Notre Dame University Bangladesh (NDUB) marked a significant milestone in its growing international research presence as one of its faculty members represented the University as an invited speaker at the 20th International Symposium on Blood Substitutes (ISBS 2026) held in Xi’an, China, from September 12 to 14.
Dr. Muntasirul Hoq, Assistant Professor of the Microbiology Department, delivered the presentation titled “Polyhemoglobin with Synthetic Enzymes: Functional Replacement of Catalase, Superoxide Dismutase, and Carbonic Anhydrase in Warm-Ischemia Cell Models,” on September 13.
His lecture presented research originating from his PhD work at McGill University, Canada, and focused on the development of a next-generation polyhemoglobin system incorporating stable synthetic enzyme mimics for protection of cells during warm ischemia.
ISBS is a long-established international forum bringing together scientists, clinicians, engineers, biotechnology leaders, and pioneers working at the forefront of artificial cells, blood substitutes, hemoglobin-based oxygen carriers, transfusion medicine, nanobiotechnology, and oxygen therapeutics.
The symposium, themed “Nanobiotechnology and Blood Substitutes and Their Applications in the Medical Field,” was organized by the International Alliance for Artificial Cells, Blood Substitutes and Biotechnology and Northwest University, and hosted by Xi’an Fusheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd.
The program brought together internationally recognized researchers, including Professor Thomas Ming Swi Chang of McGill University, Professor Hiromi Sakai of Nara Medical University, Professor Leticia Hosta-Rigau of DTU Health Tech, Technical University of Denmark, Professor Brandon J. Reeder of the University of Essex, Professor Hans Bäumler of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Professor Chengmin Yang of the Institute of Blood Transfusion, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Professor Chao Chen of Northwest University, and Professor Bing Lou Wong of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, alongside many other distinguished researchers and industry specialists.
The symposium has also opened new opportunities for NDUB in international collaboration, joint research, faculty interaction, technology exchange, student involvement, co-authored publications, and access to an international scientific network. The momentum is expected to continue. The closing session of ISBS 2026 announced that the next ISBS will be held at the University of Essex, UK, in 2028. By then, Dr. Muntasirul hopes to have new research projects underway at NDUB, including student-led projects. He also looks forward to seeing the projects will be presented at future international meetings such as ISBS 2028.
