At ILSI, we bring science and research to diverse audiences through a wide range of events. From independent symposia and workshops to hands-on training sessions, we host, sponsor, and co-organize events that foster learning and collaboration. Many of ILSI's events are also featured as part of larger scientific and professional conferences, further expanding opportunities for engagement, dialogue, and discovery. Join us!
A to Z
2nd Regional Symposium on Nutrition and Healthy Longevity
2026-09-23 – 2026-09-24
Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
6th Symposium on Nutrition for the Ageing Brain
2027-04-20 – 2027-04-21
Bologna, italy
A curated forum where leading experts in brain health and nutrition connect, exchange, and shape the field.
9th International Symposium on Food Packaging
2028-04-04 – 2028-04-07
Athens, Greece
BIOFIN-EU Policy Forum
2026-11-25
Brussels, Belgium
The BIOFIN-EU project will close with a Policy Forum in Brussels, bringing together leaders from agriculture, food businesses, finance, government, research and environmental organisations to discuss why nature should be valued as critical infrastructure for a resilient, secure food system, and how incentives and responsibility can be better aligned across the whole food chain.
ILSI Europe Symposium 2027
2027-04-22
Bologna, Italy
- Opening Plenary: The Longevity Imperative in ASEAN
Dr Manami Uechi, Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia - Keynote Lecture: Nutrition for Healthy Longevity: An Integrative Approach through Epidemiology, Randomized Trials, and Biological Pathways (Virtual)
Prof Howard D Sesso, Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA
10:00 - 10:30 hr Morning break / Networking
Chair: Prof Dr Mahenderan Appukutty, Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Addressing Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity in Asian Populations
Prof Hidenori Arai, National Center for Geriatrics and gerontology (NCGG), Japan - Seizing the Midlife Window: Nutrition Interventions and Models for Healthy Aging in Asia
Prof Yoke Mun Chan,Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia - From Nutrients to Muscle Health: Protein, Micronutrients and Physical Activities in Muscle Biology
Prof Satoshi Fujita, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
12:00 - 13:30 hr Lunch / Exhibit & Poster Viewing / Networking
Chair: Prof Dr Hamid Jan Jan Mohamed, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Foundations of Women's Longevity: Life-Course Health, Nutrition, and Integrated Care from Reproductive Years to Aging
Assoc Prof Dr Ixora Kamisan Atan, UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia - Muscle and Bone Health in Women During Menopause Transition
Dr Mya-Thway Tint, Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore - Protected, or Just Delayed? Rethinking Cardiovascular Risk in Southeast Asian Women -Insights from a Deeply Phenotyped Multiethnic Cohort
Assoc Prof Dr Rinkoo Dalan, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
15:00 - 15:30 hr Afternoon Break / Poster & Exhibit Viewing / Networking
Chairs: Dr Manami Uechi, Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia
Prof Siti Anom bt Ahmad, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Promoting Brain Health in Aging: From Observation to Interventions
Prof Lei Feng, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore - Digital Health and AI for Healthy Aging: From Data to Daily Practice
Ts Dr Ee Xion Tan, Sunway University, Malaysia
16:10 - 16:20 hr Q&A
- From Innovation to Impact: Healthy Longevity Systems and Digital Inclusion for Healthy Aging in the Community: Country Examples
- Malaysia
- Dr Natthapong Kunthawong, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
- Ms Indah Mardhika, Ministry of Health, Indonesia
17:30 hr End of Day 1
Day 2 | 24 September 2026
08:50 - 09:00 hr Welcome and Announcement
Chair: Dr Mya-Thway Tint, Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Keeping Up with NAD+ for Healthy Aging: Opportunities and Challenges
Asst Prof Vincenzo Sorrentino, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore - Exercise as a Biotherapeutic: Targeting the Hallmarks of Aging for Healthy Longevity
Dr Junjie Xiao, Shanghai University, China - Designing for Aging: Sensory Science, Texture and Acceptability in Nutrition Products
Asst Prof Dr Varanya Techasukthavorn, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
10:00 - 10:15 hr Morning Tea Break / Exhibit Viewing / Networking
Chair: Prof Dr Lay Ching Chai, Sunway University, Malaysia
- From Gut Science to Solutions: Translating Microbiome Research into Nutrition Interventions
Prof Dr Nurpudji Astuti Daud, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia - Nutrients and Micronutrients Supplementation for Healthy Aging: Evidence, Efficacy and Practical Applications
Prof Patricia Conway, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore - The Ageing Gut: Unlocking Innovative Nutritional Solutions for Healthy Longevity
Ms Steph Baker, dsm-firmenich, Singapore
12:00 - 13:30 hr Lunch / Exhibit & Poster Viewing / Networking
Chair: Dr Yoke Mun Chan, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Traditional Knowledge Meets Modern Science: Functional Foods for Asian Longevity
