Anthony C. Forster (Ph.D. Biochem., U. Adelaide; M.D., Harvard U.) researches RNA, protein synthesis and applications thereof (synthetic biology). He discovered the hammerhead catalytic RNA structure, invented external guide sequences for ribonuclease P, and created unnatural genetic codes de novo, all of which founded biotech companies. He has published in journals including Cell, Nature and Science, edited volumes of Methods and Biotechnology J., and coauthored "Synthetic Biology: A Lab Manual."

Synthetic biology, protein synthesis and drug discovery SynBio is a creative new field defined as the complex engineering of replicating systems. It encompasses next-generation technology for bioengineering and fresh approaches to global challenges such as drug discovery and biofuels. Our current projects include: 1. Improving ribosomal incorporation of unnatural amino acids for investigating translation mechanism and for applications such as directed evolution of peptidomimetic drugs. 2. Metagenomic discovery of antibiotic resistance genes in humans, and overcoming resistance by antisense bacteriophage therapy. 3. Development of chromoproteins for biosensor diagnostics. 4. Simplifying the design and assembly of large genetic pathways and systems. 5. Determining functions of ribosomal RNA modifications towards synthesis of the ribosome, self-replication and a minimal cell.

Mr. Arata Katayama has completed his PhD at the age of 28 years from Tokyo Institute of Technology, and worked as postdoctoral fellow at University of California, Institute of Toxic Substances Research. Now, he teaches Sanitary Engineering for undergraduate course and Ecotoxicology for graduate course as a professor of Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nagoya University. He also serves many governmental committees on environmental pollution, polychlorinated biphenyl remediation, and monitoring of environmental quality.

Design of artificial anaerobic microbial community for bioremediation

Dr. Mu has completed his PhD from Gunma University/Japan and postdoctoral studies at Kyoto University, Carnegie Mellon University and University of Pittsburgh. He is the board certified toxicologist and a researcher at the FDA. He has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals and is interested in the development of biomarkers for allergic risk assessment.

He is interested in the development of biomarkers for allergic risk assessment.

Roberto Mazzoli has completed his PhD in 2003 and, since 2011, has been assistant professor in biochemistry at the University of Turin (Italy). Since 1998, he has been studying the metabolism of microorganisms aimed at industrial processes. Since 2006, his main research activity has concerned metabolic engineering of microorganisms for cellulosic consolidated biorefinery. He’s the PI of the group of Proteomics and Metabolic Engineering of Prokaryotes at DBIOS, University of Turin. He has published 21 papers in peer-reviewed international journals, 1 book chapter and 2 international patents and is serving as editorial board member or reviewer for several reputed journals.

Research focus is mainly on engineering of recombinant cellulolytic microorganisms for application in single-step fermentation (consolidated bioprocessing) of cellulosic biomass into industrially relevant products (e.g. fuels, plastic monomers). Metabolic engineering strategies used include both: i) native cellulolytic strategies, aimed at improving product formation properties in native cellulolytic microorganisms; ii) recombinant cellulolytic strategies, aimed at conferring cellulose metabolization features in microorganisms naturally producing high-value compounds (ethanol, butanol, lactic acid, etc…).

Enrica Pessione, PhD in Microbiology, studied at “Institute Pasteur”, Paris, to complete her knowledge on both systematic bacteriology and microbial immunology. She has been a researcher in Microbial Biochemistry at Turin University getting expertize in enzymology, metabolic biochemistry and microbial proteomics. Since 2004, she is associate professor in biochemistry and member of the Italian Microbial Bio-technologies Association. She focused her interest on metabolic pathways important for food safety control or for establish the probiotic potential of Lactic acid bacteria. She has published over 80 scientific articles. She is in the editorial board of Journal of Integrated Omics.

She focused her interest on metabolic pathways important for food safety control or for establish the probiotic potential of Lactic acid bacteria. She has published over 80 scientific articles. She is in the editorial board of Journal of Integrated Omics.