Dr. Sai Sudha Koka received her Ph.D. in Pharmacology and Toxicology from the University of Tübingen in Germany and completed her postdoctoral training in cardiovascular pharmacology at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Over the past 15 years, she has served as an academic researcher and pharmacy educator and is currently an Associate Professor at the University of Houston College of Pharmacy, Texas, USA. Dr. Koka’s research focuses on the molecular mechanisms driving cardiometabolic diseases, with a particular emphasis on how gut microbe–derived metabolites contribute to atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction, and vascular inflammation. Her work integrates pharmacology, vascular biology, and microbiome science to uncover novel therapeutic targets in cardiovascular health. Dr. Koka is recognized as a Fellow of the American Heart Association and serves on the Executive Committee of the Cardiovascular Pharmacology Division of the American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics and is a Council Member of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences. Dr. Koka is widely known for her commitment to mentoring and advancing the next generation of scientists.

Beidong is a PhD candidate at the Adelaide University. She is a qualified medical doctor trained in China with a master's degree in general practice. Her research focuses on the "missing link" in endothelial function: the interaction between its structure (the glycocalyx) and its function (endothelial autacoids). She is investigating this synergistic relationship, specifically looking at whether the loss of protective autacoids triggers the shedding of the glycocalyx. Her goal is to redefine "endothelial dysfunction", offering a new way to teat vascular complications associated with it.

Carlos F. Sánchez-Ferrer, M.D., Ph.D., is a Full Professor of Pharmacology at the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), specializing in vascular pathophysiology. His research focuses on diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction, vascular aging, and the renin-angiotensin system. He has been with UAM since 1987, contributing extensively to cardiovascular, obesity, and longevity research.

Dr. He Chufeng holds a PhD in Food and Nutritional Sciences from The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), where she is currently serving as a Postdoctoral Fellow. Her research primarily focuses on investigating natural compounds, such as asperuloside, for their therapeutic potential in ameliorating obesity-related endothelial dysfunction and metabolic disorders via mechanisms like NRF2 activation. She has contributed to several high-impact publications as a first and co-first author in journals including Antioxidants and Redox Signaling, European Journal of Pharmacology and Nutrients. She also contributes to a high-impact publication, Cell Reports, as a second author. She is also actively involved in grant applications and mentoring students at various academic levels, demonstrating a strong commitment to both scientific innovation and academic training.

Dr Harley Robinson is an early-career postdoctoral researcher in the Cardiac Drug Discovery Laboratory at QIMR Berghofer (Brisbane). After completing a PhD with A/Prof Michelle Hill investigating mechanisms underlying advanced prostate cancer (2017–2022) and contributing to COVID-19 research in 2021, she transitioned to cardiovascular research in 2022 under Prof James Hudson (Cardiac Bioengineering Lab). Her work integrates human cardiac organoids and human heart tissue with proteomic, phosphoproteomic, and interactomic approaches to define molecular drivers of cardiac dysfunction. She is particularly interested in sepsis-induced injury, fibrosis, tissue regeneration, and inflammation-mediated pathology. Dr Robinson’s research aims to translate mechanistic insights into novel therapeutic strategies, with a career focus on mechanism-driven drug development in cardiovascular disease.

Muhammet Zahit Çelik is a research assistant at Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University specializing in experimental pharmacology. His research focuses on the contraction–relaxation mechanisms of smooth muscle–containing organs, particularly through organ bath systems and ex vivo vascular models. He has extensive experience in designing and conducting concentration–response experiments, investigating ion channel–mediated signaling pathways, and analyzing pharmacodynamic interactions. His work also includes in vivo models related to airway hyperresponsiveness and inflammatory mechanisms. He is actively involved in laboratory project coordination, experimental protocol development, and statistical data analysis. In addition to his academic research, he serves as a board member of Vetchange, contributing to scientific and educational initiatives. His long-term research interests center on vascular pharmacology, ion channel physiology, and the molecular mechanisms regulating smooth muscle function.