PROFILE OF SPEAKERS
Prof. Masaharu Seno
Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Graduate School of Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering in Health Systems, Okayama University, Japan
Prof. Masaharu Seno currently works at the Laboratory of Nano-Biotechnoloy, Okayama University. He completed his Bachelors in Engineering and PhD from the Department of Biophysical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering Science, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan. He is a recipient of the Okayama Foundation Science and Technical award, 1995, award, Kudodh Foundation Cancer Research, 1993, Osaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry, 2004, Center Collaboration Between Industries, Government, & Academy, 2005, Ministry Education Culture, Sports, Science & Technology Sankei Business Eye, 2005 & Excellent Achievement Research award, Faculty Engineering, Okayama University, 2008. Prof Seno's team does research in Biotechnology, Cancer Research and Cell Biology. Their current project is 'Development of CSCs from iPSCs prepared from normal cells'.
Prof. Maria Cristina Nostro
Scientist, McEwen Stem Cell Institute and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto
Maria Cristina Nostro is a Scientist at the McEwen Stem Cell Institute and an Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto. She holds the Harry Rosen Chair in Diabetes and Regenerative Medicine Research and she is a member of the Multi Organ Transplant Program at the Toronto General Hospital.
Her research is focused on generating functional β cells from human pluripotent stem cells.
Her group has defined critical pathways leading to the efficient generation of stem cell-derived pancreatic progenitors in vitro and recently, through the use of a proteomics approach, identified a specific marker that allows the purification of these β cell progenitors. Since 2015, Dr. Nostro has been leading a multi-investigator team aimed at developing novel transplantation approaches for Type 1 Diabetes therapy.
Rev Dr Francis P. Xavier, SJ.
Rector and Vice President, Loyola Campus, India
Rev Fr. Francis P Xavier SJ, is a member of the Jesuit Madurai Province, India. After his BSc and MSc in Physics in India, he did his PhD in Boston College (USA). He did his studies in Philosophy at Jnana Deepa Vidyapeeth (Pune) and Theology at Sankt Georgen (Germany). He has been a Professor of Physics at Loyola College (Chennai). He is the Founder-Director of Loyola Institute of Frontier Energy (LIFE) and Loyola-ICAM College of Engineering and Technology (LICET), both at Loyola College (Chennai). He was the Gasson Professor at Boston College; and the Vice President for Academic and Research (Jesuit Worldwide Learning), Geneva. He has conducted over 90 courses and workshops on Time Management for Jesuits in formation as well as for religious. He is a resource person on Religion and Science, Education, and Administration. He was the former Provincial of the Jesuits in Tamilnadu and at present he is the Rector of Loyola Institutions (Chennai, India). Rev. Fr. Francis Xavier will be sharing his views on Stress Management and COVID 19 in the Inter-Disciplinary Conclave (IDC) session