Biography
Henry M. Sobell completed his studies at Brooklyn Technical High School (1948-1952), Columbia College (1952-1956), and the University of Virginia School of Medicine (1956-1960). Instead of practicing clinical medicine, he then went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to join Professor Alexander Rich in the Department of Biology (1960-1965), where, as a Helen Hay Whitney Postdoctoral Fellow, he learned the technique of single crystal X-ray analysis. He then joined the Chemistry Department at the University of Rochester, having been subsequently jointly appointed to both the Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics departments (the latter at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry), becoming a full tenured Professor in both departments.
Research Interest
Chemistry and Molecular Biophysics
Biography
Dr. Iwona Beech is an internationally recognized expert in the field of biofilm-influenced corrosion and biofouling. She has over 24 years of research experience in studying fundamental and applied aspects of biocorrosion of metallic and biodeteriotration of non-metallic materials in both freshwater and marine environments and an extensive history of collaborations with Academia and Industry worldwide, including oil, gas and shipping industries and the navy.
Research Interest
Uses of immuno and molecular biology techniques and advanced mass spectrometry methods to understand the importance of biofilm community structure and involvement of bacterial metabolites
Biography
Ananda M. Chakrabarty, Ph.D., is a Distinguished University Professor at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago. While working at the Research & Development Center at General Electric Company in Schenectady, New York, he was awarded the ‘Scientist of the Year’ award in 1975 by Industrial Research Organization of the United States. This work led to the development of a genetically-manipulated microorganism that was the subject matter of a landmark decision from the Supreme Court of the United States that genetically engineered life forms are patentable. Dr. Chakrabarty has served as a consultant with the United Nations and was the founding member of a UNIDO Committee that proposed the establishment of the International Centre for Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology (ICGEB) based in Trieste, Italy, New Delhi, India, and Cape Town, South Africa. Dr. Chakrabarty has been a member of the Panel of Scientific Advisors, later called Council of Scientific Advisors, of ICGEB since its very inception. Dr. Chakrabarty has also been a member of the International Advisory Board of Chulabhorn Research Institute in Thailand, which is headed by the Princess Chulabhorn of Thailand.He was awarded the civilian Padma Shri award by the Government of India in 2007.
Research Interest
Dr. Chakrabarty’s current research involves development of anticancer agents from microbial sources. As a Co-Founder of CDG Therapeutics Inc, he has developed candidate anticancer drugs such as p28, which has shown very little toxicity in 15 advanced stage cancer patients but significant beneficial effect, including partial and complete regression of tumors that were refractory to conventional drugs, in phase I human clinical trials in Chicago.