Current Drug Therapy

Dr. Walter F. de Azevedo, Jr. earned a BSc in Physics (1990), an MSc in Applied Physics (1992), and a DSc in Applied Physics (1997) from the University of São Paulo (Brazil). Dr. Azevedo worked under the supervision of Prof. Yvonne Primerano Mascarenhas (University of São Paulo) and Prof. Sung-Hou Kim (University of California, Berkeley) on a split Doctoral program with a fellowship from the Brazilian Research Council (CNPq). During the first two years of his stay at Berkeley, he was under a CNPq fellowship (1993-95). Due to his performance during these first years, Prof. S.-H. Kim hired him as a Visiting Researcher for the Department of Chemistry at the University of California, Berkeley (1995-96). The work developed at Berkeley resulted in his thesis about the structure of CDK2 (PDB code: 2A4L) (https://www.rcsb.org/structure/2A4L) (Azevedo et al., 1996) (https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.93.7.2735); (Azevedo et al., 1997) (https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1432-1033.1997.0518a.x). Dr. Azevedo is the first author of both papers, and these publications have more than 1,000 citations on the Web of Science (https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/581112).

During 1997-1998, he had a postdoc position at São Paulo State University (Unesp) with a Fapesp fellowship (https://bv.fapesp.br/pt/bolsas/75932/determinacao-de-estruturas-de-proteinas-por-tecnicas-de-difraca.... He holds a habilitation degree in Physics (livre-docência) from São Paulo State University (Unesp, 2004). In 1998, Dr. Azevedo participated in a research project with NASA. This project focused on protein crystallization in a microgravity environment onboard the Space Shuttle Discovery (STS-95). Brazilian TV networks covered this research (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9IFiQNY8mE). In 2019, he published the book Docking Screens for Drug Discovery. This book sold more than 63,000 copies (March 2026) with over 2 million dollars in sales (https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-1-4939-9752-7). The second edition was published in October 2025 (https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-4949-7).

His scientific interests are interdisciplinary, with three main emphases: computational structural biology, artificial intelligence, and complex systems. In his studies, Dr. Azevedo developed several free software programs to explore the concept of Scoring Function Space. As a result of his research, he published over 200 scientific works about protein structures, computer models of complex systems, and simulations of protein systems. These publications have generated over 12,000 citations on Google Scholar (h-index of 64) and more than 10,000 citations and an h-index of 58 in Scopus.

Due to the impact of his work, Dr. Azevedo has been ranked among the most influential researchers in the world (Fields: Biophysics, Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Biomedical Research) according to a database created by Journal Plos Biology (see news here). The application of the same set of metrics recognized the influence of his work from 2021 to 2025 (Baas et al., 2021; Ioannidis, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025). Not bad for a poor guy who was a shoe seller at a store in São Paulo and had the opportunity to study at the University of São Paulo with a scholarship for food and housing. He was 23 when I initiated his undergraduate studies and was the first in my family to have access to higher education.

Since March 2026, Dr. Azevedo has been the Editor in Chief for the Current Drug Therapy (https://www.benthamscience.com/journal/14/editorial-board). He also works as an editor of several journals. Among them, he is the frontiers section editor (Bioinformatics/Biophysics) for the Current Drug Targets (https://www.benthamscience.com/journal/13/editorial-board), section editor for the Current Medicinal Chemistry (https://www.benthamscience.com/journal/25/editorial-board), member of the editorial board of Molecular Diversity (https://link.springer.com/journal/11030/editorial-board), and editor of Docking Screens for Drug Discovery (Methods of Molecular Biology)-Springer Nature. Dr. Azevedo is a reviewer for over 60 high-impact journals, including Nature Communications and Briefings in Bioinformatics.

Dr. Azevedo is an honorary professor at Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research (Bharath University) and a professor at the Federal University of Alfenas, Brazil.

Dr. Jia-You Fang is a Professor in the Graduate Institute of Natural Products at Chang Gung University in Taiwan. Additionally, he serves as an Adjunct Professor at the Graduate Institute of Health Industrial Technology, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, and the Department of Anesthesiology at Chang Gung Memorial Hospital. With extensive experience spanning over 25 years, he and his team have made significant contributions to drug delivery, pharmaceutics, pharmacokinetics, nanomedicine, and cosmetology. He is actively involved in research and academic publishing, with his work widely recognized in the scientific community.

