Biography: Dr. Jijun Hao obtained his PhD degree in biochemistry and molecular biology from University of Leeds (UK) in 2003, which was followed by postdoctoral training in the fields of chemical genetic and stem cell biology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. In 2010, he was appointed as a Research Assistant Professor at the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine in Vanderbilt University, USA. In 2012, he was recruited as an Assistant Professor at Western University of Health Sciences, USA.

Topic: Identifying Key Signaling Modulators for Stem Cell Regulation and Drug Development

Abstract: Phenotype-based screening has been emerged as an important tool for new drug development. In the past, by using zebrafish phenotype-based screening, we have successfully developed and commercialized several novel small molecule modulators of the specific key signaling pathways, such as DMH1 (a selective inhibitor of bone morphogenetic protein type I receptor), DMH4, (a VEGF receptor 2 kinase inhibitor), Windorphen (a Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor) and Eggmanone (a Hedgehog pathway inhibitor). Because abnormal activations of these key pathways are implicated in many types of cancer, our small molecule modulators of the pathways have great potentials as novel drug leads for cancer. In addition, as the same signaling pathways also play important roles in stem cells’ biology, by using our small molecule modulators, we have successfully developed efficient approaches to differentiate pluripotent stem cells into cardiomyocytes and other cell types.

Biography: Dr. Chen Bin is a full professor and vice director in State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University. He received his Ph.D in 2002 from Xi’an Jiaotong University, China. Afterwards, he worked at the National Maritime Research Institute of Japan as Postdoctoral Research Fellow of Japan Society for the Promotion of Science from 2002 to 2004.
For more than a decade, Dr. Chen has devoted his efforts to the research of heat transfer in laser dermatology (vascular malformation and pigmentary lesions) and hemodynamics, in particular with the photon propagation, energy deposition and thermal damage of capillaries in the laser treatment of Port Wine Stain. He is currently developing Monte Carlo method, bio-heat mass transfer model, and conducting animal experiment on thermal damage of blood capillary by 585nm, 595nm and 1064nm laser, as well as Cryogen Spray Cooling in laser treatment of skin disease. Recently, he is working on the blood light absorption for Nd:YAG laser by preparation of Gold Nano particles.

Topic: Aiming at Precision Medicine: Laser Treatment of Vascular Dermatosis

Abstract: Based on the principle of selective photothermolysis, laser therapy has been the most effective treatment strategy for Port-wine stains (PWSs) caused by the expansion of dermal capillaries. Nd:YAG laser at 1064 nm wavelength has great potential for the deep-buried PWS compared with Pulsed Dye Laser (585/595nm). However, its weak absorbance by blood will lead to high laser fluence and consequent possible thermal damage of surrounding normal issue, which could be avoided by multi-pulse therapy. In this study, an in vivo dorsal chamber animal experiment was conducted to investigate effect of the fluence, pulse number and frequency on the thermal response of PWS capillaries. It is found that formation of blood coagulation completely obstructed the vessel lumen is the prerequisite for ideal vessel disappearance. Afterwards, a particle method for the simulation of blood coagulation is developed to predict the optimal laser parameters, which are recommended for the clinical practice to achieve precision medicine.

Biography: Dr. Zhongmin Dong is a full professor of Biology at Saint Mary’s University. Previously he has been a postdoctoral fellow at Queen’s University, and Visiting Scientist at the Leiden University, and the Australian National University. Research area is plant physiology, with an emphasis on plant-microbe interactions. Throughout his research career, work on biological nitrogen fixation has been a consistent theme, beginning with his Ph. D. research project on a symbiosis of sugarcane with diazotrophicus bacteria. His research set the foundation of hydrogen fertilization theory that hydrogen gas released by legume nodules increases the soil fertility. He has been the invited speaker for the International Horticultural Congress in Toronto, Root and Soil Biology Workshop in Canberra, International Congress on Nitrogen Fixation in Beijing, Farmtech Conference in Edmonton, and many universities and research institutions.

Topic: Chitin Oligosaccharide and Chitosan Oligosaccharide as Plant Elicitors

Abstract: Natural resources have been traditionally used in agriculture by humans. For example, crab and shrimp shell powder and certain seaweed extract have been used to promote crop grow and enhances plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. From the 80s of last century, chitin, chitosan, and other oligosaccharides from the Crustaceans shell, algae, have been used as biopesticides and biofertilizers. Our studies showed that plant cells can recognize chitin and chitin-derived molecules to elicit immune response. Many oligosacchrides tested up-regulated various pathogenesis-related genes and vital plant secondary metabolic processes, like flavonoid and terpenoid biosynthesis, which possess anti-microbial properties. Oligo-chitin and oligo-chitosan treatments up-regulated many genes involved in various stress responses, stress-related transcription factors and catabolic (energy providing) processes. They also down-regulated various energy consuming processes such as ribosomal protein synthesis, ribosomal biogenesis, and various related RNA processes, different levels of translational processes, protein folding, transport processes and fatty acid biosynthesis. These decreases in energy consuming processes, and enhancement of energy providing processes and stress responses, are likely produced via the activation of SnRK1 (sucrose non-fermenting related kinase1) or deactivation of TOR (target of rapamycin) pathways.