FOODTECHMEET2023

David Wortley is one of the UK’s leading pioneers of Immersive Technologies with a 30+ year record of digital technology innovation. David was the Founding Director of the Serious Games Institute (SGI) where he was responsible for developing the SGI as a global thought leader and international center of excellence. He has regularly spoken at international conferences on a wide variety of topics related to the disruptive impact of digital technologies on business and society. He is a Vice President of the International Society of Digital Medicine and specializes in digital health and digital therapeutics for personal health management. He is a regular keynote speaker at international conferences on digital health and healthy aging.

Carla Severini is a full professor in Food Science and Technology at the Department of Agriculture, Food, Natural Resources and Engineering (DAFNE) of the University of Foggia (Italy) and earned her BA in Agricultural Sciences and Specialization degree in Food Chemistry and Technology at the University of Bologna and her Ph.D. in Food Biotechnology at the university of Florence. Since 1991 she has been a teacher in Food Science and Technology at the Universities of Udine, Florence, Bologna, Foggia, and Roma Tre. She was President of the graduation degree in Food Science and Technology and the Rector delegate for Equal Opportunities at the University of Foggia. Carla Severini has been a tutor of over than 90first and second-level thesis and 11 Ph.D. students. Carla Severini is the author of over 200 scientific papers (106 in Scopus Database) on Food Science and Technology published in scientific journals or presented at international congresses (12 as a speaker) and co-author 9 book chapters. She is the owner of 5 Italian and 1 European patent. Over the last 10 years, Carla Severini has participated in 14 financed research projects (7as PI).

Li Li Ji is a Professor and Director of the Laboratory of Physiological Hygiene and Exercise in the School of Kinesiology since 2011. He served as the Director of the School of Kinesiology during 2011-2017. Prior to that, he served as assistant and associate professor in Exercise Physiology and Nutritional Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign during 1987-1993 and as an associate and profess at the University of Wisconsin-Madison from 1994 to 2011. Dr. Ji’s research expertise is cellular and molecular exercise physiology, especially the role of free radicals and antioxidants in muscle function, adaptation to exercise, pathogenesis and prevention, and cell signaling. Dr. Ji has published over 200 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters and has given over 160 invited lectures. His recent research focuses on mitochondrial quality control and its relationship with redox signaling, exercise adaptation, muscle atrophy, and aging. Dr. Ji is currently a fellow of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK), and Society for Redox Biology and Medicine (SfRBM). Dr. Ji’s scholarly work has received ~22,000 citations and has earned a Google Scholar H-index of 74.

Ihab Tewfik graduated from the University of Alexandria and completed his Master's [MPH] and Doctorate in Public Health [DrPH], at the Nutrition Department, University of Alexandria. He also holds a Ph.D. from London South Bank University. He is a registered Public Health Nutritionist and Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health, UK. He is a renowned intervention specialist in public health and a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy-UK with 25-year teaching and research experience in higher education and has been involved in the development of undergraduate and postgraduate public health nutrition programs in the UK. For over a decade, he was the Programme Director of Human Nutrition (UG) at the University of Westminster. Ihab has been at the forefront of promoting global sustainable public health intervention strategies and in particular among vulnerable groups. His latest public health nutrition intervention programs were to attenuate the progression of cancer cachexia to refractory cachexia among cancer patients in India and to delay the progression of HIV to AIDS among people living with HIV in Nigeria. Moreover, his research includes population interventions to improve opportunities for health during early life, and methods for the scaling up of interventions to achieve community-level impact, for example, his nutrition intervention to enhance the school menu through model meals to improve the nutritional status of the 6-8 years olds that was based in Ghana. Ihab has published and delivered numerous keynote addresses at national and global conferences on nutrition transition and the rise of diabetes and chronic diseases in developing countries. As a Fellow of the Royal Society of Public Health (FRSPH), Ihab’s international research agenda expanded to 12 research projects with UNICEF in aspects of public health nutrition intervention. Nationally, he has carried out Three Food Standards Agency (FSA - the UK) projects on food safety and one project on Biomarkers for predicting breast radiotherapy-induced side-effects funded by the National Cancer Research Institute – UK. Ihab has been selected as a member of the Scientific Panel of the British Council funds (GII and Newton Fund)and also consulting with many Ministries of Health in the developing world. As Registered Nutritionist (Public Health)-in the UK, Ihab is involved in building capacity for healthcare workforces and has led training activities in Africa and Asia. He is the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Food, Nutrition, and Public Health as well as a regular invited speaker on seminars, workshops, and CPD. Dr. Tewfik holds an associate Professorship at the University of Alexandria.

