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Dr. Vikas Saxena has devoted his career for the scientific endeavors towards ameliorating infectious diseases amongst animals and humans by using immunological approaches. He has completed his Bachelor’s in Veterinary Sciences. During his Master’s in veterinary anatomy, Dr Saxena has analyzed anatomical conformities of the salivary glands of goat by using light microscopy (Indian Journal of Animal Sciences, 2007). During his PhD dissertation research under the mentorship of Dr. Michael Lai, Academia Sinica, Taiwan, Dr Saxena was working to analyze role of host cellular factors, by using several biochemical and molecular virology related tools. His research endeavors has led him to identify a host cellular factor, annexin A2, serving as a scaffold for viral non-structural proteins on lipid raft region, where the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) replication complex is assembled (Journal of Virology, 2012). Further, using his expertise in confocal and electron microscopy and by developing an in-vitro culture model for HCV RNA replication Dr Saxena together with his colleagues, elucidated mechanism of HCV release via exosome (Plos One, 2014). During his postdoctoral training with Dr. Christopher Walker, Ohio State University, USA, Dr Saxena participated in a collaborative study with Dr Stanley Lemon, University of North Caroline at Chapel Hill, USA, to analyze escape mutations acquired by cell culture-derived HCV during persistent infection in a chimpanzee and thus highlighted the possible pattern of molecular evolution of a poorly fit virus (Journal of Virology, 2014). Besides, Dr Saxena has developed rhesus macaque model to study T cell mediated control of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection. By using IFN-γ spot forming assay (ELISPOT) and flow cytometry based techniques, Dr Saxena has identified HEV specific CD8+ T cells exerting control over persistent viral infection. The exact mechanism underlying viral persistence is under evaluation. Further Dr Saxena is exploring mechanism involved in the development of memory CD8 T cells. By using Listeria monocytogenes based cancer vaccine platform and transgenic mice Dr Saxena with his colleagues has elucidated importance of T cell receptor (TCR) governed signaling mechanism involving NFkB-Pim-1-Eomes axis, which is important for the fitness of memory CD8 T cells (Under revision, PNAS, 2016). Also, same team has worked towards elucidation of mechanism of TCR and pro-inflammatory cytokine receptor signaling cooperation, (Journal of Immunology, 2016). Dr Saxena is continuing in his quest for exploration of immunological control of viral infections in animals and humans.

Dr. Li received Ph.D. from Cancer Hospital and Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China and has worked in the field of kidney disease for almost 10 years and published several papers in different journals as first author or co-responding author. She has strong background and expertise and experiences in am working on elucidating the molecular mechanisms and pathogenesis of Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) and has worked in Prof. Guanqing Wu’s Lab in Division of Translational Cancer Research and Therapy, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology of Cancer Institute. Her research focused on the application of molecular technology and well-extended genetic knowledge to unravel the pathogenesis and molecular mechanism of human genetic-related diseases. She have strong background and experiences in elucidating the molecular mechanisms and pathogenesis of human genetic disease: autosomal dominant polycystic disease (ADPKD) and autosomal recessive polycystic disease (ARPKD).