LISTEN TO THE Keynote Speakers
Prof. Dr. Munir Iqbal
Pirbright Institute, UK
Prof. Dr. Munir Iqbal
Pirbright Institute, UKTopic
Recent developments in the prevention and control of Avian influenza VirusesIntroduction
Professor Munir Iqbal is the Head of the Avian Influenza and Newcastle Disease group at The Pirbright Institute and a visiting professor at the Royal Veterinary College, London. Munir obtained Veterinary Medicine and MPhil degrees in Pakistan and a PhD in Biotechnology at Imperial College London in 1991. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Liverpool and the University of St Andrews before joining the Institute in 1996. Currently, he is leading several research projects aimed at defining the impact of genetic changes on the ability of avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses to evade immune responses, cause increased disease severity, and allow cross-species transmission. Along with unravelling the host factors that determine avian-origin influenza virus replication fitness in mammalian species. He is also leading the development of new multivalent vaccines and diagnostics for better control of avian respiratory viruses like avian influenza, Newcastle disease, avian adenovirus, and avian metapneumoviruses.Recently, his group has developed a novel targeted antigen delivery vaccine platform that selectively delivers vaccine antigens to chicken immune cells, inducing faster, stronger, and more durable immunity. The multivalent vectored vaccines he developed include recombinant NDV, recombinant herpesvirus of turkey (rHVT), and recombinant duck enteritis virus (rDEV), providing robust immunity to chickens against multiple avian viral diseases. The multivalent subunit vaccines produced in insect cells also protect chickens from several poultry viruses. He also developed a passive immunization approach to protect poultry from AIV. His recent studies have identified antigenic epitopes on the hemagglutinin antigens of H5, H9, and H7 AIVs that induce protective immune responses, with implications for vaccine strain selection. His group is developing novel easy-to-use aptamer-based diagnostic tests allowing rapid, sensitive, and reliable differential diagnosis of avian respiratory viruses at the pen-side or point-of-care.Prof. Dr. Muquarrab A. Qureshi
USDA, NC State University
Prof. Dr. Muquarrab A. Qureshi
USDA, NC State UniversityTopic
Poultry enterprise and global food security - Two peas in a PodIntroduction
Prof. Qureshi received his DVM and M.Sc. in Microbiology from the University of Agriculture in Pakistan. After six years as a Veterinary Microbiology Lecturer, he immigrated to the U.S., where he earned a Ph.D. in Animal Breeding and Genetics with a focus on Immunogenetics from Cornell University. Starting his academic career at Poultry Science Department of NC State in 1987, he progressed to Full Professor and served in various leadership roles, including Director of Graduate Programs and interim Associate Dean of the Graduate School. He is famous for developing the MQ-NCSU chicken macrophage cell line, published over 100 peer-reviewed papers and mentored more than 20 graduate students. His honors include Fulbright Scholar, Fellow of the Poultry Science Association, and multiple teaching awards. In 2003, he joined the USDA as a National Program Leader, eventually becoming Deputy Director of NIFA. After transitioning to ARS in 2019, he retired in 2024 but continues as an Adjunct Professor of Poultry Science at NC State.Prof. Dr. Chunchun Meng
SHVRI, CAAS
Prof. Dr. Chunchun Meng
SHVRI, CAASTopic
Newcastle diseases virus evolution, vaccination, and co-infections; A recent updateIntroduction
