symptom management, and the mechanisms underlying adverse effects induced by cancer therapies. She also conducts research on lifestyle-related diseases and their complications, with an emphasis on the development of novel therapeutic agents. She is currently a Professor of Clinical Neuropharmacology.

Modupe Olufunmilayo Ogunrombi is a C2-rated researcher at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree obtained at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, Master’s and Ph.D degrees in Pharmaceutical Chemistry obtained at North - West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa. She is a multi-disciplinary scholar with a research focus on the discovery and development of novel drugs for the management of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Her work primarily focuses on Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry/Sciences, Neurochemistry, and Phytomedicine. She has extensive experience in the review of proposals, manuscripts and examination of theses and dissertations, as well as supervision of postgraduate students. She has excellent skills in scholarly writing, and she is involved in a network of research collaborations, locally and internationally. Dr Ogunrombi has published widely in peer-reviewed journals as well as presented her findings at different scientific platforms globally. Her membership of professional organization such as Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World, International Society for Neurochemistry, International Brain Research Organization, South African Society for Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria has further honed her research skills, expertise and networks. She teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, ensuring quality transfer of knowledge.

Modupe Olufunmilayo Ogunrombi is a C2-rated researcher at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University. She holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy degree obtained at Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, Master’s and Ph.D degrees in Pharmaceutical Chemistry obtained at North - West University, Potchefstroom Campus, South Africa. She is a multi-disciplinary scholar with a research focus on the discovery and development of novel drugs for the management of both communicable and non-communicable diseases. Her work primarily focuses on Medicinal Chemistry, Pharmaceutical Chemistry/Sciences, Neurochemistry, and Phytomedicine. She has extensive experience in the review of proposals, manuscripts and examination of theses and dissertations, as well as supervision of postgraduate students. She has excellent skills in scholarly writing, and she is involved in a network of research collaborations, locally and internationally. Dr Ogunrombi has published widely in peer-reviewed journals as well as presented her findings at different scientific platforms globally. Her membership of professional organization such as Organization for Women in Science for the Developing World, International Society for Neurochemistry, International Brain Research Organization, South African Society for Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria has further honed her research skills, expertise and networks. She teaches at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, ensuring quality transfer of knowledge.

Yasuo Okamoto, PhD, is a Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Kawasaki Medical School, Japan. His research focuses on GPCR signaling, cellular metabolism, and stress responses, with particular interest in orphan GPCRs and their roles in fibrosis and disease-associated cellular plasticity. He is currently developing pharmacological assay systems and translational approaches targeting GPCR-mediated metabolic regulation.

Professor Olufunke Esan Olorundare is a highly regarded academic and researcher at the University of Ilorin, Nigeria. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Pharmacy from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, and furthered her education in the United States, obtaining both her Master’s and Doctorate degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In addition to her academic qualifications, she earned certifications in Biotechnology and Stem Cell Technologies from Madison College, Wisconsin, USA. She had a fellowship research training in stem cell technologies in the laboratory of Professor Timothy Kamp, at the Stem Cell & Regenerative Medicine Center, Wisconsin Institutes for Medical Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA . Her professional career is distinguished by a deep specialization in pharmacology. Olufunke Olorundare is passionate about the intersection of pharmacology and systems medicine, a field that explores the role of pharmacology in understanding complex biological systems and addressing multifaceted health challenges. Through this approach, she has contributed significantly to medical research, focusing on the connections between drug action, molecular biology, and human health. Her research has implications for improving healthcare delivery, particularly in identifying effective therapies for complex diseases by understanding the human body as an integrated system. In June 2024, Professor Olorundare delivered the 260th Inaugural Lecture at the University of Ilorin. Her lecture, titled "In Sickness and Good Health: Pharmacology as Systems Medicine Research Primer," underscored the essential role of pharmacology in advancing modern medical research. This lecture highlighted her commitment to exploring new frontiers in medicine, especially in understanding the molecular underpinnings of disease and health. Her insights provided a fresh perspective on how pharmacological research can be better utilized in clinical practice to optimize patient outcomes. As a leading figure in the academic community, Professor Olorundare’s work has made a substantial impact on both her students and peers. She continues to inspire new generations of scholars and medical professionals through her teaching, mentorship, and cutting-edge research. Her contributions not only advance academic knowledge but also have practical applications in improving healthcare, making her an influential figure in Nigerian academia and beyond.

