Hassan is a Tenured Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery and Medicine at the University of Miami (UM), and Director of the Drug Discovery Core at the Miami Project to Cure Paralysis. As a translational biochemist, he studies molecular mechanisms of disease and develops technologies to enable therapeutic discovery and development. He is affiliated with the Katz Drug Discovery Center, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Frost Institute for Data Science and Computing. Hassan’s primary interest is understanding the role of kinases in the functioning and maintenance of the central nervous system (CNS) and applying this knowledge to develop neurotherapeutics. Additionally, he leads drug discovery programs in nephrology and oncology. His research is advancing multiple therapeutic candidates toward IND-enabling studies and clinical development, including a clinical candidate for spinal cord injury supported by the NIH/NINDS Blueprint Neurotherapeutics Network. Hassan mentors graduate students, postdocs, and undergraduates across multiple UM programs, and serves as a grant reviewer for federal, state, and private agencies.

Prof. Connelly is a Professor of Bioengineering in the Blizard Institute at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL). He received his Ph.D. in Bioengineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and completed his postdoctoral training in Prof. Fiona Watt’s laboratory at the University of Cambridge. He established his research group in the Blizard Institute in 2010, and he leads a multi-disciplinary team of scientists and engineers. Research in the Connelly lab focuses on the biomechanical regulation of skin homeostasis and repair, and the team have developed a range of next-generation in vitro models of human skin, integrating immune cells, vascularisation, and appendages within 3D microfluidic platforms. Prof. Connelly has also led key initiatives to develop infrastructure and research capacity in bioengineering and in vitro modelling technologies at QMUL. He founded and directs the CREATE Lab biofabrication core facility and is the Research and Innovation Lead for the Centre for Predictive In Vitro Models (CPM).

Dowlette recently completed her PhD in the Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and is transitioning to a postdoctoral position in the same research group. Her work focuses on developing new approach methodologies (NAMs) using human brain organoids and microelectrode arrays to advance developmental neurotoxicity testing by creating in vitro assays of synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory.

Dr. Pelin Candarlioglu is an internationally recognised scientist and strategic leader in Advanced Cell Models (ACMs), organoids, and microphysiological systems, with over 20 years’ experience spanning academia, biotech, and global pharma. She has led innovation programmes at GlaxoSmithKline, Vivodyne, and Enplas, driving the development of human-relevant models for oncology, immunology, and safety assessment. Pelin is the founder of 3D and 3Rs Ltd., advising organisations on the adoption of non-animal models, regulatory strategy, and translational implementation. She also chairs the EUROoCS Industry Advisory Board and is a recognised voice in global 3Rs and regulatory initiatives focused on modernising preclinical drug development.

Dr Eric Hill is a Reader in the Department of Chemistry at Loughborough University, appointed in 2023 after eight years at Aston University. He received his PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology in 2004 and has since developed extensive expertise in stem cell biology, tissue engineering, and human in vitro neuronal models. His research focuses on developing physiologically relevant, stem‑cell‑derived models of the central nervous system to study neurodevelopment and neurodegeneration, including Alzheimer’s disease. Dr Hill’s work supports drug discovery by recreating human disease mechanisms in vitro.

Marjorie Decroux has a background in Health Engineering and Biotechnology Management, with training in both science and business. She has contributed to the development of therapeutic programs by designing and optimising assays and supporting key decisions from early research to preclinical stages. After working as a Scientist in immuno-oncology and on in vitro fibrosis-related programs, Marjorie is currently a Senior Research Assistant at AC Immune. In this role, she focuses on assay development and on improving our understanding of TDP-43 pathology, with the aim of enabling the discovery of new therapeutic strategies for diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, where treatment options remain very limited.

Amina McDiarmid is an ARUK‑funded early‑career postdoctoral research fellow working within the groups of Professor Neil Carragher (Chair of Drug Discovery at Institute of Genetics and Cancer). Her current project centres on high‑content, phenotype‑driven medium‑ to high‑throughput drug screening in human models of both sporadic and familial Alzheimer’s disease. Amina combines computational strategies with experimental neuroscience, curating focused compound sub‑libraries predicted to rescue disease-associated cellular gene‑expression programmes and morphological signatures/phenotypes. By testing these predictions in image‑based screening assays, she bridges in silico modelling with in vitro empirical validation. By combining in vitro systems and data‑analysis approaches, including machine learning, her work aims to reveal actionable targets and mechanisms for disease‑modifying therapies.

Dan is a biotech leader focused on building and scaling scientific and technology platforms, and on translating advances in biology into commercially viable products and strategies. He has over 20 years’ experience spanning genomics, molecular biology, and data-driven biology, combined with deep expertise in cross-functional leadership and market development.

He played a key role in scaling Oxford Nanopore Technologies from early-stage development to IPO, expanding global adoption, and helping to shape its market strategy. Currently Chief Technology Officer at Enhanced Genomics, he leads multiomics-based drug discovery and business strategy.

Louisa holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Molecular Biomedicine. She studied her PhD at the University of Oxford focussing on understanding the functional implications of common DNA variants on adipose tissue biology. She was awarded several postgraduate prizes for her work and contribution to institutional activities, including the Genetics Society thesis award.

Louisa then transitioned into industry, joining Gentronix, a genetic toxicology safety CRO, as a Study Director in the transgenic rodent assay group. Louisa joined ApconiX in April 2024 to work in the laboratory team as a postdoctoral scientist, developing in vitro models for nonclinical drug safety applications. She was a Bionow One to Watch award finalist and has presented her work nationally and internationally, receiving several presentation awards.

Jasmine is a Senior Scientist at Sartorius as part of the BioAnalytics team. She specializes in developing cellular assays and analytical tools to extend the suite of Incucyte® Live-Cell Analysis applications. Jasmine has a background in neuroscience and genetic manipulation, and her earlier work focused on using a combined structural and molecular biology approach to assess disease-associated proteins implicated in Alzheimer’s disease.

Mike Clements, PhD is Senior Vice President of Scientific Partnerships & Strategy at Axion BioSystems, where he leads initiatives advancing human stem cell-derived models and electrophysiological platforms for drug discovery and toxicology. He earned his PhD in neuropharmacology from the University of Oxford and completed postdoctoral training in both the UK and US. In 2014, he published the first study using the Maestro™ multielectrode array (MEA) platform with hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes for preclinical cardiac safety assessment, work that later contributed to the FDA-led CiPA initiative. His current work focuses on translational adoption and standardization of hiPSC-based NAMs for cardiac and neurotoxicity assessment.

Tom Dufor, PhD, completed his doctoral training at Sorbonne University (UPMC, Paris), where he studied neural circuit plasticity and neuromodulation of the olivocerebellar pathway. He then joined University College London as a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, investigating synaptic connectivity in health and disease using electrophysiology, cellular biology, and 3D super-resolution microscopy. With expertise in patch clamp and field recordings, Tom transitioned into industry and is now a Field Application Scientist at MaxWell Biosystems, supporting scientists across several countries in integrating the HD-MEA platform into projects spanning disease modelling, pharmacology, neurocomputing, and iPSC-derived neuronal models.