Prof. Dr. Ir. Arn Mignon

Prof. Dr. Ir. Arn Mignon's research expertise is within the field of (smart) polymer science with a strong emphasis on biomaterials. He focuses on the interdisciplinarity of biomaterials research and development, with a special focus on the development of smart polymeric systems. During his PhD and the three years he spent as a postdoctoral researcher, he have gathered extensive expertise on polymer synthesis, processing (electrospinning) and characterization (physico-chemical, thermal, mechanical, visual) and gained hands-on experience with imaging techniques for the in vitro characterization of biomaterials. The main focus of his research for the coming years as PI lies in the synthesis of new smart polymers for biomedical applications, such as the healing of burn wounds and diabetic ulcers, flexor tendon repair, dental implants, and support for aorta valve replacement. In addition to the synthesis and characterization of these polymers, the focus also lies on the processing of these polymers through (co-axial) electrospinning.

Prof. Dr. Joan Cunningham is Senior Principal Research Fellow at the Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Australia. She is a social epidemiologist with degrees in sociology (ALB), psychology (ALM) and epidemiology (ScD), all from Harvard University. She has over 25 years of experience in research relating to the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, primarily concerning the social and system determinants of health. Her core focus is on equity in health and health care, and she has attracted over AUD 28 million in research funding since 2000. She has a strong, sustained history of highly productive multidisciplinary research collaborations, underpinned by the development and nurturing of respectful partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander colleagues, organisations, community members and students. Her work has illuminated critical shortcomings in health system performance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and identified pathways to improve equity of access and outcomes. Professor Cunningham has a strong interest in developing people and building research capacity. She led an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)-funded Capacity Building Program on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and has co-led two NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence on improving cancer outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. She is an award-winning mentor and supervisor and was awarded Life Membership by the Australasian Epidemiological Association in recognition of her contributions to the field of epidemiology and to the Association, including as President. Cunningham was Guest Editor of the Special Issue of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health on “The Health and Wellbeing of Indigenous and Tribal People around the Globe”.

Dr. Maria Fotiou has a BSc and MSc in Food Science and Technology and received her PhD (2018) in Human Nutrition from the Aristotle University of Thassaloniki, Greece. She joined MDPI in June 2020 as an Assistant Editor for Nutrients and has been working as Special Issue Editor for the same journal since January 2021. She was appointed Publishing Manager of Nutraceuticals in March 2022.

Speakers/Presentations

Time CEST

Introduction

10:00am-10:10am

Prof. Dr. Cunningham

The role of editors in amplifying and privileging the voices of researchers from marginalised groups

10:10am-10:40am

Prof. Dr. Ir. Arn Mignon

The relevance of your expertise for a Special Issue

10:40am-11.10am

Dr. Maria Fotiou

Special Issue Project - Steps and Benefits

11:10am-11:40am

Q&A and Conclusions

Attendees are welcome to type in their questions in the Zoom Q&A section.

11:40am-12.00pm