Heart Diseases & Angiology

A Martin Gerdes completed his Ph.D. at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 1978 and was recently recognized as the 2013 Distinguished Alumnus of the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences. Throughout his career, work has focused on understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of maladaptive ventricular remodeling in heart failure and potential treatments. He has published over 100 peer reviewed journal articles and has been the PI on ~$30M in NIH funding during his career. He has identified key cellular mechanisms involved in dilated heart failure, including a maladaptive change in myocyte shape.

Professor and Chair
New York Institute of Technology
USA

Samuels is a graduate of the University of Rochester where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree with Highest Distinction. He went on to Medical School at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA where he was awarded membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha honorary medical society. He remained in Philadelphia where he did his General Surgical and CT Surgical Residencies at Hahnemann University Hospital, receiving the Resident Teaching and Resident Scholar Awards. He was appointed to the CT Surgery faculty of Hahnemann University where he became the Surgical Director of the Artificial Heart and Transplant Program. In 2001, Dr. Samuels and his team performed the world’s fifth totally implantable electric artificial heart, the AbioCor®. Samuels has been involved with several investigational trials including those for the Novacor LVAD, AbioCor TAH and AB5000 VAD system, the Thoratec IVAD, the Heartmate II LVAD study, and the Impella 5.0. He is currently the Medical Monitor for the Recover Right Percutaneous RVAD Trial. Samuels joined the Main Line Health System in suburban Philadelphia where he currently serves as the Surgical Director of Heart Failure at The Lankenau Medical Center and the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Bryn Mawr Hospital. In 2011, Dr. Samuels was appointed Professor of Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University College of Medicine and participates in their Advanced Heart Failure Program. Samuels has published over 100 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, is a full member of the STS, AATS, and other professional societies, and serves as a guest reviewer for the Annals of Thoracic Surgery and other periodicals related to open heart surgery.

Cardiac Surgery, General Surgery, Thoracic Surgery

Anastasia Susie Mihailidou is a cardiovascular clinical scientist, graduating with a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from University of Sydney in 1988. She is currently Clinical Senior Lecturer for Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney and Senior Hospital Scientist at Royal North Shore Hospital. Anastasia has both clinical and basic research interests as Director of the Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Service for a major Tertiary Referral Centre and Head of the Cardiovascular & Hormonal Research Laboratory. Her research focus is regulation of aldosterone/mineralocorticoid receptors in the heart and has made a significant contribution to understanding the role of corticosteroid hormones (and antagonists). She was the first to show aldosterone has both rapid and sustained effects on regulation of sodium transport in the heart, with increased levels of intracellular sodium. These findings have generated great interest, leading to award of the Pfizer Prize for Best Research at the International Society of Hypertension (2002). Her current research focus is to determine the role of aldosterone and mineralocorticoid receptors in diabetes.

Conference Moderator
Head
Royal North Shore Hospital & Kolling Institute
Australia

Jose Antonio F. Ramires has completed his Ph.D. at the age of 31 years from University of São Paulo (USP) Medical School. He was the Director of the Heart Institute-INCOR of the University of São Paulo where is Head Professor of Cardiology. He was President of the Council to evaluate all the University Professor at USP. He was President of the undergraduate Committee of USP Medical School. He has published more than 475 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute. He was President of the Society of Cardiology of the State of São Paulo, Brazilian Heart Foundation and of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology.

Professor
University of São Paulo
Brazil

Yoshiaki Omura received Oncology Residency Training and a Doctor of Science Degree through research on Pharmaco-Electro Physiology of Single Cardiac Cells in vivo and in vitro from Columbia University. He published over 250 articles and 7 books. He is currently Adjunct Prof., New York Medical College; Director of Medical Research, Heart Disease Research Foundation; Executive Editor, Integrative Oncology etc. Using his new diagnostic, U.S.-patented method, he can non-invasively and rapidly measure many neurotransmitters, chemicals, asbestos, viruses and bacteria. He developed a non-invasive, quick diagnostic method of malignancies, as well as a method of evaluating the effects of any treatment.

Oncology and Cardiology

Michael Chorny earned his PhD in pharmaceutical sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Since 2009 he is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. His research focuses on development and evaluation of biodegradable nanocarriers for targeted delivery of drugs, gene vectors and cells for cardiovascular disease applications and cancer therapy.

Professor
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
United States

Dr Sergey Suchkov, MD, PhD, male, was born in 11.01.1957, researcher-immunologist, clinician, graduated from School of Medicine, A.V.Lunacharskii Astrakhan State Medical University, Russia, in 1980. Suchkov has been trained at the Institute for Medical Enzymology, The USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, National Center for Immunology (Russia), National Institutes of Health Bethesda, USA) and British Society for Immunology to cover 4 British university facilities. Dr Suchkov worked for the Central Laboratory at Lenin’s Mausoleum, then at the Institute for Medical Enzymology, The USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, for the Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAN), Helmholtz Institute of Eye Diseases, and for Moscow Regional Clinical Research Institute including a position of the Immunologist-in-Chief of the Health Services of the Moscow Region. Since 2005, he has been working as Professor of A.I.Evdokimov Moscow State Medical & Dental University and I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. From 2007, Suchkov was the First Vice-President and Dean of the School of Preventive and Personalized Medicine of the University of World Politics and Law. In 1991-1995, Dr Suchkov was a Chief Scientific Secretary of the Editorial Board of the International Journal “Biomedical Science” (issued by the Russian Academy of Sciences and Royal Society of Medicine, UK). In 1995-2005, Suchkov was a Director of the Russian-American Program in Immunology of the Eye Diseases. Dr Suchkov is a member of the Advisory Board, EPMA (European Association of Predictive, Preventive and Personalized Medicine), Brussels, EU, member of the Editorial Boards, Open Journal of Autoimmunity, EPMA J., Personalized Medicine Universe, American J.Cardiovascular Res. Dr Suchkov has published more than 500 papers. He is known as an author of the Concept of postinfectious clinical and immunological syndrome, co-author of the concept of abzymes and their impact into the pathogenesis of aotuimmunity conditions, and as one of the pioneers in promoting the Concept of Predictive, Preventive and Personalized Medicine.

Clinical Research,Biomarkers,Enzymology

Scott Willoughby is a Head of the Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Laboratory, Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia. Willoughby graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1995 and obtained Ph.D. degree in 1999. He completed his post-doctoral fellowships at the Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University, USA under the mentorship of Prof. Joseph Loscalzo and the Cardiology Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Australia under the mentorship of Prof. John Horowitz. Willoughby was appointed to his current position in 2006. Willoughby's research focus is to understand the integrative physiological mechanisms controlling inappropriate thrombus formation in conditions of increased cardiovascular risk. Current studies focus on two diverse groups of individuals: (1) young subjects exposed to potentially novel high risk environments (paedriatric sleep disordered breathing or following the consumption of energy drinks) and (2) patients at high risk for thromboembolic events (atrial fibrillation). Willoughby has published widely in high impact peer-reviewed journals regarding platelet function and cardiovascular disease and regularly presents at international meetings. Willoughby is a previous recipient of the Young Investigator Award in Thrombosis (2006) from the World Congress of Cardiology.

Head
University of Adelaide
Australia

I am an Assistant VP for Research at HSC at West Virginia University (WVU). I received Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research from SOM and became a Robert C. Byrd Professor in 2010 received Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research and Scholarly Activities from HSC, in 2013. I have published over 190 manuscripts. Our past work has led to the approval of an A2A selective AR agonist (Lexican®) for myocardial perfusion imaging. Currently, we are using AR and β adrenergic receptor KOs to better understand the relationship between these receptors in coronary flow regulation.

