Oral Presentations 19: Drug Discovery 5 (Neuro)
Tracks
Track 3
| Wednesday, July 15, 2026 |
| 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM |
Speaker
Assoc Prof Jack Flanagan
University Of Auckland
Ultra-large compound library screening discovers kinase inhibitors that reduce brain pericyte inflammation
Biography
Jack is an Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Auckland in New Zealand. Jack's research experience includes drug metabolism and inhibitor discovery and design for enzymes that synthesize lipid signalling molecules including prostaglandin D2 synthase and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinases. Jack's research combines computational methods for ligand discovery with biochemical and cell based systems.
Dr Hanqing Guo
Ningxia Medical University
Black Goji anthocyanins ameliorate Parkinson’s disease via gut-microbiota-regulated tryptophan metabolism
Biography
My name is Guo Hanqing. Currently, I am a doctoral student studying Public Health and Preventive Medicine at Ningxia Medical University. My research focuses mainly on the role of the gut microbiota-intestine-brain axis in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly exploring the deep mechanism by which the anthocyanin from the black fruit of Lycium ruthenicum (LRA) regulates the gut microbiota and its tryptophan metabolic pathway, thereby alleviating the neuroinflammation in Parkinson's disease (PD). In terms of academic achievements, I have published several academic papers as the first author in internationally renowned SCI journals such as "Nutritional Neuroscience" (Meta-analysis of dietary patterns and cognitive function), "Food Bioscience" (Research on the mechanism of LRA regulating the NLRP3 inflammasome), and "European Journal of Clinical Nutrition" (Meta-analysis of the impact of probiotics on cognition).
Prof Robert Vandenberg
University Of Sydney
Allosteric inhibitors of glycine transporter 2 as non-opioid therapeutics for neuropathic pain
Biography
Robert Vandenberg has been an academic in Pharmacology at the University of Sydney since 1995 and appointed as Professor in 2010.
Robert has had a long standing interest in understanding mechanisms of drug action at neurotransmitter transporters. His presentation is based on a large collaborative project that incorporates medicinal chemistry, in vitro analysis of transporter function, structural biology, pharmacokinetic analysis and animal behavioural studies to identify glycine transport inhibitors for development as a therapeutic for neuropathic pain.
Ms Zitong Li
The Chinese University Of Hong Kong
Pharmacological dissociation of emetic and autonomic responses to motion in Suncus murinus
Biography
Li Zitong is a PhD candidate in Biomedical Sciences at The Chinese University of Hong Kong, supervised by Prof. John A. Rudd. Her research centers on disease mechanisms and the development of novel pharmacological therapies. She is currently studying the emetic, behavioral, physiological, and therapeutic aspects of motion sickness. Li Zitong has authored or co authored more than five peer reviewed publications and has presented at international scientific meetings. At WCP 2026, she will present multidimensional responses to motion (including emetic and autonomic outcomes) and the evaluation of related drugs in Suncus murinus.
Dr Shane Hellyer
Deputy Lab Head
Monash Institute Of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Optimising a recombinant expression system for functional testing of TAAR1
Biography
Dr Hellyer is an EMCR researcher at the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and it Deputy lab head of the Neuropharmacology lab within Drug Discovery Biology. His works focuses on the molecular pharmacology of GPCRs involved in neurophysiology and neuropathophysiology. In particular, Dr Hellyer is interested in the impact of single nucleotide variants found in patients populations, how they contribute to disease aetiology and how they potentially affect drug action on through changing receptor function. Dr Hellyer has published 21 peer reviewed journal articles and 1 book chapter, acting as a Chief Investigator on competitive grants worth $1.4 million.
Dr Pramod Nair
Flinders University
An Open-access Repository on Missense-Mutation in the Neuropsychiatric Drug Targets Database (MintDB)
Biography
Dr Nair is a Group Leader of the Computational and Molecular Pharmacology Laboratory at the Flinders Health and Medical Research, Flinders University. His research focuses on drug discovery for neuropsychiatric disorders and cancer. His research integrates computational medicinal chemistry, pharmacogenomics, and experimental pharmacology to drive advancements in precision medicine. He has published > 50 peer-reviewed articles and has attracted over $5 million in research funding through various funding schemes, including NHMRC, MRFF, Cancer Council etc. He has won > 10 young investigator awards, including Building Research Leaders Award by Adelaide University, CERTARA New Investigator Award by the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists and Flinders University Vice-Chancellor's Award for Early Career Researchers.