Dr. Khalid Aftab, Ph.D., is a pharmacologist who graduated from the Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Karachi, Pakistan. He has worked in the pharmaceutical industry as a Quality Control and Quality Assurance professional and has been actively involved in the research and development of pharmaceutical formulations. He is the only Pakistani pharmacologist to have earned membership in the American College of Clinical Pharmacology. His research focuses on biodiversity and the pharmacological activities of marine organisms, leading to significant advancements in the field. He has also contributed extensively to scientific literature and has presented his work globally.

Prof. Stefano Angioni is an Associate Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the University of Cagliari, Italy. He obtained a Doctorate (Ph.D.) in Biology of Human and Animal Reproduction from the University of Bari (Italy) and is mainly involved in the surgical and pharmacological management of chronic pelvic pain and infertility. He is the President of the University School of Midwifery at the University of Cagliari. Prof. Angioni authored more than 220 manuscripts and co-edited several scientific books.

Dr. Domenico Berardis, M.D., Ph.D., is a Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist working in clinical practice at the NHS Department of Mental Health, Psychiatric Service of Diagnosis and Treatment, Hospital “G. Mazzini,” ASL 4 Teramo, Italy. He independently collaborates with the Institute of Psychiatry at the University of Chieti-Pescara, Italy, contributing to research projects and teaching. His research interests and expertise include clinical psychiatry, clinical psychopharmacology, clozapine, newer antidepressants, long-acting antipsychotics, alexithymia, emotions, functional somatic symptoms, anxiety disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, functional magnetic resonance, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. He has made significant contributions to the field through his research and academic work.

Dr. Francesco Bifari obtained his Ph.D. degree from the Graduate School of Translational Biomedicine at the University of Verona, Italy. Since March 2016, Dr. Bifari has served as a Principal Investigator in the Laboratory of Cell Metabolism and Regenerative Medicine at the Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Italy. His research focuses on understanding the role of meningeal-resident adult neural stem cells in brain plasticity and regenerative medicine. Dr. Bifari has made significant contributions to the field through his scholarly work and academic endeavors.

Dr. Klemens Budde currently works at the Department of Nephrology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Klemens does research in Clinical Kidney Transplantation, Immunosuppression, Nephrology, Rare Kidney Diseases, Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), Databases, and Artificial Intelligence. He has contributed his publication in different scientific journals.

Dr. Bing Cui obtained his Ph.D. in Molecular Immunological Pharmacology from Peking Union Medical College. With nearly 15 years of experience in research and drug discovery, he has focused on developing medications for cancer, cardiovascular, and fibrotic diseases. Currently, Dr. Cui is a professor at the Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College. He is also a named inventor of several issued patents and has made significant contributions to the scientific community through his publications and innovations.

Dr. Hanaa S. El-Desoky is currently serving as a Full Professor of Analytical Chemistry at Tanta University, Faculty of Science, Egypt. She has worked on various analytical chemistry projects, particularly focusing on electroanalytical techniques for drug active compounds and DNA–Drug interactions. Her research includes the preparation and characterization of nanomaterials, exploring their electrochemical applications as sensors for trace determination of pharmaceutical compounds in formulations and biological fluids. Dr. El-Desoky is also an Editorial Board Member of the "SF Journal of Pharmaceutical and Analytical Chemistry." She was honored with the "International Publication Award" from Tanta University for her contributions, having published numerous scientific articles in international journals.

Dr. Natan Gadoth obtained his MD from the Hebrew University, Hadassah School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel. He received training in both Israel and at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, USA, specializing in Pediatric and Adult Neurology. Dr. Gadoth is the former chairman of the section of Neurology and Neurosurgery at Tel Aviv University, the Israeli Society of Pediatric Neurology, and the Israeli Neurological Association. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Israeli Neurophysiological Society and is an emeritus professor at Tel Aviv University. Additionally, Dr. Gadoth is a member of over 20 international scientific societies, serves on 5 editorial boards, and is a senior or associated author of numerous peer-reviewed publications, including book chapters and a book editor.