Coronary flow regulation

Karlheinz Seidl is a Chief. Div. Of Clinical Electrophysilogy at the Dept. of Cardiology and Head of the Medical Clinic IV, Director of Cardiology/Electrophysiology at Heart Center Ludwigshafen, Germany. He did his Medical school and Hospitation at the University of Heidelberg, Köln, Perth and Sydney during 1980-87. And also he did his Medical Diploma at the University of Heidelberg, Internship, residency and research fellow at the Heart Center Ludwigshafen during 1987 – 1994. He is a Member of Nukleus of Clusters Rhythmologie of German society for Cardiology, Working group, Heart pacemaker and Arrhythmie during 2003-2009. And also he acted as a Head of the Div. Clinical Elekctophysiology at the Dept of Cardiology Heart Center Ludwigshafen during 1994 – 2007.

Professor
Klinikum Ingolstadt GmbH
Germany

Fatih Yalcin, Fulbright Visiting Profesor, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, USA and also have Editorial Board membership: World Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, Datasets International, Radiology

Fulbright Visiting Professor
Johns Hopkins University
USA

Peifeng Li obtained his doctoral degree at the Chinese Academy of Medical Science. He worked as a medical researcher at the Max-Delbruck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Germany. He is currently a research assistant professor at the college of medicine, university of Illinois at Chicago, USA. His research focuses on the molecular regulation of heart failure. He is one of the pioneer researchers in deciphering the role of microRNAs in heart diseases including cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial infarction and heart failure. He has published more than 62 papers in reputed journals and also presented his work at many national and international professional meetings. He has served on the American Heart Association grant panel. He is currently a member of the editorial boards of Dataset Papers in Biology and Journal of Geriatric Cardiology as well as a reviewer for more than 30 scientific journals.

College of Medicine
University of Illinois
USA

Cardiologist
Pleven Medical University
Bulgaria

Louis Samuels graduated Medical School from Hahnemann University (Philadelphia, PA) in 1987 and completed his Cardiothoracic Surgical training in 1995. He joined the faculty of Drexel University as the Surgical Director of Cardiac Transplantation. In 2001, Dr. Samuels and his team implanted the world’s 5th totally implantable electric artificial heart (AbioCor™). In 2003, he joined the Main Line Health System as the Surgical Director of Heart Failure. In addition to cardiac transplantation and LVAD implantation, Dr. Samuels performs CABG and Valvular surgery. In 2012, Dr. Samuels became Professor of Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University School of Medicine. Dr. Samuels has authored over 100 peer reviewed manuscripts and serves as a reviewer for the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. In addition to participating in several clinical trials related to mechanical circulatory support, he continues to serve as a consultant and medical advisor to new technologies currently in trial.

His research interest are Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Cardiac Surgery.

Anthony Martin Gerdes has done PhD in Anatomy (1978), from University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He was the Professor/Chair of Anatomy, University of South Dakota and also the founding Scientist for Sanford Research-University of South Dakota. His Current position is Professor/Chair Biomedical Sciences, NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY, 2011-present. Publications: ~120 peer reviewed journal articles. 2013 Distinguished Alumnus, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, UTMB at Galveston Anthony Martin Gerdes developed a precise method to determine cardiac myocyte shape. He then provided a comprehensive understanding of how cardiac myocytes remodel during growth, maturation, aging, cardiac hypertrophy, and heart failure (HF) from many etiologies. After demonstrating that low thyroid hormone function alone can cause heart failure, he showed remarkable beneficial changes in myocyte shape and vascular remodeling, reduced fibrosis, and improved LF function after thyroid hormone treatment of various models of HF (including ischemia, diabetes, hypertension).

His research includes low thyroid hormone function alone can cause heart failure, he showed remarkable beneficial changes in myocyte shape and vascular remodeling, reduced fibrosis, and improved LF function after thyroid hormone treatment of various models of HF (including ischemia, diabetes, hypertension).

Yoshiaki Omura received Oncological Residency Training at Cancer Institute of Columbia University & Doctor of Science Degree through research on Pharmaco-Electro Physiology of Single Cardiac Cells in Vivo and in Vitro from Columbia University. He published over 260 original research articles and 8 books. He is currently 1) Adjunct Prof. of Family & Community Medicine, New York Medical College; 2) Director of Medical Research, Heart Disease Research Foundation, New York; 3) President and Prof. of International College of Acupuncture and Electro-Therapeutics, New York; 4) Editor in Chief, Acupuncture & Electro-Therapeutics Research, International Journal of Integrative Medicine, which is indexed by 17 major international Indexing Periodicals. Currently he is also 5) Executive Editor of Integrative Oncology and Journal of Clinical Trials in Cardiology. Formerly he was also Adjunct Prof. or Visiting Prof. in universities in USA, France, Italy, Ukraine, Japan & China.

His research interest is on Pharmaco-Electro Physiology of Single Cardiac Cells in Vivo and in Vitro.

Vincenzo Costigliola graduated in Medicine from the University of Naples in 1972 and in Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care from the University of Pisa in 1978. He also attended post-graduated studies in Rheumatology, Dermatology, Proctology, Oncology, Surgery, Drugs Abuse, Emergency Treatment, Disaster Action, Hospital Organization, Medical Teaching Methodology and Computer and Audio-Visual Training for the Medical Profession. He is the President of : E.M.A. (European Medical Association ) http://www.emanet.org/ EDA (European Depression Association) www.europeandepressionday.com and EPMA (European predictive, preventive and personalized medicine) www.epmanet.eu.

Rheumatology, Dermatology, Proctology, Oncology, Surgery.

Jose Antonio F. Ramires has completed his Ph.D. at the age of 31 years from University of São Paulo (USP) Medical School. He was the Director of the Heart Institute-INCOR of the University of São Paulo where is Head Professor of Cardiology. He was President of the Council to evaluate all the University Professor at USP. He was President of the undergraduate Committee of USP Medical School. He has published more than 475 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute. He was President of the Society of Cardiology of the State of São Paulo, Brazilian Heart Foundation and of the Brazilian Society of Cardiology.

His research interest includes coronary arteries, coronary artery disease, liver pre-transplantation

Sergey Suchkov, MD, PhD, male, was born in 11.01.1957, researcher-immunologist, clinician, graduated from School of Medicine, A.V.Lunacharskii Astrakhan State Medical University, Russia, in 1980. Suchkov has been trained at the Institute for Medical Enzymology, The USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, National Center for Immunology (Russia), National Institutes of Health Bethesda, USA) and British Society for Immunology to cover 4 British university facilities. Dr Suchkov worked for the Central Laboratory at Lenin’s Mausoleum, then at the Institute for Medical Enzymology, The USSR Academy of Medical Sciences, for the Institute of Developmental Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences (RAN), Helmholtz Institute of Eye Diseases, and for Moscow Regional Clinical Research Institute including a position of the Immunologist-in-Chief of the Health Services of the Moscow Region. Since 2005, he has been working as Professor of A.I.Evdokimov Moscow State Medical & Dental University and I.M.Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University. From 2007, Suchkov was the First Vice-President and Dean of the School of Preventive and Personalized Medicine of the University of World Politics and Law. In 1991-1995, Dr Suchkov was a Chief Scientific Secretary of the Editorial Board of the International Journal “Biomedical Science” (issued by the Russian Academy of Sciences and Royal Society of Medicine, UK). In 1995-2005, Suchkov was a Director of the Russian-American Program in Immunology of the Eye Diseases. Dr Suchkov is a member of the Advisory Board, EPMA (European Association of Predictive, Preventive and Personalized Medicine), Brussels, EU, member of the Editorial Boards, Open Journal of Autoimmunity, EPMA J., Personalized Medicine Universe, American J.Cardiovascular Res. Dr Suchkov has published more than 500 papers. He is known as an author of the Concept of postinfectious clinical and immunological syndrome, co-author of the concept of abzymes and their impact into the pathogenesis of aotuimmunity conditions, and as one of the pioneers in promoting the Concept of Predictive, Preventive and Personalized Medicine.

