Prof. Chenjie Xu (H-index: 60)

City University of Hong Kong

Dr. XU Chenjie is a professor of biomedical engineering at City University of Hong Kong. Dr. XU is dedicated to the development of transdermal drug delivery formulations and devices (especially nucleic acid based nanoparticles and microneedle-based skin patch). He is well known for the development of microneedle skin patch for keloid treatment, anti-obesity, skin interstitial fluid extraction and intradermal cell delivery etc. He has published more than 180 peer-reviewed articles (citation is 18k with H index of 60), holding 10 international patents, and found two spin-offs. His research is supported by a wide range of public and private foundations including Singapore Minister of Education, Singapore A*Star, Continental Corp (German), Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Hong Kong University Grants Committee, National Natural Science Foundation of China, etc.

Speech Title: "Microneedle-based Skin Patch forTransdermal Drug Delivery and Biosensing"

Abstract: Microneedles (MNs) are an emerging platform for transdermal applications including drug delivery, insulin delivery, vaccination, biosensing, disease diagnosis, and cosmeceutical industry. Their advantages lie at their easy-to-use, pain-free, minimally invasive, and self-administrable features. This overcomes the skin barrier to enhance transdermal delivery of drugs and biomolecules with different physicochemical properties in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo. In this talk, Dr. Xu will share microneedle technologies developed in his lab for meeting a wide range of medical needs, including dental and eye disease treatment, and immune therapies. He will also present his envision in utilizing MN platform for the in-situ monitoring of physiological signals.

Prof. Yasukazu Nakamura (H-index: 65)

National Institute of Genetics

Professor Yasukazu Nakamura is a faculty member in Division of Informatics at National Institute of Genetics (NIG), part of The Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS) in Japan, where he leads the Genome Informatics Laboratory. His research focuses on the analysis and annotation of various genomes, the construction of genome databases, and the development of tools and workflows to enhance the quality of genomic data. He has played a crucial role in analyzing critical microbial, plant, and animal genomes, advancing our understanding of genetics at the molecular level. Professor Nakamura is also instrumental in managing the DNA Data Bank of Japan (DDBJ), a partner of the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC), one of the world’s largest public repositories of genetic information. As Head of International Collaboration, he promotes the open sharing of nucleotide sequence data, ensuring DDBJ remains an invaluable resource for the global scientific community. According to Scopus, his genomics research includes 194 peer-reviewed papers and an h-index of 65. He is actively involved in international collaborations and partnerships, improving genome annotation accuracy, enhancing genome databases' value, and establishing standards for genome analysis and database development.

Speech Title: "DDBJ and the INSDC: Shaping the Future of Global Genomic Data Infrastructure"

Abstract: DNA Data Bank of Japan (DDBJ) is a public repository for nucleotide sequences, playing a crucial role in sharing biological data with the global scientific community. As part of Japan’s National Institute of Genetics, DDBJ collaborates with the European Nucleotide Archive (ENA) and GenBank in the United States, forming the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC). The INSDC is a global partnership dedicated to the free exchange and long-term archiving of nucleotide sequence data. For nearly 40 years, it has maintained a synchronized framework across its three databases, ensuring that researchers worldwide have access to up-to-date biological information. This collaboration is a fundamental infrastructure for advancing genomics and bioinformatics, as it extensively collects genetic data from diverse organisms. Through its contributions to the INSDC, DDBJ supports a broad spectrum of research fields, ranging from basic biology to applied sciences such as medicine and agriculture. By integrating Japanese research into the global scientific community, DDBJ plays a crucial role in fostering innovation and scientific discovery on an international scale. In this presentation, I will report on the current status of DDBJ and the INSDC and introduce prospects.

