Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine

Dr. K. Pani Prasad is currently a Professor and Research Coordinator at Andhra Pradesh Fisheries University, Andhra Pradesh, India, and formerly served as Dean (Extension and Research) at the Central Institute of Fisheries Education (CIFE), Mumbai. With more than three decades of experience in aquatic animal health, he is a distinguished scientist, educator, and administrator recognized for his significant contributions to fisheries and aquaculture.

Dr. Prasad's research focuses on aquatic animal health management, advanced disease diagnostics, fish and shrimp disease control, and antimicrobial resistance. Throughout his career, he has made substantial contributions to the development of innovative diagnostic and disease management strategies for sustainable aquaculture. In addition to his research, he has served in diverse roles as a professor, scientist, extension specialist, and academic administrator, promoting excellence in education, research, and technology transfer. His expertise and leadership continue to contribute significantly to the advancement of aquatic animal health, aquaculture, and fisheries science at both national and international levels.

HELGA WIDDER is the Managing Director of Animals as Therapy (TAT) and the Animals as Therapy Science and Training Center (TAT WAZ) in Austria. With more than 35 years of experience in animal-assisted therapy, she is recognized as one of Europe's leading experts in the field. Since 2022, she has served as President of the European Society for Animal Assisted Therapy (ESAAT), where she promotes professional standards, education, and international collaboration. Helga has played a pivotal role in developing university curricula, certification programs, and national standards for animal-assisted interventions and therapy dog training. She is a state-certified animal welfare dog trainer, an authorized examiner for therapy dogs, and has evaluated approximately 2,000 therapy dogs throughout her career. An accomplished lecturer and speaker, she has presented at universities and international conferences across Europe and the United States. Her outstanding contributions have been recognized with the Service Medal and the Silver Medal of Merit of the City of Vienna for her dedication to advancing animal-assisted therapy and education.

Dr. Yuko Tajima is a Senior Curator in the Department of Zoology at the National Museum of Nature and Science (NMNS), Japan. She obtained her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the Japanese Veterinary and Life Science University and earned her Ph.D. in Veterinary Science from the University of Tokyo. Her research interests include veterinary medicine, marine mammals, aquatic animal medicine, comparative anatomy, and wildlife conservation.

Dr. Tajima has served as a Visiting Scientist at the University of Texas Medical Branch and The Marine Mammal Center, USA. She is currently a Cooperating Associate Professor at the University of Tsukuba and a Visiting Professor at the Japanese Veterinary and Life Science University. She is also actively involved with international organizations, including the IUCN Cetacean Specialist Group, the IWC Global Stranding Network, and the Asian Society for Conservation Medicine.

She has authored numerous scientific publications on marine mammal anatomy, pathology, conservation, and aquatic animal health. Her current research focuses on marine mammal biodiversity, specimen-based conservation, and cetacean research across Asia, contributing significantly to veterinary science and marine wildlife conservation.