Invited Speakers
Dr. Teja Vasireddy
School of Tropical Medicine(STM),Kolkata
India
Dr. Teja Vasireddy
School of Tropical Medicine(STM),KolkataIndia
Biography
Dr. Teja Vasireddy is a physician specializing in Infectious Diseases, currently completing DM training at the School of Tropical Medicine, Kolkata. She holds an MD in General Medicine from NRI Medical College, Guntur, and an MBBS from Siddhartha Medical College, Vijayawada. With extensive clinical experience, Dr. Vasireddy has managed complex infections including HIV, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, fungal infections, and transplant-related infections. She has actively contributed to antimicrobial stewardship programs, outbreak investigations, and infection control initiatives. A member of leading international societies such as IDSA, ESCMID, ISHAM, and CIDS India, she has authored multiple peer-reviewed publications and presented at global conferences including ESCMID, ID Week, and World One Health Congress.
Speech Title
The deadly rise of Non Tuberculous Mycobacteria - Drug resistance in NTM
Dr. Margy Alejandra Esparza Mora
Charite University of Medicine
Berlin, Germany
Dr. Margy Alejandra Esparza Mora
Charite University of MedicineBerlin, Germany
Biography
Dr. Margy Alejandra Esparza Mora is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Biochemistry, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. She specializes in host–pathogen interactions, fungal infectious diseases, and clinical microbiology. Her research focuses on the interactions between fungal pathogen Candida albicans and the invertebrate host Galleria mellonella under antifungal drug exposure. Dr. Esparza has published eight peer-reviewed articles and contributed to several notable projects, including her recent work on how non-antifungal medications influence drug tolerance and resistance in C. albicans. Her current research explores the host immune response during fungal infection and evaluates antagonistic drug interactions, with the goal of improving antifungal treatment strategies.
Speech Title
Host-pathogen interactions: Galleria mellonella-Candida albicans infection model to study the immune response and drug interactions
Romeo Tsayem Fouemene
university of yaounde i
cameroon
Romeo Tsayem Fouemene
university of yaounde icameroon
Biography
I am a medical biologist and a young researcher about to complete a PhD thesis in Biochemistry-Microbiology. A few decades ago, I studied Biochemistry at university and obtained a master's degree. During my studies, I acquired a grounding in the pharmacology of medicinal plants. I then obtained a degree in medical biology. After five years working in the field of medical biology, I became interested in the problem of antimicrobial resistance, which motivated me to pursue my studies at doctoral level. My thesis topic focuses on the characterisation of beta-lactamase-producing bacteria. The results of this work were presented at an international conference (ESCMID GLOBAL 2025) and are awaiting publication in a scientific journal. I am interested in bacterial genomics as a powerful tool for monitoring antimicrobial resistance in my country and in Africa in general, where there is still little data available. For the rest of my research career, I intend to deepen my knowledge in the field of genomics and bioinformatics; combined with my limited experience in pharmacology, I will be able to make a significant contribution to the fight against antimicrobial resistance in Africa and in my country.
Speech Title
First Identification of blaNDM-1 in High-Risk Klebsiella pneumonia ST147 in Cameroon: A Genomic Insight
Dr. Mahboubeh Hadipour
Isfahan University of Medical Sciences
Iran
Dr. Mahboubeh Hadipour
Isfahan University of Medical SciencesIran
Biography
I am Dr. Mahboubeh Hadipour, currently serving as the Head of Malaria Laboratories at the Vice Chancellor’s Office for Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, where I oversee provincial-level laboratory operations. In parallel, I work as a researcher in the Department of Parasitology and Mycology at Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. My research primarily focuses on circulating antigens and antibodies, as well as the molecular diagnosis of parasitic diseases, with a particular emphasis on the detection of cell-free DNA for early and non-invasive diagnosis. I have authored and presented multiple studies in this field, including “Sensitive detection of specific cell-free DNA in serum samples from sheep with cystic echinococcosis” published in PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases (2023, IF: 3.9, Q1 Journal), and “Diagnosis of echinococcosis by detecting circulating cell-free DNA and miRNA” published in Expert Review of Molecular Diagnostics (2023, IF: 5.1, Q1 Journal). I have also been honored with several awards, including the Best Paper Award at ICOPA 2018 (South Korea) and Best Paper at the 5th International & 12th National Congress of Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases of Iran (2024).
Speech Title
Molecular Detection of Cell-Free DNA for the Diagnosis of Human Echinococcosis: Advances and Applications.
