The International Science Advisory Board For Nutrigenomix Inc.
The Nutrigenomix International Science Advisory Board consists of the most distinguished researchers in the field of nutrigenomics and personalized nutrition.
Ahmed El-Sohemy, PhD
Canada Research Chair in Nutrigenomics
University of Toronto
Ahmed El-Sohemy is the Founder of Nutrigenomix Inc. and serves as Chief Science Officer. He is also Chair of the company’s International Science Advisory Board, which consists of key opinion leaders in the field of nutrigenomics. Dr El-Sohemy obtained his PhD from the University of Toronto and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at the Harvard School of Public Health. He currently holds a Canada Research Chair in Nutrigenomics at the University of Toronto and serves on Health Canada’s Science Advisory Board. Dr El-Sohemy has published in the top scientific and medical journals—more than 80 peer-reviewed publications—and has given more than 100 invited talks around the world. He is on the editorial board of eight journals, and has served as an expert reviewer for more than 30 different scientific and medical journals and 12 research granting agencies. He has been a member of international expert advisory panels and the scientific advisory boards of several organizations.
J. Bruce German, PhD
Director of Foods for Health Institute
University of California, Davis
Bruce German is the Director of the Foods for Health Institute at the University of California Davis, and is Professor of Food Science and Technology (http://ffhi.ucdavis.edu/). Dr German received his PhD from Cornell University and joined the faculty at the University of California (Davis) in 1988. In 1997, he was named the first John E. Kinsella Endowed Chair in Food, Nutrition and Health. His research interests in personalized nutrition include the structure and function of dietary lipids, the role of milk components in food and health and the application of metabolic assessment to personalizing diet and health. Dr German has published more than 350 papers and holds a number of patents related to various technologies and applications of bioactive food components. The research articles from his lab rank in the top 5 most cited in the field.
David Castle, PhD
Chair of Innovation in the Life Sciences
University of Edinburgh
David Castle is Professor and Chair of Innovation in the Life Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. His research focuses on social aspects of life science innovation, including democratic engagement; regulation and governance; and intellectual property and knowledge management. Prof Castle is a world-renowned expert on the social, ethical and legal implications of nutrigenomics. He is the author of a book, Science, Society, and the Supermarket: The Opportunities and Challenges of Nutrigenomics, and has published extensively on the social dimensions of science, technology and innovation. Prof Castle has held several major research awards and has considerable experience leading strategic research initiatives and research project management. Prof Castle has consulted widely to government and industry on issues such as the impact of national technology transfer policies and programs; intellectual property and knowledge management strategies; and the role of non-scientific considerations in the regulation of science and technology.
David JA Jenkins, MD, DSc, PhD
Canada Research Chair in Nutrition and Metabolism
University of Toronto
Dr Jenkins earned his MD and PhD at Oxford University, and is currently a Professor in both the Departments of Medicine and Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. He is also a staff physician in the Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism and the Director of the Clinical Nutrition and Risk Factor Modification Center, St. Michael’s Hospital. Dr Jenkins has published over 300 peer reviewed articles and given hundreds of invited talks around the world. He has served on numerous international committees to set guidelines for the treatment of diabetes and most recently on the new joint United States‐Canada DRI system (RDAs) of the National Academy of Sciences. His team was the first to define and explore the concept of the glycemic index of foods and demonstrate the breadth of metabolic effects of viscous soluble fiber. He has received many national and International awards in recognition of his contribution to nutrition research. Dr Jenkins currently holds a Canada Research Chair in Nutrition and Metabolism.
Lynnette R Ferguson, DPhil (Oxon), DSc
Program Leader of Nutrigenomics New Zealand
University of Auckland
Lynnette Ferguson is Program Leader of Nutrigenomics New Zealand. She obtained her DPhil from Oxford University, working on DNA damage and repair. After her return to New Zealand, she began working as part of the Auckland Cancer Society Research Centre, using mutagenicity testing as a predictor of carcinogenesis. She has recently been investigating the interplay between genes and diet in the development of chronic disease, with particular focus on inflammatory bowel disease. As Program Leader, she is working with a range of others to bring nutrigenomics tools to the New Zealand science scene. She has supervised more than 30 students and has more than 300 peer-reviewed publications. Dr Ferguson serves as one of the managing editors for Mutation Research: Fundamental and Molecular Mechanisms of Mutation, as well as on the editorial boards of several other major journals.
Jose Ordovas, PhD
Director of Nutritional Genomics
Tufts University
Jose M. Ordovas is Professor of Nutrition and Director of the Nutrigenomics Laboratory at the United States Department of Agriculture, Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University in Boston. After obtaining his PhD from the University of Zaragoza, Spain, he completed postdoctoral work at Harvard, MIT and Tufts University. Dr Ordovas’ major research interests focus on the genetic factors predisposing to cardiovascular disease and their interaction with environmental factors. Dr Ordovas has published ~700 articles in peer reviewed journals, and written numerous reviews and edited 5 books on nutrigenomics. He has been an invited speaker at hundreds of International meetings all over the world and is currently a member of the Institute of Medicine’s Food and Nutrition Board (National Academies). He serves as Editor for Current Opinion in Lipidology (Genetics Section), and on the Editorial Board of numerous journals. Dr Ordovas is a Member of Honor of the Spanish Society of Atherosclerosis and has received other awards for his contributions to the field of nutrigenomics.
Ben van Ommen, PhD
Director of the Nutrigenomics Organisation
TNO Quality of Life
Ben van Ommen is Director of the Nutrigenomics Organisation (NuGO) and Principal Scientist at TNO, one of the largest independent research organizations in the area of nutrition. He is also Director of the TNO systems biology program and leads the activities on nutrigenomics, nutritional systems biology, personalized health and personalized medicine. His research applies systems biology to metabolic health and metabolic disease, focusing on understanding all relevant processes involved in maintaining optimal health and causing specific disease sub-phenotypes, developing new biomarkers and treatment strategies.