Wolfgang Langhans used rats and mice in a translational, systemic, and integrative approach to study physiology and pathophysiology of the neuroendocrine control of eating and energy balance, including obesity and type-2-diabetes. He combined all levels of scientific analysis, from the molecular through the cellular level to the behavior in an intact organism, and employed state-of-the-art transgenic, molecular biology, immunohistochemical and electrophysiological techniques. A unique strength of his laboratory was the sophisticated experimental surgical capabilities, allowing for the routine use of in vivo techniques and set-ups that are rarely found elsewhere. In 1982 he and his colleagues were the first to report that interference with an endogenous peripheral peptide (glucagon) stimulated eating. Likewise, in 1986 they were the first to show that inhibition of fatty acid oxidation is associated with stimulation of eating. In this context, he has recently formulated the hypothesis that changes in small intestinal epithelial cell (=enterocyte) oxidation of dietary-derived fatty acids influence eating. In addition, over the last few years, his group contributed substantially to current knowledge about the physiological mechanisms of endogenous glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)’s effects on eating and glycemic control. Last, but not least, Wolfgang Langhans and his collaborators have helped identify the role of vagal afferent signaling in gut-brain communication by characterizing the effects of such signals in the control of eating and beyond. All these and other findings have been the subject of numerous invited reviews and book chapters and of countless invited presentations at international meetings.

Chee Kong Yap is working as a full professor at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) since 2021. Prof Yap is an academician for more than 19 years at UPM and 24 years as a researcher. Prof Yap has supervised more than 80 undergraduates and 31 postgraduate students in the fields of ecotoxicology, environmental biology, environmental sciences, water quality, and ecotoxicological genetics. Prof Yap has published more than 330 papers in refereed academic journals, 5 books (three of them published in NOVA Science Publishers, USA), and 32 book chapters. Until September 2022, 218 of them have now been indexed in Elsevier’sScopus with an H-index of 32(> 3130 citations). Prof Yap has also been invited to honorary Editorial Board member for more than 30 international academic journals. Prof Yap has been an invited visiting researcher at the National institute of Environmental Studies, Tsukuba (Japan). Internationally, Prof Yap has been an invited visiting scholar at Nihon University (Japan) and Hokkaido University (Japan), and an invited visiting researcher at Kobe University (Japan) and Kobe College (Japan). He has been invited to more than 20 international conferences as a keynote or plenary speaker. He has one accepted patent in the Phytoremediation method. He has also been listed as World’s Top 2% Scientists (The Career Achievement). Starting June 2022, Prof Yap has been officially appointed as an Adjunct Professor at the INTI International University Malaysia. Prof Yap is the recipient of the International Advanced Materials (IAAM) Medal in recognition of his contribution to “Chemical Safety and Sustainability” in 2022. He is currently an International Associate Member of the Japan Society of Water Environment, and a Lifetime Fellow Member of the International Society for Development and Sustainability (ISDS) of Japan. His profile has been recognized with an ‘Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education by the International Research and Development Centre for Publication (IRDCP), India 2022.