Dr. Amber is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Aga Khan University. She holds a PhD in Health Sciences with a specialization in immunopharmacology. Her research lies at the intersection of natural product pharmacology, risk stratification, and health sciences, with a strong focus on the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular disease (CVD), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Her work centers on developing predictive models for early disease risk assessment while investigating the therapeutic potential of natural compounds in modulating inflammation and metabolic health. By integrating epidemiology, precision medicine, and pharmacoepidemiology, she aims to refine risk assessment tools and translate research findings into effective, evidence-based prevention strategies. In addition to her research, Dr. Amber has actively contributed to curriculum modification and integration within the medical and biomedical sciences programs, aligning basic sciences with clinical application and contemporary health priorities. She is a recipient of awards for innovative teaching and early-career excellence, reflecting her commitment to educational advancement and learner-centered pedagogy.

My scientific interests focus on immunology and the pathogenesis of ovarian cancer. The novelty of my research lies in a comprehensive analysis of the relationship between ovarian cancer development, progression, and treatment, and the host immune system. My work aims to elucidate the role of immune cells in ovarian cancer pathogenesis, including monocytes, macrophages, dendritic cell subpopulations, and T cells, NK cells, as well as selected cytokines and microRNAs. Through integrative and translational approaches, I seek to better understand tumor-immune interactions and identify potential immunological targets that may improve therapeutic strategies and patient outcomes.

Dr. Manash Pratim Pathak is an Associate Professor and Associate Dean (Research) in the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Science at Assam down town University, Guwahati, Assam. He completed his PhD in 2021 on the pharmacological investigation of obesity-associated airway hyperresponsiveness using a murine model at Defence Research Laboratory (DRDO), Tezpur, in collaboration with Dibrugarh University. His research focuses on obesity and associated comorbidities, particularly using natural oils and bioactive phytoconstituents, and includes expertise in regulatory toxicity studies aligned with OECD and ICH guidelines. Dr. Pathak has authored and co-authored over 60 publications in reputed international journals, with a cumulative impact factor exceeding 150, an h-index of 17, and over 1,000 citations. He has supervised one PhD scholar to completion and currently guides four others. He has secured more than Rs. 70 lakh in research funding and serves as Principal Investigator on multiple projects, including ICMR-funded research on obesity-associated MASLD.

Ms Vaishali Prajapati is an academic and researcher affiliated with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences New Delhi.

Dr. Wanangkan Poolsri is currently a Lecturer at the Faculty of Science, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Thailand. She received her Ph.D. in Translational Medicine from the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Thailand in 2023, and her M.Sc. in Physiology from Naresuan University, Thailand. With a strong background in translational medicine, her research focuses on bridging basic research with clinical applications, specifically exploring anti-fibrotic agents from natural product-based compounds for the treatment of renal fibrosis and diabetic nephropathy. She has extensive expertise in both in vitro and in vivo methodologies, including cell culture and animal models.

Emily Mannix is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Medicine Use and Safety at Monash University, undertaking her research within the Pharmacometrics Group led by Professor Carl Kirkpatrick. Her research investigates the application of Virtual Twins in Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetics (PBPK), an emerging method in modelling and simulation. Emily’s work sits at the intersection of quantitative modelling and clinical practice, focusing on the personalisation of pharmacotherapy to enhance medication safety, optimise therapeutic outcomes, and advance precision medicine in real-world settings. Emily holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy (Honours) / Master of Pharmacy from Monash University and currently practices as a clinical pharmacist in a metropolitan hospital.

Dr Lehlohonolo Mathibe is a researcher and academic affiliated with the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Dr Lehlohonolo Mathibe is a researcher and academic affiliated with the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

Dr. Salisu Muhammad Highab is a Nigerian pharmacologist and toxicologist with strong expertise in experimental pharmacology, neurotoxicology, and metal toxicant research. He obtained his B.Sc. in Biochemistry from Bayero University, Kano, and completed both his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria. He is currently a Lecturer and Researcher in the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Federal University Dutse (FUD), Jigawa State, Nigeria. He previously served in the Department of Chemistry, Federal College of Education, Zaria, where he made notable contributions to teaching, mentorship, and academic development. Dr. Highab’s research focuses on pharmacology and toxicology, with particular emphasis on heavy metal toxicity (especially lead exposure), neurotoxicity, oxidative stress mechanisms, and therapeutic/antidotal interventions. His work extensively utilizes Drosophila melanogaster, Wistar rats, and mice as translational in vivo models to investigate toxicological mechanisms and evaluate potential pharmacological countermeasures. He has published widely in reputable national and international journals and is an active member of several professional bodies including PSN, TRCN, WASP, and ASDR, and is a Founding Member and Protem Academic Secretary of the Zaria Drosophila Club. Dr. Highab is deeply committed to advancing translational toxicology, capacity building, and scientific leadership, and is honored to participate as a Delegate at WCP-2026.

