Kazunari Yokoyama | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Scholar Award

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Prof. Dr. Kazunari Yokoyama | Drug Discovery and Development | Best Scholar Award

Kaohsiung Medical University | Taiwan

Prof. Dr. Kazunari Yokoyama is a distinguished molecular biochemist and genetic researcher whose academic journey reflects a deep and sustained commitment to biochemical, biophysical, and pharmaceutical sciences. He began his formal education in agricultural chemistry at Shizuoka University, where he developed a strong foundation in chemical and biological sciences that would later define his interdisciplinary research career. He advanced his graduate studies at The University of Tokyo, specializing in biochemical and biophysical chemistry, an environment that fostered his early interest in molecular mechanisms underlying biological systems. His doctoral training, carried out within the Department of Science at The University of Tokyo, was closely integrated with pharmaceutical sciences, benefiting from cross-divisional mentorship that enriched his scientific perspective.Prof. Yokoyama’s professional development was shaped by rigorous pre-doctoral and doctoral research training under renowned scientists in Japan, where he refined his expertise in experimental biochemistry, molecular biology, and immunological research. Following the completion of his doctoral studies, he expanded his international research experience through advanced postgraduate training in the United States. His postdoctoral fellowship in microbiology and immunology provided him with extensive exposure to immune system regulation at the molecular level, further strengthening his translational research capabilities. He subsequently held research and junior faculty positions in leading molecular genetics institutes, where he contributed to pioneering work in gene regulation, molecular genetics, and genome-related research.Upon returning to Japan, Prof. Yokoyama played an integral role in nationally significant research programs, including large-scale gene bank initiatives and collaborative genome projects. His work at prominent research centers emphasized chromosome biology, molecular regulation, aging, and genetic resource development. Through numerous collaborative appointments, both domestic and international, he established himself as a versatile and highly respected scientist whose career bridges basic biochemical research and large-scale genomic science. His scholarly contributions continue to influence molecular genetics, biochemical research infrastructure, and interdisciplinary life science innovation.

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Featured Publications

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.