Dan Sobieraj is a recent graduate from the MSc Architecture, Urbanism, and Building Sciences programme at the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) having specialized in Architecture. His Master’s thesis focused on reimagining future urban landscapes to create a symbiotic relationship between the food system and spatial design. While studying in the Bachelor of Architectural Science program at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), Dan developed a strong interest in sustainability and authored 3 scientific journal articles about Building Information Modelling (BIM) and building energy simulation, and presented his research and design projects at multiple international conferences. Additionally, with his colleagues, he built a tiny house on wheels as a housing prototype in response to Canada’s housing crisis. Dan received the Ingenium Group Jack Lemay Memorial Award and the Federation of Chinese Canadian Professionals Education Foundation Award for his tiny house and undergraduate design projects. After completing his Bachelor’s graduation project about an urban community agricultural hub in Toronto, he decided to become a farmer in Australia to gain first-hand experience. Having months of experience as a fruit picker and farmhand, Dan realized that the separation of the food system from urban areas created many problems, and he saw new research opportunities. His Master’s thesis project aimed to better understand how the synergistic integration of food system processes with urban functions through architecture can create a more liveable and sustainable development of agri-food business parks. His thesis project was nominated for Archiprix 2022 at TU Delft and he received the Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation Founders’ Award. Throughout his studies and following graduation, Dan has participated as part of Team SUM in the Solar Decathlon Europe 2022 where they won third place. He is currently working as a BIM Engineer at Daiwa House Modular Europe.

I received a B.Sc. degree in applied statistics, from the University of Gondar, Ethiopia (2011) and an M.Sc. Degree in Biostatistics, from the same University (2014). In 2014 I joined Wolkite University, where I currently began teaching and doing research. During my stay at Wolkite University, I was awarded a different research project which is focused on food, nutrition, and child and mother health. I was also awarded a different certificate for reviewing papers in reputable journals like BMC, PLOS ONE, and Health science reports. Every year I gave training on statistical methods and statistical software for University researchers. I have been teaching statistical and biostatistical courses. I published more than three articles in different reputable journals. In 2017 I transfer my workplace from Wolkite University to Injibara University and Presently I am head of the statistics department at Injibara University, Ethiopia. I was presenting papers in different workshops like the Ethiopian statistical association and at Annual symposiums at Wolkite University and Injibara University.

Marlene F. Escobedo Monge is a pediatrician Doctor of Medicine and researcher at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Valladolid. She has a doctorate in health sciences research and a master's degree in clinical nutrition, another in biological aspects of nutrition, and the last in microbiota. She is very interested in food safety and food biofortification and especially in studies on micronutrients, especially their bioavailability without forgetting the interrelationship between macro and micronutrients in the food chain. Also, as part of a research team, she is primarily concerned with the nutritional status of patients with malnutrition and chronic diseases.

Raffaele Pilla, Pharm.D., Ph.D., Doctor Europaeus, received his Master’s degree in Pharmacy at G. d’Annunzio University in Chieti-Pescara, Italy in 2005, where he also served internships at the Cell Physiology Laboratory and Molecular Biology Laboratory. Prior to his degree, he was an Erasmus Student at Faculté de Pharmacie de Reims in Reims, France. He received his Doctor Europaeus in 2010 from Pitié-Salpétrière Institute in Paris, France. Also in 2010, he received his Ph.D. in Biochemistry, Physiology, and Pathology of Muscle at G. d’Annunzio University in Chieti-Pescara, Italy. He was hired as a Postdoctoral Scholar in the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology at the University of South Florida in Tampa, on two research grants respectively funded by the Office of Naval Research (US Navy) and Divers’ Alert Network. He has written and lectured widely on his experiences. Dr. Pilla has been involved in ongoing research at the University of South Florida with the use of ketone esters. The initial work, funded by the Office of Naval Research, focused on using ketone esters to prevent CNS oxygen toxicity. Dr. Pilla is working to coordinate efforts in the United States and Italy to expand the ketone ester research to other conditions such as epilepsy and cancer and its use as an alternative metabolic fuel. Dr. Pilla has also served extensively in various international medical missions, orphan and homeless programs, emergency medicine rescue and training, and animal rescue and fostering. He is fluent in Italian, English, French, and Spanish. He has a special interest in journalism and photography, and he enjoys sailing, SCUBA diving, ultralight airplane piloting, soccer, volleyball, jogging, and motorcycles.

