Talk
Neuroimmunomodulation and Wound Healing

Bio
Associate Prof. Stefano Bacci is a Professor of Cytology and Histology and Developmental Biology at the University of Florence and has resided, during his training, at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston (MA), USA. His main research concerns the understanding of the cellular mechanisms involved during wound healing in relation to the type of treatment used, including photodynamic therapy. He is the author of over 100 articles in his research area, including high-impact publications.

Bio
Prof. Dr. Francesca Rossi’s main interest concerns light-tissue interactions. Her current research focuses on the design of innovative medical devices applied in a variety of fields, including Dermatology and Wound Management. She authored over than 150 scientific publications, and she is inventor of 8 patents. She is currently Senior Researcher at the Institute of Applied Physics “Nello Carrara”, of the Italian National Research Council.

Talk
Wavelength-Specific Activation of the bFGF-Mediated Ras/MAPK Pathway by 660 nm Photobiomodulation

Bio
Prof. Nicolette Houreld is currently a Professor and the DST-NRF SARChI Deputy Chair-holder: Laser Applications in Health in the Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, at the University of Johannesburg. Her research interest lies in photobiomodulation and diabetic wound healing, where she investigates the molecular and cellular effects of photobiomodulation and laser tissue interaction, and is also involved in clinical studies on the effects of photobiomodulation for the healing of diabetic ulcers. She is currently a C1 NRF rated scientist with over 130 peer-reviewed accredited research articles and conference proceedings, and a Scopus H-index of 37 (4707 citations). Nicolette has supervised several postgraduate students, secured external research grants, and reviews for several international journals. She serves on various research-related university and science council committees, where she is the Chair of the Faculty of Health Sciences Research Ethics Committee, and the president for the World Association for photobiomoduLation Therapy (WALT).

Talk
Ozone Therapy and NRF2: A New Therapeutic Axis to Improve Wound Healing

Bio
Brigitta Buttari is a Senior Researcher at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS – Italian National Institute of Health) in Rome, Italy. Her research focuses on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of chronic inflammatory diseases, including metabolic and autoimmune disorders. A central aspect of her work is the study of macrophage functional plasticity, with particular emphasis on macrophage polarization under hypoxic and physioxic conditions, and on strategies aimed at modulating the M1/M2 balance toward anti-inflammatory and tissue-repairing phenotypes. More recently, her research has expanded to investigate natural bioactive compounds and ozone as modulators of oxidative stress and key cellular processes, including apoptosis and autophagy. Her work explores how mild oxidative stimuli induced by these agents can activate adaptive cellular responses, including the NRF2 signaling pathway, thereby promoting cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory mechanisms.

Talk
Smart Biosystems for Therapeutic Applications (Recording)

Bio
Dr. Anindita (Annie) Ganguly, holds a PhD in Materials Science with a background in biotechnology and environmental public health. Her research focuses on the development of biomaterials for tissue regeneration and targeted therapeutic applications. She is also interested in biosensing and various sening technologies for health monitoring and environmental safety. Dr. Ganguly is currently a Research Associate at The Ohio State University, where her work bridges materials science, biomedical innovation, and sustainability.

Talk
Neuroimmunomodulation and Wound Healing

Bio
Associate Prof. Stefano Bacci is a Professor of Cytology and Histology and Developmental Biology at the University of Florence and has resided, during his training, at the Schepens Eye Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston (MA), USA. His main research concerns the understanding of the cellular mechanisms involved during wound healing in relation to the type of treatment used, including photodynamic therapy. He is the author of over 100 articles in his research area, including high-impact publications.