Childhood Obesity & Nutrition

Current academic titles: Emeritus prof. of applied physiol. (since 1991), Teachers College, Columbia U. Emeritus prof. of pediatrics & physiology (since 2005), Medical College of Georgia. Selected former positions: Asst. prof. of physical educ., City U of NY (Hunter College); Co-director of Center for Health Promotion, Columbia U; Co-director of Georgia Center for the Study of Obesity & Related Disorders; Adjunct prof. of nutrition, UNC- Chapel Hill. Research grants: More than $15 million in funding from the National Institutes of Health. Book: The high energy factor. Random House, 1983. Selected Recent Invited Presentations Stem cell differentiation into fat & lean cells: implications for prevention of child obesity: U of GA; U of Southern Calif.; National Inst. of Child Health & Development; U of Bremen, Germany; U of Groningen, Netherlands; Internat. Society of Behavioral Nutrition & Physical Activity, Ghent, Belgium; Ohio U. How can youths develop lean & healthy bodies? A new perspective. Duke U; Case-Western Reserve U; Slippery Rock U; UMass.-Boston. How parents, schools & communities can help youths develop healthy bodies: some surprising implications of recent research. Ohio U; Minneapolis. Volunteer teaching: Frontiers in medicine Osher Life-Long Learning Inst. at Duke U.

Physical activity, body composition and health.

Dr. Elena Roura is the Scientific Director at the Alicia Foundation where she leads on all nutrition aspects and eating habits programmes. She has a PhD in Diet and Human Nutrition from the University of Barcelona and a degree in Human Dietetics and nutrition and Food science. She is also a member of the Catalan Observatory of Food at the University of Barcelona. Alícia Foundation is a research centre devoted to technological innovation in cuisine, to the improvement of eating habits and to the evaluation of the food and gastronomic heritage. We are a centre with a social vocation, open to everyone to promote healthy eating. The main objective of the foundation is to improve the eating habits of society and to find culinary solutions to the specific food necessities caused by certain illnesses.

Human Dietetics, nutrition and Food science

Joycelyn A.M. Peterson, (Dr.Joy) is a registered dietitian, presently professor and chair of Nutrition and Dietetics, Department and Dietetic Internship Director at Oakwood University, Huntsville, Alabama and was associate professor, chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences at University of the Southern Caribbean (USC), Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies for over 5years. Her professional experience includes nutrition consultant, nutrition educator, public health speaker and in-service trainer for hospital staff and community agencies, program planner for international and state-wide public health nutrition initiatives, teaching and conducting research at the undergraduate and graduate levels. Grant writer receiving over $ 2 million from private funding. She is founder/director of the Vegetarian Institute of Nutrition and Culinary Arts (nonprofit) and Dimensions in Food and Nutrition, Inc. (for profit). She is a contributing writer for newspapers and health magazines and has also published three books and many articles. Dr. Peterson completed Nutrition and Dietetics degrees at New York Institute of Dietetics (A.S.), Oakwood University, B.S., Loma Linda University (M.P.H., Dr. P.H.), and Johns Hopkins University (post-master’s studies in international nutrition). Joy recently had her dissertation for her doctoral thesis published in the Annuals of Nutrition Metabolism, August, 2011. She continues to conduct nutrition, health, and vegetarian cooking seminars internationally. Her long-term goal is to provide dietetic and nutrition research and leadership training where ever God leads.

Vegetarian nutrition consultant, public health speaker, and program planner for international and state-wide public health nutrition initiatives, conducting research at the undergraduate and graduate levels.

Adelia Bovell-Benjamin is currently a Professor of Food and Nutritional Sciences in the Department of Food and Nutritional Sciences, College of Agriculture, Environment and Nutrition Sciences (CAENS), Tuskegee University, Alabama, U.S.A. At the University of California, Davis, Bovell-Benjamin earned a PhD in Nutrition with a Designated Emphasis in International Nutrition and a minor in Epidemiology. She also holds a M.S and B.S. degrees in Nutritional Science and Food and Nutrition from Queens and Brooklyn Colleges of the City University of New York, respectively. She holds postdoctoral certificates in Measuring Health Disparities, Leadership Development, and Qualitative Research from the University of Michigan, University of Georgia, and Burke Institute, respectively. Dr. Bovell-Benjamin has held several positions internationally and nationally – at the University of the West Indies, Trinidad and Tobago; as a Community/Public Health Nutritionist in Tobago; as teacher at all levels of the school system in Trinidad and Tobago; and as a clinical dietitian in New York. Her research focuses on product development (emphasis on sweetpotato), sensory science; and diet and nutrition issues, the food environment and cancer prevention in African Americans. She has worked extensively with the sweetpotato in terms of postharvest technology, cultural aspects, sensory and nutritional aspects. She has also written extensively on the sweetpotato.

