2^nd World Congress on Molecular Genetics and Gene Therapy July 03-04, 2017 Bangkok, Thailand

John D. Loike, PhD serves as Director for Special Programs for the Center for Bioethics and is the Co-Director for Graduate Studies in the Department of Physiology and Cellular Biophysics at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. He is also an Advisory Board member of the Columbia University Center for the Study of Science and Religion, creator and faculty editor of the Columbia University Journal of Bioethics, and course instructor for Crossroads in Bioethics, a course for undergraduates offered each spring at Columbia College. He has co-organized several national and international conferences on genetics and Bioethics, and he is the founding co-director of BIOCEP (BIOethical Cross-cultural Education Program), a two-week intensive summer internship program designed to promote educational and cultural exchange in medical ethics (medical tourism, emerging infections, stem cell research, reproductive medicine, etc.) with students from Mahidol University in Bangkok, Thailand.

Dr. Loike’s areas of interest in bioethics include stem cells, cloning, neuroethics, bioterrorism, and the interface of science and religion.

Dr. Guangping Gao received his Bachelor Degree in Medicine from the West China Medical School of Sichuan University. Dr. Gao completed his Ph.D. training in molecular genetics at Florida International University with his work involving the isolation and characterization of the human aspartoacylase gene and the genetic mutations responsible for Canavan disease, a severe form of inherited neurodegenerative diseases.

Dr. Gao’s primary research interests include molecular mechanisms of AAV evolution and diversity, molecular interactions between endogenous AAV, vector and host, molecular and cellular mechanisms of AAV vector transduction, microRNA functional genomics in adult mammals and miRNA therapeutics, gene therapy of rare diseases, particularly rare CNS disorders using rAAV to cross BBB for global CNS gene transfer, and viral vector based other somatic gene therapy approaches (.e.g. gene silencing, gene addition and genome editing, etc).

Dr. Zhang graduated from Johns Hopkins University with PhD. He has worked at Harvard University Genome Center as Senior System Biologist for years before joining HKU in 2013. Dr. Zhang lab has broad interest in genetic and epigenetic regulation in development and diseases. Currently, his lab is focusing on epigenetic regulation of tumorigenesis. His lab employs high through-put ‘omics’ assays and large scale computation to dissect the gene regulatory network and signaling pathways involved in oncogenesis.

My research interests: Dr. Zhang’s lab has broad interest in genetic and epigenetic regulation in development and diseases. We employ high through-put ‘omics’ assays and large scale computation analysis in combination with molecular biology and biochemistry tools. Currently, we are focusing on epigenetic regulation in tumorigenesis and stem cell differentiation, and the crosstalk with gene regulatory network and signaling pathways.

Working as a Professor of Pathology at University of MIAMI Health system. finished PhD in 1985 from University of Rochester. My interests lie in understanding the relationship between the immune system and pathogens. More specifically, I am fascinated by the interactions between CD8+ T cells and the AIDS virus. This involves a comprehensive knowledge of the MHC class I molecules of humans and non-human primates. I have developed a program to understand this relationship over the past 20 years. More recently, I have devoted considerable time and effort to HIV vaccine development.

My interests lie in understanding the relationship between the immune system and pathogens. More specifically, I am fascinated by the interactions between CD8+ T cells and the AIDS virus. This involves a comprehensive knowledge of the MHC class I molecules of humans and non-human primates. I have developed a program to understand this relationship over the past 20 years. More recently, I have devoted considerable time and effort to HIV vaccine development.

BSc in Medical Science (TCM, Guangzhou University of TCM, 1987) PhD in Pharmacognosy (King’s College London, 1999).Expertise in Chinese medicine (Clinical practice) Clinical trials on Chinese medicine Pharmacology of Chinese medicines. Working Experience 1987-1990 Medical Doctor, the Affiliated Hospital of Guang dong Provincial Research Institute of TCM, China. 1991 - 1998 Herbalist and acupuncturist, Institute of Chinese Medicine, London, UK 1998 - 2002 Senior Lecturer, School of Health and Social Science, Middlesex University, London, UK 2002 - 2003 Assistant Professor, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau 2003 - 2010 Assistant Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, CUHK 2010 - present Associate Professor, School of Chinese Medicine, CUHK

Research and drug development of Chinese medicines for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, psoriasis and atopic dermatitis Clinical trials on the effectiveness and safety of Chinese medical interventions, including (1) acupuncture for post-stroke dysphagia; (2) acupuncture for overactive bladder in elderly; (3) topical preparation containing Rubiae Radix for plaque type of psoriasis; and (4) herbal prescriptions for atopic dermatitis Pharmacological evaluations using in vitro and in vivo models on herb-drug interactions between Chinese medicines and pharmaceuticals in the areas of lung cancer, stroke and diabetes mellitus Phytochemistry of Chinese medicines Literature reviews using systematic review and meta-analysis approach on the effectiveness and safety of Chinese medical interventions including herbal medicine and acupuncture & moxibustion

Dr.G.Kaarthikeyan is a Professor in the Department of Periodontics. He completed his BDS in 2001 at Tamil Nadu Govt.Dental College and MDS in 2007 from Saveetha Dental College. He has over 9 years of experience in training undergraduates and postgraduates alike. His areas of interest include genetics, implantology and regenerative surgery with over 30 publications to his credit. He is currently pursuing his PhD in our university in the field of genetic polymorphisms in periodontitis affected patients in a South Indian population.

Gene polymorphisms, miRNA, Periodontitis

Gerald Muench started work at the University of Würzburg, Germany in 1995 and was then appointed Lecturer in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in 1999. In 2000, he joined the Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research at the University of Leipzig. He left in 2004 to take up a position as Senior Lecturer at James Cook University in Townsville. In May 2008 Gerald was appointed as Associate Professor of Pharmacology in the School of Medicine at the University of Western Sydney, and he was promoted to Professor with effect from 1 January 2012. His major project focus is on Alzheimer's disease with a special emphasis on carbonyl stress in age-related and neurodegenerative processes, and also looking at brain inflammation as a major progression factor in Alzheimer's disease, now widely accepted. He is also looking to discover and identify novel anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective compounds from marine macro-organisms and tropical rain forest plants, a project started through James Cook University's "Enhancing life in the tropics". Gerald has served on the editorial boards of six international scientific journals and has been a consultant with Aventis, Roche Diagnostics, Merz, ASTA Medica/Degussa and Blackmores. His teaching philosophy is to show students how much fun the learning experience can be and define precisely what they need to know and understand when the standards are high.

Biochemistry, Biotechnology, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Molecular Genetics, Pharmacology

Dr. Runlin Ma is a chief scientist of Transgenic sheep research at Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology in Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing. He is also a Professor and Principle Investigator of Genetics at Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He has done his B.Sc in 1982 at Shehizi University, M.Sc in 1987 at University of Minnesota and Ph.D. in 1991 at Kansas State University.

Mouse models of human autoimmune diseases MHC structure, organization, and evolution. Functional genomics and genetic modification of animals