Prof. Roya Kelishadi is a specialist in Pediatrics, working as a faculty member of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran. Over her 20-year career, she focused on primordial/primary prevention of non-communicable diseases. She is the founder and chair of the Research Institute for Primary Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, as well as the founder and chair of the Child Growth and Development Research Center affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. She is also the founder and Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Preventive Medicine. Her studies are focused on lifestyle and environmental factors related to the early life origins of adult chronic diseases.

Dr. Varun Khurana graduated with a Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chemistry from reputed University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, MO. Currently, he is working as a Formulation Scientist at Nevakar LLC, Bridgewater, NJ, a specialty pharmaceutical company that develops and commercializes innovative products in injectable and ophthalmic space. Prior to Nevakar, he was employed as a Formulation Scientist at Insys Therapeutics Inc, Chandler, AZ. His research has been published in several peer-reviewed journals and books in the field of pharmaceutical sciences.

Dr. Aleksandra Kładna is a Professor at Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. She earned her Ph.D. in medicine in 1986 and completed her Habilitation in 1996. Dr. Kładna is a medical specialist in Dermatology and Venerology, as well as in Palliative Medicine. With over 30 years of experience as a lecturer, clinician, and researcher, she has become a prominent figure in her field. Dr. Kładna is a member of numerous scientific societies. Her research interests include the role of oxygen free radicals in human diseases, the use of novel compounds with antioxidant properties, public health, and medical empathy.

Prof. (Dr.) Pradyumna Mishra is currently the Deputy Director of the ICMR-National Institute for Research in Environmental Health, Bhopal, India. He is a recipient of the prestigious Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship (USA) and serves as a Visiting Faculty Associate at the Weizmann Institute of Science, Israel, and Osaka University, Japan. Recently, he was nominated as one of the Foreign Affiliate Members of the Foundation for Polish Science, Warsaw, Poland. Dr. Mishra is the Associate Editor-in-Chief of Frontiers in Genetics and serves on the editorial boards of several scientific journals and committees, as well as technical advisory bodies. His research primarily focuses on inter-disciplinary studies, with equal emphasis on molecular immunology and translational medicine. Dr. Mishra has made significant academic contributions and collaborates on several research projects with leading academic investigators from centers of excellence both in India and abroad.

Dr. Palanisamy Arulselvan is presently serving as Adjunct Associate Professor, Muthayammal Centre for Advanced Research (MCAR), Muthayammal College of Arts and Science, Tamil Nadu, India. His research interests include Diabetes and diabetic wound healing, Nanomedicine for cancer therapy (Drug delivery system), Inflammation and Cancer Biology and Natural Products Research for inflammation, diabetes and cancer. He has contributed his publications in different scientific journals.

Dr. Rishi Paliwal received his doctorate from Dr. H. S. Gour University, Sagar, India. He is currently working in the Department of Pharmacy at Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Amrkantak, India. With nearly 12 years of research experience, his focus areas include nanomedicine, controlled drug delivery, and cancer drug targeting. Dr. Paliwal has made significant contributions as an author and co-author in numerous international publications, book chapters, guest-edited issues, and a book. He has received several national and international awards, including the MP Young Scientist Award, Rudolf Cimdins Award, and Career Award for Young Pharmacy Teachers. Additionally, he actively reviews for over 30 international journals and grant funding agencies.

Dr. Deepa Patel is an enthusiastic academician and an active researcher in the field of Pharmaceutical Technology, holding a GATE qualification. Her research interests primarily focus on developing and translating new drug delivery systems for the prevention and treatment of various diseases such as cancer, HIV, and asthma. Dr. Patel has published several research papers in high-impact journals and filed Indian patent applications related to novel drug delivery systems. She has also published international book chapters and edited a book. She has presented her research at several international conferences in the USA and Canada. Dr. Patel has guided many post-graduate students and is currently supervising Ph.D. students. She works as an Associate Professor in the Pharmaceutics Department at Parul University and has a notable h-index and citations across Scopus, Google Scholar, and Web of Science.

Dr. Fabrizio D. Piaz is an Assistant Professor in Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology at the Department of Pharmacy, University of Salerno. He holds a degree in Chemistry from the Faculty of Chemistry at the University “Federico II” of Naples, in 1997, vote 110/110 cum laude. He did PhD in Chemistry in 2002 from the University “Federico II” of Naples From 2002 to 2004, he worked as scientific manager and researcher at the "Laboratory of bio-analytical mass spectrometry " to the Interdepartmental Biotechnology Research Centre at the University of Bologna. From 2004 to 2006, he worked as young researcher at DiFarma to lead a project on metabolomics and proteomics of Salvia ssp plants. In 2000, he worked at the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) of Lion (France) with Dr. Marlin Friesen, to develop new methods to identify DNA polymorphisms by mass spectrometry.

