Professor Faisal Alzahrani obtained his PhD in the United Kingdom, specializing in cancer cell and stem cell studies. Currently, he works as a faculty member in the Department of Biochemistry at King Abdulaziz University and serves as a principal investigator in the Stem Cell Unit at the King Fahd Medical Research Center. In these roles, he leads pioneering studies on stem cells and their applications in various fields including cancer, longevity, and infectious disease. Professor Alzahrani's research efforts have yielded remarkable results, which is evident from his record of publications. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed papers. In addition to his academic pursuits, Professor Alzahrani extends his knowledge and experience to practical applications. He provides valuable advisory services on scientific and academic matters and actively collaborates with startups in the biotechnology and healthcare sectors.
Yasir Mohamed Riza received his BSc (Hons) in Biochemistry
and Biotechnology from the University of Science and Technology Chittagong in
2019, and is pursuing his MS at the Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science,
Embryonic Stem Cell Unit, King Fahad Center for Medical Research, King
Abdulaziz University. He served as a microbiologist at United Medical
Industries Co. Ltd. (2020–2022) and is the Quality Assurance Executive who is developing
the technical documentation for MDR CE Mark and SFDA Certifications with
demonstrated experience in Class III Medical Devices.
Reema Almotairi is an Assistant Professor at the Department
of Medical Lab Technology, Prince Fahad Bin Sultan Chair for Biomedical
Research, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, University of Tabuk. Reema
Almotairi earned a BSc in Medical Laboratory Technology from King Abdulaziz
University in 2008, an MSc in Stem Cell Technology from the University of
Nottingham in 2013, and a PhD in Biochemical Engineering from the University
College London in 2019. Reema Almotairi’s main research keywords include hypoxia,
stem cells, cancer, extracellular vesicles, and tumor microenvironment.
Sudhanshu Raikwar holds a BVSc and AH from Bombay
Veterinary Science College, Mumbai, an MVSc in Biotechnology from the Indian
Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, and a PhD in Virology from the National
Institute of Immunology, New Delhi. Currently, Sudhanshu Raikwar is an Assistant
Professor at the Department of Neurology, Center for Translational
Neuroscience, School of Medicine, University of Missouri. Sudhanshu Raikwar served
as an Assistant Scientist in Urology at IUPUI (2001–2004), an Assistant
Research Scientist in Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa (2005–2012), a
Research Scientist in Pharmacology at Rush University Medical Center (2013–2015),
and an Assistant Research Professor at the University of Missouri Columbia (2015–2021).
Ruchira Jha is a neurologist and an associate professor in the departments of Neurology and Translational Neuroscience at the Barrow Neurological Institute. She is a clinical neurointensivist and the division chief of neurocritical care. She is board-certified in neurology by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and in neurocritical care by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties. She is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Neurological Association, the National Neurotrauma Society, the Neurocritical Care Society, the Society for Neuroscience, and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. She earned her medical degree from Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts. She also earned a Master of Science degree in clinical and translational research from the University of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. She completed her neurology residency, chief residency, and a fellowship in neurocritical care at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital through the Harvard Medical School Partners Program.
Andrew F. Ducruet is an endovascular neurosurgeon at the Barrow
Neurological Institute at Dignity Health St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical
Center in Phoenix. He is board-certified by the American Board of Neurological
Surgery. He attended Princeton University and graduated magna cum laude with a
degree in chemistry. He received his medical degree from Columbia University’s
College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City and also completed his
residency in neurosurgery at the Columbia University Medical Center. He then
completed a two-year postgraduate fellowship in endovascular neurosurgery at
Barrow. He practiced for three years as an assistant professor of neurosurgery
at the University of Pittsburgh before returning to Barrow in 2016, where he continued
his highly specialized practice of neuroendovascular surgery. His practice is
focused on the use of minimally invasive endovascular techniques to treat
patients with vascular disease of the brain and spinal cord. He is an active
member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons, the American Heart
Association/American Stroke Association, the Congress of Neurological Surgeons,
and the Society of Neurointerventional Surgery. His research focuses on
ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. His laboratory performs basic and
translational research using experimental models of cerebral ischemia, with the
ultimate goal of developing novel therapeutic strategies for patients with
stroke.
Michael T. Lawton is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Barrow Neurological Institute, as well as the Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery and the Robert F. Spetzler Endowed Chair in Neurosciences. Additionally, he is the chief of vascular and skull base neurosurgery at Barrow, and he specializes in the surgical treatment of aneurysms, arteriovenous malformations, arteriovenous fistulas, cavernous malformations, and cerebral revascularization, including carotid endarterectomy. He co-directs and conducts his research at the Barrow Aneurysm and AVM Research Center (BAARC). His basic science investigations study the formation, underlying genetics, and rupture of brain AFVMs, as well as the hemodynamics, rupture, and computational modeling of brain aneurysms. His clinical investigations study the anatomy of microsurgical approaches to vascular lesions and the outcomes of aneurysms, AVM, and bypass surgery. He is the principal investigator of a NIH U54 grant and program director of the Brain Vascular Malformation Consortium (BVMC). He has published more than 780 publications in peer-reviewed journals with an h-index of 88 (Scopus, March 2024).
Saif Ahmad is an assistant professor in the Department of Translational Neuroscience at the Barrow Neurological Institute. His expertise includes the molecular studies of neurodegenerative diseases. He is a member of the American Heart Association and the Indian Academy of Neurosciences. He earned his doctorate in biotechnology from Hamdard University in New Delhi, India, and his Master's of Science in organic chemistry from Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Rohilkhand University in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India. He began his postdoctoral fellowship in the Program in Molecular Medicine at the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester. The laboratory moved to Augusta University in Augusta, Georgia, where he completed his training. His current research focuses on the inflammatory mechanisms of stroke.