Dr. Chunchun Meng is a Professor at the Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences. He completed his Ph.D. in Avian Microbiology and Immunology, and his research focuses on the molecular epidemiology of Newcastle disease virus (NDV) and infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), virus quasispecies evolution, and vaccine development. Dr. Meng has published extensively in leading journals such as ACS Nano, Journal of Virology, mBio, Plos pathogens, Virology, Viruses, etc,. He is known for his work on NDV evaluation from avirulent to velogenic viruses and innovative vaccine approaches. His contributions include developing novel diagnostic tools and exploring viral impacts on poultry health.Prof. Dr. Doug R. Korver
University of Alberta
Prof. Dr. Doug R. Korver
University of AlbertaTopic
Intestinal Health in PoultryIntroduction
Dr. Doug Korver received a Ph. D. in nutrition from the University of California, Davis, and joined the University of Alberta in 1997. In addition to practical research on feedstuff quality and dietary supplement evaluation in poultry diets, Doug’s work focuses on nutrition-immune function interactions and bone biology in meat- and egg-type poultry. In 2016, he spent a 6- month sabbatical in Colombia, working with a major broiler integrator. In 2023, he began a phased retirement from the University of Alberta after 26 years, and formed Alpine Poultry Nutrition, Inc. His vision is to communicate the science of poultry nutrition to end users in the poultry industry while maintaining his University research program.Prof. Dr. Muhammad Munir
Lancaster University
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Munir
Lancaster UniversityTopic
NDV-based Next Generation VaccinesIntroduction
Dr. Muhammad Munir is an accomplished virologist with over 16 years of experience in studying host-virus interactions and zoonotic viruses, particularly bat- and bird-borne pathogens like influenza and coronaviruses. He has contributed significantly to virology by introducing concepts such as "reverse spillover of vaccine viruses," discovering novel interferons, and developing influenza-resistant transgenic chickens. Dr. Munir's work has led to the development of innovative diagnostic systems, vaccines, and therapeutic strategies for viruses with pandemic potential. He currently serves as a Professor of Virology at Lancaster University, where he also supervises several PhD students and postdoctoral researchers. His research is supported by significant funding, and he has published extensively, with over 55 peer-reviewed articles and several patents.Prof. Dr. M Faizal Abdul-Careem
University of Calgary, Canada
Prof. Dr. M Faizal Abdul-Careem
University of Calgary, CanadaTopic
Impact of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) on poultry industry and vaccine-mediated controlIntroduction
Prof. Dr. M Faizal Abdul-Careem is a distinguished researcher with expertise in virology, immunology, and poultry health. He holds a PhD in Viral Immunology from the University of Guelph, Canada, and has completed postdoctoral research in mucosal antiviral innate immunity at McMaster University. Dr. Abdul-Careem is board-certified in virology by the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (DACVM) and in poultry health by the American College of Poultry Veterinarians (DACPV). Currently a Professor of Virology at the University of Calgary's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, he has also served as the Head of the Department of Ecosystem and Public Health at the University from 2019 to 2022. His academic career spans multiple roles, including Associate and Assistant Professorships in Virology at the same institution. In addition to his academic achievements, Dr. Abdul-Careem holds multiple veterinary licenses in Canada, the USA, and Sri Lanka. He has contributed to groundbreaking research in viral immunology of Infectious Bronchitis, Infectious Laryngotracheitis, and Marek's disease.Dr. Khalid Naeem Khawaja
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Islamabad.