Dr. Sowmya P R
Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS)
India
Dr. Sowmya P R
Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS)India
Biography
Dr. Sowmya P. R. is currently serving as Senior Scientific Research Officer at the Central Research Laboratory (CRL), Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, Bengaluru. She has over 20 years of extensive research experience spanning infectious diseases, molecular biology, next-generation sequencing, cancer biology, and public health outreach.
Dr. Sowmya obtained her Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Bangalore University, where her research focused on carotenoids and their role in cell cycle regulation and cancer cell proliferation. She subsequently pursued postdoctoral training at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, working on the development of broadly protective influenza vaccines. Her professional career includes senior scientific positions at Strand Life Sciences, where she specialized in NGS-based clinical assays, and CRL-KIMS, where she has contributed to national projects on antimicrobial resistance and pneumococcal vaccine immunogenicity.
In addition to her scientific research, Dr. Sowmya has been actively engaged in public health initiatives, leading cervical cancer awareness programs and organizing high-level round table discussions on HPV vaccination and cancer prevention. She has published widely in peer-reviewed journals, contributed to international conferences, and co-authored several book chapters. Her work has been recognized with fellowships and awards, including the Women Scientist Award from the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India and FEBS Bursary Award. Her research interests lie in infectious disease genomics, antimicrobial resistance, cancer biology, and translational diagnostics for public health.
Speech Title
Genomic Diversity of Typhoidal and Non-Typhoidal Salmonella enterica Serovars Causing Bacteremia in India
Mireia Iglesias Algilaga
Clinical Analysis Laboratory
Spain
Mireia Iglesias Algilaga
Clinical Analysis LaboratorySpain
Biography
Mireia Iglesias Algilaga earned her Biotechnology degree from the University of Girona and pursued advanced training with a Master’s in Clinical Microbiology at the European Institute of Physics, Chemistry and Biology, as well as a Specialization Diploma in New Technologies Applied to Clinical Microbiology from the University of Seville and SEIMC. She has over eight years of professional experience in a clinical analysis laboratory, with the last four years dedicated to Clinical Microbiology and Molecular Biology. Her expertise lies in diagnostic methodologies, molecular techniques, and the application of innovative tools in clinical microbiology. Deeply passionate about microbiology, particularly its molecular aspects, she continues to expand her knowledge and contribute to advancements in the field through both practice and research.
Speech Title
Epidemiological Insights into Gastrointestinal Infections: The Role of Molecular Diagnostics
Dr. Leonel Gonzalez
Social Security Hospital in Quetzaltenango
Guatemala
Dr. Leonel Gonzalez
Social Security Hospital in QuetzaltenangoGuatemala
Biography
Dr. Leonel González serves as the Head of the Infectious Disease Unit at the Social Security Hospital in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. He also acts as the Institutional Coordinator of Antimicrobial Stewardship and Diagnostic Stewardship and leads several key initiatives within the hospital, including the Outpatient Parenteral Antibiotic Therapy (OPAT) Clinic and the HIV and Chronic Infections Clinic.
He is an active member of the Guatemalan Association of Internal Medicine and the Guatemalan Association of Infectious Diseases, contributing to advancing best practices and knowledge in the field.
Speech Title
Histoplasmosis In Guatemala, Mortality And Haematological Phenomena
Ms. Mariia Panasiuk
ICAP at Columbia University
Ukraine
Ms. Mariia Panasiuk
ICAP at Columbia UniversityUkraine
Biography
Mariia Panasiuk, born on September 2, 1987, is an accomplished infectious disease physician from Ukraine. She earned her higher education diploma in General Medicine and specialized in Medical Care and Prevention from O.O. Bogomolets National Medical University in 2011, subsequently completing her internship in Infectious Diseases at Odessa National I.I. Mechnikov University.
Her early career included serving as an infectious disease physician at the Central District Hospital in Domanivka, Mykolaiv region. Demonstrating her commitment to national service, she was mobilized into the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 18 months in 2015, undergoing training at the 8th Medical Retraining Course at the Ukrainian Military Medical Academy. Following her military service, she worked at the Khmelnytsky City Infectious Diseases Hospital from 2016 to 2018.
From 2020 to 2024, Mariia was a key figure at the State Institution “Public Health Center of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine,” serving as an infectious disease physician within the Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control Department. During this period, she was a resident of both the 3rd cohort of Ukraine's Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP) and the Knowledge Co-Creation Program (KCCP) organized by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). A significant achievement was her involvement in organizing epidemiological surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) among wounded individuals in 2023.