Predictive, Preventive and Personalized Medicine

Augusto Parra graduated from the University del Bosque Medical School (Bogota-Colombia) in 1988. He obtained an MPH in Biostatistics/Epidemiology from Harvard University in 1992. He pursued clinical training in Neurology and Internal Medicine at Duke University. He completed a Fellowship in Neurocritical Care and Stroke at Duke University in 2001. He is a Neurocritical Care Faculty at Columbia University and at the University of Texas USA, where he currently directs the Neuro ICU Program. He has done basic and clinical research, published in the leading scientific medical journals, done editorial peer review, and has been part of the American Heart Association Brain 1 Basic Science Grant Review Committee for several years. He has special research interest in the repercussions of brain injury into the cardiovascular system and vice versa.

He has special research interest in the repercussions of brain injury into the cardiovascular system and vice versa.

S. Jamal Mustafa is an Assistant VP for Research at HSC at West Virginia University (WVU). He received Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research from SOM and became a Robert C. Byrd Professor in 2010 received Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research and Scholarly Activities from HSC, in 2013. He has published over 190 manuscripts. His past work has led to the approval of an A2A selective AR agonist (Lexican®) for myocardial perfusion imaging. Currently, he is using AR and β adrenergic receptor KOs to better understand the relationship between these receptors in coronary flow regulation.

His interest is in myocardial perfusion imaging. Currently, he is using AR and β adrenergic receptor KOs to better understand the relationship between these receptors in coronary flow regulation.

Galya Naydenova Atanasova completed her Ph.D. training in Cardiology from Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology and Endocrinology at Pleven Medical University, Bulgaria. She is a General Practitioner and Cardiologist in Trainee at Pleven Medical University, Bulgaria. She specialized in General Medicine from Pleven Medical University, Bulgaria during 1993. She has attended to many International Events and presented her research work. She did many researches on metabolic syndrome and myocardial infarction of heart.

She is specialized in General Medicine.

Scott Willoughby is a Head of the Thrombosis and Vascular Biology Laboratory, Centre for Heart Rhythm Disorders, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Australia. Willoughby graduated from the University of Adelaide in 1995 and obtained Ph.D. degree in 1999. He completed his post-doctoral fellowships at the Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University, USA under the mentorship of Prof. Joseph Loscalzo and the Cardiology Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Australia under the mentorship of Prof. John Horowitz. Willoughby was appointed to his current position in 2006. Willoughby's research focus is to understand the integrative physiological mechanisms controlling inappropriate thrombus formation in conditions of increased cardiovascular risk. Current studies focus on two diverse groups of individuals: (1) young subjects exposed to potentially novel high risk environments (paedriatric sleep disordered breathing or following the consumption of energy drinks) and (2) patients at high risk for thromboembolic events (atrial fibrillation). Willoughby has published widely in high impact peer-reviewed journals regarding platelet function and cardiovascular disease and regularly presents at international meetings. Willoughby is a previous recipient of the Young Investigator Award in Thrombosis (2006) from the World Congress of Cardiology.

Willoughby's research focus is to understand the integrative physiological mechanisms controlling inappropriate thrombus formation in conditions of increased cardiovascular risk.

Peifeng Li obtained his PhD from the Chinese Academy of Medical Science and worked as a medical researcher at the Max-Delbruck-Center, Germany. He is currently a Research Assistant Professor at the College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. His research focuses on the molecular regulation of heart failure. He is one of the pioneer researchers in deciphering the role of microRNAs in heart diseases. He has published more than 75 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as a reviewer for more than 50 scientific journals. He has served on the American Heart Association grant panel.

His research interest is in molecular regulation of heart failure. He is one of the pioneer researchers in deciphering the role of microRNAs in heart diseases.

Manuela Stoicescu, Consultant Internal Medicine Doctor (PhD in Internal Medicine) now is Assistant Professor of Medical Disciplines Department, University of Oradea, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Romania, Internal Medicine Hospital and Office. She is Member of Romanian Society of Internal Medicine, Member of Romanian Society of Cardiology, Chemistry, Biochemistry and Member of Balcanic Society of Medicine. She was invited as a speaker at 24 International Conferences, she is editorial board member in three ISSN prestigious Journal in USA, she published 12 articles in prestigious ISSN Journals in USA. She published four books: two books for students in English and Romanian language:” Clinical cases for students of the Faculty of Medicine”, one book in English language on Amazon at International Editor – Lambert Publishing Academic House in Germany- “Side Effects of Antiviral Hepatitis Treatment”, one monograph in Romanian language” High blood pressure in the young a ignored problem!”, two chapter books – Cardiovascular disease: Causes, Risks, Management CVD1- Causes of Cardiovascular Disease 1.5,1.6, U.S.A on Amazon.

Side Effects of Antiviral Hepatitis Treatment, High blood pressure, Cardiovascular diseases.

Heng graduated from the University of Singapore and had specialty and subspecialty clinical training in New Zealand. His research training was done in New Zealand and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles (affiliated with UCLA). Heng is Clinical Professor of Medicine in UCLA, and has authored or coauthored over 150 original `publications, abstracts and book chapters. Heng was Chief of Cardiology of the UCLA San Fernando Medicine Program for over 10 years, and is currently in private cardiology consultation practice

Internal Medicine & Cardiovascular Disease

Samuels is a graduate of the University of Rochester where he received his Bachelor of Arts degree with Highest Distinction. He went on to Medical School at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia, PA where he was awarded membership in the Alpha Omega Alpha honorary medical society. He remained in Philadelphia where he did his General Surgical and CT Surgical Residencies at Hahnemann University Hospital, receiving the Resident Teaching and Resident Scholar Awards. He was appointed to the CT Surgery faculty of Hahnemann University where he became the Surgical Director of the Artificial Heart and Transplant Program. In 2001, Dr. Samuels and his team performed the world\'s fifth totally implantable electric artificial heart, the AbioCor®. Samuels has been involved with several investigational trials including those for the Novacor LVAD, AbioCor TAH and AB5000 VAD system, the Thoratec IVAD, the Heartmate II LVAD study, and the Impella 5.0. He is currently the Medical Monitor for the Recover Right Percutaneous RVAD Trial. Samuels joined the Main Line Health System in suburban Philadelphia where he currently serves as the Surgical Director of Heart Failure at The Lankenau Medical Center and the Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Bryn Mawr Hospital. In 2011, Dr. Samuels was appointed Professor of Surgery at Thomas Jefferson University College of Medicine and participates in their Advanced Heart Failure Program. Samuels has published over 100 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, is a full member of the STS, AATS, and other professional societies, and serves as a guest reviewer for the Annals of Thoracic Surgery and other periodicals related to open heart surgery.

Cardiac Surgery

Lucas moved to the University of Florida in 2006 from the Robarts Research Institute and University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada, where she has been a principal investigator studying inflammation, specifically monocyte and T lymphocyte activation in vascular disease. Dr. Lucas is also co-inventor and co-founding scientist for Viron Therapeutics Inc., a biotechnology company that is now in clinical trial analyzing viral anti-inflammatory proteins as a new class of therapeutic agents. Dr. Lucas is a practicing interventional cardiologist in addition to running an active basic research lab in vascular inflammatory research with bovver 100 paper and reviews and 16 patents published. She has been an active member of the Canadian Society for Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis Board having also served as Editor-in-Chief and serves on the American Heart Association grant panel. She is additionally on the editorial board for several journals. Dr. Lucas also directs an annual medical mission to Fte. Liberté in Haiti.

Ion channels, functional genomics and proteomics, phenomics, cardiac electrophysiology and pharmacology, cardiac ischemia, cardioprotection, myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure.

Yoshiaki Omura received Oncology Residency Training and a Doctor of Science Degree through research on Pharmaco-Electro Physiology of Single Cardiac Cells in vivo and in vitro from Columbia University. He published over 250 articles and 7 books. He is currently Adjunct Prof., New York Medical College; Director of Medical Research, Heart Disease Research Foundation; Executive Editor, Integrative Oncology etc. Using his new diagnostic, U.S.-patented method, he can non-invasively and rapidly measure many neurotransmitters, chemicals, asbestos, viruses and bacteria. He developed a non-invasive, quick diagnostic method of malignancies, as well as a method of evaluating the effects of any treatment.

