Journal of Nutrition and Health Sciences

Dr. Mohammad Javad Ahmadi Lahijani is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Agrotechnology at the Faculty of Agriculture, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Iran. He earned his PhD in Crop Physiology from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad (2012–2017), MSc in Agronomy from Shiraz University (2010–2012), and BSc in Agronomy and Plant Breeding from Valiasr University of Rafsanjan (2006–2010). His research focuses on the physiological and molecular responses of crops to abiotic stresses such as drought, heat, salinity, and chilling. Dr. Ahmadi Lahijani’s work also explores climate change impacts, plant growth regulators, CO2 enrichment, and photosynthetic efficiency through chlorophyll fluorescence and crop modeling. His studies encompass crops like potato and wheat, integrating biotechnology, cell ultrastructural analysis, and molecular physiology to enhance stress tolerance and productivity.

Research: Abiotic stresses (Drought, Heat, Salinity, and Chilling), Climate change, Plant Growth Regulators, CO2 enrichment, Photosynthesis, Chlorophyll fluorescence, Potato, Wheat, Biotechnology, Crop modeling, Cell ultra-structural studies, Molecular physiology, and Biology

Dr. Mehrnaz Abbasi is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Auburn University. She specializes in nutritional biochemistry, nanomedicine, and metabolic diseases. Her research focuses on anti-obesity therapies, adipose tissue browning, and vitamin metabolism. Dr. Abbasi has received multiple NIH- and USDA-funded grants and numerous honors, including travel awards from leading nutrition and metabolic societies. She completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Arizona State University and holds a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from Texas Tech University. Dr. Abbasi is an active member of professional organizations such as the American Society for Nutrition and The Obesity Society.

Research: Anti-obesity therapies, adipose tissue browning, and vitamin metabolism

Dr. Nahla Al-Bayyari is an Assistant Professor in Human Nutrition and Dietetics at Al-Balqa Applied University, faculty of Al-Huson University College, Department of Nutrition and Food Technology.  Graduated from the University of Jordan with a Ph.D in human nutrition and dietetics and a Master in Public Health (Maternal and Child Health Care) and Bachelor degree in Public Health Nutrition from Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST). After graduation from JUST she worked as a research assistant at JUST and lecturer in higher education associations. Currently, she is an assistant professor and a researcher in public health, human nutrition, dietetics, infertility and maternal and child health. She is the author of Public Health and Safety book and several original research articles. These days working on three public health nutrition research projects deal with homocysteine, statins and trace elements topics.

Research: Human Nutrition Public Health Dietetics Infertility Maternal and Child Health

Prof Shirley Mcilvenny MD, MBBCh, FRCGP(UK), FRACGP, DRCOG, Harvard Macy Scholar is a family physician and nutritional doctor at the National Institute of Integrative Medicine, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. She graduated from Queen’s University Belfast, UK and completed her MD thesis at Queen’s on Fatigue in a Developing Country. Dr Shirley MD is currently CEO of the Food Coach Institute which offers nutritional training worldwide and is also President of the International Association of Health and Nutrition Coaches. Previously she was Head of Family and Community Medicine at Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University and Professor of Education at Bond University, Queensland, Australia. She spearheaded the first MRCGP International, a College Board Examination coupled with post-graduate training in Family Medicine in collaboration with the Royal College of General Practitioners in London, UK.

Research: Her current research interests include new theories of dietary management of Type 2, gestational and pre-diabetes, obesity and nutritional interventions in mental health. Dr Shirley MD has developed on online resource and nutritional programs for Diabetes patients- the ALIVE Program. This is being rolled out globally to combat the current world-wide epidemic of diabetes.

Dr. Rebecca Blake, MS, RD, CDN, is a passionate, hands-on leader in the Hospital and Healthcare Delivery industry in New York City. She improved and expanded clinical nutrition services for over 12 years in the Mount Sinai Health System and currently is the Director of Nutrition at Elizabeth Seton Pediatric Center, 169-bed pediatric long term care facility in Yonkers, NY. She holds a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition & Dietetics from NYU, is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Dietitian-Nutritionist (CDN). She completed a Master of Science in Health Care Delivery Leadership at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in May 2016. 

Research: Dr. Rebecca Blake is widely known as an expert resource for her insight and knowledge on Health concerns related to diet and nutrition. She is frequently featured on Health Day, The Daily News, The New York Times, CNN, and Forbes, and has appeared on NBC, NY1, and Fox News discussing weight loss, nutrition trends, artificial sweeteners, food safety, and a host of other nutrition-related topics.

Dr. Loomis received her B.S from the University of Rhode Island and her M.S. and Doctorate of Clinical Nutrition from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.  She is a Registered Dietitian (RD) with 16 years of experience in pediatric nutrition.  Dr. Loomis has conducted presentations on a local and national level on a number of areas including the impact of Registered Dietitians in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Combating Childhood obesity and Pediatric Food Allergies and Treating Picky Eating.  Her doctoral work looked at the impact of standardized feeding guidelines for low birth weight infants, which was recently published in the Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition.  Dr. Loomis’ current research looks at the barriers to RD’s in the NICU, the impact of nutrition counseling on childhood obesity, and the eating habits of picky eaters as well as the impact of role modeling on the eating habits and weight status of college students.  Dr. Loomis is an Assistant Professor at SUNY Oneonta and is the Director of the Masters Program and Dietetics Internship.  She also works as a pediatric dietitian in a pediatrician’s office counseling children who struggle with obesity and has owned her own private practice since 2010.

Research: Use of and Benefits of Conducting Nutrition Focused Physical Exam by RD's in the clinical setting, Prevalence and Barriers to RD's practicing in the NICU, Vitamin D administration in Children with Obesity, The impact of Role Modelling on Weight Loss in children with Obesity.

