Microbiome in Head and Neck Cancer: Pathogenesis, Diagnosis and Therapeutic Implications: Part A

Akhilanand Chaurasia, MDS, is an academic clinician and researcher in Oral Medicine and Maxillofacial Radiology with specialized expertise in artificial intelligence applications in dental imaging and digital health. His work focuses on integrating AI-driven diagnostics, predictive modeling, and advanced imaging into clinical workflows, with an emphasis on imaging standardization and real-world implementation. He has led and contributed to multidisciplinary projects that bridge computational innovation with chairside decision-making, supporting the safe and effective use of AI in diagnostic practice. Dr. Chaurasia has received numerous international honors, including the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) Fellowship and the IADR Star Network Fellowship, along with multiple prestigious fellowships and awards recognizing his contributions to clinical research and innovation. He holds several distinguished international professional fellowships across leading surgical and dental institutions.

Professor Mahvash Tavassoli earned her DPhil in Biochemistry in 1987 from the University of Sussex, focusing on cellular senescence and immortalisation. She pursued postdoctoral research at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre, studying the C-Myc oncogene, and later returned to Sussex to investigate EGFR receptor family kinases in breast and ovarian cancer. In 1990, she received a young career Research Fellowship from Cancer Research UK to study c-erbB2 signalling. Appointed Lecturer at King’s College London in 1995, she became Professor of Molecular Oncology in 2007, leading research on early detection and treatment of head and neck cancers. Her work explores radiotherapy resistance, tumour hypoxia, and cancer cell interactions, utilizing advanced 3D models. Additionally, she collaborates on developing the cytotoxic drug apoptin with the Chemistry Department. Her research is supported by various grants, fostering international collaborations and innovations in cancer treatment