Research Professor at the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC). (2006-). Director of the Immunonutrition Group. (1987-). President of the Spanish Federation of Nutrition, Food and Dietetics Societies (FESNAD). (2015-2020). President of the International Society for Immunonutrition (ISIN). (2014-2022). SEÑ Treasurer (2010-). Member of Institutional Affairs of the Society of Microbiota, Probiotics, and Prebiotics (SEMiPyP) (2017-). Past-President of the Federation of European Nutrition Societies (FENS). (2011-2015). 95 research projects and contracts with the industry. Coordinator of several multicenter and multidisciplinary projects in nutrition, eating disorders, and obesity 579 publications: 303 SCI articles, 31 SCI reviews, guest editor in 17 supplements in SCI journals,

Head of the Chair Veterinary examination, microbiology, zoo hygiene, and safety and quality of livestock products, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Sumy National Agrarian University. Doctor of Veterinary Sciences, Professor, Honorary Figure of Veterinary Medicine of Ukraine, Vice-president of the Ukrainian Branch of WPSA, Honorary Professor of Warsaw, Armenian and Tajik University. Scientific Adviser of the Ltd “Brovafarma” (conducts clinical and pre-clinical research of veterinary drugs). State and departmental awards: the badge “Excellence in Education of Ukraine”, the award “For Merits in the Development of Veterinary Medicine of Ukraine” – Veteran of Veterinary Medicine of Ukraine. Honorary title “Honored Worker of Veterinary Medicine of Ukraine”. The direction of scientific research: – solving the scientific problem of quality and safety of animals’ products for domestic and export consumption; – theoretical, experimental, and practical generalization of aspects of control of zoonotic diseases of poultry, monitoring of the safety of animal products, development, and improvement of diagnostics and prevention measures.Effective toxicological evaluation and development of chemotherapeutic agents in poultry. Antibiotic action-resistance. All research is directly aimed to protect the health of the population of Ukraine. Provides training for graduate and doctoral students in the specialty: 211 “Veterinary Medicine” and 212 “Veterinary Hygiene, Sanitation and Examination”. Member of the Ukrainian Association for Biosafety and Biosecurity, member of the State Pharmacological Commission of Ukraine section: “Veterinary Immunobiological Drugs”. Member of the editorial board of the scientific journal “Visnyk of Sumy NAU” and member of the editorial board of the journal “Livestock”. Advanced training: Grants and internships abroad. “Improvement of prevention of mycotoxicosis of animals and poultry”. Laboratory of Pharmacology and Toxicology of the National Research Center in Toulouse (France) – 2006 – 2008 International grant for participation in the program “Strategy for Combating Pandemics” – 2011, USA. “

Ahmed S. Zahran. Professor of food microbiology, Minia University, Egypt . Graduated from the University of Edinburgh (UK), Department of Microbiology. His main area of interest is probiotic foods and functional foods. Published more than 80 research papers in the field of bacterial enzymes, probiotic foods, functional foods, and antibacterial substances isolated from lactic acid bacteria. He has expertise in evaluation and a passion for improving the quality of probiotic foods. H supervised 30 graduate students in the field of food microbiology, Microbiol biochemistry, and synbiotic foods. He teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate students courses in fermentation technology and biochemistry, microbial enzymes, food poisoning, and probiotic foods.

Joyce Murerwa has 18 years of global public health and nutrition experience in over 10 countries, employing multi-sectoral and community-based participatory approaches to addressing nutrition disparities in women and children. As a nutrition expert, she has worked at multiple levels of global health and nutrition, and food systems; in policy; research; emergency relief; development; workforce capacity development; health systems strengthening; - from local to global levels. She has worked in development settings, led responses to nutrition issues in refugee settings, and developed policies for nutrition, education, and disaster management in various countries while holding different positions in the UN and INGOs. She holds a Master’s degree in Public Health & Epidemiology (MPHE) and BSc (Food, Nutrition, and Dietetics). She also possesses a range of professional qualifications from the John's Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, North-West University, International Institute of Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), International School of Agricultural Sciences - Hebrew University, University of Sussex (IDS), and London International Development Centre (LIDC). She is currently working with Amref Health Africa HQ’s Institute of Capacity Development (ICD) as the Technical Lead, Nutrition to strengthen capacities for quality programming at the country level while also offering strategic and technical leadership in nutrition governance through coordination of policy discussion through cross-country learnings and sharing.