Dr. Meydani is a Professor of Nutrition at Tufts University’s Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy and a Senior Scientist and Director of the Vascular Biology Laboratory at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University where he conducts research in the area of dietary antioxidants and oxidative stress in vascular function, aging, and age-related diseases.  Dr. Meydani received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) from Tehran University in 1972 and his PhD in Nutrition from Iowa State University in 1982. Dr. Meydani directs studies at the cellular, animal, and human clinical trials levels. Specifically his research has focused on and continues to investigate the molecular mechanisms of dietary antioxidants including vitamins E, C, carotenoids, and polyphenols as well as oxidative stress and vascular function in relation to the development of atherosclerosis and angiogenesis, which play critical roles in the development and progression of cardiovascular disease and tumors. His research is funded by USDA, NIH, and NCI as well as by industry. He has published over 120 publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals and over 60 reviews and book chapters. In addition, he has been a co-editor of two volumes of proceedings for two landmark meetings of the New York Academy of Sciences. He has been invited to present his research findings at more than 100 national and international, nutrition and aging-oriented conferences. Dr. Meydani has received numerous honors for his contribution to the fields of nutrition and aging. In 1996, he was recognized for Outstanding Achievement among the Tufts University Faculty, and he received the USDA Manuscript of the Year award for 1990 and 1991.  Dr. Meydani is also the recipient of the 1993 Japan National Food Research Institute Award for a Foreign Specialist.  In 1997, he was co-chair and co-organizer of the International Association of Biomedical Gerontology meeting “Toward Prolongation of a Healthy Lifespan” under the auspices of the New York Academy of Sciences (NYAS) and in 2003, he was selected to be co-chair and co-organizer of the New York Academy of Sciences conference on “Vitamin E and Health” held in May 2004.  He was selected in 2001 to present the Boyd Orr Lecture at the British Nutrition Society Diamond Jubilee Symposium, University of Sheffield, England. In 2002, he received the Max K. Horwitt Memorial Distinguished Lectureship Award at Saint Louis University in Missouri. Dr. Meydani was the Malcolm Trout Visiting Scholar in 2006 at the Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Michigan State University.  He served as President of American Aging Association, 1995-1996. He has also served on the Antioxidant Advisory Panel of the Alliance for Aging Research.  From 1991-2000, he served on the Board of Directors of the American Aging Association and was elected again to this position in 2006 and recognized as a Fellow (FAAA) and FAHA. In 2012 he was also recognized as Fellow of American Society of Nutrition (ASN) and in 2013 he received the McCormic Science Institute Research award from ASN. He served on the Board of Directors of Oxygen Club of California and has served on the board of directors of Zila Nutraceuticals Inc.  He has served on ad-hoc grant review committees for NIA, NCI, NCCAM and USDA.  He is an Associate Editor of AGE and a member of the editorial boards of The Current Nutrition and Food Science, Journal of Nutrition and Metabolism, and a former member of the editorial boards of Journal of Nutrition, Journal of Biogerontology, Journal of Anti-Aging Medicine and Free Radicals in Biology and Medicine

Research: Role of dietary antioxidants, lipids and oxidative stress on molecular mechanisms of immune/endothelial cells interaction in atherogenesis and angiogenesis

Research: Vitamin D and cystic fibrosis Vitamin D pharmacology Nutrigenomics Drug development Clinical trial designs

Dr. David R. (Randy) Black, PhD, MPH, HSPP, CHES, CPPE, FASHA, FSBM, FAAHB, FAAHE is a distinguished scholar. He is Associate Director of the Purdue Homeland Security Institute. He is fellow of five different health organizations and has received ~48 federal, national, state, organization, and university awards or recognitions for his contributions to public health and most recently in Homeland Security for service, scholarship, and grantsmanship. He has participated in the publication of 20 books and 34 book chapters. He has published ~150 peer-review articles, participated in ~180 and another ~50 invited regional, national, and international presentations, and has regularly submitted and been successful in receiving grant funding. He completed his doctoral degree at Stanford University in Psychology and a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Stanford Heart Disease Prevention Program and Laboratory for the Study of Behavioral Medicine at the Stanford School of Medicine. His primary responsibility as a post-doc was to conduct field studies for the Stanford 3 and 5 City studies for weight management to impact chronic diseases and identify determinants for successful participation in nutrition-physical activity focused “minimal” interventions. His research in the weight management nutrition-physical activity area began almost 4 decades ago. His first faculty appointment was at University of Nebraska Medical Center in the Department of Preventive and Stress Medicine and his subsequent faculty appointment has been at Purdue University where he has been since 1984. He completed his Master of Public Health degree at San Diego State University. 

Research: Dr. David R. (Randy) Black primary research focus is on apply behavioral epidemiology and behavioral medicine concepts and principles to a variety of disciples/topics such as homeland security, service delivery programs that follow Occam’s razor, eating disorders, and “healthy” weight management (proper nutrition and age-related physical activity, development of screening tests, and psychometrically valid and reliable tests). Articles on these topics also have been used to propagate and investigate a community-based health service delivery model called the Stepped Approach Model (SAM).  SAM focuses on providing community services in multiple health areas (e.g., nutrition, tobacco, alcohol, stress, high blood pressure, and physical inactivity) identified as public health priorities and to mitigate morbidity (chronic disease), mortality, injury, and disability. One of the current foci is on recruitment and program design (social marketing), social problem solving (a test translated into 9 different languages), and application of technology to deliver weight management programs and investigate catastrophic events. Most recent research focus is on social media and identifying determinants of health behavior outcomes or events by using technology (such as Radian6) to investigate social media (e.g., Twitter, blogs, Facebook) and to evaluate health behavior interventions that are media based. Trained peer helper for primary prevention intervention has been a research and scholarly focus for over 3 decades. Research interests are listed below (keywords): Stepped Approach Model (service delivery models) Occam’s razor or minimal intervention (the simplest intervention that works) and low cost service providers (trained peer helpers) Weight management interventions (“healthy weight”) and eating disorder – over and under nutrition Social Problem Solving Inventory for Adolescents published in 9 languages and reviewed in Buros Mental Measurement Yearbook. Social media investigation using technology and evaluation of interventions technologically delivered Technology to evaluate and catastrophic events and to identify determinants  

Dr. Edralin Lucas is currently an Associate Professor of Nutrition at the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Oklahoma State University. The focus of her research is investigating the role of nutrition in promoting cardiovascular health and preventing/reducing risk factors of cardiovascular disease and other chronic disorders associated with aging. Her research goal is to understand the role and the mechanism by which bioactive food components (such as phytochemicals) prevent/ reduce risk factors for chronic disorders such as cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. She is interested in investigating the potential for naturally occurring compounds in foods, their isolated components, or analogues that could be incorporated into the diet for preventing the aforementioned chronic disorders.

Research: Phytochemicals Functional food Obesity Dyslipidemia Type 2 diabetes Nutritional biochemistry Cardiovascular and skeletal health Analytical methods

Punam Ohri-Vachaspati is an Associate Professor of Nutrition at the School of Nutrition and Health Promotion at Arizona State University. She holds a Ph.D. in Applied Nutrition and Food Policy from Tufts University School of Nutrition and is also a Registered Dietitian. Her current work focuses on understanding the social-ecological determinants of obesity. Ohri-Vachaspati is a PI on a National Institute of Child Health and Human Development and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded longitudinal study investigating the influence of changes in food and physical activity related environments on childhood obesity and related behaviors. She assesses the impact of food environments and policies in schools, childcare centers, and in community settings. She also studies the role of food marketing in driving behaviors. Prior to coming to ASU, Ohri-Vachaspati was an Assistant Professor at Rutgers University and a Childhood Obesity Fellow at RWJF. She has worked at the Ohio State University with the extension services for eight years.