Dr. Nunzio Pomara is the Director of the Geriatric Psychiatry Division at Nathan S. Kline Institute (NKI) and a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Pathology at the New York University School of Medicine. He has been involved in research related to Alzheimer’s disease and Geriatric Psychopharmacology for over three decades. Dr. Pomara has authored numerous publications, including chapters and books, and has been involved in many collaborative works. He has received significant grants from the NIH and presented at various national and international scientific meetings. He is a member of both the American and European College of Neuropsychopharmacology, along with many other scientific organizations.

Dr. Arun Ravindran is Full Professor and Director of Global Mental Health and the Office of Fellowship Training for the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto. He is cross-appointed as Graduate Faculty in the Institute of Medical Sciences, and is also a Senior Scientist in the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. Dr. Ravindran’s clinical and research interest is in the area of mood and anxiety disorders. He has held or currently holds grant funding from national and international agencies. He is also actively involved in capacity-building and humanitarian global mental health projects.

Dr. Catarina P. Reis is presently serving as Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Pharmacy of University of Lisbon. Her research interests include Development of new drug delivery systems, Theranostics, Therapeutic polymers for drug delivery, Methods of micro and nanoencapsulation of drugs, food supplements and cosmetics, Drug dissolution, absorption, metabolism and elimination studies, Targeted therapies, in vivo efficacy and safety assessments using animal models, Pre-clinical toxicity assessment, Food supplements, Regulatory affairs, Medical Devices, cosmetics, etc. She has contributed her publications in different scientific journals.

Dr. Bruno Vincenzi is presently serving as an Associate Professor at Campus Bio-Medico University Rome, Italy. He has completed his PhD and contributed his valuable publications in different scientific journals.

Dr. Avi Weinbroum is presently associated with the Ministry of Health, Israel and serves as a Professor at the department of Anaesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel. Dr. Weinbroum's research interests include Pain Management, Anesthesia, Chronic Pain, Anaesthetics, Acute Pain, General Anesthesia, Hemodynamics, Pain Medicine and Laparotomy. Dr. Weinbroum has contributed multiple publications in different scientific journals.

Dr. Mary Zanarini is currently principal investigator of the McLean Study of Adult Development or MSAD—an NIMH-funded study of the long-term course of BPD now entering its 24th year. She is also the principal investigator of an NIMH-funded, internet-based randomized controlled trial of an early form of treatment for BPD: psych education. Her research focuses on Borderline personality disorder (BPD) involves maladaptive symptoms or traits in affect, cognition, behavior, and interpersonal relationships.

Dr. Yusuf M. Ali Al-Hiari presently serves as a Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty of Pharmacy Jordan University. He is also a part of different scientific communities such as the Clinical Studies Committee at Jordan Food and Drug, the Jordanian Pharmaceutical Society, and the Drugs Re-registration Committee at Jordan Food and Drug. He has contributed his valuable publications in different scientific journals.

Dr. Maria J. A. Cubero graduated in Biology and later obtained her PhD. She has been collaborating in teaching and scientific research, with her work recognized in indexed databases and published in high-impact journals in the forensic genetic, biomedicine and oncology field, most of the half in Q1 standing). She has expertise in research training and teaching which is recognized by national agencies such as ANECA.

Dr. Anwar Ullah is a full-time Assistant Professor in Biosciences and working in the area of Biochemistry, structural and Moleculecular Biology. His expertise and research interests are Purification, characterization, and crystallization of proteins from both natural and recombinant sources, Protein crystallography, structure determination, structure base drug discovery, protein-protein and protein-ligand interaction, structure bioinformatics, crystal diffraction, data collection, data processing, and structural solution.

Dr. Wei Wang is an associate professor at Jiangsu Institute of Parasitic Diseases and the Key Laboratory on Technology for Parasitic Disease Prevention and Control, National Health Commission of China. His research focuses on drug development and screening for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and drug resistance. He has made significant contributions to the field through his research, publications, and book chapters.