Since 2004, R Andriantsitohaina (Director of Research INSERM 244 publications, H index 60) is involved in the isolation, characterization and bioactions of EVs from different cohort (sepsis, Crohn, obstructive sleep apnea, preeclampsia, metabolic syndrome, obesity, diabetes). He is internationally recognized in the field of EVs and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases: (i) Demonstration of a correlation between the increase of total circulating EVs with some EV subsets, endothelial dysfunction, vascular hyporeactivity and in the development of atherosclerosis; (ii) EVs as potential biomarkers and biological vectors of obstructive sleep apnea-associated vascular impairment by promoting endothelial dysfunction and modifying its secretome, inflammation and vascular hyper-reactivity. Also, he has developed therapeutic approaches using EVs: (i) EVs bearing sonic hedgehog are cardioprotective in heart ischemia/reperfusion; (ii) sEVs can be used for the selective delivery of therapeutic agents from the blood to the brain to target neurons in the hypothalamus extending this exciting nanobiomedecine approach to potential applications for the treatment of obesity.

Dr Gabrielle Pennings completed her PhD in 2007 through the University of Sydney, under the supervision of Dr Heather Medbury and Prof John Fletcher at Westmead Hospital in the Department of Surgery. Gabrielle currently works as a post-doctoral scientist in the Atherosclerosis and Vascular Biology Laboratory at The ANZAC Research Institute, Concord Hospital with Prof Len Kritharides. Gabrielle’s research focuses on the effect of age on the platelet phenotype and inflammation with a particular interest in cardiovascular disease. Gabrielle is also interested in the role of platelets in inflammation; this may help elucidate potential mechanisms of action in the treatment of coronary artery disease.

Dr. Guillermo Antonio Díaz-Araya is a Full Professor in the Department of Chemical Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Chile. He obtained his degree in Pharmaceutical Chemistry from the University of Chile in Santiago and completed his Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), Spain. He subsequently pursued postdoctoral research at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, USA, and KU Leuven in Belgium. Dr. Díaz-Araya is a former President of the Chilean Society of Pharmacology (SOFARCHI) and previously served as Director of the Ph.D. Program in Pharmacology at the Faculty of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Chile. His research specialization is in cardiovascular pharmacology, with particular emphasis on the functional role of cardiac fibroblasts in the pathogenesis of cardiac fibrosis. His investigations have focused on characterizing multiple receptor families involved in modulating the secretion of extracellular matrix proteins, growth factors, cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules. His recent research examines cardiac fibroblast senescence and its crosstalk with immune cells. Dr. Díaz-Araya has authored over 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications and has supervised 20 Ph.D. candidates in Pharmacology, in addition to mentoring more than 50 undergraduate students in Pharmaceutical Sciences.