Research: Assessment of food environments and their impact on health Food and nutrition policies and programs Public health strategies for obesity prevention Food security

Dr. Carmen Castaneda-Sceppa is a Professor in the School of Health Professions. She received her PhD in Nutrition from Tufts University and her MD in Guatemala. She is the Director of Research in the Human Performance and Exercise Laboratory, and Director of the Graduate Program in Exercise Science, at Northeastern University. Additionally, she is an adjunct professor of Nutrition at Tufts University, a Fellow of the Brookdale Foundation and the International Life Sciences Institute. Dr. Sceppa’s program of research addresses three main areas of health promotion including: (1) assessing the efficacy of nutrition and physical activity/exercise interventions on chronic disease risk factors and health outcomes; (2) translating evidence based lifestyle interventions into ‘real world’ settings; and (3) developing sustainable strategies to promote health and reduce the burden of chronic diseases. Her research targets vulnerable populations with particular emphasis to those of diverse ethnic background, suffering from debilitating chronic conditions, and socioeconomically disadvantaged and isolated. Funding for Dr. Sceppa’s research include the Brookdale Foundation, the International Life Sciences Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the National Space and Biomedical Research Institute, corporations, and foundations. Dr. Sceppa’s research findings have been widely published and referenced and have provided evidence-based information used by the Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Medicine to revise the Dietary Recommended Intake for protein in older adults. Her pioneer work on resistance exercise in older adults with kidney disease and diabetes was translated into clinical practice by the American Diabetes Association and adopted as standard of care. In addition, her research findings contributed to the recommendations for physical activity in older adults by the American College of Sports Medicine and the American Heart Association. Taken together, her research agenda represents a collaborative effort of a transdisciplinary team of investigators, students and fellows. The knowledge acquired from her evidence base research has informed the development of “real world” community-based interventions and guidelines that bridge the gap between research translation and practice/policy.

Research: Healthy eating and nutrition science Aging and gerontology Physical activity and exercise

Dr. Kimberly B. Myers is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition Science, and is Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Kinesiology at East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina. She consults with corporations in the DC area. Dr. Myers earned both of her BS degrees and Masters in Health Science from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. She completed her internship for eligibility to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN) also through Western Carolina University and has been a RDN since 2002. Her PhD was obtained in Human Nutrition from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln in 2003. Dr. Myers is a licensed Dietitian Nutritionist within the state of North Carolina. She is engaged in the university community and serves on numerous departmental and university committees. Dr. Myers has served as the faculty senator representative for the Nutrition Science Department for six years and has served on the Eat Smart, Move More, Weigh Less Committee at East Carolina University. She is an active member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and the American Society for Nutrition. She has contributed to nutrition position papers for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics and continues to conduct on-going research in the area of omega-3 fatty acids and obesity. She has authored numerous peer reviewed articles on a variety of nutrition related topics that were published in journals including the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, Journal of American College Health, the Sport journal, and Advances in Medical Sciences. Dr. Myers has presented numerous presentations at the prestigious Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology and is an active member of the United States Department of Agriculture NC-1199 research group, which contributes to the scientific body of work regarding omega-3 fatty acids.

Research: Omega-3 fatty acid Obesity Inflammatory processes 

Dr. Lindsay’s research and scholarship focus is on understanding family- and community-level influences on children’s health and nutrition, with a special focus on social and cultural determinants of lifestyle behaviors in early childhood (diet, physical activity, etc.) and risk of obesity among low-income, Latino immigrant families and children in the U.S. and Latin America. Much of her research has focused on family-based prevention and health promotion research and interventions to improve dietary behaviors, increase physical activity, and prevent obesity among Latinos conducted in partnership with state- and federal-level programs serving low-income families in the U.S. (e.g., WIC program) and Latin America (e.g., Saude da Familia and BolsaFamilia programs in Brazil). Prior to joining the EHS Department as Associate Professor, Dr. Lindsay helped create and co-directed the doctoral program in public health nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health’s Department of Nutrition.

Research: Child health with a special focus on early childhood nutrition and physical activity including research addressing eating and physical activity behaviors and caregivers practices that place low-income, multi-ethnic children at risk of overweight, obesity and associate chronic diseases Determinants of trends in overweight and obesity among low-income, minority children in the U.S. and Latin America, with emphasis on socio-cultural, behavioral and environment influences on the development of overweight/obesity and related chronic diseases Development and evaluation of programs, policies, and communication strategies to prevent and control overweight/obesity and related chronic diseases with special focus on early childhood Role of parents and families in preventing childhood obesity, with a special focus on understanding development of parenting skills and practices that may be protective for children’s healthy development and risk factors for maladjustment Design and evaluation of maternal and child health and nutrition programs in international settings (e.g., Brazil, El Salvador, Argentina, Bangladesh) Translational research including development of applied research methodology (e.g. integrated quantitative and qualitative methods, case studies, rapid assessment procedures) to understand factors that hinder and/or facilitate the translation and utilization of research results into practice (e.g. design of new program/services, design of policies)

Dayong Wu obtained his medical degree and Ph.D. from Jilin University, Bethune School of Medicine, China, completed his post-doctoral training at Tufts University with Dr. Simin Meydani. He is currently a Scientist I and the Associate Director at the Nutritional Immunology Laboratory, Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research on Aging at Tufts University, and an Associate Professor at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University. His research areas include molecular mechanisms of age-related changes in immune cells, and effects of nutrients, dietary components, and functional food on immune and inflammatory responses, T cell-mediated autoimmune disorders, and host resistance to infection. He has conducted numerous studies with broad approach including experimental animal study with various biological and disease models, intervention study in clinical trials, and mechanistic investigation at cellular and molecular levels, and has published 80+ peer-reviewed articles in his research field. 

Research: Molecular mechanisms of age-related changes in immune cells, and effects of nutrients, dietary components, and functional food on immune and inflammatory responses, T cell-mediated autoimmune disorders, and host resistance to infection.

Research: Minority nutrition issues Child nutrition and obesity Eating disorders Food security and hunger  

Alex Kojo Anderson is an Associate Professor in the Department of Foods and Nutrition, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, the University of Georgia. He holds an MPH and Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Connecticut, where he completed his dissertation research that examined the efficacy of peer counseling in the promotion of exclusive breastfeeding in low-income minority communities in Hartford, Connecticut. Dr. Anderson’s research focuses on maternal and child nutrition and young child feeding. He also has strong interest in international nutrition especially in developing countries. Dr. Anderson has worked on studies evaluating the effect of infant feeding on maternal and infant body composition in the United States and also in Ghana. His current research focuses on assessing the impact of pregnancy weight and body composition changes on pregnancy outcome and risk for obesity in mothers and their newborns. He also directs a summer service-learning program to Ghana with students from the University of Georgia, and engage in students in nutrition and health screening and education of populations in selected communities.