Oncology and Cardiology

Anastasia Susie Mihailidou is a cardiovascular clinical scientist, graduating with a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from University of Sydney in 1988. She is currently Clinical Senior Lecturer for Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney and Senior Hospital Scientist at Royal North Shore Hospital. Anastasia has both clinical and basic research interests as Director of the Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Service for a major Tertiary Referral Centre and Head of the Cardiovascular & Hormonal Research Laboratory. Her research focus is regulation of aldosterone/mineralocorticoid receptors in the heart and has made a significant contribution to understanding the role of corticosteroid hormones (and antagonists). She was the first to show aldosterone has both rapid and sustained effects on regulation of sodium transport in the heart, with increased levels of intracellular sodium. These findings have generated great interest, leading to award of the Pfizer Prize for Best Research at the International Society of Hypertension (2002). Her current research focus is to determine the role of aldosterone and mineralocorticoid receptors in diabetes.

Parsons, Xuejun Huang has received his Ph.D. in Cornell University during the period of 1998. Currently, she is working as Co-founder, Scientific Director, & Associate Professor in San Diego Regenerative Medicine Institute. She has successfully completed his Administrative responsibilities as Stem Cell Research Scientist/Assist Prof. Center for Molecular Genetics, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, Adjunct Faculty & Leader & Acting Director, San Diego Consortium for Regenerative Medicine & San Diego Stem Cell Consortium, San Diego, CA. She has authored 19 research articles/books. She has honoured as the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Award for Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research (NICHD/NIH).

Neurology, Stem cell therapy, Cardiology, Molecular biology

Verin has completed his Ph.D. at the age of 29 from Moscow State University School of Biology and postdoctoral studies from Indiana University School of Medicine. He is Professor of Medicine and Vascular Biology at Georgia Regents University. He has published more than 120 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of American Journal of Physiology and member of NIH and AHA study sections. Currently he is the academic editor of Cardiology and Angiology and editorial board member of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, Tissue Barriers and World Jornal of Respirology

Cardiology and Angiology

Noemi Csaszar Nagy born on 07 November 1969 Work experience 1994-1997: Occupation or position held Post-gradual scholar (Academic Research and Education), Main activities and responsibilities- Education and research 1998-2006: Occupation or position held- Psychologist, Main activities and responsibilities- Psychological diagnostics and therapy 2000-2010: Occupation or position held- Academic Lecturer, Docent (Associate Professor), Main activities and responsibilities- Education 2006: Occupation or position held- Leader Psychologist, Head of Psychotherapy Department, Main activities and responsibilities- Department Leading, Supervision 2010: Occupation or position held- Psychologist, Manager, Main activities and responsibilities Leading of the Psychosomatic Ambulance Kft, Supervion Education and training: 1988-1994: Title of qualification awarded- Psychologist, Name and type of organisation providing education and training, Eotvos Lorand Science University, Department of Psychology (University) 1994-1997: Title of qualification awarded- PhD Behavioral Sciences, Principal subjects/occupational skills covered Behavioural Sciences, Empirical Psychology, Differential Psychology, Hypnosis, Name and type of organisation providing education and training- School of Psychological Ph.D. Studies, Eotvos Lorand Science University 1996-1998: Title of qualification awarded Hypnotherapist (Trainer-Hypnotherapist), Name and type of organisation providing education and training, Hungarian Association of Hypnosis 2002-2004: Title of qualification awarded- Psychotherapist, Name and type of organisation providing education and training Psychosomatic and Psychotherapeutic Department of National Rehabilitation Institute of Tunderhegy 2006-2009: Title of qualification awarded, Expert Witness in Adult Clinical Psychology 2007-2011: Title of qualification awarded, TANDEM Hypnotherapist, Principal subjects/occupational skills covered Training in Transnatal (TANDEM) Hypnosis, Name and type of organisation providing education and training Hungarian Association of Hypnosis.

Psychology, Hypnosis, Rehabilitation, Cardiology

Kenneth Maiese is Professor and Chair of Neurology and Neurosciences of the University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey. Dr. Maiese has been fortunate to receive recognition with outstanding teaching awards and election to America\'s Top Physicians, the Best of U.S. Physicians, and Top Doctors. His investigations are designed to translate basic science into successful therapeutic treatments for conditions such as cancer, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, stroke, and Alzheimer&prime:s disease. He is a top cited author with continuous funding from the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association, the Bugher Foundation, a Johnson and Johnson Focused Giving Award, and the NIH. Dr. Maiese holds several patents, has over 250 publications and has authored 5 books. Dr. Maiese also serves as the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editor, or editorial board member for more than 40 journals as well as on multiple executive committees, technology panels, and scientific advisory councils.

Cerebrovasculature ischemia and related diseases, central nervous system degenerative diseases

Miguel Angel Maluf is an Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery and is the Chief of Pediatric Heart Surgery at Sao Paulo Federal University

Pediatric Cardiology

Irena Levitan was a Research Assistant Professor/Research Associate Professor at the Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine Institute for Medicine and Engineering University of Pennsylvania. She is an  Associate Professor of Pharmacology and Bioengineering in Medicine, Department of Medicine University of Illinois at Chicago.

Her research interests are cardiovascular research, endothelial function, membrane biophysics, ion channels, lipid rafts and membrane-cytoskeleton interactions.

Nassir Azimi graduate of Columbia University in New York City, he focused on chemistry and pre-medical. Then, he transitioned to medical school at Dartmouth in New Hampshire. After completing an internal medicine internship in residency at University Colorado, he went on to Yale University to train in cardiology, nuclear cardiology and interventional cardiology and vascular medicine. Currently, he is practicing cardiology at La Mesa Cardiac Center with a focus on the patient rather than any one organ system. Academic positions: Fellow of American College of Cardiology, Fellow of SCAI Research interests: Vascular Medicine, Cardiology, Nuclear Medicine, Interventional Cardiology

Fatih Yalcin, Fulbright Visiting Profesor, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, USA Editorial Board membership: World Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery, Datasets International, Radiology.

Novel Cardiovascular Imaging, Tissue Doppler Imaging, Live 3 DE, 3rd Generation Microscopic USG, cardiac MRI

Naresh Ranjith completed his honors in microbiology and physiology at the University of Durban Westville and obtained his BSc. degree in 1976. He obtained his MBChB degree at the University of Natal Medical School in 1981. Following this he completed his Doctorate in medicine [ MD], the title of which was Genetic Markers in young Indian patients with Myocardial infarction, at the University of Kwa Zulu Natal in 2005. In 2006, he was awarded the FESC by the European Society of Cardiology. In 2010 he became Professor of Cardiology at the Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine. Currently he is Head of Cardiology at the R K Khan Hospital in Durban. He is a member of various professional bodies, some of which include the South African Heart Association, European Society of Cardiology, Working Group on Cardiac Rehabilitation and Exercise Physiology, and the American Heart Failure Society. His research interests include the Genetics of Cardiac Disease, Cardiac Biomarkers, Heart failure and Acute Coronary Syndromes. He has published extensively in peer reviewed journals on these areas of research

Erkin M. Mirrakhimov, MD, Ph.D., Professor. Graduated Kyrgyz State Medical Institute in 1983. In 1983-1989 and 1991-1995 worked at Scientific Research Cardiological Center in Moscow, Russia. From 1995 till now works as head of Internal Chair at Kyrgyz State Medical Academy, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Head of Atherosclerosis and Coronary Heart Disease department at National Center of Cardiology and Internal disease, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, professor of Internal Chair ant Kyrgyz-Russian (Slavic) University. The main field of scientific interest is markers of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome including people living at high altitude. Results of scientific work published in different peer-reviewed journals and he is a President of Kyrgyz Society of Cardiology

Edmo Atique Gabriel, MD, Ph.D., is a Brazilian cardiovascular surgery, Professor, cardiovascular surgery consulting and Editor of two textbooks by Springer.