Prof Suzana Shahar, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia - Fermented Foods, the Microbiome and Metabolic Health: From Cultural Practice to Modern Evidence
Prof Diana Nur Afifah, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia - From Bioactives to Benefits: Efficacy and Clinical Relevance of Functional Food Components for Healthy Aging
Dr Lee Cheng Phua, Suntory Beverage & Food Asia, Singapore
14:45 - 15:15 hr Afternoon Break / Poster & Exhibit Viewing / Networking
Chair: Dr E Siong Tee, TES Nutrihealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Labelling, Education and Communication of Functional Foods: From Science to Consumer Understanding
Prof (Emeritus) Pavinee Chinachoti, Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), Thailand - Regulating Functional Foods and Ingredients for Healthy Longevity: the China Experience
Dr Huihui Bao, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, China
15:55 - 16:05 hr Q&A
16:05 - 16:45 hr Panel Discussion16:45 - 17:00 hr Closing Remarks
Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI SEA Region, Singapore
SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS
Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia
Dr Manami Uechi, Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia
Dr. Manami Uechi serves as the Director of Healthcare Services and leads the Health and Social Welfare Research Unit at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), an international research organisation and policy think tank in Jakarta, Indonesia. A primary care physician, educator, global health practitioner, and nutritionist, Dr. Uechi possesses extensive international experience in both clinical and academic settings across diverse geographical and sociocultural landscapes, including Japan, the United States, Central Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Her clinical training in resource-impoverished communities has heightened her awareness of the urgent needs to address health disparities and inequities faced by the world's most marginalised and vulnerable populations. She is a passionate advocate for health and social equity, and her research interests lie on the intersections of food/nutrition insecurity, malnutrition, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which disproportionately affect low-income communities, Indigenous peoples, and other historically underserved populations in both urban and rural areas. Dr. Uechi holds a BSc in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University, a Bachelor of Medicine and Doctor of Medicine from Universitas Indonesia, and a Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery from Harvard University.
Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA
Prof Howard D. Sesso, ScD, MPH, FAHA, Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA
Dr. Howard D. Sesso is an Associate Epidemiologist at the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He designs and conducts randomized clinical trials and epidemiologic studies, focusing on dietary supplements, nutrition, and lifestyle factors to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, cancer, and other aging-related outcomes. Dr. Sesso is Associate Director of the Division of Preventive Medicine and Director of Nutrition and Supplement Research at the Osher Center for Integrative Health. Dr. Sesso has been involved in several major trials at the Division of Preventive Medicine, helping lead the Physicians' Health Study (PHS), conducting several ancillary studies in the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL, and co-leading the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS). He has also conducted several small-scale clinical trials testing dietary supplements and nutrition, plus initiated an Epigenetics Working Group stemming from several research grants across PHS, VITAL, and COSMOS. He has published extensively, teaches courses on clinical trials and epidemiology, and enjoys mentoring students and junior faculty.
National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (NCGG), Japan
Prof Hidenori Arai, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (NCGG), Japan
Prof. Hidenori Arai is the President of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Japan. He obtained his M.D. and Ph.D. from Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine.
Prof. Arai has held various academic and leadership positions, including Director and Deputy Director of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, as well as Professor at the Department of Human Health Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine.
He currently serves in leadership roles in several professional organizations, including as President of the Japanese Association on Sarcopenia and Frailty, and President of the Asian Academy of Medicine for Ageing. He is also a board member of the Japan Geriatrics Society and the Japan Atherosclerosis Society. Prof. Arai has contributed extensively to the scientific community through editorial roles in international journals and has received recognition for his work, including the JAT Award 2014 and John Morley Award 2020.
Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Prof Yoke Mun Chan, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Prof. Dr. Chan is a distinguished academician-dietitian at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and a leading expert in Dietetics and Gerontology. As the Program Head of Medical Gerontology at the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing, UPM, she also spearheads the Research Centre of Excellence in Nutrition and Non-communicable Diseases (RCoE NNCD) at UPM. A passionate advocate for nutrition-focused research, Prof. Dr. Chan specializes in renal nutrition, geriatric nutrition, capacity building, health promotion, and digital dietetics innovation. Her interdisciplinary research spans nutritional interventions, health promotion, epidemiology, and mobile health solutions, aiming to enhance patient and community self-efficacy. With an impressive portfolio, she has led 27 research projects and authored over 100 publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles, national guidelines, modules, and books. Recognized as a key opinion leader, she serves on expert panels for various national and international committees, contributing to crucial policy documents. Her unwavering commitment to research excellence, innovation, and community empowerment underscores her mission to strengthen the scientific ecosystem in the region while shaping the future of nutrition and health sciences.
Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Prof Satoshi Fujita, Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Dr Satoshi Fujita is a Professor at the College of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University. His current area of research focus is on nutritional and contractile regulation of muscle growth in the prevention of sarcopenia. He was the recipient of the Recognition Award for Meritorious Research by a Young Investigator from the American Physiological Society, as well as the Abstract Competition Award from the American Society for Nutrition. Dr. Fujita has previously held posts as an assistant professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics at the Sealy Center on Aging at the University of Texas Medical Branch and assistant professor at the Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies of the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo. He received his Ph.D. in kinesiology from the University of Southern California.
UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia
Assoc Prof Dr Ixora Kamisan Atan, UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia
Dr. Ixora Kamisan Atan is a Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist & Urogynaecologist and an Associate Professor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Head of O&G Department in the Faculty of Medicine and Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, National University of Malaysia (UKM), and an Adjunct Professor in the Putra University Malaysia. She is a member of Malaysian O&G Conjoint Board for postgraduate O&G specialty training and is the course director for the Doctor of O&G (DrObGyn) Programme, and Urogynaecology Clinical Fellowship Programme in UKM. She is an active member of the International Urogynaecology Association (IUGA) and was previously a member of IUGA Research and Development committee. Now she is a member of IUGA Fellowship Development Committee and PISQ-IR writing Group. She is also the Vice President for Malaysian Urogynaecology Society (MUGS). She is a lactation consultant and is a breastfeeding advocate.
She graduated with a medical degree in 1999 and master in O&G in 2007. She completed her subspecialty training in Urogynaecology and PhD in Sydney Medical School Nepean, University of Sydney in 2014 and 2018, respectively. Her main expertise is maternal birth trauma and pelvic floor imaging with her PhD thesis titled: "Pelvic floor trauma following delivery." She is the first Malaysian gynaecologist to be formally trained in Translabial / Transperineal Pelvic Floor ultrasound. From 20122014, she was appointed as the Honorary Clinical Lecturer in O&G by the University of Sydney. She was awarded the 'Isobel Corin Award' for young researchers in 2012 and 2014, by the Nepean Medical Research Foundations (Australia) and, the University of Sydney Postgraduate Research Scheme in 2014 and 2015 to present her work in pelvic floor trauma and pelvic floor dysfunction internationally. Her special interest is in Maternal Birth Trauma and has set up a Maternal Birth trauma clinic in HCTM, a specially designated clinic aimed to manage women who had sustained major perineal trauma. She had numerous publications related to pelvic floor trauma following childbirth and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore
Dr Mya-Thway Tint, Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore
Dr Mya Thway Tint is a Principal Scientist at Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and an adjunct assistant professor at Human Potential Translational Research Program, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore.
Her expertise is in advanced body-composition assessment using criterion methods such as air displacement plethysmography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and quantitative magnetic resonance technology.
Her research adopts a life-course approach to understanding body composition, spanning early development to adult phenotypes. Her work examines how developmental factors shape offspring's obesity and metabolic risk leveraging Singapore's major longitudinal birth cohorts; GUSTO and S-PRESTO.
A key focus of her research is musculoskeletal health across the life course, with a particular emphasis on identifying early, silent phenotypes that predispose individuals to later musculoskeletal disorders. Her research aims to transform musculoskeletal healthcare from its current reactive model into a proactive, preventive life course approach.