Research: Breastfeeding promotion and support Early childhood feeding and obesity Nutrition, weight gain and body composition changes during pregnancy and pregnancy outcome International nutrition

Dr. Carol A. DeNysschen, Associate Professor at Buffalo State College, SUNY, Buffalo, New York. Academic background includes a Bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, Master’s Degree in Public Health Administration with an emphasis on Nutrition from the University of Minnesota, a certification in Health Care Administration from D’Youville College, and a Doctorate in Exercise Science from the University at Buffalo. My professional career is as a Registered Dietitian, Long Term Care Administrator and Assistant Professor (Buffalo State College). I have over 20 years experience in health care. Professional memberships include the American College of Sports Medicine and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (formerly American Dietetic Association).

Research: Professional interests include breast cancer research and how exercise and nutrition can play a role in prevention and management of chronic disease. Other areas of interest include diet and exercise intervention with cardiovascular disease, Vitamin D intake and status and weight loss management.

Dr. Kranz earned her PhD in Nutrition Epidemiology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2002. She was Assistant Professor in Nutrition Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University, Associate Professor at East Carolina University, and is currently Associate Professor and Director of the Coordinated Program in Dietetics at Purdue University.

Research: Dr. Kranz is a nutrition epidemiologist with established expertise in child nutrition, particularly in the understudied group of preschoolers (2-5 year olds). Her work on the association between overall diet quality and the risk for childhood obesity as well as her study of the factors influencing dietary fiber intake generated great interest and resulted in many collaborations with international researchers in the field of pediatric and public health nutrition. Dr. Kranz’s research is translational, in that it ranges from prospective random controlled community- or laboratory-based clinical diet interventions studies to the analysis of nationally representative data sets. All of her research is conducted in pursuit of the goal of improving overall diet quality and to reduce the risk for chronic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes.

Dr. Chong Lee is an Associate Professor at Arizona State University in the Exercise and Wellness Program. He is a population health scientist and biostatistician.

Research: His research interests include cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer epidemiology, and preventive medicine. His current research focuses on investigating the combined impact of lifestyle risk factors (i.e., dietary habits, physical activity, cigarette smoking, etc) on chronic disease morbidity and mortality (e.g., coronary heart disease [CHD], stroke, cancer, and type 2 diabetes) and life expectancy across race and sex groups. His research interests also include establishing adiposity (e.g., waist, body fatness, WHR, WHtR) and fitness standards and constructing prediction algorithms of CVD, cancer (i.e., colorectal, breast, lung, etc), and type 2 diabetes using lifestyle factors.

My name is Dr. Joe Deutsch, Ph.D. and I am an Associate Professor in the department of Health, Nutrition, & Exercise Sciences at North Dakota State University. My focus area is in Physical Education Pedagogy, having taught in the public school for 6 years before coming to NDSU. I am considered an expert in the Physical Best curriculum which focuses on lifelong physical education for youth. This curriculum includes everything from developing a fitness plan to healthy food choices. Physical Education teachers too often focus on sport while we train our students to focus on developing all students to become physically active adults who make sound food choices.

Research: Childhood obesity Physical activity Physical education,

Research: Food safety Food analysis Food control quality Dairy products Sensory evaluation Food Processing and Technology

Prof. Andreu Palou is currently Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), in Palma de Mallorca, Spain since 1987, and Director of the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (LBNB) at UIB, and Chair of the research team on Nutrigenomics (30 researchers involved, including 12 doctors as permanent staff). Member of the Governing Board of the “CIBER de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBEROBN)”, research organism of excellence that is an initiative of the “Instituto de Salud Carlos III” (Spain). He has been President of the Scientific Committee of AESAN (Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition) (2003 2010) and Vice-President of the Scientific Panel on Nutrition of the EFSA (European Food Safety Authority, European Food Safety Authority) (2002-2009) He is also member of various committees and institutions on the Food Safety & Human Nutrition. He has been Director of some 50 projects and contracts for research and development in the last 10 years, funded by the Spanish government, the European Union, and other public and private agencies. Among those which are currently under development, he is the Coordinator of the Large Collaborative European project BIOCLAIMS (Biomarkers of Robustness of Metabolic Homeostasis for Nutrigenomics-derived Health CLAIM Made on Food)(2010-2015), within the 7th framework program of the European Union.

Research: His main topics of research are in the field of Molecular Nutrition, more specifically, the mechanisms of body weight regulation (the problem of Obesity), the relationship between diet and genetics (Nutrigenomics and Personalized Nutrition), and the relationship between diet and disease in connection with Food Safety.

Research: Nutrigenomics: Nutrition, genetic information and the human metabolome – molecular aspects of nutrition and impact of the genome on the human metabolome and nutrient requirements Metabolic profiling of the human metabolome by mass spectrometry Genotyping of nutrition associated single nucleotide polymorphisms Planning, co-ordination and execution of National Nutrition Surveys (food and nutrient intake, chemical and biochemical markers for nutrient status), exposure assessment of food additives and nutrients National Nutrition Reports 1998, 2003 and 2016, European Nutrition and ealth Report 2005 Expert for data collection, management and analysis of food and nutrient intake from nutrition surveys of large population groups Assessment of nutritional status by analytical determination of nutrition indicators and biomarkers, focus on vitamins and trace elements Relation of biomarkers to food and nutrient intake, validity of food records by assessment of biomarkers Development of nutrition databases for individualised nutrition (POSIFoods project)

Dr. Antonio Sánchez Pozo obtained his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Pharmacy by the University of Granada. He has also the degrees of Specialist in Clinical Biochemistry and in Clinical Analyses by the Spanish Ministry of Health. He was postdoctoral fellow (Juan March Foundation) in the Ramón Cajal Hospital (Madrid, Spain), Visiting Associate Professor in the Mount Sinai School of Medicine (New York, USA) and Visiting Professor in the Sint Jan Hospital (Brugge, Belgium). Currently he works at the University of Granada.

Research: Nutrigenomics and Metabolism, more specifically, the mechanisms of action of nucleosides and derivatives and their role in the treatment of clinical conditions such as inflammation, surgery recovery, etc.

Dr Amirabdollahian is a Senior Lecturer in Nutrition at Liverpool Hope University. He is currently the Curriculum Coordinator and Subject Leader for Nutrition, teaching many aspects of the undergraduate curriculum and postgraduate research. He has a wide range of teaching experience, many publications, is a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health, Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Registered Nutritionist.

