Sandip Kaledhonkar | Drug Discovery and Development | Research Excellence Award

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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sandip Kaledhonkar | Drug Discovery and Development | Research Excellence Award

Indian Institute of Technology Bombay | India

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sandip Kaledhonkar is a distinguished scientist whose work spans biophysics, structural biology, cryo-electron microscopy, and molecular microbiology. He currently serves in the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, where he contributes to cutting-edge research, innovative teaching, and academic mentorship. Prior to his current role, he progressed through key academic and research appointments, including his tenure as Assistant Professor at IIT Bombay, a scientific role at the Haffkine Institute for Training, Research and Testing in Mumbai, and an impactful post-doctoral fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center in New York. These experiences collectively shaped his expertise in structural dynamics, cryo-EM methodologies, and molecular interactions critical to understanding biological systems.Dr. Kaledhonkar earned his Ph.D. in Physics from Oklahoma State University, where he conducted foundational work on the Structural Dynamics of Photoactive Yellow Protein under the guidance of Dr. Aihua Xie. He further strengthened his academic foundation with an M.Sc. and B.Sc. in Physics from the University of Pune. His teaching portfolio reflects his multidisciplinary strengths, covering subjects such as Mathematics for Biologists, Experimental Techniques in Biomedical Engineering, Computational Biology, cryo-Electron Microscopy, and core undergraduate biology.His research contributions have significantly advanced the field, with notable publications including titles such as In Silico Identification of Potential Inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA Gyrase from Phytoconstituents of Indian Medicinal Plants, Cryo-EM Reconstruction of the phiK601 Jumbo Phage Head, VCP/p97, a Host AAA-ATPase Exhibits Bacteriolytic Activity for Clearance of Microbial Infection, Conformational Flexibility Associated with Remote Residues Regulate the Kinetic Properties of Glutamate Dehydrogenase, and Application of Bio-Layer Interferometry for the Analysis of Ribosome-Protein Interactions. Other influential works include Physiochemical Characterization of a Potential Klebsiella Phage MKP-1, Not All Photoactive Yellow Proteins Are Built Alike, and landmark cryo-EM studies such as Late Steps in Bacterial Translation Initiation Visualized Using Time-Resolved Cryo-EM and Key Intermediates in Ribosome Recycling Visualized by Time-Resolved Cryo-Electron Microscopy. His scholarly record also features important methodological contributions, including Single Particle Cryo-Electron Microscopy and A Fast and Effective Microfluidic Spraying-Plunging Method for High-Resolution Single-Particle Cryo-EM.Dr. Kaledhonkar’s excellence has been recognized through numerous honors, including prestigious microscopy, teaching, and research awards, as well as membership in India’s premier scientific academies. His work continues to influence modern bioscience research, inspiring new advancements in structural biology and biomedical innovation.

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Featured Publications

Feng, X., Fu, Z., Kaledhonkar, S., Jia, Y., Shah, B., Jin, A., Liu, Z., Sun, M., & Chen, B. (2017). A fast and effective microfluidic spraying‑plunging method for high‑resolution single‑particle cryo‑EM. Structure, 25(4), 663‑670.e3.

Chen, B., Kaledhonkar, S., Sun, M., Shen, B., Lu, Z., Barnard, D., & Lu, T. M. (2015). Structural dynamics of ribosome subunit association studied by mixing‑spraying time‑resolved cryogenic electron microscopy. Structure, 23(6), 1097‑1105.

Fu, Z., Indrisiunaite, G., Kaledhonkar, S., Shah, B., Sun, M., & Chen, B. (2019). The structural basis for release factor activation during translation termination revealed by time‑resolved cryogenic electron microscopy. Biophysical Journal, 116(3), 574a‑575a.

Fu, Z., Kaledhonkar, S., Borg, A., Sun, M., Chen, B., Grassucci, R. A., & Ehrenberg, M. (2016). Key intermediates in ribosome recycling visualized by time‑resolved cryoelectron microscopy. Structure, 24(12), 2092‑2101.

Horst, M. A., Stalcup, T. P., Kaledhonkar, S., Kumauchi, M., Hara, M., & Xie, A. (2009). Locked chromophore analogs reveal that photoactive yellow protein regulates biofilm formation in the deep‑sea bacterium Idiomarina loihiensis. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 131(47), 17443‑17451.

Kaledhonkar, S., Fu, Z., White, H., & Frank, J. (2018). Time‑resolved cryo‑electron microscopy using a microfluidic chip. In Protein Complex Assembly: Methods and Protocols (pp. 59‑71).

Kaledhonkar, S., Hara, M., Stalcup, T. P., Xie, A., & Hoff, W. D. (2013). Strong ionic hydrogen bonding causes a spectral isotope effect in photoactive yellow protein. Biophysical Journal, 105(11), 2577‑2585.