Cardiac Surgery

Marquezini MV is a Scientific Researcher at Pro-Blood Foundation of Blood Center of Sao Paulo. She is also part of Experimental Air Pollution Laboratory, Medical School of University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, since 2010. Marquezini is a Expert in Cellular and Molecular Biology with cell surface proteins studies and extracellular matrix research. And she is teacher of Cell and Molecular Biology themes at different graduation careers, Post-graduation advisor, Coordinator of specialization courses and National and International Projects. She done her Ph.D. in Science from the Federal University of Sao Paulo-School of Medicine during 1996 and M.Sc. in Molecular Biology. She graduated in Biological Sciences Medical Modality from the University Methodist Piracicaba, Brazil (1983).

Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hematology, Cardiology

Vera Maravic-Stojkovic has completed her Ph.D. at the age of 41 years from Belgrade University and postdoctoral studies from Medizinicshe Hochcshule Hannover, Germany. She is the Head of Laboratory Services in Dedinje Cardiovascular Institute, Belgrade Serbia. She has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as a member of the Heart and Liver Transplant Team in Serbia

G. Chandramohan has completed his Ph.D. at the age of 28 years from Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India and now he is working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During his doctoral program, he has isolated a novel antidiabetic compound from the south Indian medicinal plant and he has patented his invention and patent was granted recently by IPR, India (Patent Grant No. 243139). Senior Research Fellowship and University Research Studentship have been awarded for his doctoral research by Indian Council of Medical Research and Annamalai University respectively. G.Chandramohan is very active in participation in scientific meeting in abroad an example of these activities; \"International Conference on Diabetes & Metabolism\" on 13-14 December 2010, California, USA; \"Experimental Biology 2011\" on 9-13th December, 2011, Washington, USA; Symposium of \"The Use of Zinc Finger Nucleases for the Development of Next Generation Cell Lines and Animal Models\" Heidelberg, Germany\" on 5th December 2011; \"2nd World Congress on Diabetes & Metabolism\" on 6-8th December 2011, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA and \"World Nutrition Rio 2012\" on 27th-30th April 2012, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil etc. He has also served as a Session Chair Person and organizing committee member for the \"Ist International conference on Diabetes & Metabolism\" was held in California, USA (2010) and \"2nd World Congress on Diabetes & Metabolism\" was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (2011) respectively. He has published a good number of papers in reputed journals. He is serving as an editorial board member and reviewer in reputed journals. He is also evaluator for the Indian government scientific projects.

Peifeng Li obtained his doctoral degree at the Chinese Academy of Medical Science. He worked as a medical researcher at the Max-Delbruck-Center for Molecular Medicine, Germany. He is currently a research Assistant Professor at the college of medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, USA. His research focuses on the molecular regulation of heart failure. He is one of the pioneer researchers in deciphering the role of microRNAs in heart diseases including cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial infarction and heart failure. He has published more than 62 papers in reputed journals and also presented his work at many national and international professional meetings. He has served on the American Heart Association grant panel. He is currently a member of the editorial boards of Dataset Papers in Biology and Journal of Geriatric Cardiology as well as a reviewer for more than 30 scientific journals.

Molecular regulation of heart failure. Focus on the role of microRNA in controlling mitochondrial network, apoptosis, and cardiac hypertrophy

Ingo Ahrens is an Associate Professor at Heart Center Freiburg University, Germany. His main research interest is cardiology and Angiology.

Janardhana Rao Babburi is an consultant and interventional cardiologist at Apollo hospital, Apollo heart institutes, India. He did his MBBS from NTR University of health sciences and MD from Manipal University. He also worked as Assistant Professor in NRI medical college and PSIMS and RF College. He presently is doing DM cardiology from Sri Ramachandra University Education, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, India.

Cardiology

Galya Naydenova Atanasova completed her Ph.D. training in Cardiology from Department of Cardiology, Pulmonology and Endocrinology at Pleven Medical University, Bulgaria. She is a General Practitioner and Cardiologist in Trainee at Pleven Medical University, Bulgaria. She specialized in General Medicine from Pleven Medical University, Bulgaria during 1993. She has attended to many International Events and presented her research work. She did many researches on metabolic syndrome and myocardial infarction of heart.

Cardiology and General Medicine

Manuela Stoicescu was an Assistant Researcher of University of Cluj Napoca. She completed her Ph.D. in Internal medicine and now she is a Consultant Internal Medicine Physician, Assistant Professor at University of Oradea, Romania. She also works at Emergency Hospital Internal Medicine Department. She has published two books, one monograph and papers in reputed journals. The topic of the monograph is: \"High blood pressure in the young- an ignored problem?!\" and the topic of the books is: Clinical cases for students of the faculty of medicine in English and Romanian language. She was invited as a speaker at many national and International Conferences. She is a Member of Romanian Society of Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Balkan Society of Medicine. And she is an Editorial Board Member for Journal of Developing drugs-OMICS GROUP

Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Medical Chemistry and Pharmacy

After obtaining Master degree in Physics (Electronics) and M.Tech (1977) in Electronics and communication Engineering, Hari Raj Singh joined Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee India in 1977 as Sr. Research Fellow and completed his Ph.D. research work. In 1980 he joined Council of Scientific and Industrial Research India as Sr. Scientist and rose to the position of Sr. Principal Scientist, Head of Biomedical Division and Project Advisor at National Physical Laboratory, New Delhi India. He have his credit about 50 research publications in National and International Journals of repute and conferences. Besides, he is associated with several International journals as Hon. Editorial Board Members and Peer reviewer. He visited several countries and Universities for delivering invited lectures and chairing sessions in conferences. Presently he is working as Director, Radha Govind Group of Institutions Meerut, India. His areas of research are Cardio-vascular signal detection, monitoring, analysis and transmission, Cancer nodule detection, Speech synthesis, Bio-medical signal processing, Robotics and its social applications and design and development of aids and appliances for disabled

Ryuichi Morishita has received his Ph.D. in Osaka University during the period of April 1, 1987 to March 31, 1991. Currently, he is working as a Department of Clinical Gene Therapy in Osaka University. He has successfully completed his Administrative responsibilities as Chief of Department of Clinical Gene Therapy. He is serving as an editorial member of several reputed journals like Editor-in-Chief in The Open Gene Therapy Journal (2008-Present), Immunology, Endocrine and Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (2011-Present), World Journal of Hypertension (2011-Present), in addition to a member of the Editorial Board in Circulation, ATVB, Hypertension and others. He has authored over 450 research articles/books. He is a member of Board in Japan Society of Vascular Biology Organization, Society for Intellectual Property, Japan Society of Anti-Aging, Japan Society of Gene Therapy, and Japan Society of Venture. He has honored over 20 academic awards including Invitrogen-Nature-Biotechnology Award.

Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, gene therapy, angiotensin, vascular biology.