Research: Public health nutrition Zinc adequacy and requirements Modelling of human nutrient requirements Dietary habits and health status of University students Validation of indirect calorimeters for the assessment of energy expenditure

Dr. Sohail Mushtaq is an associate professor at the University of Chester and course leader for MSc Human Nutrition. Sohail embarked on his academic career reading for a BSc in Biochemistry followed by an MSc in Immunology at the University of Essex. He began his professional research career at the University of Reading as a research assistant in a cardiovascular laboratory investigating the role of LDL oxidation in atherosclerosis. Sohail then completed his PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry at Nottingham Trent University. This involved investigating the effects of dietary supplementation of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) on body composition and lipid metabolism in humans, as well as evaluating CLA intake in the UK. Immediately after gaining his PhD, Sohail joined the Human Nutrition Unit at the University of Sheffield as a Postdoctoral Research Associate, working on a Food Standards Agency funded intervention study to determine the functional significance of marginal riboflavin status, with particular respect to iron absorption, in young women. In addition, Sohail also worked on a BBSRC funded project investigating role of riboflavin on the cell cycle, and to map its precise cellular effects in terms of alterations at molecular and proteomic level.

Research: The biochemical and physiological role of micronutrients, particularly vitamin D, in relation to cardiometabolic disease risk Iron bioavailability and metabolism in health and disease Investigating the role of fatty acids in lipid metabolism/cardiovascular disease

Dr Mridula Chopra is a Senior Lecturer and Course leader for MSc Biomedicine at the University of Portsmouth. She is a Biochemist graduate of Strathclyde University, Glasgow and began her research career in the same university in the field of free radicals and antioxidants. She continued similar research in her post-doctoral positions at the University of Strathclyde, Ninewells hospital, Dundee, MRC Dunn Nutrition Unit, Cambridge and the University of Ulster before taking up the Senior Lecturer position in 2002 in the School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. Her focus of research is in the nutritional intervention of chronic diseases associated with aging.

Research: Mechanism of action of Lycopene in prostate cancer and brain tumour Lifestyle intervention of diabetes Antimicrobial and anticancer properties of Honey

Dr. Ilic is an Assistant Professor in Human Nutrition, Department of Human Sciences at the Ohio State University and Food Safety State Specialist. The focus of her research interest is investigating and promoting food safety, reduction and prevention of food safety risks among consumers, food handlers and populations at risk including populations with chronic diseases. Of special interest is microbial safety of fresh fruits and vegetables including. She works with STEC, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., etc. Dr. Ilic investigates transmission and dissemination routes, and interventions to prevent and reduce risks of contamination of fresh produce and other foods within the food systems approach. Dr. Ilic investigated food safety behaviors with the goal of determining the barriers to food safety interventions. She uses formal knowledge translation to move research knowledge into practice. Her research provides novel food safety interventions to control and eliminate foodborne pathogens and innovative approaches of knowledge transfer targeting specific populations with an overall goal of improving health and wellness. Dr. Ilic teaches Food Safety and Foods in Different Cultures.

Research: Microbial food safety Transmission, dissemination and proliferation of bacterial pathogens Consumer and food handlers food safety behaviors  Food safety behavior and dietary pattern of cancer patients Food safety behavior and dietary patterns among people with autism Food safety and nutritional consequences of raw milk consumption Food safety education 

Jyotsna Sharman is a Registered Dietitian and Nutritionist. She earned her PhD in Foods & Nutrition from Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, India and a Masters in Business Administration from Aspen University, Colorado. Her professional experiences include working in the industry as a Clinical Dietitian and a Public Health Nutritionist, and in the academia as the Director of Didactic Program in Dietetics. She is also a national Program Reviewer for Accreditation Council for Education in Nutrition and Dietetics of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Dietetics Practice-Based Research Network, and two Dietetics Practice Groups: Nutrition & Dietetic Educators & Preceptors, and Vegetarian Nutrition.

Research: Obesity prevention Public health nutrition Nutrition informatics Technology in nutrition education Herbs in disease treatment and prevention

I am a graduate of the College of Arts, Science, and Technology, Kingston, Jamaica (now the University of Technology, Kingston, Jamaica). I have 8 years’ experience teaching food and nutrition at the high school level. I trained student-teachers of food and nutrition at Mico College, Kingston, Jamaica. I was a LASPAU- Fulbright Scholar (Latin American Scholarship Program for American Universities) in 1994-96. I obtained my masters’ degree at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville TN and a PhD in Nutrition and Dietetics at Florida International University in Miami, FL. I received the Dissertation Fellowship Award during my final year of study. I am currently an Assistant Professor in Dietetics and Nutrition at Northern Illinois University. During my years as a lecturer at Mico College, I supervised on an average, over 20 research projects each academic year. At the same time, I also moderated and supervised theses for the University of Technology, Kingston, Jamaica. For my dissertation, I conducted a study on 276 Jamaican adolescents, examining them for risk factors of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. I have 5 publications from my dissertation, one is currently under review, 3 published abstracts, and my masters’ thesis, co-authored and published a journal article with my major professor from UTK. I have also presented posters at FASEB.

Research: Research interests are in adolescent obesity and related risk factors for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. New research plans include evaluating the National School Lunch Program to determine if it meets the Dietary Guidelines for Americans to help reduce obesity in adolescents. Examine the relationship of diet quality of school meals to risk factors of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in children and adolescents ages 12-19.

Alireza Jahan-mihan, PhD. RD. is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the University of North Florida. Dr. Jahan-mihan has more than twenty years’ experience in research, food industry and clinical practice. He completed his doctoral degree at the university of Toronto in the field of Nutrition. His primary research focus is on the role of functional foods and their dietary bioactive components in health and diseases. The specific focus of his research program is on physiological and nutritional functions of dietary proteins and peptides. Both animal and clinical approaches are applied to reveal underlying mechanisms of functional foods and also to examine the applicability of research outcomes. The results of his research have been published in peer-reviewed journals. Moreover, he has been invited to various national and international seminars and conferences to present his research findings.

Research: Research goal is to unveil the role of functional foods and their dietary bioactive components in health and diseases. Understanding the mechanisms by which bioactive food components influence the risk of development of characteristics of metabolic syndrome including diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, hypertension and obesity and also factors affecting appetite and food intake regulatory system is my particular interest. The specific focus of my research program is on physiological and nutritional functions of dietary proteins and peptides. Both animal and clinical approaches are applied to reveal underlying mechanisms of functional foods and also to examine the applicability of research outcomes. It helps to transfer knowledge and findings from lab bench to the community level and facilitate collaboration between academia, community and food industry.

