Plenary Speakers
BioActive 2026 will feature plenary lectures delivered by distinguished international researchers whose work significantly contributes to the discovery, characterization and application of bioactive compounds. These lectures will highlight recent scientific advances, emerging research directions and innovative approaches at the interface of chemistry, biotechnology, medicine and related disciplines.
The plenary speakers invited to BioActive 2026 are internationally recognised experts in their respective fields, representing leading academic and research institutions.
The list of invited speakers is continuously updated as additional confirmations are received.
Judith Maria Rollinger
University of Vienna
AUSTRIA
Prof. Judith Maria Rollinger is Professor of Pharmacognosy and Pharmaceutical Biology at the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Austria, where she leads the research group Phytochemistry and Biodiscovery.
She studied pharmacy and obtained her PhD in Pharmacognosy at the University of Innsbruck, where she also completed her habilitation in 2007. In 2014 she was appointed Full Professor of Pharmacognosy/Pharmaceutical Biology at the University of Vienna.
Her research focuses on the discovery and characterization of bioactive natural products, particularly compounds derived from medicinal plants and other natural sources. Her work integrates phytochemistry with modern approaches such as cheminformatics, biochemometrics, molecular modelling and virtual screening to identify new biologically active molecules with pharmaceutical potential.
Prof. Rollinger has authored numerous scientific publications in the field of natural product research and pharmacognosy and actively contributes to international scientific collaboration. She also served as President of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA) from 2020 to 2023.
Přemysl Mladěnka
Charles University in Hradec Králové
CZECH REPUBLIC
Prof. Přemysl Mladěnka, Pharm.D., Ph.D. is Professor of Human and Veterinary Pharmacology at the Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, where he works at the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology.
He graduated in pharmacy at Charles University in 2003 and obtained his PhD in Pharmacology and Toxicology in 2008. In 2014 he was appointed Associate Professor and in 2020 Full Professor of Human and Veterinary Pharmacology.
Prof. Mladěnka leads a research group focused on cardiovascular and respiratory pharmacology and toxicology. His research investigates the biological effects of natural compounds, their metabolites and related derivatives on the cardiovascular system, including their influence on vascular function, platelet activity and oxidative stress. His work also explores the role of metal chelation and interactions with biologically relevant metals such as iron, copper and zinc in pharmacological processes.
He has authored numerous peer-reviewed scientific publications and actively contributes to international research collaborations. His scientific work focuses on understanding the mechanisms of action of bioactive molecules and their potential applications in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
Jon D. Stewart
University of Florida
USA
Prof. Jon D. Stewart is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Florida, Gainesville, USA, and an affiliate professor in the Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology.
His research lies at the interface of chemistry and biology, with a particular focus on the development of enzyme-catalysed reactions for organic synthesis. The Stewart research group works on the discovery and engineering of enzymes that can serve as efficient and sustainable catalysts for the preparation of valuable chemical compounds used in both academic research and industrial applications.
To achieve this goal, his group combines approaches from biocatalysis, protein engineering, organic synthesis and structural biology, applying techniques such as X-ray crystallography, enzyme kinetics and molecular modelling to understand and improve enzyme function.
Prof. Stewart has authored numerous scientific publications in the fields of biocatalysis and enzymatic synthesis, and his work has significantly contributed to the development of environmentally friendly catalytic processes for modern chemical synthesis.