Marlene Shehata has received her Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine, specializing in Genetics of Cardiovascular Diseases from the University of Ottawa during the period of 2004-2010. Shehata is also a licensed Ontario Pharmacist practicing in Southwestern Ontario. Currently, she is working as a Clinical Pharmacist Consultant in numerous academic hospitals, nursing homes and community pharmacies in Southwestern Ontario. She has successfully completed her Administrative responsibilities as a Manager for the Pharmacy and Clinical Services Department. She is currently the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pharmacology Research, Associate Editor for the Journal of Eco-biotechnology and The Journal of Biotechnology Applications. She sits on the editorial boards of numerous other journals including the International Archives of Medicine and the African Journal of Biotechnology. Shehata has authored 21 research articles, 2 book chapters and 24 abstracts. She is a member of the Canadian Hypertension Society, Canadian Cardiovascular Society, Ontario Pharmacists Association and Ontario College of Pharmacists. She is the 2011 recipient of the Certificate of Excellence by Hypertension Canada and the 2007 Horizon Award recipient by Memorial University of Newfoundland. She was awarded numerous other awards including the Pfizer Canada, Canadian Hypertension Society (CHS) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) Doctoral Research Award in 2005, the Ontario Graduate Scholarship in 2005, Merck Frosst Best Basic Science Presentation Award in 2006 and the Ontario Graduate Scholarship for Science and Technology in 2004 and 2006. Marlene was selected as one out of five Canadian pharmacists finalists in Diabetes Management: Best Practices in Patient Care 2009 Competition; she was recognized on the “Volunteer Wall” on campus the University of Ottawa for sacrificially giving over 180 hours of volunteer work in the 2007 academic year. Her motivation, enthusiasm, and perseverance made her an ideal candidate for receiving the 2008 Have a Heart Bursary by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society.

Genetics, Molecular biology of cancer, Cardiovascular genetics (hypertension, Insulin resistance, diabetes, obesity and dyslipidemia), Clinical research.

Clinical Instructor/Cardiology Fellow, Department of Cardiology, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas, 1989-1992. Director of Nuclear Cardiology and Lipid Research, the Center for Clinical Cardiology & Research, Iowa, 1992–1995. Development Effort of a Nuclear Technologist Program for Methodist College, Omaha, NE, with Pat Sullivan, July 1998-April 1999. Clinical Service Association, Department of Cardiology, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, 1999-2004. The Fleming Heart & Health Institute, Omaha, NE, 1999-2004. Veterans Administration Health Care System, February 2005 - Present. Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System, Biloxi, MS, 2005-2007. VA Central Iowa Health Care System, Des Moines, IA, 2005-2008. VA Sierra Nevada Health Care System, Reno, NV, 2005-2007. Exercise Stress Testing Certification Director for IM Residents, 2005-2007. Electrocardiogram Conference Director for IM Residents, Morning Report, 2006-2007. Nuclear Cardiology Reviewer, January 2006-2007. Physician Services Contractor - Inspecting Military Medical Facilities, 2007. Cardiologist, Cardiovascular Institute of Southern Missouri, Poplar Bluff, MO, 2008-2009. Cardiology Consultant. Reno, NV. 2005-Present.

Cardiology, Radiation Oncology, Physics

James D. Fett, MD, MPH, has worked on peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) issues for over 25 years, having been introduced to the condition in Haiti, in 1984. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles in numerous medical journals (see Bibliography attached). He has presented PPCM-related abstracts at several Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association, and made PPCM-related presentations as well as chairing sections at the 2009 Annual International Congress of Cardiology in Shanghai, China, in 2009; at the 1st International Congress on Cardiac Problems in Pregnancy in Valencia, Spain, in 2010; as well as at the 2nd International Congress on Cardiac Problems in Pregnancy in Berlin, Germany, in 2012. He currently serves as Consultant, Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Network of North America (PCN) and as Co-Chairman, Investigations in Pregnancy Associated Cardiomyopathy (IPAC) Study, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Early Biographical Data: Born in Campbell, Minnesota, USA 26 August 1934 Campbell Public School, 1-12. Education/Training: University of Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls, SD, BA Chemistry, 1952-55. University of Minnesota/University of Minnesota Medical School, MD, 1955-60. University Minnesota School Public Health, MPH, 1962/63. Institute Tropical Medicine, Antwerpen, Belgium, 1963/64. Kansas City General Hospital, Rotating Internship 1960/61. Lafayette Charity Hospital, Family Practice Residency 1961/62. Abbott Northwestern Hospital, U MN, Internal Medicine Residency, 1968-/70/72. Certification: American Board Internal Medicine, 1970/1973/1980 (lifetime). Professional Experience: Staff Physician, Vanga Hospital, Democratic Republic Congo, 1963-68. Staff Internist, Director School Public Health, Vanga Hospital, Zaire, 1970-72. Staff Internist, Medical Associates Clinic, Pierre, SD, 1973-75. Staff Internist, Clinical Director, Indian Health Service, Rapid City, SD, 1975-80. Chief Medical Officer, Bemidji Area Indian Health Service, 1980-83. Staff Internist, Clinical Director, Indian Health Service, White Earth, MN 1983-84. Medical Director, Hospital Albert Schweitzer, Deschapelles, Haiti, 1984-86. Staff Internist, Clinical Director, Indian Health Service, White Earth, MN 1986-93. Staff Internist, Medical Director, Quinault Clinic, Taholah, WA 1993-97. Principal Investigator, Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Project, Hospital Albert Schweitzer, Deschapelles, Haiti, 1997 – present. Consultant, Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Network Co-Chairman, Investigations in Pregnancy Associated Cardiomyopathy (IPAC) Study, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (http://www.peripartumcmnetwork.pitt.edu)

Cardiovascular Disease in Women

Paraskevi Theofilou has received her PhD at Panteion University during the period of 2010. Currently, she is working as a research fellow at Panteion University. She has successfully completed her Administrative responsibilities as Head of Personnel Department at Sotiria General Hospital. She is serving as an editorial member of several reputed journals like Frontiers in Psychology for Clinical Settings, Europe Journal of Psychology, International Journal of Biomedicine, World Journal of Urology.

Psychosocial processes, outcomes and quality of life in chronic illness with particular emphasis on chronic kidney disease, dialysis and renal transplantation, Self management interventions for patients with chronic illness, Palliative care in severe chronic disease

Frink is the Principal Investigator of the Heart Research Foundation of Sacramento. He received his training at the University of Iowa, the Mayo Clinic and the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He practiced invasive cardiology in Sacramento, California for 35 years and established a laboratory to study the post-mortem heart. He has published approximately 25 research papers and a book, Inflammatory Atherosclerosis: Characteristics of the Injurious Agent, detailing the pathologic findings in patients who died of acute coronary disease. The primary focus of his work has been the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and the mechanism responsible for sudden cardiac death.

The primary focus of his work has been the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and the mechanism responsible for sudden cardiac death.

Xiaoping Ren received his M.D in Harbin Medical University in 1984. He performed his Clinical and Research Hand Fellowship training in University of Louisville in Kentucky (1996-2000). During the period, Ren created a feasibility large animal CTA model for limb transplantation to allow modulation of the immune reaction and to investigate immunosuppressant. The Nation\'s First Hand Transplantation in US was successfully conducted as a direct result of the preclinical swine composite tissue allotransplantation model (CTA). He joined the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine as faculty member in 2001, then appointed Assistant professor and Associate Professor. As well as CTA, another focus of his research program is to understand molecular and neuronal basis of non-ischemic nociceptor-induced cardioprotection. In UC. These studies were published in the Journal of Surgical Research and in Circulation. Ren has had over 40 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Currently, he is holding active Memberships of the American Association for Hand Surgery and the American Heart Association. He also service as peer-reviewer of several journals.

Hand and Microsurgery, and research interesting on developing cardioprotective strategies against ischemia/reperfusion injury and CAT model that has led first successful hand transplantation. Currently, focusing on develop AHBR biological model

Ryuichi Morishita has received his PhD in Osaka University during the period of April 1, 1987 to March 31, 1991. Currently, he is working as a Department of Clinical Gene Therapy in Osaka University. He has successfully completed his Administrative responsibilities as Chief of Department of Clinical Gene Therapy. He is serving as an editorial member of several reputed journals like Editor-in-Chief in The Open Gene Therapy Journal (2008-), Immunology, Endocrine and Metabolic Agents in Medicinal Chemistry (2011-), World Journal of Hypertension (2011-), in addition to a member of the Editorial Board in Circulation, ATVB, Hypertension and others. He has authored over 450 research articles/books. He is a member of Board in Japan Society of Vascular Biology Organization, Society for Intellectual Property, Japan Society of Anti-Aging, Japan Society of Gene Therapy, and Japan Society of Venture. He has honored over 20 academic awards including Invitrogen-Nature-Biotechnology Award.