Dr. Isoldi received her undergraduate degree in nutrition from Queens College of the City University of New York and her master’s degree as well as doctorate in Nutrition from New York University. Dr. Isoldi counseled overweight and obese adults, children and their families for over two decades before completing her doctorate in Nutrition and beginning her career in teaching. Dr. Isoldi has published 10 peer-reviewed articles and three textbook chapters addressing adult and childhood obesity. Dr. Isoldi is a seasoned professional who has been a registered dietitian for 32 years. She has had a varied professional career that includes clinical practice care, university teaching, scholarship and community service. She currently holds the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition at Long Island University where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate nutrition students on their path to becoming nutrition professionals.

Research: Childhood obesity The school food environment School wellness policy development

Dr. Gaba received her BS degree in Community Nutrition from Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology; an MS in Health Education from Russell Sage College, and Ed.D from Teachers College, Columbia University. She worked as a Clinical Nutritionist at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center (New-York Presbyterian Hospital) for more than 18 years, and during that time served as a clinical preceptor for over 100 dietetic interns. She has also been the consultant nutritionist at the Columbia University Medical Center Huntington’s Disease Center of Excellence. Her research area is studying nutritional factors that impact the incidence and progression of neurological disorders. She was the recipient of the 2003 American Dietetic Association Foundation’s Herbert D. and Nylda Gemple Research Award. She is the author of 3 chapters of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) Nutrition Care Manual, on nutrition care for people with movement disorders.   She also co-produced and appeared in “Food for the Fight”, an educational DVD for cancer patients and post-treatment cancer survivors. This DVD was a joint project of New-York Presbyterian Hospital, the American Institute for Cancer Research, and Ross/Abbott Nutritionals. Dr. Gaba is currently Director of the Dietetic Internship Program at the City University of New York School of Public Health and Hunter College, and teaches the dietetic internship sequence of courses. She has also been a speaker in several web-cast conferences and at the AND annual meeting.

Research:  Nutrition education, experiential teaching and learning, and nutritional factors in the prevention and care of movement disorders.

Dr. Baum received her Bachelor’s degree in Dietetics in 2000 and her PhD in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2004 where she studied the impact of dietary protein and branched-chain amino acids on insulin signaling, gluconeogenesis, glycemic regulation and body composition. Following her PhD, Dr. Baum was a postdoctoral fellow at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania from 2004-2006. There she continued to investigate amino acids and their impact on cell signaling and protein synthesis. After her postdoc training, Dr. Baum moved to the Netherlands from 2007-2012 and to a job in industry with Unilever as a Research Scientist studying body composition and fat distribution during weight loss. Following her time at Unilever, Dr. Baum was a Nutrition Scientist and Science Communications Manager at Danone Center for Specialized Nutrition in the Netherlands, where she focused on research in the area of infant and toddler nutrition and the impact diet early in life can have on health later in life. Dr. Baum has been an Assistant Professor of Nutrition in the Department of Food Science and a member of the Cell and Molecular Biology Program at the University of Arkansas since 2012. Dr. Baum is the Chair of the Energy and Macronutrient Metabolism Research Interest Section of the American Society for Nutrition and is the Society’s representative for Federations of American Societies for Experimental Biology’s (FASEB) Publications and Communications Committee. Dr. Baum’s research focuses on the role of dietary protein on body composition, energy metabolism and metabolic health throughout the lifecycle.

Research: The role of dietary protein quality and quantity on molecular mechanisms of energy metabolism The role of branched-chain amino acids in energy metabolism and type 2 diabetes The relationship between protein intake and metabolic health

Laurel M. Wentz is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition Science at East Carolina University. She is a Registered Dietitian and Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics. She completed a BS in Nutrition Science at the Pennsylvania State University followed by a MS at the University of Florida. She completed her PhD at Florida State University where she also served as the Athletic Department Sports Dietitian, working with all varsity teams. Her PhD research focused on the relationship between dietary calcium and bone health in female runners with stress fractures. Subsequently, Dr. Wentz was the Performance Dietitian for 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) in Fort Bragg, NC, where she had the opportunity to work with elite service members. Her work at Fort Bragg inspired her research interests in military nutrition and she has continued to collaborate with the medical teams from 3rd Group to study vitamin D and associated hormone interactions in military personnel.

Research: Sports and tactical nutrition Vitamin D and testosterone associations Hormonal abnormalities post-brain injury

Victoria J. Vieira-Potter, PhD obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Chemistry from Wheaton College (Norton, MA) in 2001. She completed her Master’s degree in Nutrition at the University of New Hampshire in 2004. Her Master’s thesis was “Insulin Resistance: A Possible Risk Factor for Atopy and Asthma Development in Women”. She has a doctorate degree in Nutrition from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she studied the anti-inflammatory effect of exercise using both human and animal models.  Her dissertation title was "Anti-inflammatory Effects of Cardiovascular Exercise: Role of Visceral Adipose Tissue". From 2009-2012 she worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the JM-USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in the Obesity and Metabolism Laboratory where she studied the metabolic effects of estrogen loss in rodents with a primary focus on the adipose tissue. Since August 2012, Dr. Vieira-Potter joined the faculty of the Department of Nutrition and Exercise Physiology at the University of Missouri as an Assistant Professor of Nutrition. She is currently the PI of the PhIT-FAT (Physiological and Immunological Techniques assessing the Function of Adipose Tissue) laboratory and teaches an upper level undergraduate/graduate course in Nutrition. 

Research: My research focuses on how behavioral (e.g., exercise, consumption of an HFD) and biological (e.g., aging, loss of ovarian hormone production, intrinsic aerobic fitness) factors affect metabolic disease pathogenesis, in part via alterations in WAT immune cell content and physiology. Specific areas of interest include: The relationship between white adipose tissue (WAT) inflammation and systemic metabolic function (e.g., insulin resistance and fatty liver) How diet and exercise affect body composition and WAT inflammation How ovariectomy (OVX, removal of the ovaries) in rodents affects WAT metabolic function, insulin sensitivity, physical activity, and energy expenditure  How low and high running capacity rats (i.e., LCR, HCR, respectively) differentially respond to OVX   

Dr. Magdalena Pilska graduated from Faculty of Psychology of University of Warsaw in 2000 where she received Master’s degree in Psychology and her PhD in Nutritional Sciences from Faculty of Human Nutrition and Consumer Sciences of Warsaw University of Life Sciences in 2006. Her research interests has always focused on social psychology area and evolved towards food and eating. Working on her PhD thesis she explored the impact of five main personality traits (included in Big Five Personality Model) on women healthy eating behavior, eating attitudes and healthy eating knowledge.  Dr Pilska has been an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Human Nutrition and Consumer Science of WULS and full member of Polish Society of Social Psychology from 2008. In her university work dr Pilska further investigates wide range of psychological factors influencing human eating behaviors – from healthy diet to eating disorders and obesity. While teaching students dr Pilska conducts lectures and seminars of Psychology of Food and Eating, Social Psychology, General Psychology through blended learning and e-learing.