Zaneta Nikolovska-Coleska | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Researcher Award

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Prof. Dr. Zaneta Nikolovska-Coleska | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Researcher Award

University of Michigan Medical School Department of Pathology | United States

Prof. Dr. Zaneta Nikolovska-Coleska is an accomplished pharmaceutical chemist and molecular pharmacologist recognized for her groundbreaking work in the design, synthesis, and development of molecularly targeted small molecules for cancer treatment. She earned her foundational and advanced degrees in pharmaceutical chemistry from the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje, where she also began her academic career as a young assistant and later advanced through multiple teaching and research positions. Her dedication to chemical sciences and biomedical innovation led her to the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she currently serves as a Professor in the Department of Pathology and Associate Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies.Dr. Nikolovska-Coleska’s research is centered on the discovery of small molecule inhibitors that target protein–protein interactions involved in apoptosis, oncogenic signaling pathways, and epigenetic regulation. Her laboratory investigates mechanisms such as Mcl-1–Bim/Noxa, Bfl-1–Bim/Noxa, EZH2–p38 MAP kinase interactions, and histone methyltransferase activities, contributing to the identification of novel therapeutic targets for various malignancies. Through her integrative approach, combining chemical biology, medicinal chemistry, and translational oncology, she has developed promising compounds for the modulation of signaling pathways implicated in cancer progression and resistance.Her clinical and translational research extends into precision medicine, where she applies functional assays to predict anti-cancer drug responses, aiming to enhance individualized therapeutic strategies. As a clinician-research scholar and educator, she has mentored numerous postdoctoral fellows, clinical trainees, and graduate students, guiding them in developing innovative research methodologies and critical scientific reasoning.Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Nikolovska-Coleska has played pivotal roles in multiple large-scale research initiatives, serving as Principal Investigator, Co-Investigator, and Mentor on numerous national and international grants focused on cancer biology, aging, and drug discovery. Her collaborations with global scientific institutions and pharmaceutical organizations have contributed to the advancement of targeted therapies, including the development of inhibitors against oncogenic proteins such as DOT1L, Mcl-1, EZH2, and PAPP-A.In addition to her research excellence, Dr. Nikolovska-Coleska has made outstanding contributions to academic leadership. As Director of the Molecular and Cellular Pathology Graduate Program and Associate Director of Academic Programs in Biomedical Sciences, she has overseen curriculum development, student recruitment, academic policy, and interdisciplinary research training. Her vision continues to shape the next generation of biomedical scientists, emphasizing the integration of molecular insights with clinical applications.Through her scholarly achievements, mentorship, and leadership, Prof. Dr. Zaneta Nikolovska-Coleska stands as a leading figure in pharmaceutical chemistry and translational oncology, dedicated to advancing science that bridges molecular discovery with therapeutic innovation.

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Featured Publications

Ding, K., Lu, Y., Nikolovska-Coleska, Z., Wang, G., Qiu, S., Shangary, S., Gao, W., et al. (2006). Structure-based design of spiro-oxindoles as potent, specific small-molecule inhibitors of the MDM2−p53 interaction. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 49(12), 3432–3435.

Shangary, S., Qin, D., McEachern, D., Liu, M., Miller, R. S., Qiu, S., et al. (2008). Temporal activation of p53 by a specific MDM2 inhibitor is selectively toxic to tumors and leads to complete tumor growth inhibition. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 105(10), 3933–3938.

Ding, K., Lu, Y., Nikolovska-Coleska, Z., Qiu, S., Ding, Y., Gao, W., Stuckey, J., et al. (2005). Structure-based design of potent non-peptide MDM2 inhibitors. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 127(29), 10130–10131.

Nikolovska-Coleska, Z., Wang, R., Fang, X., Pan, H., Tomita, Y., Li, P., Roller, P. P., et al. (2004). Development and optimization of a binding assay for the XIAP BIR3 domain using fluorescence polarization. Analytical Biochemistry, 332(2), 261–273.

Nikolovska-Coleska, Z., Xu, L., Hu, Z., Tomita, Y., Li, P., Roller, P. P., Wang, R., et al. (2004). Discovery of embelin as a cell-permeable, small-molecular-weight inhibitor of XIAP through structure-based computational screening of a traditional herbal medicine. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 47(10), 2430–2440.

Bagherian, M., Sabeti, E., Wang, K., Sartor, M. A., Nikolovska-Coleska, Z., et al. (2021). Machine learning approaches and databases for prediction of drug–target interaction: A survey paper. Briefings in Bioinformatics, 22(1), 247–269.

Wang, G., Nikolovska-Coleska, Z., Yang, C. Y., Wang, R., Tang, G., Guo, J., et al. (2006). Structure-based design of potent small-molecule inhibitors of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 49(21), 6139–6142.