Hypertension, cardiovascular disease, gene therapy, angiotensin, vascular biology

Anastasia Susie Mihailidou is a cardiovascular clinical scientist, graduating with a PhD in Pharmacology from University of Sydney in 1988. She is currently Clinical Senior Lecturer for Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney and Senior Hospital Scientist at Royal North Shore Hospital. Anastasia has both clinical and basic research interests as Director of the Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring Service for a major Tertiary Referral Centre and Head of the Cardiovascular & Hormonal Research Laboratory. Her research focus is regulation of aldosterone/mineralocorticoid receptors in the heart and has made a significant contribution to understanding the role of corticosteroid hormones (and antagonists). She was the first to show aldosterone has both rapid and sustained effects on regulation of sodium transport in the heart, with increased levels of intracellular sodium. These findings have generated great interest, leading to award of the Pfizer Prize for Best Research at the International Society of Hypertension (2002). Her current research focus is to determine the role of aldosterone and mineralocorticoid receptors in diabetes

Her research focus is regulation of aldosterone/mineralocorticoid receptors in the heart and has made a significant contribution to understanding the role of corticosteroid hormones (and antagonists)

Medical School:Hahnemann University School of Medicine; Internship:Hahnemann University School of Medicine; Residency:Hahnemann University School of Medicine; Affiliations: Bryn Mawr Hospital - On staff since 2003; Lankenau Medical Center - On staff since 2003; Paoli Hospital -On Staff since 2003; Academic Titles:Clinical Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery - Lankenau Medical Center; Clinical/Dept Titles: Surgical Director of Heart Failure, Lankenau Medical Center; Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Paoli Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Graduated in Medicine - Cordoba National University, Argentina (1972); Residency in General Surgery - Cordoba Hospital, Argentina, (1973-1974); Thoracic Surgery Residency - Cordoba Hospital, Argentina (1974-1976); Specialization Course in Cardiovascular Surgery - University of Sao Paulo - Brazil (1977 - 1985), as assistant Professor. E. J. Zerbini. Specialist in Cardiovascular Surgery at the Brazilian Society of Cardiovascular Surgery (1982); Masters (1986-1987), PhD (1988-1991) and Full Professor (1988) at Sao Paulo Federal University. Visiting Professor to the service of Prof. De Leval, at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London (1987), sharing the experience with technique of cavopulmonary shunt (bidirectional Glenn and tunnel VCI - APD), instead of atriopulmonary (Fontan operation), for the treatment of univentricular heart; Introducing this technique at UNIFESP, since 1990, being the first center in Brazil using routine technique Bidirectional Glenn and Tunnel VCI - APD; subsequently adopted by the Pediatric Heart Surgery services by all over the world, with significant reduction in mortality. Right Ventricle remodeling technique using four own models of porcine pulmonary prosthesis for surgical correction of Congenital Heart Disease with obstruction of the pulmonary outlet tract. Implementation of the modified technique of ultra filtration after CPB and in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, developed by Prof. M. Elliott, at Great Ormond Street Hospital, London (1995), used in neonates and infants with complex congenital heart disease, underwent surgical correction at UNIFESP, since 1996. Visiting Professor to the Service of Pediatric Heart Surgery: Great Ormond Street Hospital - London (Prof. M. de Leval) (1987); Herefield Hospital - London (Prof. M. Yacoub) (1987); Hospital Bichat - Paris (Prof. U. Hvass) (1987); Royal Brompton Hospital - London (Prof. C. Lincoln) (1992), Loma Linda - University of California - USA (Prof. L. Bailey) (1995); University of California ( UCLA), USA (Prof.H. Laks) (1996)

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Pediatric Cardiac Prosthesis, Research of new materials for cardiac prosthesis

Jodi Tinkel completed her medical training at the University of Toledo Medical center and is currently an assistant professor and invasive cardiologist at UT. She is the medical director of cardiac rehabilitation and has research interests in ischemic preconditioning, platelet activation, cardiac imaging and plaque stability.

Ischemic preconditioning, platelet activation, cardiac imaging and plaque stability

Heng graduated from the University of Singapore and had specialty and subspecialty clinical training in New Zealand. His research training was done in New Zealand and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles (affiliated with UCLA). Heng is Clinical Professor of Medicine in UCLA, and has authored or coauthored over 150 original publications, abstracts and book chapters. Heng was Chief of Cardiology of the UCLA San Fernando Medicine Program for over 10 years, and is currently in private cardiology consultation practice.

Cardiology

Dudley completed his M.D. and Ph.D. at the age of 26 years from the Medical College of Virginia. Dudley is a Professor of Medicine and Physiology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Currently, he is an Editorial Board member for JACC and a member of the Association of University Cardiologists and the American Society for Clinical Investigation. His research program focuses on mechanisms and treatments of arrhythmia and diastolic heart failure. He has published more than 80 articles and chapters and has submitted more than 15 patent applications on new therapeutics in these areas.

Cardiology

I have been working at St. Lukes since 2004 as an intern, resident and fellow and now as an EP fellow. During my residency program I assisted Eyal Herzog in creating many of our novel pathways for the management of cardiac patients. In 2006 I started the ACAP program Advanced cardiac Admission Program, which included 6 state of the art novel pathways for the management of Chest pain, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hyperglycemia in the CCU, Syncope and hypertension, including developing a hospital wide database, with patient follow-ups. We were able to change the culture in SL to comply with all published guidelines and close the existing gap in practice. These databases served as a cornerstone for research, resulting in more than 82-presented abstracts and 25 published manuscripts. In conjunction with the ACAP databases, I also started an ACAP Volunteer group comprised of multiple internal medicine residents, pre-medical and medical students from (Columbia University, New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Touro College, and Hunter college) as well as FMG\'s who are seeking residencies in the United States about 60 members. All were instrumental in implementing, managing and data collection. Recently, we have published TWO new pathways; ESCAPE Pathway for Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention and MOCHA Pathway for the Management of Survivors of Out of the Hospital Cardiac Arrest both were contributory in increase awareness of sudden cardiac death, referral for ICD implantation and favorable outcome for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Electrophysiology has been a passion of mine for the longest time, dating back from my early years in medicine in Egypt during my Interventional cardiology years. Of course I feel that my training at St. Lukes Roosevelt Hospital has given me enough versatility, experience and capability in clinical as well as in research aspects yielding a very competent electrophysiologist

My major interests are focused in atrial fibrillation ablation, syncope research and management developed the SELF and ESCAPE pathways for the management of syncope and the role of ILR in management, ventricular tachycardia ablation in particular ventricular premature complex research and their detrimental effect on ejection fraction, and advanced heart failure device therapies. One of the new and exciting Electrophysiology procedures that I had the privilege to train and perform in is lead extraction using the Spectranetics Laser Sheath; my intention is to establish a state of the art lead extraction program.

Maciej Banach was an Undersecretary of State at Ministry of Science and Higher Education of Republic of Poland (2010-2012). He is Professor at Medical University of Lodz, Head of Foreign Affairs Office and Head of Department of Hypertension at Medical University of Lodz and an Associate Professor in the Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Family Medicine, Chair of Nephrology and Hypertension, at WAM University Hospital in Lodz, Poland. He is a Head of Polish Lipid Association (PoLA) and Lodz Chapter of Polish Society of Hypertension. Banach has published more than 400 original articles, reviews, editorials, and book chapters in the field of hypertension, dyslipidemias, cardiology, cardiac surgery, and risk stratification. He is Editor-in-Chief of the journal Archives of Medical Science (IF=1.199) and Cardiovascular Continuum, Deputy Editor of Thyroid Research and Clinical and Experimental Medical Letters and member of Editorial Advisory Board of numerous international medical journals such as Angiology, Medical Science Monitor and Expert Opinion on Pharmacotherapy. He is editor or author of over 20 books. He is a fellow of the Council for High Blood Pressure Research of American Heart Association (FAHA), National Lipid Association (FNLA), American Society of Angiology (FASA), European Society of Cardiology (FESC), Royal Society for Public Health (FRSPH) and Society of Geriatric Cardiology (FSGC; 2008-2010). He is a member of working-core of Alliance for Biomedical Research/European Council for Health Research and steering committee of European Innovation Partnership in Active and Healthy Ageingat European Commission (Brussels).