Prof. Keiji Nakajima
Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Japan

Professor Keiji Nakajima was awarded his Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Agriculture at Kyoto University in recognition of his research into the molecular basis and evolution of stereospecific alkaloid biosynthetic capacity. He subsequently shifted his field of expertise to plant developmental biology following his postdoctoral fellowship at New York University. Since that time, he has achieved a series of internationally renowned research achievements, including the discovery of intercellular movement of transcription factors and microRNAs that transmit short-range cell-cell signals to create elaborate plant tissue patterns, as well as the discovery of genes that confer pluripotency on plant cells. In recent years, he has been engaged in efforts to elucidate the genetic mechanisms that underpin the robust and plastic developmental characteristics of plant roots, employing a combination of live microscopic imaging, computer vision, and mathematical simulation. From 2019 to 2024, he served as the representative of the government-funded research consortium named "Periodicity and its Modulation in Plants", with the objective of accelerating interdisciplinary collaborative research in plant biology and information science.

Speech Title: "Uncovering Hidden Principles in Plant Developmental Regulation with Live Microscope Imaging and Computer Vision"

Abstract: The impact of integrating computational technology in basic biological research is most effectively illustrated by the evolution of bioinformatics over the past few decades. In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards utilizing the advanced technology of computer vision in medical diagnosis and in deepening our understanding of biological systems. The field of plant developmental biology is arguably one of the most suitable areas for accelerating research using computer vision, as the molecular and cellular dynamics of organisms undergoing normal development can be readily observed through live microscopic imaging. Over the past five years, I have led a research consortium, "Periodicity and its Modulation in Plants," which brought together over 40 principal investigators with expertise in plant biology, mathematical biology, computer vision, and human augmentation. The consortium aimed to uncover hidden principles in plant developmental regulations, providing foundation for the improvement of crops with enhanced yields and greater environmental resilience. In this presentation, I will highlight a few collaborative achievements of the consortium members that have successfully visualized hidden aspects of plant developmental regulation and gene functions, and discuss future directions in the collaboration of computer science and basic biological research.

INVITED SPEAKERS

Assoc. Prof. Marwan El Rich

Khalifa University

Before joining Khalifa University in 2016, Dr. Marwan served as an assistant professor in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and as adjunct professor in the department of Biomedical Engineering at University of Alberta in Canada. Additionally, He worked as a Biomechanics expert at Altair Engineering France for two years. His research expertise lies in the computational biomechanics of the human musculoskeletal system, with a focus on the thoracolumbar and cervical spines, as well as the ankle joint. I specialize in developing numerical tools such as musculoskeletal (MS) and finite element (FE) models to study the biomechanical properties of the musculoskeletal system in healthy subjects, in patients with conditions such as low back pain, neck pain, talar bone fracture, gait deficits, and musculoskeletal complications following a stroke. These models also help optimize related treatments. Dr. Marwan also interested in utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) tools facilitate subject-specific modelling and propose alternative solutions to current techniques, which are often labor-intensive and time-consuming. He is the co-founder of MASHYAH (www.mashyah.com), a startup that enables comprehensive gait analysis by combining portable motion sensors and personalized musculoskeletal modeling to motion collect data and compute joints reaction loads. Dr. Marwan is also a Professional Engineer and a member of the APEGA (Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta, Canada), the European Society of Biomechanics, and the ASME-Bioengineering Division. Additionally, he serves as an associate editor in Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, in the Biomechanics section.

PREVIOUS SPEAKERS

Prof. Yudong Zhang University of Leicester, UK	Prof. Dong Sun City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong	Prof. Nicola Mulder University of Cape Town, South Africa	Prof. Stephen Kwok-Wing Tsui The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
Prof. Dong Ming Tianjin University, China	Prof. Tetsuo Shibuya The University of Tokyo, Japan	Assoc. Prof. Lin Meng Tianjin University, China	Assoc. Prof. Jie Luo Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China
Prof. Mitsuhiro Ogawa Teikyo University, Japan	Prof. Hao Jiang Renmin University of China, China	Assoc. Prof. Xingwei An Tianjin University, China	Asst. Prof. Faez Iqbal Khan Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University, China