Dr. Angela Ikeme holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree with an emphasis in Executive Leadership and a master’s in nursing education. She holds a California Registered Nurse License and has spent over 33 years in clinical and administrative nursing. She is an Adjunct Faculty at the University of San Francisco, California, a Clinical Nurse Leader, aco-founder and the Executive Provost of Merit College of Nursing Sciences in Nigeria. She is an advocate for high-quality education for nurses, ensuring that nurses learn and provide evidence-based, quality, and safe patient care, an advocate for equity and social justice, a mentor, an inspirational speaker, and a published author. She is committed to building community through partnership and collaboration. She is an enthusiastic and authentic leader with a strong passion and respect for others. She is a co-author of “Voices of Triumph: Stories of African Women Immigrants in America. Dr. Ikeme belongs to several professional and community organizations, such as the American Nurses Association, the National Association of Nigerian Nurses in North America, Registered Nurses Professional Association, Nigerian Igbo Catholic Community of San Jose, and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society, etc.

Dr. Nasibeh Zanjirani Farahani is a translational AI scientist, researcher, and systems engineer at Mayo Clinic, where she serves as Assistant Professor of Medicine and manager with the Mayo Clinic Platform. Her work focuses on developing and applying machine learning, natural language processing, and generative AI methods to support clinical decision-making and strengthen health care delivery. Her research includes projects in early diagnosis, hospital operations, and data-driven models of care. She also works on approaches that improve the reliability and balanced performance of AI systems across patient groups and care settings. Dr. Farahani’s interests lie at the intersection of artificial intelligence, systems engineering, and clinical medicine, with an emphasis on building robust and trustworthy digital health solutions.

Dr. Beckie Ingram is a Reader of Immunity to Infection at Queen’s University Belfast, where she established her research group in 2009. Following postdoctoral positions at Imperial College London, where she characterised protective immunity to prevent HIV progression in collaboration with the Uganda Virus Research Institute, and developed vaccines against biothreat organisms, she has built a translational research programme focused on bacterial infections. She has led the preclinical arm of multinational vaccine studies and made cutting-edge contributions to understanding lymphocyte responses, developing biologically relevant in vivo models, and advancing novel antibiotics, immunotherapeutics, and vaccines. She is a member of the HEA All-Island Vaccine Research and Training Alliance (AVIRT), supporting the next generation of vaccinologists. Currently, she is leading the development of vaccines to combat antimicrobial resistance through her spin-out company, VacTimmune.

Dr. Palmy Jesudhasan is a leading Research Microbiologist at the USDA ARS Poultry Production and Product Safety Research Unit, dedicated to groundbreaking solutions for controlling human foodborne and poultry pathogens. He is recognized as the first to apply electron beam (eBeam) technology for vaccine development, pioneering a transformative approach to disease control in poultry. His innovative eBeam-inactivated vaccine platform has yielded a patented Salmonella vaccine and a provisional patent for an eBeam-inactivated Staphylococcus vaccine, specifically designed to combat bacterial-induced lameness in broiler chickens. Further extending this cutting-edge approach, he has also developed eBeam-inactivated vaccines against Clostridium perfringens, Mycoplasma, and avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC). Dr. Jesudhasan's research further integrates genomic innovations, including CRISPR/Cas9, to enhance these novel vaccine strategies and explore DNA and protein vaccines for both bacterial and viral pathogens impacting poultry and fish health. With a prolific publication record in peer-reviewed journals and book chapters, Dr. Jesudhasan's research bridges advanced molecular biology with practical, impactful disease prevention, continually pushing the boundaries of food safety and animal health through the power of eBeam technology.

Dr. Warsame is an accomplished public health specialist with over 12 years of experience leading transformative health interventions in fragile and resource-limited contexts. He has a proven track record in health systems strengthening, maternal and child health, immunization, and midwifery workforce development. Currently, Jamal serves as the National Consultant for Child Survival and Primary Health Care (PHC) Strengthening at UNICEF and Ministry of Health Somalia, where he leads policy development, operational planning, and monitoring frameworks to advance child health outcomes. His previous worked with UNFPA, WHO, Save the children international in Somalia, where he integrated midwifery into primary healthcare and built the capacity of frontline health workers, and overseeing emergency preparedness, outbreak response, and disease surveillance. Jamal holds two master’s degrees—in Public Health (Health Systems, Policy & Management) from the KIT Royal Tropical Institute (Netherlands), and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights from Dalarna University (Sweden)—alongside a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health Research.

