Paul B. Fisher, MPh, PhD, FNAI, Professor and Chairman, Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Director, VCU Institute of Molecular Medicine Thelma Newmeyer Corman Chair in Cancer Research in the VCU Massey Cancer Center, VCU, School of Medicine, Richmond, VA, and Emeritus Professor, Columbia University, College of Physicians & Surgeons, New York, NY. Dr. Fisher is among the top 10% of NIH funded investigators over the past 35-years, published approximately 625 papers and reviews, and has 55 issued patents. He pioneered novel gene/discovery approaches (subtraction hybridization), developed innovative therapeutic approaches (Cancer Terminator Viruses), presented numerous named and distinguished lectures, founded several start-up companies, was Virginia Outstanding Scientist of 2014 and elected to the National Academy of Inventors in 2018. Dr. Fisher is a prominent nationally and internationally recognized cancer research scientist focusing on understanding the molecular and biochemical basis of cancer development and progression to metastasis and using this garnered information to develop innovative approaches for diagnosing and treating cancer. He discovered and patented novel genes and gene promoters relevant to cancer growth control, differentiation and apoptosis. His discoveries include the first cloning of p21 (CDK inhibitor), human polynucleotide phosphorylase, mda-9/syntenin (a pro-metastatic gene), mda-5 and mda-7/IL-24, which has shown promising clinical activity in Phase I/II clinical trials in patients with advanced cancers. Dr. Fisher alsohas a documented track record as a successful seasoned entrepreneur. He was Founder and Director of GenQuest Incorporated, a functional genomics company, which merged with Corixa Corporation in 1998, traded on NASDAQ and was acquired by GlaxoSmithKline in 2006. He discovered the cancer-specific PEG-Prom, which is the core technology of Cancer Targeting Systems (CTS, Inc.), a Virginia/Maryland-based company (at Johns Hopkins Medical Center) focusing on imaging and therapy (“theranostics) of metastatic cancer (2014) by Drs. Fisher and Martin G. Pomper. He co-founded InVaMet Therapeutics (IVMT) and InterLeukin Combinatorial Therapies (ILCT) with Dr. Webster K. Cavenee (UCSD) (2017/2018). Professor & Chairman, Dept of Cell & Molecular Pharmacology John C. West Chair of Cancer Research, Medical University of South Carolina, USAThe Tew laboratory maintains an interest in using redox pathways as a platform to develop therapeutic strategies through drug discovery/development and biomarker identification. We interrogate how reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) impact cancer cells and develop novel drugs that impact on glutathione based pathways. Our research efforts have been integral to studies that have identified glutathione S-transferases (GST) as important in drug resistance, catalytic detoxification and as arbiters of kinase-mediated cell signaling events. In addition, we have been instrumental in defining how GSTP contributes to the process by which cells respond to ROS by selective addition of glutathione to specific protein clusters, so called S-glutathionylation. Each of these research areas has had broad impact on a number of cancer disciplines. Moreover, we have also been seminally involved in the Phase I to III clinical testing of three oncology drugs, Telcyta, Telintra and NOV-002. Other ongoing translational efforts have produced two ongoing clinical trials to measure the effectiveness of serum S-glutathionylated serine proteinase inhibitors as possible biomarkers for exposure to hydrogen peroxide mouthwashes and radiation.Arun Kumar Singh is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pharmacy at University School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Rayat Bahra University V.P.O. Sahauran, India. He completed his M.Pharm in Pharmaceutics from Galgotias University, Greater Noida. His research interests include nano-formulation, blockchain, IoT, machine learning, artificial intelligence, big data analytics, cancer biology, and neuroscience. He has contributed to academic books and book chapters and has published review articles in the areas of pharmaceutical sciences and healthcare technology. His work focuses on interdisciplinary approaches integrating pharmaceutical research with emerging digital and computational technologies. Rajwinder Kaur is Assistant Dean of Pharm D (Academics) at Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, India. She has extensive experience in teaching and research and has held academic and research positions, including appointment as a DST Women Scientist at Panjab University, Chandigarh. Her research focuses on computational drug design, fused heterocyclic compounds, nanomedicine, and the application of artificial intelligence in pharmaceutical research, with particular interests in inflammation, asthma, and neurological disorders. Dr. Kaur has contributed extensively to the scientific literature through scholarly publications, book chapters, and editorial work. She is actively involved in academic and research initiatives that promote innovation in pharmaceutical sciences and interdisciplinary drug discovery. She is a Senior Member of the Hong Kong Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering Society (HKCBEES) and a Life Member of the Indian Pharmacy Graduate Association (IPGA). Ashutosh Pareek is Professor at Banasthali Vidyapith, India, with expertise in neuropharmacology and advanced drug delivery systems. His research focuses on therapeutic strategies for neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, autoimmune diseases, and related health conditions, with particular interest in the development of innovative drug delivery approaches for bioactive and immunomodulatory compounds. Dr. Pareek leads research initiatives in these areas and collaborates with national and international funding agencies on projects that advance pharmaceutical science and translational research. He has contributed extensively to the scientific literature through scholarly publications, books, patents, and research mentorship. In addition, he serves on editorial and peer-review activities for international journals in pharmacology and oncology, supporting the dissemination and evaluation of research across the biomedical sciences. Dr. Ajit Prakash completed his B.Sc. Biotechnology at Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi, and M.Sc. Genomics at Madurai Kamaraj University, Tamil Nadu, India. Further, Dr. Ajit obtained his Ph.D. in Biochemistry in 2016 from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. He carried out his first postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Cambridge, UK. Following this he worked at Lovely Professional University as an assistant professor for almost a year and then finally relocated to the USA for his second postdoc at the University of North Carolina, Chaple Hill, USA. After 5 years of postdoctoral research at UNC, he is currently working as a Research Associate at UNC, Chapel Hill, USA. In addition to 3 book chapters and a book which are under publication, Dr. Ajit has published 16 high-impact research papers/book chapters in the fields of protein biochemistry, structural biology, and molecular biology related to disease conditions like cancer, and neurological disorders.
