Keynote Speakers

Sabina Halappanavar, Research Scientist at Health Canada (Ottawa) and an Adjunct Professor at the Department of Biology of University of Ottawa, Canada

Presentation title: Navigating the Transition to Next-Generation Toxicity Testing for Advanced Materials

She leads a transdisciplinary research program investigating the early molecular origin of cardio-pulmonary diseases induced by inhalation toxicants, including nanomaterials, microplastics and air pollutants. She spearheads the development of strategies and tools aimed at facilitating the global transition to animal-reducing testing methods, particularly for hazard and risk assessment of advanced materials and emerging contaminants. She actively contributes to initiatives of the Working Party on Manufactured Nanomaterials and the Extended Advisory Group on Molecular Screening and Toxicogenomics groups, led by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. She also serves as a Science Advisory Member on several European Union research consortia.

Chunying Chen is a professor at National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, China. She was elected as CAS Academician, AIMBE Fellow and RSC fellow. Her research interests including the analysis of nanoprotein corona, important biological effects such as stealth effect, far-reaching effect and transport-transformation-bioavailability chain, which has guided the application research of nanoadjuvants and drug delivery systems. She published over 400 peer-reviewed articles including Nature Nanotechnology, Nature Protocols, PNAS, JACS. She has received numerous awards, including National Natural Science Award, IUPAC Distinguished Women in Chemistry or Chemical Engineering, TWAS Chemistry Award, RSC Environment Prize, Chinese Young Female Scientists Award. She is currently an Executive Editor of ACS Nano and editorial board members of several journals.

He holds the James B. Duke Chair in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Duke University. His work focuses on water treatment technologies and the fate and transport of materials in the environment. Dr. Wiesner holds a B.A. in Mathematics and Biology, an M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the Johns Hopkins University, and did post-doctoral work in Chemical Engineering at ENSIC, Nancy, France. Professor Wiesner is a 2004 de Fermat Laureate, the 2011 recipient of the Clarke Water Prize and was elected to the U.S. National Academy of Engineering in 2015.

Chunying Chen, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China 

Email: chenchy@nanoctr.cn; Website: http://english.nanoctr.cas.cn/chenchunying/home/

Presentation title: Manipulation of the Nano-Bio Interface and Strategies for Nanomedicine

Thomas Kuhlbusch is chemist by background and conducts research on (nano-)particle measurement techniques and exposure assessments linked to epidemiological and (eco-)toxicological studies since 1993. He changed his main work topic in 2016 when he moved to the German Federal Institute for Occupational Hygiene and Health. Here he is responsible for the regulation and related regulatory research for Hazardous Substances and Chemical Safety. He is also a professor at the University of Duisburg-Essen.