Dr. Salisu Muhammad Highab is a Nigerian pharmacologist and toxicologist with strong expertise in experimental pharmacology, neurotoxicology, and metal toxicant research. He obtained his B.Sc. in Biochemistry from Bayero University, Kano, and completed both his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria. He is currently a Lecturer and Researcher in the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Federal University Dutse (FUD), Jigawa State, Nigeria. He previously served in the Department of Chemistry, Federal College of Education, Zaria, where he made notable contributions to teaching, mentorship, and academic development. Dr. Highab’s research focuses on pharmacology and toxicology, with particular emphasis on heavy metal toxicity (especially lead exposure), neurotoxicity, oxidative stress mechanisms, and therapeutic/antidotal interventions. His work extensively utilizes Drosophila melanogaster, Wistar rats, and mice as translational in vivo models to investigate toxicological mechanisms and evaluate potential pharmacological countermeasures. He has published widely in reputable national and international journals and is an active member of several professional bodies including PSN, TRCN, WASP, and ASDR, and is a Founding Member and Protem Academic Secretary of the Zaria Drosophila Club. Dr. Highab is deeply committed to advancing translational toxicology, capacity building, and scientific leadership, and is honored to participate as a Delegate at WCP-2026.

Dr. Salisu Muhammad Highab is a Nigerian pharmacologist and toxicologist with strong expertise in experimental pharmacology, neurotoxicology, and metal toxicant research. He obtained his B.Sc. in Biochemistry from Bayero University, Kano, and completed both his M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Pharmacology at the prestigious Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Nigeria. He is currently a Lecturer and Researcher in the Department of Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Clinical Sciences, Federal University Dutse (FUD), Jigawa State, Nigeria. He previously served in the Department of Chemistry, Federal College of Education, Zaria, where he made notable contributions to teaching, mentorship, and academic development. Dr. Highab’s research focuses on pharmacology and toxicology, with particular emphasis on heavy metal toxicity (especially lead exposure), neurotoxicity, oxidative stress mechanisms, and therapeutic/antidotal interventions. His work extensively utilizes Drosophila melanogaster, Wistar rats, and mice as translational in vivo models to investigate toxicological mechanisms and evaluate potential pharmacological countermeasures. He has published widely in reputable national and international journals and is an active member of several professional bodies including PSN, TRCN, WASP, and ASDR, and is a Founding Member and Protem Academic Secretary of the Zaria Drosophila Club. Dr. Highab is deeply committed to advancing translational toxicology, capacity building, and scientific leadership, and is honored to participate as a Delegate at WCP-2026.

Dangge Wang is a principal investigator at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai General Hospital. He obtained his B.S. degree at Fudan University and Ph.D degree at Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, CAS. He has published more than 28 peer-reviewed papers in journals including Sci Immunol, Natl Sci Rev, Sci Adv, Nat Commun, Adv Mater, Nano Today, ACS Nano, Nano Lett, Adv Funct Mater and so on. He has applied more than 10 patents with 6 authorized. His group focuses on improving immunotherapy efficiency in various types of cancer by smart drug delivery systems. He has made a series of contributions to targeted drug delivery systems including the design, construction and mechanistic study of novel nanosized drug delivery systems with higher efficacy and lower toxicity.

Dr. Liang Chunsu focuses on new methods of pharmaceutical analysis and clinical pharmacy research. She currently serves as Member of the Pharmaceutical Analysis Technology Branch of China Association for Biomedical Technology and Member of the Pharmaceutical Research and Clinical Evaluation Committee of China Medical Education Association. She has presided over projects like the National Natural Science Foundation of China and Peking Union Medical College Talent Support Program. Having published 16 SCI journal papers and over 20 Chinese papers, she has given oral presentations at international and domestic conferences such as ACCP.

Liu Xin, Ph.D. in Pharmacology, Associate Chief Pharmacist, Master's Supervisor, and Visiting Scholar at the College of Pharmacy, University of Arizona, USA. His research focuses on clinical precision medication, pharmacovigilance, and pharmaceutical management of orphan drugs. In the past five years, he has published 10 SCI-indexed papers and 10 Chinese core journal papers as the first author/corresponding author. He has been granted 5 patents and has undertaken 4 projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

Tim is a PhD student at the Florey Institute studying molecular pharmacology. They are curious about GPCRs, specifically the sub-group of leucine-rich repeat GPCRs.