International nutrition lipid oxidation Food product development with emphasis on sensory science Nutritional, dietary and cancer prevention issues among African Americans

Ivonne Ramirez, has a degree in Nutrition from the Metropolitan Autonomous University – Campus Xochimilco (UAM-X), a Master on Nutrition and Ph.D. on Population Nutrition Sciences, from the School of Public Health of Mexico (ESPM). In 2015, her doctoral thesis received distinction as "The best thesis in public health" of that year. She is a science researcher at the Center for Nutrition and Health Research of the National Institute of Public Health, member of the National System of Researchers, awarded level I. Current active member of the College Professoriate on the postgraduate on nutrition, and adjunct coordinator of the Doctorate in Population Nutrition Sciences of the ESPM; and member of the technical group on breastfeeding in the state of Morelos. She has participated in the National Nutrition Surveys of Mexico since 1999 to 2016; on impact assessments of governmental programs such as "Oportunidades”, now called “Prospera" carried out by the National Institute of Public Health; and on the Federal Policy on nutrition and supply of Mexico. Now a days, she is conducting two research projects each with one study cohort, assessing different early-life determinants related to development of obesity and metabolic disorders in childhood.

Her subjects of interest in research are: Maternal and child nutrition, childhood obesity, breastfeeding and complementary feeding, as well as the evaluation, magnitude and distribution of the population dietary intake.

Associate Professor at the Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences of Madrid

Treatment and recovery of sports injuries, with training in orthopedic, osteopathic and manual medicine.

Sunil Mathur, Ph.D., M.Phil., M.Sc., MBA, is a Professor at the Georgia Regents University. Dr. Mathur is the author of the book “Statistical Bioinformatics using R”, published by Academic Press, USA in 2010. Dr. Mathur is an academic editor of PLOS ONE, Special Issue Editor and Editorial Member of Journal of Translational Medicine & Epidemiology, Editorial Board Member of Global Journal of Medicine and Public Health, Editorial Board Member of Austin Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology, Associate Editor of International Journal of Statistics and Systems, and Global Journal of Pure and Applied Mathematics and reviewer for several international journals. Dr. Mathur is a reviewer of grant applications for the Department of Defense and NIH. Dr. Mathur’s research interests are in both biostatistical applications and methodological development of biostatistics. His research interests include childhood obesity, cancer research, public health, nonparametric statistics, likelihood procedures, genomics, biostatistics, and epidemiology. Dr. Mathur is working in the area of pediatric obesity, the number of children who are overweight and obese is increasing rapidly world-wide, and the World Health Organization has declared obesity as one of the largest epidemics of modern times. In order to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity, there is a pressing need to understand the association among different factors (genetic and non-genetic) and childhood obesity. Dr. Mathur is working to establish the association of several factors and obesity among children and examine the moderating role of birth weight, race, and maternal smoking status during pregnancy.

Childhood obesity Cancer research Public health Nonparametric statistics Likelihood procedures Genomics Biostatistics Epidemiology

Vaclav Bunc has earned his PhD from TU Prague in 1979. He is a Vice Dean of Faculty of PE and Sports at Charles University Prague. His main research topics are: obesity management, application of mathematical methods and models in PE and sport, evaluation of physical fitness, exercise physiology, functional and physical testing in laboratory and field, body composition, BIA methods and moving regimes for prevention. He has published more than 350 papers in Czech and internationally reputed journals and has been serving as an Editorial Board Member of repute.

obesity management, physical fitness, exercise physiology

Prof. Lucia Pacific Pediatrics Assistant Professor of Sapienza University of Rome; Currently Professor holds the position of Executive Level I and Head of Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Hepatology in the Department of Pediatrics and Child Neurology, Azienda Policlinico Umberto I, Rome. Her research interest are: Pediatric Hepatology (cholestasis, jaundice, metabolic diseases of the liver); Fatty liver in children; Nutrition; Markers of inflammation and cardiometabolic risk in children with visceral obesity; Pediatric Gastrointestinal infections Lucia Pacifico graduated in Medicine and Surgery (1977) at the University "Sapienza" of Rome with honors, specializing in Pediatrics (with honors), with specialization in Neonatology with honors at the "Sapienza" University of Rome. Her later obtained a degree in Medicine and Surgery recognized in the United States (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates - 1979; Visa Qualifyng Examination- 1980). Her holds the License to a doctor surgeon recognized in the United States (Board of Medical Examiners - 1982).

Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition

Cristiana Pop is currently a full Professor at Bucharest Economic Studies University. She has her expertise in “Teaching physical education in higher education and training athletics mainly for university contests”. Her main research interests are in “Education quality and social issues related with health, physical activity, eating behaviors and wellbeing”. She has authored “The role of physical activity in promoting well-being (2015), Athletics for Students (2013)” and other few books promoting physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. She is member of Romanian Agency for Quality Assurance in Higher Education, member of Romanian Athletic Federation (women commission) and has research collaboration with Romanian Academy Anthropological Institute Research Center. She is serving as Senior Editor and Editorial Board Member of several reviews in education, health and sport sciences domain.

Eating behaviors and wellbeing, Healthy lifestyle

Professor Mehmet Emre Atabek has completed his Ph.D. at the age of 37 years from Erciyes University and postdoctoral studies from Selcuk University School of Meram Medicine. He is the director of Pediatric Endocrinology, a premier pediatric endocrinolgy and diabetology service organization. He has published more than 120 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of repute. He has been interested in searching metabolic problems of obese children in most of his articles. His articles have been cited more than 1100 citations by another article in Web of Science so far. He continues to work as head of the Department of Pedaitric Endocrinolgy, Necmettin Erbakan University.

Pedaitric Endocrinolgy, Diabetology

Weak in Ayvaz was born in 1983 in Elazığ. He graduated from Fırat University Faculty of Fisheries in 2006. In 2007, she earned a PhD in the scope of BİYEP / ÖYEP at Ankara University Faculty of Agriculture Fisheries Engineering Department and graduated in 2010. Between 2011-2012. He worked as a postdoctoral researcher at Auckland University in New Zealand with the TUBITAK 2219 Post-Doctoral Research Scholarship. He received his Associate Professor title in 2013 and was appointed as an Associate Professor at the Fishing and Processing Technology Department of the Faculty of Fisheries of Fırat University. He still continues his academic life at Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University, Faculty of Marine Sciences and Technology, Department of Marine Technology Engineering. His areas of expertise are Image Processing Technology, Seafood Processing Technology, Liquid Smoke Technology

Food Science & Technology, Food Microbiology, Food Processing (Pasteurization, Sterilization, Cooling, Drying)

She was born on 6th May 1962 in Granada (Spain). She completed her Bachelor in Medicine and Surgery by the University of Granada (UGR) in 1986 and Ph Doctorate by the UGR in 1989. She is a Professor of Paediatrics at UGR since 1989 until now. She did her Research fellowship since 1992 at the Research group of “Infant Nutrition and Metabolism” (PAICTS187). She is a Specialist in Paediatrics, Expert in Neonatology (1997) and Paediatric Endocrinology and Nutrition (1998), expert Evaluator of the 5th, 6th and 7th EU Framework Programmes, since 1999 (EUROPEAN COMMISION). She has more than 120 papers & chapters in International Journals and books, more than 400 abstracts and some conferences in National and International Congresses and meetings. She also has directed 21 Ph Doctorates. She is a Co-ordinator of the FP7 NUTRIMENTHE EU Project (Ref. 212652) (2008-2013) (www.nutrimenthe.eu) and coordinates de Interuniversity Master: “Genetic, Nutritional and Enviromental Factors for Growth and Development” (www.nutrenvigen-gd.com). She has participated and is still involved in 4 Research Projects from the EU 5th and 6th Framework Programs (NUHEAL, EARNEST, CASCADE, EDEN) and in the Leonardo da Vinci Project 2000-2003. Member of the INMA Spanish Network of Excellence –(FIS-Ref. G03/176), Andalusian Excellence Research Project (PREOBE- P06-CTS- 02341), and different projects funded by the Ministries of Industry, Health and Education and Sciences {REMODEL (FIS) nº 04/2690, EVASYON (FIS) nº 05/2369, CIBER in Epidemiology, nº CB06/02/0049, 2006: Topic: Environment & Health in infancy}. She is the Director of the Excellence Centre for Paediatric Research EURISTIKOS (www.euristikos.eu), sited in the Biomedical Centre for Research (CIB) of the Health Science Technological Park (PTS) of Granada, Spain. She awarded National and International awards: Infant Nutrition Nestlé Awards in 1987 & 1989; “Garcia-Duarte” Award 1990; Granada’s Medical College Award, 2000, 2003 & 2004; Juan Antonio García-Torres Award 2003; Pfeiffer Paediatric Endocrinology Award, 2004; 1st Leonardo da Vinci Maästricht Award 2004 and 1st Award to the best Educational Innovative Project of the University of Granada, 2003. She is an active member of the following Societies: International Paediatric Association (IPA), European Society for Perinatal Medicine, World Association of Perinatal Medicine (WAPM), Early Nutrition Academy (ENA), Spanish Nutrition Society (SEN), and Spanish Society for Research in Paediatric Nutrition and Food (SEINAP), European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN). Spanish Association of Paediatrics (AEP); Neonatology Section of the AEP (SEN). She has participated as a referee of different international journals such JPGN, Journal of Pediatrics, Biology of Neonate, Nutrition, British Journal of Nutrition, Early Human Development, Environmental Research, Nutrition and Metabolism.

