George Koliakos was born in Thessaloniki, Greece in 1956. He earned his MD in 1979 and his PhD in Biochemistry in 1983 from the Medical School of Aristotle University. He specialized in Nuclear Medicine between 1983 and 1987. His academic journey includes postdoctoral research at the University of Minnesota (1987–1989) and a visiting professorship at the University of Miami (1993). From 1989 to 2023, he served as a faculty member at the Medical School of Aristotle University, where he was Professor of Biochemistry and is now Professor Emeritus. He directed the Joint Postgraduate Program in “Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine” in collaboration with Democritus University of Thrace (2019–2023). In addition to serving as Editor of the Aristotle Biomedical Journal and President of the Hellenic Society for Regenerative Medicine Research, he held several key academic leadership roles, including Director of the Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry at AHEPA University Hospital and Director of the Laboratory of Biological Chemistry at Aristotle University. He also led the Department of Biological Sciences and Preventive Medicine across multiple terms. Outside academia, he co-founded Hippocrates Diagnostic Center (1991–2006), served as CEO of the Hellenic National Research Center Stem Cell Bank (2007–2014), and is currently the Founder, President, and CEO of Biohellenika Biotechnology Company. A prolific researcher, Dr. Koliakos has co-authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications with more than 6,000 citations, holds eight patents, and has been principal investigator on 17 national research grants.

Dr. Vivek N. Upasani, is a well known microbiologist from India with over four decades of experience in research and academic leadership. He currently serves as a Chief Scientist at Genexplore Diagnostics and Research Centre Pvt. Ltd., Ahmedabad. He has coordinated and led multiple DBT, UGC, and GUJCOST-funded research projects and schemes. Dr. Upasani has conducted postdoctoral research in Canada (Lipids of haloarchaea), and the USA (Rice Biotechnology: Carotenoid biosynthesis). He has done pioneering work on the isolation and characterization of haloarchaea (natronobacterium /natrialba) from Sambhar Lake, Rajasthan, India. His research also includes the genomic study of halophilic archaea, studies on halophilic microalgae from Indian saline ecosystems, hydrocarbon degradation, etc. He has supervised five Ph.D. candidates to completion, published over 48 research papers, authored 7 books, and contributed whole genome sequences to international repositories and deposited microbial cultures in ATTCC, NCIMB, NCCS, etc. An active member of several professional bodies, including the American Society for Microbiology and the Microbiologists Society of India. He is also a certified Lead Auditor (FSSC 22000). He continues to mentor, review and collaborate in national and international scientific communities.