Dr. Khalid Naeem Khawaja
Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Islamabad.Topic
Precision Vaccination in Poultry: The Science and Benefits of Homologous Vaccine StrategiesIntroduction
Dr. Khalid Naeem Khawaja is an Animal Health Expert who served 35 years in different research, teaching and administrative positions at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), Islamabad. Apart from inter-provincial collaborative research work, he has also been engaged with several international organizations such as FAO, WHO, WOAH, USDA and others for running projects related to the diagnostics and control of Food Animal Diseases and Zoonotic Diseases. Dr. Naeem has been instrumental in setting up the first ONE HEALTH Hub at PARC in 2008 to work jointly with the sectors of public health, animal health, and environmental health to control Zoonoses and Antimicrobial Resistance issues. He is currently a member of various research groups working on this subject in the country.As an HEC-approved research supervisor, Dr. Naeem has mentored 48 MPhil and 14 PhD students and published 78 research papers in peer-reviewed journals. He has also served as a Member of the Board of Studies at PMAS Arid Agriculture University, Quaid-i-Azam University, and Rawalpindi Women University. He currently serves as a member of the Syndicate at UVAS-Lahore.In the private sector, Dr. Khawaja has been engaged as Director of R&D at a Veterinary Pharmaceutical and Vaccine Production Unit since 2013 and runs a Vet Diagnostic Laboratory in Islamabad.Dr. Mariatulqabtiah Abdul Razak
Universiti Putra Malaysia
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kashif Saleemi
UAF, Faisalabad, Pakistan
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Kashif Saleemi
UAF, Faisalabad, PakistanTopic
Mycotoxicosis in Poultry: Global and Local PerspectivesIntroduction
Dr. Muhammad Kashif Saleemi is a highly accomplished veterinary pathologist with extensive expertise in veterinary and poultry pathology. Currently, he serves as a Professor and Chairman of the Department of Pathology at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF). He is also the Director of External Linkages at UAF and the Head of the Diagnostic Laboratory, where he provides essential extension services to poultry farmers. Dr. Saleemi holds a DVM, M.Sc. Hons., and a PhD, and has a distinguished career in research, focusing on toxicologic pathology and infectious diseases of Poultry.Dr. Saleemi has significantly contributed to the field through his extensive research publications, with over 160 research papers to his name and a high impact factor exceeding 300. He has received multiple accolades, including the Research Productivity Award (RPA) from PCST, and has been recognized as one of the top 10 young scientists in the agriculture category in 2013-14 by PCST. His leadership extends to several international associations, where he holds important roles, including National Branch Secretary of WVPA Pakistan and Treasurer of WPSA Pakistan. Additionally, he is a member of the National Disease Control Committee of the Pakistan Poultry Association.Through his dedication to veterinary pathology and involvement in several national and international collaborations, Dr. Saleemi continues to make valuable contributions to academic, research, and industry practices, particularly in poultry health management and disease control.Prof. Dr. Amir Ghafoor
UVAS, Lahore
Prof. Dr. Amir Ghafoor
UVAS, LahoreTopic
Salmonella VaccinesIntroduction
Prof. Aamir Ghafoor is a distinguished Professor at the University Diagnostic Lab, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) in Lahore, Pakistan. Born on April 23, 1976, in Narowal, Pakistan, he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from the University of Agriculture Faisalabad in 2000 and his M.Sc (Hons.) in Microbiology from UVAS Lahore in 2005. Prof. Ghafoor further advanced his expertise by completing a Ph.D. in Molecular Microbiology at Massey University, New Zealand, in 2013, where he was honored with several awards, including the Three Minute Thesis Competition Grand Final Award. With over two decades of experience, Prof. Ghafoor specializes in molecular microbiology, diagnostic testing, and avian disease research. His notable work includes studies on Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, avian influenza viruses, and antimicrobial resistance in poultry pathogens. As the Director of the University Diagnostic Lab, he leads national disease diagnostic projects and mentors postgraduate students, fostering the next generation of veterinary scientists. Prof. Ghafoor is an active member of several professional organizations, including the Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council and the Australian Society of Microbiology. His commitment to advancing veterinary diagnostics and biosecurity has earned him recognition both nationally and internationally.Prof. Dr. Moaz UR Rahman
Director of the Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology
Prof. Dr. Moaz UR Rahman
Director of the Center of Excellence in Molecular BiologyProf. Dr. Moaz UR Rahman is a renowned academic and researcher, currently serving as the Director of the Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology at the University of the Punjab, Lahore, Pakistan. With a strong foundation in Molecular Biology, Biochemistry, and Structural Biology, he has made significant contributions to the fields of membrane transport proteins, recombinant vaccine development, and protein crystallography. Dr. Rahman holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Leeds, UK, and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship at Harvard Medical School, USA. He has secured multiple research grants and has collaborated internationally with leading scientific institutions. With over two decades of experience, Dr. Rahman has mentored numerous students and researchers, published extensively in high-impact journals, and played a pivotal role in advancing scientific research and education in Pakistan and beyond.