Dr. Arpita Maitra, MBBS, MD (Pharmacology), is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Burdwan Medical College, West Bengal, India. She completed her MBBS from Calcutta National Medical College in 2008 and earned her MD in Pharmacology from Burdwan Medical College in 2014, where she was the university topper under WBUHS. Dr. Maitra began her academic career as a Postgraduate Trainee in Pharmacology (2014–2017) and subsequently served as Demonstrator at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, before joining Burdwan Medical College as Assistant Professor in 2018 and later as Associate Professor in 2024. She has published eight articles in national and international indexed journals and presented research at multiple national conferences, including posters at the World Congress of Pharmacology 2023 in Glasgow. She serves as Coordinator of the Pharmacovigilance Committee at AMC, Burdwan Medical College, and has acted as internal and external examiner in MBBS examinations across various medical colleges, contributing significantly to medical education and research.

Shamiso Mlambo recently completed her PhD in Pharmacology at the University of Pretoria (South Africa) and is currently employed at Wits University (South Africa), as a lecturer and researcher in the Department of Pharmacy and Pharmacology. She specialises in Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease research. Her research focuses on pharmacogenomic and pharmacoproteomic determinants of drug response, with a particular interest in the clinical translation of genetic/proteomic markers for improved patient care. As an early career academic, she collaborates with multidisciplinary teams across South Africa and is actively establishing international research partnerships. She supervises postgraduate students and is engaged in advancing Pharmacology Education at the undergraduate level through innovative, research-led teaching.

Yuto Moriya is a Ph.D. student at Okayama University, Japan. His work focuses specifically on epigenetic regulation triggered by redox-based posttranslational modification by nitric oxide, known as S-nitrosylation. His research aims to elucidate the pathophysiological link between redox-dependent epigenetic regulation and long COVID through the pharmacological effects of a specific inhibitor of DNA methyltransferase 3 S-nitrosylation.

Reika Iwafune is a fifth-year medical student at the Faculty of Medicine, Sapporo Medical University, Japan. While undertaking clinical training, she is also engaged in research in the Department of Pharmacology. Her research interests focus on skeletal muscle, particularly the adverse effects of anticancer drugs on muscle function.

Hyungji Jang PhD candidate, Department of Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, Seoul National University Hospital Research Interests: Pharmacokinetics, clinical pharmacology, pharmacometrics, and decentralized clinical trials (DCT) Key Research: Investigating the pharmacokinetics and safety of atorvastatin/fenofibrate combinations in healthy participants, to be published in 2025.

Dr. Kang is a postdoctoral researcher in the Biogerontology Laboratory at the ANZAC Research Institute and the University of Sydney, where she has been based since 2024. She completed her PhD in developmental biology and aging at the University of Sydney. In 2019, she joined the Porat-Shliom Laboratory at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), where she investigated the role of tissue-level compartmentalization in physiology and pathological conditions, including metabolic diseases. Her current work focuses on the clinical and commercial development of nanobiotechnology platforms for oral peptide delivery and understanding the mechanism of action, with a particular emphasis on translating oral insulin technology into clinical application.

Associate Professor Phisit Khemawoot earned his Bachelor of Pharmacy from Prince of Songkla University in Thailand before completing his Ph.D. in Pharmacokinetics at Kanazawa University in Japan. His professional background includes four years in the European pharmaceutical industry and three years at a U.S. research institute, where he focused on drug development programs. Dr. Khemawoot began his academic career at Chulalongkorn University. There, he established a specialized research unit dedicated to preclinical pharmacokinetics and interspecies scaling to support drug development in Thailand. Recently, Dr. Khemawoot has shifted his focus toward herbal pharmacokinetics and the development of phytopharmaceutical products. Supported by numerous grants and organizational funding in developing Thailand’s "herbal product champions." His primary projects include: • Phytopharmaceutical Development: Advancing research on Andrographis paniculata and Boesenbergia rotunda, two of the most promising herbal species utilized during the COVID-19 pandemic. • Environmental Toxicology: Establishing new research initiatives to study the impact of particulate matter and micro/nanoplastic contamination. • Determination of potential drug interactions by electronic database predictions in comparison with real clinical practice.

Dr Peng Li is Research Fellow at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University. He is a pharmacologist and drug delivery scientist with more than extensive experience across academia and industry. a His work focuses on biopharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, and quantitative approaches that support therapeutic translation and drug development. His interests include formulation development, advanced drug delivery, and quantitative analysis of lymphatic and plasma pharmacokinetics, as well as the role of the lymphatic system in immune–metabolic disease and strategies for targeting therapeutics to lymphatic tissues. A recent research work primarily focuses on defining the pharmacokinetics and lymphatic transport of mRNA–lipid nanoparticles and understanding how delivery pathways influence biological outcomes.