Dr. Ana Alfaro Cruz is a physician and pathologist specializing in oncologic pathology. She earned her medical degree from Universidad Veracruzana and completed her residency and advanced specialty training in Pathological Anatomy at the Faculty of Medicine, UNAM, and the General Hospital of Mexico City, where she has served since 2007. Dr. Alfaro holds a PhD in Biomedical Sciences (UNAM) and is a Level I National Researcher in Mexico’s National System of Researchers. She is currently a Specialist Physician “C” and Research Coordinator of the Pathological Anatomy Service at the General Hospital of Mexico City. In addition, she is actively engaged in academic teaching as a professor and adjunct professor at UNAM, IPN, and the Center for Teaching and Research in Genital Tract Pathology and Colposcopy.

Dr. Olawale Salami (MD, DTMH, MBA) is a physician, clinical researcher, and drug development specialist with over 15 years of experience in clinical trial design, implementation, and regulatory strategy across Phases I–IV. He currently serves as Head of the Clinical Trials Unit at the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE), Kigali, Rwanda, where he leads strategic, scientific, and operational initiatives to establish a world-class clinical research center. Previously, Dr. Salami held senior leadership roles at SGS Pharma and Exevir Bio (Belgium), FIND Diagnostics, and DNDi (Switzerland), overseeing more than 24 clinical trials, including first-in-human studies across oncology, infectious diseases, and respiratory medicine. A former Marie Curie Fellow at the University of Lausanne, he has collaborated with WHO, Oxford University, and multiple regulatory agencies. Dr. Salami is passionate about strengthening Africa’s clinical research ecosystem and has published over 30 peer-reviewed papers, with more than 450 citations globally.

Dr. Nonkululeko Mashabane stands at the intersection of clinical research, pharmaceutical innovation, and health system transformation in Africa. As Director of Clinical Research Operations at Ezintsha (Wits University) and Acting CEO of ahealthcare innovation start-up, NewCo,she brings a unique blend of scientific rigor and entrepreneurial vision to the continent's healthcare challenges. Overseeing a policy informing portfolio in Phase 2 and 3 clinical trials, Nkuli has revolutionized clinical research operations. Her team’s innovative community-codesigned recruitment strategies and streamlined operational frameworks have consistently accelerated study timelines while maintaining the highest standards of regulatory compliance with SAHPRA, ICH-GCP, and international protocols.Throughout her 18+ year career, Nkuli has successfully executed more than 50 multinational clinical trials, from groundbreaking US Division of AIDS Network studies to critical HIV and Covid-19 preventative and therapeutic trials. Additionally, she contributes to shapingAfrica’s continental policy on pharmaceutical manufacturing capacityand clinical research infrastructure development. Her doctoral research explores pioneering approaches to integrating clinical research SMEs into Universal Health Coverage frameworks, positioning research as a catalyst for both health system strengthening and economic development. Nkuli’s vision extends beyond traditional research boundaries. She champions initiatives that transform clinical research into engines of community development, creating sustainable employment while advancing healthcare innovation. Her leadership philosophy centers on ensuring that every research initiative delivers tangible benefits to African communities, making science work for society's most pressing needs.

Dr. Aida Mehrad is an Associate Professor at the International University of Catalonia (UIC), Barcelona, Spain. She holds dual PhDs in Health and Organizational Psychology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and in Social Psychology from University Putra Malaysia, along with a Master’s in General Psychology. With over 14 years of teaching experience across international institutions, she specializes in leadership, organizational behavior, management, and research methodology. Dr. Mehrad has authored more than 50 scientific publications and five books on motivation and empowerment. She also serves as a doctoral supervisor and has held academic leadership positions globally.