Her aspiration is to prevent sarcopenia, frailty, and related comorbidities through early risk profiling, systematic screening, and tailored intervention strategies.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Assoc Prof Dr Rinkoo Dalan, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Assoc Prof Dr Rinkoo Dalan is a Senior Consultant Endocrinologist and clinician-scientist focused on vascular health in cardiometabolic disease. Supported by successive NMRC awards (Transition Award 2014; Clinician Scientist Award), she built a deeply-phenotyped vascular cohort and studied therapeutic effects on vascular health in diabetes. She founded the Predict-2-Prevent programme for personalised cardiometabolic risk management program. She is also the clinical co-director of Nutrition, Metabolism and Health in LKCMedicine, NTU. Her current work includes a longitudinal prospective cohort of individuals with cardiometabolic conditions, colchicine trial to reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes and digital-twin predictive analytics for diabetes care.
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
Prof Lei Feng, Department of Psychological Medicine & Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
Prof Dr Lei Feng received his medical and psychiatric trainings in Shandong, China and obtained his PhD from the National University of Singapore in 2009. He has worked as a lecturer of medical psychology at Weifang Medical University in Shandong province, China from 2000 to 2004, where he also provided counselling and psychotherapy services. He received research training on functional neuroimaging, at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge in 2013 and conducted visiting research on cognitive aging at the Aging Research Center (ARC), Karolinska Institute (KI) in 2016. Dr Feng is currently a Principal Investigator and Research Assistant Professor at Department of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore.
His primary research interests include healthy longevity and the epidemiology and prevention of cognitive decline and dementia, with a particular focus on lifestyle factors, nutrition, and plant-based bioactive compound.
He has been involved in cognitive aging and dementia research for over 20 years. He is currently leading several community-based studies in Singapore: The Diet and Healthy Aging (DaHA) study, the Aging in a Community Environment Study (ACES), the Choral Singing for Dementia Prevention Trial, Evidence-based Lifestyle Interventions Trial, and the Efficacy of Mushroom to Prevent Cognitive Decline Study, with over 200 research publications on ageing, dementia, psychiatric and neuroscience research studies.
He has won numerous awards like the Alice Lim Memorial Fund Award in 2010, the NUHS Academic Medicine Development Award in 2013, and the NUHS Clinician Scientist Program Award in 2014. He was chosen to receive the NMRC Clinician Scientist Transition Award in 2017 and the NMRC Clinician Scientist Award in 2023.
Sunway University, Malaysia
Ts. Dr. Ee Xion Tan, Sunway University, Malaysia
Ts. Dr. Ee Xion Tan is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University. With a background in Computer Science and Information Systems, her expertise lies at the intersection of digital health, health informatics, data analytics, and AI-enabled decision support systems. She has experience designing and evaluating data-driven solutions for healthcare delivery, clinical decision-making, and health education. Her research focuses on translating evidence into practice through applied analytics, digital health innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with particular interest in implementation-focused research that bridges clinical needs, technology design, and real-world healthcare impact.
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Dr Natthapong Kunthawong, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Dr.Natthapong Kunthawong, he plays a significant role in advancing the national system for health promotion and healthy ageing. His work focuses on preparing the population for older age, promoting healthy ageing, enabling older adults to maintain functional independence, and improving their overall quality of life. At the same time, his efforts aim to prevent or delay dependency and reduce the caregiving burden on families, communities, and the healthcare system. One of his key contributions has been the development and implementation of Thailand's long-term care system for older adults and people with dependency. He has also promoted Healthy Aging through Lifestyle Medicine, with the aim of supporting older adults in maintaining good health, functional capacity, and a better quality of life. In addition, he has contributed to the development of training programs and capacity-building curricula for caregivers and religious leaders within communities, as well as the development of senior day care services in Thailand.
Ministry of Health, Indonesia
Ms Indah Nugraheni Mardhika, Ministry of Health, Indonesia
Indah N Mardhika, MScPH, is the Team Leader for Elderly Health at the Directorate of Vulnerable Groups Health Services, Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia. She has extensive experience in public health and health program development within the Ministry of Health. In her current role, she leads and coordinates the development and implementation of policies and programs for older persons' health across the continuum of care, including active and healthy ageing, integrated primary and community-based health services, and long-term care.
She holds a Master of Science in Public Health, specializing in International Public Health, from Griffith University, Australia, and a Bachelor of Public Health from Universitas Indonesia.