Area of scientific interests: hypertension (optimal level of BP - J-curve phenomenon, pharmacotherapy/combined therapy, complications), lipid disorders, dyslipidemia therapy (with statins, combined treatment), new drugs in CVD therapy, risk stratification

Shiyou Chen has completed his PhD from Nanjing Agricultural University in China and postdoctoral studies from University of Iowa School of Medicine and National Institutes of Health. He is an Associate Professor in the department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia. He has published more than 40 papers in reputed journals and serving as a reviewer for several reputed scientific journals and grant agencies.

Paras Kumar Mishra did BSc and MS in Biological science with specialization in Zoology from India. The dissertation was from Banaras Hindu University (a reputed university in India) on understanding the genetic basis of speciation. His postdoctoral works were basically on cardiac physiology from USA. As a faculty, the major focus of their research is to understand how heart undergoes structural and functional remodeling especially in diabetes, how it is regulated by specific microRNA (miR). He was also interested in investigating the role of extracellular matrix (ECM) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in heart failure. Their recent results revealed that MMP9 and miR-133 plays pivotal role in diabetic cardiomyopathy. Since, the role of ECM stiffness has been unequivocal in stem cell apoptosis, They are interested to investigate the mechanism of ECM mediated cardiac progenitor cell apoptosis / impairment of differentiation in diabetes. The long term goal of research is to discover an intervention tool to improve cardiac function in pathological heart using microRNAs and stem cells.

The structural and functional remodelling in heart is regulated by micro RNAs (miRNAs) - tiny, conserved, non-coding regulatory RNAs that have been recently emerged as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for cardiovascular and several other diseases. My research work focuses on finding the candidate miRNAs involved in heart failure especially diabetic cardiomyopathy and using them for ameliorating the pathological conditions. Additionally, I am also investigating the key factors associated with heart failure such as elevation in homocysteine level, degradation of extracellular matrix, decrease in tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMPs), impairment of sympathetic tone and contractile function of cardiomyocytes using in vivo, ex vivo and in vitro approaches.

G. Chandramohan has completed his Ph.D at the age of 28 years from Annamalai University, Tamil Nadu, India and now he is working as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. During his doctoral program, he has isolated a novel antidiabetic compound from the south Indian medicinal plant and he has patented his invention and patent was granted recently by IPR, India (Patent Grant No. 243139). Senior Research Fellowship and University Research Studentship have been awarded for his doctoral research by Indian Council of Medical Research and Annamalai University respectively. G.Chandramohan is very active in participation in scientific meeting in abroad an example of these activities; International Conference on Diabetes & Metabolism\" on 13-14 December 2010, California, US; \"Experimental Biology 2011\" on 9-13th December, 2011, Washington, USA; Symposium of \"The Use of Zinc Finger Nucleases for the Development of Next Generation Cell Lines and Animal Models\" Heidelberg, Germany” on 5th December 2011; \"2nd World Congress on Diabetes & Metabolism\" on 6-8th December 2011, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA and \"World Nutrition Rio 2012\" on 27th-30th April 2012, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil etc. He has also served as a Session Chair Person and organizing committee member for the \"Ist International conference on Diabetes & Metabolism\" was held in California, USA (2010) and \"2nd World Congress on Diabetes & Metabolism\" was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA (2011) respectively. He has published a good number of papers in reputed journals. He is serving as an editorial board member and reviewer in reputed journals. He is also evaluator for the Indian government scientific projects. Recently, he has completed two major research projects on \"Role of camel milk in diabetes mellitus & Morin, a flavonoid on myocardial infarction\".

Shahzad is currently affiliated with the University of Vienna, Austria. Shahzad is one of the pioneers, working for the progress of translational medicine field. He is serving as a secretary general and director of administration for \"International society for translational medicine (ISTM)\" He is serving as visiting professor of translational medicine, at the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China. He is also appointed as associate professor of translational medicine (Adj), at the First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, China. Shahzad has won many prestigious international fellowships and awards. Shahzad is invited speaker for many international life sciences conferences.

Translational Research and Clinical Diagnostics

Yin is famous translational cardiology scientist. Dr. Yin is working as a Professor of Cardiology at \'The First Affiliated Hospital\' of \'Harbin Medical University\', Harbin, China. Her research interests are mainly focused on the mechanisms of heart failure and the gene therapy of restenosis after percutanous coronary intervention. She is one of the editorial board members for Translational Bio medicine Journal and Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics (MMT) Journal.

Cardiology

Qiangjun Cai is a cardiologist in University of Texas Medical Branch. He received medical degree in China and finished internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship training in the United States

He is interested in both basic science and clinical cardiology research

Jun Wang Joined the Texas Heart Institute in the Nov. of 2009 as a Senior Research Scientist and Principal Investigator. Previously, he worked as a non-tenure track Assistant Professor at the Institute of Bio-sciences and Technology at the Texas A&M Health Science Center for over three years. With the grants from American Heart Association and National Institutes of Health, he is studying the role of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins in cardiovascular development and diseases, particularly in the congenital cardiac defects and cardiac muscle disorders. Wang obtained his Ph.D. in the medical science from Shanghai Second Medical University in the People\'s Republic of China.

Birth defects are a global problem that affects approximately 6% of births worldwide. Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are the most common of all congenital birth defects, occurring in 0.5-1.2% of newborn. One of the focuses of my lab is to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying CHDs associated with a deficient SUMO conjugation pathway. Sumoylation is a posttranslational modification in which SUMO proteins can be covalently conjugated to the target proteins via an ATP-dependent enzymatic cascade that requires the heterodimeric activating enzyme (E1), SAE1 and SAE2, and conjugation enzyme E2), Ubc9, which is the lone E2 so far identified in mammalian cells. The presence of E3 ligases, represented by protein inhibitors of activated STAT (PIAS) proteins, stimulates the efficiency of SUMO conjugation and promotes the formation of poly-SUMO chain. The functional consequences of sumoylation are quite diverse and substrate/context specific; SUMO modification may increase, decrease, or exert no detectable effects on the activity of a given substrate. The molecular and cellular approaches combined with genetically modified murine models are used to investigate the regulation of cardiac development by SUMO conjugation pathway.

Oudit is a Cardiologist and a Clinician-Scientist at the Mazankowski Alberta Heart Institute, University of Alberta. Oudit\'s research is focused on the pathophysiology and molecular biology of heart failure, vascular disease and kidney disease. We are studying the role of various signaling pathways in heart failure including the different PI3K isoforms, Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Apelin peptides and they downstream signaling pathways. They are also exploring the basis of cardiac toxicity of novel anti-cancer drugs which are known to block PI3K signaling.

Pathophysiology and molecular biology of heart failure, vascular disease and kidney disease

G. K. Pal has completed his MBBS and MD degrees at the age of 26 years from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), the premier medical institute of India. He is presently the Professor of Medical Physiology at JIPMER. He has 26 years of teaching and research experience in Physiology and he has guided many PhD and MD students. He has published 78 research papers in reputed medical journals. His areas of research interest are obesity, hypertension and yoga. Currently, he is actively involved in hypertension research. Pal has received 15 National Research Awards from various scientific bodies of India. Pal is presently the Chief of Central Workshop of JIPMER Hospital and Biomedical Engineering Division of JIPMER. Pal was Editor-in-Chief of the journal \'Biomedicine\' from 2006 to 2009, and now he is the Editor of Indian Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology since 2009. Prof. Pal is an expert reviewer for many International journals.