Carola Förster is a Professor of Translational Medicine and the Director chair Cerebrovascular Sciences at Clinics of Anaesthesia and critical care, Würzburg university hospital, Germany. She obtained a Diploma in Biochemistry, PhD in Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Research Centre Jülich/ Institute of Biochemistry, University of Cologne, Germany. She is currently a Professor for Molecular Medicine, University hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany. This position is devoted to leading and developing research in the field of molecular medicine and vascular neurology. The Scientific Focus includes Neurovascular endothelium, vascular biology and inflammatory mechanisms; Cell biology and directed transport processes at the Blood-Brain-Barrier, retinal barriers, blood-labyrinth barrier; Role of the neurovascular barriers in etiology and therapy of neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases; Brain-heart axis; Hearing loss and cochlear microvascular pathology; and Gene therapy to the cochlea and retina.

Stephan R Künzel, M.D., Ph.D., M.B.A., is a physician–scientist in pharmacology, transfusion medicine, and cell therapy, and conducts fibrosis research. He is a fibroblast-enthusiast with a particular interest in cardiovascular pharmacology, translational research, drug repurposing, and cellular immunotherapies. He is a Board-certified specialist in pharmacology and toxicology, resident for transfusion medicine, blood banking, and cell therapies.

Sergey Shityakov is a full professor at ITMO University and a visiting professor in the Department of Bioinformatics at Würzburg University. His research interests include neuroscience, precision medicine, bioinformatics, biomedical engineering, and rational drug design at the blood–brain barrier. He obtained a Ph.D. in Biomedicine at Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg Biozentrum from 2007 to 2011.

Stavros Stavrakis, M.D., Ph.D., is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Stavros Stavrakis graduated from the University of Athens Medical School, Greece, and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center Graduate College. His board certifications include ABIM Certification in Cardiology; ABIM Certification in Internal Medicine; and an ECFMG Certificate. His research keywords include cardiac electrophysiology.