Research: All areas where psychology meets eating: Especially social psychology, implicit and explicit attitudes, psychological and Social determinants of human eating behavior. Relationships between emotions, mood, personality traits and healthy or unhealthy diet. The psychological aspects that determinate eating disorders and obesity.

Research: Bone metabolism Obesity Caloric restriction Osteoporosis Tube Feeding

Dr. Brown uses Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) to examine the nutritional determinants, consequences, and prevention of diet related health disparities in underserved populations. She also has interest in developing interventions and tools to assess and prevent unwanted and unhealthy weight gain in underserved populations. Ultimately, I work to increase the quality of life of ethnic minority, low-income, and underserved populations by developing and implementing sustainable programs that change negative nutrition behaviors.

Research: Nutrition Education Behavioral and environmental determinants of unhealthy weight gain   Diet-related health disparities Cultural relevance in nutrition education Social Marketing Development and validation of evaluation tools and educational materials

Tracey Ledoux, PhD, RD is Assistant Professor of Nutrition in the Health and Human Performance Department at the University of Houston. Dr. Ledoux sits on the Executive Board of the Texas Obesity Research Center and has been a Director-At-Large for the Houston Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics for the last 3 years. Dr. Ledoux is a registered dietitian and a licensed psychologist and focuses her research on developing and testing eating behavior interventions to treat and reduce obesity among members of the early family unit.

Research: Identifying determinants of overeating, developing and testing change strategies to reduce overeating, and developing maternal and child obesity prevention programs.

Research: Plant bioactives and their relationship to health and/or their beneficial impact on chronic diseases Identifying functional food components that decrease oxidative stress, in vitro and in vivo Bioavailability of phytochemicals Nutrient quality of sustainable food systems Quantitative and qualitative phytochemical profiling of whole foods Phytochemical composition differences between organic foods and conventional foods

Dr. Zhang is currently an Assistant Professor at the Department of Nutrition, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University. He received his PhD in Chemistry from Nanjing University in China. He did his first postdoctoral research in Ghent University (Belgium) on enhancing folates in rice. In the meanwhile, he received his second master degree on Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. His second postdoctoral research with Dr. Henri Brunengraber was on the metabolism of 4-hydroxyac ids including the drug of abuse and lipid peroxidation products. After he became independent researcher at Case Western Reserve University, his research work concentrates on the metabolomics study of lipid peroxidation and its impact on energy metabolism in the heart, and their regulation by diets.

Research:   Oxidative stress and energy metabolism in the ischemia/reperfusion, diet-induced obese and aging heart Impact of w-3 and w-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids enriched diets on the lipid membrane composition in the heart and heart function Regulation of catabolic disposal of lipid peroxidation products and its diseases relevance

Research: My long term research interest is in the area of dietary and lifestyle factors and their impact on chronic diseases with emphasis on prevention and risk reduction. At UConn, I have developed several new research projects with focus on the relationships between dietary antioxidants/functional foods and chronic disease risks and biomarkers. Through a project supported by the American Heart Association, my research team has documented the baseline dietary Total Antioxidant Capacity (TAC) of the U.S. population and developed a dietary TAC database of the U.S. diet for future applications in human antioxidant research and also validated this investigative protocol by establishing relationships between estimated dietary antioxidant intakes of U.S. adults and the concentrations of antioxidants in blood and urine. From this study, we established that dietary TAC is inversely associated with CVD risk factors such as serum homocysteine and C-reactive protein concentrations. This finding indicated that dietary TAC is a useful tool in human clinical and intervention studies for assessing dietary antioxidant status and predicting plasma anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory responses. Another project, funded by the Donaghue Foundation, further validated the concept under different conditions. Another project, funded by Pepsi Co Inc., was designed to investigate the impact of orange juice consumption on micronutrient adequacy, macronutrient and energy intakes, weight status and body composition, and bone health in U.S. population. Recently I have obtained funding as PI from the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute Nutritional Epidemiology Program for a project entitled "Does Dietary Antioxidant Predict Prostate Cancer Aggressiveness?" This project enables me to further investigate the role of antioxidants in prostate cancer aggressiveness. In this study with 2,000 African American (AA) and Caucasian American (CA) men who had been recently diagnosed with prostate cancer, we found that antioxidant intake among AA and CA prostate cancer patients was significantly different and that greater dietary TAC was associated with a reduced risk of advanced tumor stages in CA and all men, but not in AA. Currently I am conducting a human intervention study as co-PI funded by the State of Connecticut Department of Public Health. The goal of this project is to evaluate whether a chokeberry extract containing a high amount of antioxidant polyphenols will have cardio-protective effects in former smokers who are susceptible to atherosclerosis development due to their previous exposure to smoking-induced oxidative stress. Since chokeberry has a high  antioxidant capacity and the development of osteoporosis is mechanistically linked to chronic oxidative stress and inflammation, smoking  increases oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, we also  put forth the hypothesis that chokeberry supplementation ameliorates smoking-induced oxidative stress and thereby improves bone health in former smokers. For this ancillary study, I have received funding from Nutricia Nutrition Research Foundation as PI and am currently conducting this study while continuing the primary project on cardio-protective effect of chokeberry. My future plan is to continue and expand my research in the area of dietary antioxidants and their health benefits in individuals as well as in the U.S. population. This will lead to a better understanding of the nutritional basis for the prevention and treatment of diet-associated chronic diseases and hopefully lead to the establishment of effective evidence-based dietary strategies and guidelines for the public, especially in relation to CVD and cancer. 

Dr. Yao Olive Li is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Nutrition & Food Science at Cal Poly Pomona. With more than twenty years’ experience of research, teaching, and industrial services across the USA, Canada, and China, Olive has acquired a good overview of the general field of Food Science & Engineering, and particularly strong expertise in a specialized area of novel food ingredient delivery technologies based on microencapsulation concepts, and their applications in fortified and functional foods. This international, multidisciplinary background enables her to interact with professionals in a variety of related fields. Olive has been actively involved in and made significant technical contributions to two award-winning international fortification programs, Ultra Rice and Double Fortified Salt, in which she applied a series of microencapsulation techniques into integrated formulation and process development, and also actively participated in the technology transfer activities in India, Brazil, and China. She has published one monograph, contributed to two book chapters, published 25+ peer-reviewed journal articles, and organized two symposiums in international conferences. In addition, Olive has extensive teaching experience at university level and is also active in various professional activities, ranging from scientific program assessments, manuscript reviews, to industrial consultation service. She is an active member and symposium program reviewer in the Institute of Food Technologists of USA (IFT, including Southern California section - SCIFTS) and Canadian Institute of Food Science & Technology (CIFST). She has served in IFT’s Certified Food Scientist Program Ad Hoc Group, and as a Food Processing & Packaging Track Subpanelist for the past five years. She is also an editorial board committee member for International Bioencapsulation Innovations, a France-based scientific community. 