Dr. Sirma Todorova Angelova is an Associate Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at the Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria. She holds two Master's degrees: one in Economics (2005) and another in Dental Medicine (2011). She began her academic career in 2011 as an Assistant Professor, becoming Chief Assistant Professor in 2018 and Associate Professor in 2024. In 2015, she earned a specialization in Pediatric Dentistry, and in 2017, completed her postgraduate research on “Caries Risk Assessment and Prevention in Children with Renal Disorders.” She authored the monograph “Epigenetic and Genetic Aspects of Oral Health in Children with Pyelonephritis” in 2019. Dr. Angelova has published over 90 scientific papers and presented at more than 60 conferences. Her research focuses on caries risk evaluation and prevention, gingival health in children, saliva-based diagnostics, and the relationship between nutrition and oral health in pediatric populations.

Dr. Oneka Scott serves as the Director of Adolescent Health at the Ministry of Health in Guyana, where she also holds key roles in Maternal and Child Health and Immunisation Management. A dedicated public health professional, Dr. Scott has led national efforts to strengthen adolescent healthcare, improve vaccine uptake—including HPV immunisation—and enhance access for vulnerable populations. She has been instrumental in designing outreach initiatives for special-needs groups and advancing maternal health services through strategic partnerships with organizations such as PAHO/WHO and Global Affairs Canada. Her leadership has contributed to significant improvements in vaccine equity, cold-chain infrastructure, and cross-border health collaborations, including joint campaigns with Brazil. Dr. Scott also represents Guyana in international capacity-building programs, furthering her commitment to health equity and youth empowerment. With a strong focus on systemic improvements and community engagement, she continues to champion inclusive, sustainable healthcare across the country.

Dr. Gisele Umviligihozo is a virologist with a Ph.D. in Health Sciences from Simon Fraser University, Canada, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Infectious Diseases from the University of London, UK. She is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, and a Fellow of the Sub-Saharan African Network for TB and HIV Research Excellence (SANTHE). Dr. Umviligihozo has received numerous awards, including the QEII Diamond Jubilee Award, Fogarty Training Scholarship, and fellowships from SANTHE. Her research focuses on HIV transmission, evolution, and immune control in diverse populations, including female sex workers and MSM. She also investigates immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and sex differences in HIV persistence, aiming to advance HIV vaccine and therapeutic development.

Mrs. Esha Brahmbhatt is a Master of Public Health candidate at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, where she studies the intersection of media consumption and health outcomes. She has conducted research on Alzheimer’s disease and epileptiform activity and holds a B.S. from NYU in Media, Culture, and Communication and Global Public Health. She is also the founder of Cabin Fever Magazine, an interdisciplinary publication bridging science and media.

Dr. Alireza Hanifehnezhad is a virologist specializing in viral vector, protein-based, and DNA vaccine platforms for both human and veterinary applications. His research focuses on adenoviral and baculovirus systems, oncolytic virotherapy, and vaccine development against zoonotic and emerging viruses. He holds patents for baculovirus-based and SARS-CoV vaccines and leads several government-supported projects in translational vaccine research. Dr. Hanifehnezhad’s current work integrates viral vector engineering, monoclonal antibody development, and immunological analysis to advance next-generation preventive and therapeutic strategies

Dr. Barnard-Matthee completed her undergraduate degree in Human Life Sciences with Psychology at Stellenbosch University, followed by an Honours degree in Biochemistryat the same university, focusing on manipulating soil bacteria to produce antimicrobial peptides with specific properties. She then pursued a Master’s degree in Biochemistry, shifting her research focus to characterizing enzymes involved in a novel steroidogenic pathway. She completed her PhD in the same department in 2020, studying the effects of novel androgens on the development and progression of prostate cancer. Afterward, she undertook a postdoctoral fellowship at the Tygerberg Medical Campus, Stellenbosch University, where she researched the effects of mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosison iron metabolism, lipid composition and oxygen consumption as well as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the acquisition of mutations in M. tuberculosisinfections due to an increase in lost-to-follow-up cases. Currently, she is a postdoctoral fellow in the Microbiology Department at Stellenbosch University, developing assays to determine the activity and quality of locally produced IVT enzymes used in mRNA vaccine production.