Infant Nutrition and Metabolism, Paediatric Gastroenterology, Nutrition and Food, Paediatric Endocrinology.

Dr. Norman Pollock is an Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Georgia Regents University's Medical College of Georgia. He has training in the fields of clinical nutrition, bone biology, endocrinology, and biostatistics. He has clinical trial experience conducting dietary and exercise interventions in children and adults at risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes. He is currently funded by NIH to study the influence of the hormone osteocalcin, a bone-derived protein, on energy metabolism in overweight children at risk for diabetes. Additional research projects by Dr. Pollock are the following: (1) vitamin K supplement trial to effect a change in the carboxylation of osteocalcin in order to determine the importance of osteocalcin and its isoforms on glucose metabolism in children at risk for diabetes; (2) a prospective cohort study of children 8 -17 years to determine the influence of cardiometabolic risk factors on bone mineral accretion and bone structural development; (3) drug trial to provide evidence that the stress-related hormone angiotensin II (Ang II) is a contributing factor linking mental stress to the development of hypertension and osteoporosis, particularly in salt-sensitive individuals.

How fat and bone metabolism affect energy regulation, emphasizing on factors such as diet, physical inactivity, metabolic diseases, hormonal imbalances, and genetic influences that are synonymous to both obesity and poor skeletal health.

Gaston Kapuku is an Associate Professor of Paediatrics and Medicine (cardiology). He is a cardiologist and cardiovascular physiologist with interest in hemodynamics, genetics and effects of gene-environment interaction on the expression of cardiovascular disease. His research involves the identification of early bio-behavioral markers (e.g., chronic stress, inflammation, natriuretic hormones) of cardiac function abnormalities (i.e., diastolic dysfunction) in relation to hypertension and coronary artery disease.

Diastolic Function and Congestive Heart Failure, Gene-Environment Interaction and Preclinical Markers of Cardiovascular Disease, Health Disparity.

Ajay Kumar Mishra is a full Professor at the Nanotechnology and Water Sustainability Research Unit at College of Science, Engineering & Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, South Africa. He received his B. Sc, M. Sc., degrees in 1997 and 2001 respectively from Purvanchal University Jaunpur, India and M. Phil. and Ph.D. degrees in 2003 and 2007, respectively, from The University of Delhi, India. From March 2006 to September 2009, he was postdoctoral fellows at various South African Institutes/Universities. In addition, he was appointed as “Senior Lecturer” in October 2009 at the Department of Applied Chemistry, University of Johannesburg, South Africa where he was promoted to “Associate Professor” in November 2011 until December 2014. Recently, he was appointed by University of South Africa as “Full Professor” since January 2015. He is also working as “Adjunct Professor” at Jiangsu University, China. His research interests include synthesis of multifunctional nano-materials, nano-composites, biopolymer and/or petrochemical based biodegradable polymers, polymers based materials/composites, smart materials, CNT and graphene based composite materials and water research. He has authored over 100 scientific papers. He has hosted several visiting researchers/scientists/postdocs in his group. He has also developed a number of collaborations worldwide. He has delivered a number of including Plenary/Keynote/Invited Lectures. For his outstanding research profile, he was awarded a number of international awards. Prof. Mishra also served as Associate Editor as well as member of the editorial board of many peer-reviewed international journals. He has edited several books by the renowned publishers and also reviewer of many international journals. He is serving as member advisory board of a number of international scientific societies, conferences and workshops.

Synthesis of multifunctional nano-materials, nano-composites, biopolymer and/or petrochemical based biodegradable polymers, polymers based materials/composites, smart materials, CNT and graphene based composite materials and water research

Wenjun Li is Associate Professor of Medicine and Senior Statistician at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He is interested in identifying racial and socioeconomic disparities in health, and helping public health agencies to prioritize their prevention or research efforts. His Health Statistics and Geography Lab focuses on assessing neighbourhood environmental impact on obesogenic behaviours and health outcomes. His current projects involve research into obesity, diabetes, physical inactivity, nutrition, tobacco use, asthma, traumatic injuries, elderly falls and fall injuries. He also conducts methodological research on survey sampling, small area estimation, spatiotemporal modelling and randomized clinical trials.

Identifying racial and socioeconomic disparities in health, and helping public health agencies to prioritize their prevention or research efforts.

Dr. Denise Bonde is a pediatrician in Rochester, Minnesota and is affiliated with Olmsted Medical Center. She received her medical degree from University of Minnesota Medical School and has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Dr. Bonde's clinical interests include acute and chronic care of pediatric patients.