Research: Research Interests: Functional Food Engineering Development of advanced delivery systems & novel processing technologies for effective delivery of various bioactive ingredients, based on micro-/nano- encapsulation and controlled release techniques, and through an integrated approach for product & process design/development; Full utilization of agricultural raw materials, leading to value-added post-harvest production and functional foods, e.g., extraction, characterization, and utilization of plant proteins, dietary fibers, and phyto-antioxidants; Sustainable food systems: examination of various factors and their interrelationships within a highly interconnected agro-food system, involving agriculture production, food processing and distribution, and consumption patterns through a multidisciplinary approach.

Research: Research interests concern interventions related to nutrition, exercise physiology, and chemosensitivity (gustation and olfaction) in aging and disease. 

Dr. Yanyan Li is currently an Assistant Professor in Department of Health and Nutrition Sciences at Montclair State University. Dr. Li received her Ph.D. in Food Science and Nutrition from Ohio State University in 2011, and joined Montclair State University in 2012. Dr. Li’s research endeavors center around several critical aspects of bioactive food components with cancer chemopreventive properties, with the use of interdisciplinary knowledge and techniques. In particular, her work on the effects of bioactives from cruciferous vegetables on cancer stem cells has great impact nationally and internationally and has drawn lots of attention from both academia and industry. As a young scientist, she has already published numerous papers in peer-reviewed, high-impact scientific journals such as Clinical Cancer Research, The Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry, Molecular Nutrition and Food Research, Molecular Pharmaceutics, Drug Resistance Updates, Journal of Biological Chemistry, Future Oncology, Biochemical Pharmacology. She has been invited to present her research findings at many national and international conferences. In addition to reviewing manuscripts for a number of journals (e.g., Cancer Letters, Anti-Cancer Drugs, Future Oncology), she is also a review board member of The Journal of Food Chemistry and Nutrition.

Research: My research focuses several critical aspects of bioactive food components with cancer chemopreventive properties Discovery of bioactive food components targeting cancer stem cells, elucidation of the underlying molecular mechanisms, and evaluation of the efficacy of these bioactives in combination with traditional cancer therapy approaches. Development of extracts and functional food products enriched with bioactive components. Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamics (PK/PD) characterization in preclinical and clinical studies to establish the efficacy and safety profiles of bioactives alone and in combination with traditional cancer therapy approaches. Human observational and intervention study to evaluate the effectiveness of nutrition education programs in community.

Zhiping Yu, PhD, RDN is an Assistant Professor in the department of Nutrition and Dietetics at University of North Florida. Dr. Yu obtained her doctoral degree in Nutritional Science from Pennsylvania State University and her bachelor and master's degrees in Food Science in China. Her research interests are focused on discovering biological mechanisms and developing nutrition and lifestyle interventions for food intake related health problems including eating disorders, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Yu has published in peer-reviewed scientific journals as well as presented at scientific conferences. She is an active member in several scientific societies and serves in a number of committee positions. She is also actively involved in community service projects to promote healthy eating and physical activities in Jacksonville population especially Chinese population. 

Research: Eating disorders Obesity and childhood obesity Chronic disease prevention

Dr. Meijun Zhu is an assistant professor in the School of Food Science at Washington State University/University of Idaho. She obtained her Sc.D. in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at China Agricultural University, and got her Ph.D. in Food Microbiology at Iowa State University. She received her postdoctoral training at University of Wyoming, studying the impact of maternal nutrition on fetal development. Her research centers on foodborne pathogen gut colonization, mucosal inflammation and intestinal epithelial health, particularly interested in biological effects of dietary factors on gut epithelial health, microbiota, and the incidence of gut epithelial associated diseases. Her research program is currently supported by NIH, USDA and commodity funds. She has served on the USDA grant panel and is an active ad-hoc reviewer for a number of grant funding agencies and journals.

Research: Favorable effects of food bioactive components on gut epithelial health, gut microbiota and the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease Impact of maternal obesity on the offspring gut development and barrier function Gut mucosal immune response and foodborne pathogen gut colonization

Jacquelyn Nyenhuis MS RD CDE is an Assistant Professor in the Nutrition and Exercise Science Department at St. Catherine University in St Paul, MN. She received her MS degree in Food and Nutrition from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge Louisiana. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Food Science from Iowa State University, in Ames Iowa. Her research applies novel aspects in simulation and optimization models to the areas of high impact, such as Medical Nutrition Therapy (MNT) and other healthcare education.

Research: Preferences and efficacy of diet and exercise plans Factors that influence memorability, perceived complexity The anti-bacterial properties of copper Nano-particles

Research: Metabolomics Steroid etabolism Modulation of metabolic pathways with food components Mass spectrometry and its applications Chemical carcinogenesis Food biomarkers Biomarker synthesis

Dr. Irene Hatsu is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Human Sciences Department and an OSU Extension State Specialist for Food Security at Ohio State University. Prior to this appointment, she was in the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition at Florida International University, from where she also holds a PhD. She also holds a Master’s degree from the University of Georgia. Dr. Hatsu works to improve the nutrition and health of several vulnerable, low-income and chronically ill populations through evidence based interventions. Her research focuses on understanding food and nutrition security as they relate to chronic diseases, and other health issues. Her goal is to develop innovative and effective interventions targeted at minimizing food insecurity among individuals and in the community, while improving nutrition and health.

Research: Consequences of food insecurity in vulnerable populations Nutrition intervention and education for chronic disease prevention and management Nutrition and health benefits from food assistance programs

 Dr. Natasha Tasevska is currently an Assistant Professor in the Nutrition Program at the School of Nutrition and Health Promotion at Arizona State University. She holds an M.D. from the University "Ss. Cyril and Methodius", Macedonia, an M.Sc. in Human Nutrition and Metabolism from the University of Aberdeen, UK, and a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences from the University of Cambridge, UK. She also completed a three year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Nutritional Epidemiology at the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) - U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH). Dr. Tasevska is a Fellow of the Cambridge Overseas Society and a recipient of the NIH Visiting Fellow Award and the British Council Chevening Award.

Research:   Developing biomarkers of intake, predictive biomarker of sugars intake, metabolic studies Dietary validation and calibrations studies, measurement error in self-reported diet Epidemiological investigations of the effects of sugars on cancer, obesity and other chronic diseases