Dr.Preetham Elumalai, is an Associate Professor at the Department of Marine Biology, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala, India. He did his PhD in Biochemistry and Molecular Immunology from Institute of Immunology, University of Regensburg, Germany. His research practice is focussed on bioassay-guided identification of novel marine compounds, unveiling fish lectins in innate immune defence mechanisms, aquatic vaccine development, evaluation of cost-effective feed additives and nutrigenomics, and effects of environmental pollutants on marine ecosystems. He has published more than 80 peer-reviewed articles and has two patents in his name. He has authored 20 book chapters, edited six books and has presented his work at more than 70 national and international conferences. He has been awarded the prestigious INSA fellowship (2018); MASTS, Fellowship (2019); IVVN award, UK (2020); FRSB award (2021); and BactiVac award, UK (2022); Faculty Exchange Program 2024 under the RashtriyaUchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) 2.0 (2024) and ASEM-DUO (ARES program) (2024).Dr. Sreeja Lakshmi is a Post-doctoral Research Scientist in collaboration with Moredun Research Institute, United Kingdom. She pursued her PhD in Biochemistry and molecular biology from University of Regensburg, Germany. Her research interests extend through functional attributes of bioactive compounds for therapeutic applications, development of nano and glycovaccines against aquatic diseases, novel treatment strategies against neurodegenerative disorders and protein biochemistry. She has published her works in peer reviewed journals and presented papers in national and international conferences. She has edited 5 books and authored 10 book chapters. She is awarded with research fellowship from Bayerischeforschungsstiftung (Bavarian Research Foundation), Govt. of Bavaria, Germany (2009); HRD fellowship for Women Scientists from Department of Health Research (DHR), Govt. of India (2017); MASTS-PECRE (Marine Alliance Science Technology, Scotland) Award for Post-doctoral and Early Career Research Exchanges (2019); Postdoctoral Research grant from IVVN (International Veterinary Vaccinology Network), United Kingdom (2020) and Project grant from BactiVac Network, University of Birmingham, United Kingdom (2021, 2023).