Wujie Liu
Director of the Poultry Technology Department at Huizhong Biotech
Wujie Liu
Director of the Poultry Technology Department at Huizhong BiotechWujie Liu, PhD, is an associate researcher and currently serves as the director of the poultry technology department at Huizhong Biotech. He has previously held positions as the director and deputy director of the National Veterinary Drug Engineering Technology Research Center. His primary focus has been on the development, promotion, and technical services related to new poultry vaccines.Dr. Liu led his team in successfully creating the core technology for constructing genetic engineering vaccine strains and for screening and cultivating virus strains that cause infectious diseases threatening the poultry industry, including avian influenza, Newcastle disease, infectious bursal disease, and avian adenovirus infection. The team has addressed key technical challenges such as developing virus attack models, establishing efficacy test standards, and creating multi-component and multivalent vaccines. As a result, they have developed a series of innovative genetic engineering vaccines and multi-component vaccines. 47 research papers have been published both in Chinese and English. He holds four authorized invention patents and has received ten national new veterinary drug registration certificates. The products he developed have been distributed and applied nationwide, totaling over six billion doses, contributing significantly to the healthy development of the poultry industry.For his exceptional contributions to industrial innovation and academic technology, Dr. Liu has been recognized as a Central Plains Industrial Innovation Leading Talent and an Academic and Technical Leader in Henan Province.
Dr. De Luca
University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna
Dr. De Luca
University of Veterinary Medicine, ViennaTopic
Tapping into the protective mechanisms of fowl adenovirus (FAdV) subunit vaccines: immune response against hepatitis-hydropericardium syndrome (HHS) and inclusion body hepatitis (IBH).Introduction
Dr. Carlotta De Luca is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, specializing in poultry medicine. She earned her PhD from the same institution, presenting her dissertation, "Fowl Adenovirus capsid proteins as broad-protective subunit vaccines against Inclusion Body Hepatitis (IBH) and Hepatitis-Hyperpericardium Syndrome (HHS)," in November 2022. Her research focuses on developing subunit vaccines targeting fowl adenovirus-induced diseases to enhance poultry health and welfare. In January 2024, Dr. De Luca received the Internal Science Award for Young Researchers for her contributions to poultry disease research.Dr. Farhan Afzal
PRI, Rawalpindi
Dr. Farhan Afzal
PRI, RawalpindiTopic
“Reasons for Increased Prevalence of E. Coli in Poultry and Possible Remedies”Introduction
Dr. Farhan Afzal is a practicing Poultry Veterinarian. He worked as Director of the Poultry Research Institute, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. He also remained as Senior Research Officer (Diseases). He has more than 19 years of experience working with the poultry industry in Pakistan and is engaged in poultry disease diagnosis, surveillance, disease control strategy development, and diagnostic materials manufacturing. He is in charge of the Provincial Reference Laboratory of Punjab, Pakistan. He served as Regional Surveillance Officer in the Avian Influenza program. He is also the Provincial Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Focal Person of Poultry in the Fleming fund Project. He is also a member of Pakistan's National Disease Control Committee (NDCC). He also worked as a disease control and management consultant for many Broiler, layer, and breeding companies.Prof. Dr. Shaohui Wang
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS
Prof. Dr. Shaohui Wang
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, CAASTopic
Epidemiology, Pathogenic Mechanism and Control of Avian Colibacillosis and Mycoplasmosis
Introduction
Professor Dr. Shaohui Wang is a prominent veterinary medicine expert, serving as Professor and Chief Scientist at the Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS. His research focuses on animal bacterial infections, particularly antimicrobial resistance and microbiota interactions. With a Ph.D. from Nanjing Agricultural University, he has also been a visiting scholar at Free University Berlin and Duke University. Professor Wang has received prestigious awards, such as the Shanghai Pujiang Program Fellowship, and has led major research projects funded by national programs. His contributions to scientific journals address molecular characterization, pathogenesis, resistance mechanisms of pathogens, and the development of diagnostic tools, significantly advancing poultry health and infectious disease control.Prof. Dr. Shaohui Wang
Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS