Work with thought leaders and academic experts in microbiology medical

Regan Hamel has an MPhil and PhD in Clinical Neurosciences from University of Cambridge. She also has a Bachelor of Science in Neurosciences from McGill University. Her PhD with Stefano Pluchino and John Marioni focused on single cell transcriptomics in the context of neuroinflammation. Since 2021 she has worked as a Bioinformatics scientist at Mogrify Ltd, applying a multitude of computational biology techniques (including single cell omics, bulk RNAseq, and predictive modelling) in the context of cell reprogramming

Research work is focused on the formulation of nanoparticles encapsulated materials which could be useful for tissue engineering, stem cells, drug delivery and biomechanics to create biologically inspired tissue and organ constructs. Furthermore, 3D material may play significant role in the healing of complex tissues and organs in vitro and in vivo.

I am a dedicated Scientist-I at Garuda Therapeutics, where I specialize in computational biology and genomics within the R&D department. My work primarily revolves around developing and optimizing pipelines for variant calling using Strelka2 and GATK4 with Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) to identify oncogenes in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). This involves extensive work in the qualification and validation of these pipelines for regulatory filings, as well as leveraging databases such as ClinVar, COSMIC, and DepMap to craft targeted oncogenes panels for deep sequencing. I also apply Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) for downstream sequencing to validate CRISPR knockouts, including the identification and validation of CRISPR off-targets using techniques like rhAMPseq and Induce-seq. Additionally, my expertise extends to single-cell sequencing analysis and understanding structural variants with Optical Genome Mapping (Bionano). Prior to joining Garuda Therapeutics, I completed a postdoctoral fellowship in computational biology at Pennsylvania State University, where I honed my skills in identifying climate-adaptive variants and conducted Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS) to uncover resistance genes against parasites and other stressors. My academic journey began at the University of Vermont, where I explored abiotic stress resistance genes using transcriptomics and developed a robust understanding of RNA-seq data analysis, from assembly to gene annotation. My work is driven by a passion for leveraging computational and genomics tools to address pressing challenges in biology and healthcare, combining my rigorous academic training with a practical, solution-oriented approach to research and development.

Garrett A. Perchetti is a highly accomplished research scientist in the field of virology. He received a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology and a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of Washington. His interest in both science and the arts led him to pursue a career in virology, where he could combine his passion for understanding the natural world with his creative thinking skills. After completing his undergraduate studies, Garrett continued his education by earning a Medical Degree from Ross University School of Medicine in 2025. During his time in medical school, he developed a keen interest in virology and infectious diseases, which ultimately led him to specialize in this field. Garrett's educational background is complemented by his extensive experience as a research scientist. He has worked at the University of Washington School of Medicine, where he has conducted groundbreaking research on various types of viruses. His work has been published in numerous scientific journals, and he has presented his findings at international conferences. Garrett's contributions to the field of virology have been widely recognized, and he has received several awards and accolades for his work. He is known for his meticulous attention to detail, innovative thinking, and ability to collaborate effectively with other researchers. In his free time, Garrett enjoys painting, hiking, and traveling. He is also passionate about raising awareness about the importance of vaccinations and promoting public health initiatives. With his exceptional education and extensive experience, Garrett A. Perchetti is a valuable asset to the field of virology and will continue to make significant contributions in the future.

Jeffrey Townsend is a Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Yale University. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in 2002 and his Sc.B. from Brown University in 1994. He has been a teacher at St. Ann's School and an Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut. He is currently the Elihu Professor of Biostatistics at Yale University.

I am a generalist with a strong background in research and a passion for exploring new ideas and contributing to business development. My journey as a researcher began in 2009 at the University of Aveiro. Over the years, I progressed from a PhD student to a postdoctoral researcher and ultimately became a researcher, funding my positions through competitive calls. My technical background spans across several areas and with different degrees of expertise. These include microbiology, microbiome analysis, molecular biology, bioinformatic and biostatistics. I have authored and co-authored over 35 articles, some of which have been published in high profile scientific journals (https://www.cienciavitae.pt/portal/2119-2C29-3E33). I have co-founded two startups and was involved in all the process, including IP protection, prototype development, and engaging potential customers. I possess a comprehensive understanding of day-to-day business operations, including marketing, sales, and finance. I am driven by curiosity to learn and thrive in dynamic environments that foster innovation and growth.

Dr. Maurice O’ Sullivan is a sensory scientist and senior lecturer in food science working in the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, UCC. In the past Maurice has worked in the food industry as a sensory scientist and flavour chemist for Diageo Baileys and Guinness. He has worked as a food technologist and process/product development scientist for the processed foods sector in the 1990’s as well as more recently a product development consultant to the dairy, meat and beverage industries. He has a Ph.D. in Sensory and Consumer science from the Department of Food Science, University of Copenhagen, Denmark as well as MSc. and BSc. Degrees in Food Science and Technology from University College Cork (UCC). Currently Maurice works in the School of Food and Nutritional Sciences, University College Cork as a senior lecturer and sensory and product reformulation project coordinator on large scale multi-million euro research projects. For many years he has also managed the “Sensory Unit” at UCC working on sensory and flavour based projects involving a diverse selection of products. This sensory science based service (at UCC) includes testing the difference, affective and descriptive analysis of foods and beverages as well as assessing shelf-life and comparing sensory results to microbiological and analytical (instrumental, physic-chemical) data using multivariate data analysis (MVA). Sensory testing is critical for new product development/optimisation, ingredient substitution and devising appropriate packaging and comparing foods or beverages to competitor’s products. Again, the key to unlocking the hidden secrets of this multimodal data is with MVA (Multivariate Data Analysis). To date Maurice has secured significant research funding of €5,300,000 Gross, €3,843,329.30 to UCC. He has worked in the area of targeted ingredient (salt, fat, sugar) reduction in foods since 1997. The focus of this research has been reduction of negative ingredients linked to civilisation diseases (Diabetes, Obesity, Heart Disease, Anaemia) while maintaining sensory properties, but also improving nutritional quality of developed products. To date this research has produced numerous publications with many more in development. Other research areas include Cross Cultural Sensory Perception of Irish Dairy Products in Asia, Europe and North America as well as Foods for the Elderly, Packaging and Meat optimisation. Maurice has published more than 200 sensory or consumer research based articles (papers, book chapters, proceedings etc.).