Obesity, Diet and Nutrition

Dr. Mohammad Sharif Sharifi, the CEO of Australian Food and Pharmaceutical Industries has extensive management experience in establishing companies and commercialising products. Dr Sharifi's qualifications include a Master's Degree in Chemistry, Food and Drug Analysis, (UNSW 1999) and a PhD in Medicinal Chemistry and Medical Microbiology (University of Western Sydney 2006). Sharif was also a lecturer/Medical Facilitator at UNSW, University Sydney and UWS 2003-2015.

Dr. Setareh Torabian-Riasati is the Dietetic Program (DPD) Director and Associate Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). She is a nationally certified Registered Dietitian (RD) and holds a Doctorate degree in Public Health, Nutrition from Loma Linda University Medical Center. She was the recipient of the two time Polished Apple Award for excellence and teaching and mentorship. Dr.Torabian-Riasati has written for numerous journals, such as European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, British Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Human Journal of Nutrition, Journal of American Dietetic Association and many more. She has published a book chapter on Polyphenols. She is an active member of various Nutrition and Dietetic related societies including Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Accreditation Council of Education in Nutrition and Dietetics, and American Society of Nutrition. She also serves in editorial board of many scientific journals.

Dr. Shaodong Guo is Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Food Science at Texas A&M University College. He received his Ph.D in Physiology from Peking University, China. Then he completed his postdoctoral research training in Genetics, Biochemistry, and Medicine in the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and Harvard University, respectively. Dr. Guo was an Instructor in Medicine at Children's Hospital Boston and Harvard Medical School for two years prior to joining the faculty at Texas A&M Health Science Center. Currently, Dr. Guo serves as senior editor for the Journal of Endocrinology and Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, two major official journals of Endocrine Society of Europe, UK, and Australia, and he is the textbook chapter writer for Metabolic Syndrome edited by Rexford Ahima and published by Springer in 2016. Dr. Guo’s research has been funded by American Diabetes Association (ADA), American Heart Association, and the National Institute of Health. He is a recipient of ADA junior faculty award, career development award, and Richard R. Lee Award. His work has been published in a number of journals including the JBC, Endocrinology, Hypertension, Diabetes, Circulation Research, AJP, MCB, and Nature Medicine, receiving about 5,000 citations with an h-factor of 34 based on Google Scholar Citation.

Dr. Osama Ibrahim is a highly-experienced principal Research Scientist with particular expertise in the field of microbiology, molecular biology, food safety, and bioprocessing for both pharmaceutical and food ingredients. He is knowledgeable in microbial screening /culture improvement; molecular biology and fermentation research for antibiotics, enzymes, therapeutic proteins, organic acids and food flavors; Biochemistry for metabolic pathways and enzymes kinetics, enzymes immobilization, bioconversion, and Analytical Biochemistry and Immunology , Dr. Ibrahim was external research liaison for Kraft Foods with Universities for research projects related to molecular biology and microbial screening and holds three bioprocessing patents. In January 2005, he accepted an early retirement offer from Kraft Foods and in the same year he formed his own biotechnology company providing technical and marketing consultation for new startup biotechnology and food companies. Dr. Ibrahim received his B.S. in Biochemistry with honor and two M.S. degrees in Microbial physiology/ Fermentation and in Applied Microbiology. He received his Ph.D. in Basic Medical Science (Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular biology) from New York Medical College. He is a member of American Chemical Society, American Society of Microbiology, and Society of Industrial Microbiology since 1979.

Dr. Santosh Jain Passi is an independent Public Health Nutrition Consultant. She obtained her Ph.D. in Food and Nutrition from the University of Delhi. She has nearly 43 years of teaching experience and has guided/guiding a number of Ph.D. researchers in the field of nutrition. She is Former Director, Institute of Home Economics, University of Delhi; Associate & Honorary Consultant, Nutrition Foundation of India; Honorary Professor of Public Health Nutrition at Amity University, Noida; and Head – PHN Division, LSTech Ventures Pvt. Ltd., Gurugram. She was the former director of The Institute of Home Economics University in Delhi. She has been the Principal Investigator of various research projects funded by National /International Organizations like UGC, FAO, UNICEF, ICMR, ICAR, DRDO etc. as well as short term consultant for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Bank, International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI)-India etc. She has published a number of research papers & reviews, books and Chapters, articles in various National/International journals and periodicals. Dr Passi is a Life member/ Executive Member/ member of many Professional Bodies in Nutrition, Dietetic and allied areas.