Dr. Rodrigo Nunes is a biomedical researcher at the Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC/Fiocruz, Brazil), where he coordinates projects on neglected zoonoses such as leptospirosis, rickettsioses, Lyme disease, hantavirus and arenavirus infections. His expertise integrates immunoinformatics, molecular biology, and immunology for the development of diagnostic tools and multi-epitope chimeric vaccines. He has authored impactful scientific publications, holds experience in international collaborations (including Fiocruz–USP–Butantan networks and UK-SEA Vax Hub initiatives), and has received distinctions such as the Alexandre Peixoto Award and the Brazil VERDE Early Career Researcher Bursary. Currently, Dr. Nunes is a CNPq Research Productivity Fellow (Level 1C) and a FAPERJ “Jovem Cientista do Nosso Estado”. He also plays a leading role in postgraduate education and scientific outreach in Brazil.

Dr. Zohre Zare Tooranposhti is a PhD candidate in Cellular and Molecular Biology at The Islamic Azad University, North Tehran Branch. Her doctoral research centers on novel vaccine science and oncology, aiming to translate fundamental findings into translational applications. Moreover, she serves as an expert within the Razi Institute for International Specialized Organizations (Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute) and has a brilliant track record in establishing effective communications with specialized organizations such as WHO, FAO, WOAH,…. She has actively served on the executive committees of international events, coordinating across borders to foster international collaboration, networking, knowledge exchange, and global health equity.

Dr. Axel Cyriaque Ambassa, Ph.D., is a Biochemist and Molecular Biology researcher at the University of Yaoundé I, Cameroon. He earned his doctorate in 2024 with research on pulmonary tuberculosis and HIV co-infection, emphasizing molecular epidemiology, hepatotoxicity, and genetic polymorphisms. His research interests span infectious diseases (TB, HIV, HBV, COVID-19), pharmacogenetics, drug resistance, and vaccine immunology. Dr. Ambassa has authored several peer-reviewed publications and presented his work at major international conferences, including the EDCTP Forum. In addition to research, he lectures in biochemistry, molecular biology, and viral pathologies, and actively engages in international collaborations and scientific training programs.

Dr. Aslan Foroutan is a vaccine R&D and translational innovation specialist focused on mucosal platforms, immunoinformatics, and GMP/QC enablement. He bridges wet-lab immunology with AI-driven analytics to accelerate assay validation, tech transfer, and release readiness. His work spans epitope modeling, IgA-centric readouts, and data pipelines that improve robustness and time-to-decision across the vaccine lifecycle, with a One-Health perspective and multi-stakeholder collaboration.

MSc Thiago Santos Chaves is a biomedical scientist at Bio-Manguinhos/Fiocruz (Brazil), specializing in RNA-based vaccine platforms and antibody engineering. He holds extensive experience in molecular biology, immunotechnology, and translational research, with a strong focus on self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) vaccines, and antibody discovery using phage display and hybridoma technologies. MSc Chaves is also actively involved in implementing innovative analytical tools for RNA vaccine quality control, including direct RNA sequencing by Nanopore. He has also gained international research experience in Europe, contributing to collaborative biotech projects.

Mr. Abdurrahaman Mangari is a dynamic public health leader and PhD candidate in Epidemiology and Biostatistics at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, specializing in infectious diseases and health policy. A WHO Fellow and Senior Supervisor for the Oral Polio Vaccine program, he has led immunization and pandemic response efforts across Africa, strengthening health systems during crises. With experience at the Nigeria CDC, Africa CDC, and Federal Ministry of Health, he brings expertise in epidemiology, virology, and global health security. Passionate about health equity, policy, and community empowerment, Abdurrahaman advances resilient, inclusive health systems through science, strategy, and service.

Dr. Aida Abbasi is a virologist and vaccinologist, currently working as an Assistant Professor at Guilan University of Medical Sciences. My research focus is on developing vaccines against respiratory viruses. I have experience in developing live attenuated and mRNA vaccines for respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), as well as studying and evaluating mRNA vaccines for influenza.