My name is Jianbin Li, I’m a postgraduate student specializing in Clinical Pharmacy at Fujian Medical University. Under the guidance of Associate Professor Yu Zhou, I’m research focuses on quantitative pharmacology. I has contributed as a co-first author to a research article published in Diabetes Care.

Dr. Chen Ma is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Fudan University. She received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology in 2024 from the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Her research focuses on cell therapy, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and model-informed drug development. To date, she has published eight SCI papers and serves as the principal investigator of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Youth Program) and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (General Program).

Dr. Seol Ju Moon is a clinical pharmacologist and physician, and a graduate of Seoul National University College of Medicine. She is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacology at Jeonbuk National University College of Medicine. Her research focuses on early-phase clinical trials and microbiome studies.

Jiyun Nam is a Master’s student in the College of Pharmacy at Keimyung University, Republic of Korea. Her research focuses on nicotine pharmacokinetics and metabolic regulation under e-cigarette–relevant aerosol exposure conditions. She utilizes validated LC–MS/MS methods to quantify nicotine and its metabolites in biological matrices and to assess nicotine metabolic indices. Her current work investigates whether menthol co-exposure modulates systemic nicotine metabolism in an exposure-dependent manner. Through integrated pharmacokinetic and metabolite ratio analyses, she aims to elucidate mechanisms underlying variability in nicotine biotransformation. Her broader research interests include cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism, inhalation toxicology, and quantitative bioanalysis.

Romina Nand is Director, Ethnopharmacology in Clinical Pharmacology Pharmacometrics Systems Tools at GSK R&D, Sydney, Australia. She has over 20 years’ experience in clinical pharmacology and regulatory affairs in the pharmaceutical industry. She is an expert in assessing ethnic sensitivity of drugs across all development stages. She has experience as a scientific lead designing Phase 1 First Time in Asia (FTIA) studies. Romina’s work focuses on genetic and ethnic determinants of inter individual variation in PK and PD. She holds a Bachelor of Science (Pharmacology, Hons) and a PhD in hepatic pharmacology from the University of Melbourne. At GSK she provides SME support for ethnic sensitivity assessments, advises on FTIA study design, and supports regulatory submissions across North East Asia and beyond. She is passionate about advancing science to deliver new, safe medicines faster to patients with unmet needs. Before GSK, she was an associate lecturer at the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sydney, where she completed postdoctoral work. She has been a long standing member of ASCEPT.

I am a PhD student in the School of Science at Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. My research primarily focuses on chemotherapy drug resistance in gastrointestinal cancers, with a special interest in colorectal cancer. I explore the multiple mechanistic pathways that contribute to treatment failure, including but not limited to transporter-mediated resistance (ABC transporters) and pro-survival signalling, such as BCL2-associated mechanisms. My work utilises cell-based models and functional assays to characterise drug response and identify strategies that may enhance therapeutic sensitivity.

Wanil Kim is Associate Professor of Biochemistry at Gyeongsang National University College of Medicine in Jinju, Republic of Korea, where he directs the Laboratory of Aging Regulation. He received his Ph.D. in biochemistry and completed postdoctoral training in the laboratory of Jerry W. Shay at UT Southwestern Medical Center, studying telomere biology and cellular senescence. His current research integrates telomere dynamics, cellular senescence, and extracellular vesicle biology to understand aging-related tissue dysfunction, with applied interests in skin aging, metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease, and natural-product pharmacology. He leads multiple collaborative projects on the efficacy evaluation of biological resources and bioactive compounds relevant to dermatological and metabolic health, including flavonoid combinations in keratinocyte models.

Chen Ya, a master's student in pharmacology at Guangxi Medical University, under the supervision of Professor Yang Jie, with research direction: Structural characterization of a novel polysaccharide from Sophora tonkinensis Gagnep. and its sensitizing anti-PD-1 immunotherapy activity.

Alankar is a first-year PhD candidate specialising in drug discovery targeting the P2X7 receptor. Alongside his academic training, he has worked as a pharmacy assistant, where he gained insight into the growing demand for effective and innovative therapeutics within modern healthcare. His Honours research marked the foundation of this focus, contributing to early investigations of the P2X7 receptor and its therapeutic potential. Under the supervision of Professor Thomas Balle and co-supervision of Professor Stephen Fuller, Alankar’s research builds on prior work in receptor pharmacology. His current studies integrate experimental and computational approaches to investigate receptor function and support the identification of novel modulators, contributing to the advancement of rational drug discovery.