Since 2023, she has been dedicated to the International technical assistance project “Enhancing global health security: strengthening public health surveillance systems and preparedness globally.” Currently, Mariia holds the position of Clinical Specialist at ICAP at Columbia University, Ukrainian office, continuing her vital work in public health.
Her extensive experience includes participation in organizing and conducting several impactful research projects, such as characterizing SARS-CoV-2 risk factors among healthcare workers, conducting a pilot survey on healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use in Ukraine, and evaluating hand hygiene effectiveness among healthcare professionals.
Speech Title
The Prevalence of Antimicrobial Resistance Among the Wounded in Ukraine
Asst. Prof. Bouhalloufa Fatima Halima
Mostaganem University Hospital Centre
Algeria
Asst. Prof. Bouhalloufa Fatima Halima
Mostaganem University Hospital CentreAlgeria
Biography
Bouhalloufa Fatima Halima is an assistant professor of infectious diseases at the Mostaganem University Hospital Centre in Algeria. After working for four years at the Oran University Hospital Centre, she took up her current position, where she is involved in teaching and research in infectious diseases.
An active member of the Algerian Society of Infectious Diseases and the Algerian Society of Microbiology, Halima has a deep interest in skin and soft tissue infections. She is currently working on a thesis about the risk factors for complications in dermohypodermitis, an area in which she specializes. Her research and presentations have been presented at numerous scientific conferences, contributing to the development of new approaches to managing these pathologies.
Speech Title
cellulitis
Chassem Lapue Christian
Lambarene Medical Research Center
Gabon
Chassem Lapue Christian
Lambarene Medical Research CenterGabon
Biography
A qualified general practitioner, I combine expertise in emergency medicine with experience in clinical research. After serving as Chief Medical Officer, I now manage and coordinate medical projects at the Lambaréné Medical Research Center. From team supervision to managing sensitive cases, I excel in conducting rigorous medical studies and operational management. With a solid background at the University of Health Sciences, I am proficient in data analysis and digital tools. An entrepreneur at heart, I pursue the goal of improving care in dynamic environments.
Speech Title
Exploratory analysis of the effect of smoking on the distribution of soil-transmitted helminth infections in Gabonese adults: a cross-sectional study
Dr. Paula Figueroa
Guatemalan Institute of Social Security (IGSS)
Guatemala
Dr. Paula Figueroa
Guatemalan Institute of Social Security (IGSS)Guatemala
Biography
Dr. Paula Figueroa is an Infectious Disease Specialist at the Social Security of Guatemala, where she also serves as Coordinator of the PROA Commission and the Infection Control Program. She is currently collaborating with Dr. Leonel González on the development of a Histoplasma database.
Speech Title
Histoplasmosis In Guatemala, Mortality And Haematological Phenomena
Dr. Dushyanthie Athukorala
University Hospitals Coventry
UK
Dr. Dushyanthie Athukorala
University Hospitals CoventryUK
Biography
Dr. Dushyanthie Athukorala graduated from the University of Kelaniya, Sri Lanka, and obtained postgraduate qualifications in Medical Microbiology (PG Diploma, 2006; MD, 2010) from the University of Colombo. She earned her FRCPath from the Royal College of Pathologists, UK, in 2017.
She has over a decade of academic and clinical experience in microbiology, including service as Senior Lecturer at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka. Since 2017, she has been working as a Consultant in Medical Microbiology at the University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, where she also serves as Clinical Quality Lead. She was appointed Honorary Medical Editor for UK SMIs in 2025.
Her research interests include infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms, bacterial resistance mechanisms, and the epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections.
Speech Title
Diagnostic stewardship in the era of resistant Gram negative infections
Mr. Mahesh Madhu Ragini
Infection Preventionist & Occupational Health Specialist, SAIPEM-RPM
UAE
Mr. Mahesh Madhu Ragini
Infection Preventionist & Occupational Health Specialist, SAIPEM-RPMUAE
Biography
Mahesh Madhu Ragini, , is a skilled Infection Prevention and Control Specialist and Occupational Health Professional with extensive experience in healthcare administration and workplace safety management. He is dedicated to developing and implementing effective infection control programs, conducting surveillance, and promoting evidence-based preventive practices. With a strong background in occupational health, Mahesh ensures compliance with health standards, supports employee wellness, and upholds the highest standards of safety and care in all professional settings.
Speech Title
Hospital Acquired Infection Surveillance (or) ICU CARE bundles
