Biomedical Basis of Human Disease

Dr. Asha Rao is an Instructional Professor and the Assistant Department Head for Academic Affairs in the Department of Biology at Texas A&M University, her alma mater for both her Master’s and PhD. Drawing on over a decade of research in entomology, she masterfully translates her expertise in insect physiology and behavior into her courses on human anatomy, physiology, and introductory biology, offering students a rare and powerful comparative lens on living systems. For her profound dedication to undergraduate education, she has been recognized with several of her university's highest teaching honors. An accomplished scholar, Dr. Rao has authored over 30 peer-reviewed publications and is an advocate for making science accessible to all. She has secured significant federal, state, and local grants to strengthen STEM education, create PhD pathways, and support research addressing both insect physiology and combatting pseudoscience. Her commitment to students and accessible education is further demonstrated by her creation of over 100 illustrations for the OpenStax Biology textbook, a contribution that helps thousands of students globally visualize complex concepts, and her leadership in programs supporting first-generation students and peer learning, making a lasting impact on the academic community.

Dr. Manal El-Sawaf earned her medical degree from Tanta University, Egypt, where she has served as a professor of anatomy for 14 years. She teaches students in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, and nursing, as well as postgraduate programs. Recognized as a leading figure in anatomy education, she has been a member of the Promotion Committee of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Universities for six years and is frequently invited to examine theses and speak at conferences. She previously taught at the University of Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates and at King Khalid University in Saudi Arabia. Dr. El-Sawaf has supervised numerous theses and published extensively in anatomy. She co-edited a chapter on stem cells in an international book, contributed to anatomy textbooks for medical students, and authored two Arabic books that simplify science for broader audiences.

Hirendranath Banerjee received a degree with honors in Biology and Chemistry and an MBBS in Medicine and Surgery from Calcutta University, India. He completed an MS in Molecular Biology from Long Island University in New York and a PhD in Molecular Biology at Howard University Cancer Center in D.C. He’s been a House Physician at the National Medical College and Hospital, Calcutta, India, a Fellow at Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Yale University, CT, a Fellow at the Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina. At present he’s a tenured Professor at Elizabeth City State University. Dr. Banerjee is the chief editor of a peer reviewed journal and is on the editorial board of multiple journals; and regularly reviews for Nature, Cell Press and other high impact journals.