National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
Asst Prof Vincenso Sorrentino, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
Vincenzo Sorrentino is an Italian-born scientist in the fields of aging, mitochondrial biology and neuromuscular degeneration. After his PhD with honors obtained at the University of Amsterdam, he carried his postdoctoral research in Prof. Johan Auwerx's lab at the EPFL in Switzerland. From 2019 till 2022, he took a role as Group Leader at the Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences in Switzerland, to lead research focused on integrating basic discoveries on natural bioactives that modulate NAD+, mitochondria and protein homeostasis with their possible translation into clinical applications. Currently, he is Assistant Professor at the NUS with the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam. His work on mitochondria and NAD+ metabolism in Alzheimer's disease and muscle aging has resulted in his discoveries appearing in Nature (2017), Cell Reports (2021) and recently with the discovery of a novel natural NAD+ modulator and of a link between cellular senescence, NAD+ metabolism and epigenetics in early kidney disease appearing in in Nature Metabolism (2024) and in Cell Reports (2026)
Shanghai University, China
Prof Junjie Xiao, Shanghai University, China
Prof Junjie Xiao is the dean of the School of Life Science, Shanghai University, China. In addition, he is the director of the Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials and Technology for Organ Regeneration of the Ministry of Education, the director of the Shanghai Organ Regeneration Engineering Technology Research Centre, and the head of the Cardiovascular Research Institute of Shanghai University. He is an Associate Editor of Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology and Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, and is on the editorial boards of several other notable journals. He has authored or co-authored in journals such as Circulation and Circulation Research. His research focuses on heart failure intervention and risk prediction, with a particular emphasis on exercise-induced cardiac regeneration and the identification of novel therapeutic targets. He is also interested in epigenetic and metabolic regulations of cardiac function upon exercise and under pathological conditions such as aging.
Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
Prof Dr Nur Pudji Astuti Daud, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
Prof. Dr. dr. Nur Pudji Astuti Daud, MPH., Sp.GK.subsp.PK. FRSPH, AIFO (K) is a distinguished academic, Clinical Nutrition Consultant, researcher, medical educator, and professional organization leader with extensive experience in clinical nutrition, medical specialist education, scientific research, health innovation, food security, and community outreach.
She has devoted her professional career to the advancement of Clinical Nutrition and specialist medical education in Indonesia. Her academic leadership at Hasanuddin University includes serving as Secretary of the Academic Senate, Chairwoman of Commission II for Research and Community Outreach, and Chairperson of Commission II of the Professor Board. She has also served as Head of the Clinical Specialist Program at the Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University since 2014.
Her clinical leadership includes serving as Chief of the Functional Medical Staff for Clinical Nutrition at Dr. Wahidin Hospital and Hasanuddin University Teaching Hospital. She currently continues her clinical practice as a Clinical Nutrition Consultant at Stella Maris Hospital.
At the national professional level, she served as Chairperson of the Indonesian Clinical Nutrition Physician Society (PDGKI) from 2015 to 2023 and previously served as Chairperson of the Indonesian Collegium of Clinical Nutrition Physicians from 2012 to 2015. Since 2014, she has also contributed as a Member of the Expert Working Group of the Food Security Council, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia.
Her academic and scientific interests include Clinical Nutrition, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals, Food Science, Metabolic Health, Obesity, Diabetes, Gut Microbiome, Maternal and Child Nutrition, Food Security, Indigenous Food Resources, and nutrition-based health innovation.
Her research activities have resulted in an extensive portfolio of internationally indexed scientific publications as well as numerous invention patents, simple invention patents, copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights. Her innovations particularly focus on transforming Indonesia's indigenous food resources and bioactive compounds into functional foods, nutritional supplements, and health-related products.
Her academic, research, professional, and innovation achievements have been recognized through numerous national awards, including Best Lecturer, Outstanding Lecturer, Best Researcher, Best Innovation Award, multiple Satya Karya Lencana awards from the President of the Republic of Indonesia, and recognition as an inspiring woman in health and research.
In 2026, she was recognized by the Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI) as the Initiator and Founder of the Clinical Nutrition Specialist Education Program.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Prof Patricia Conway, Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Prof Patricia Conway is Visiting Professor of the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Singapore and CEO of PC Biome Pte Ltd. She was Professor at the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering and in the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Food Technology Centre, NTU. She has extensive research and industry R&D experience, including authorship on over 100 scientific papers in international journals, monographs or book chapters, and numerous plenary or keynote lectures at international meetings. She is inventor on over 20 patent applications and Principal Investigator on grants in Sweden, Australia and Singapore. Prof Conway's research interests are gastrointestinal microbiology, functional foods including probiotics and prebiotics. She has a particular focus on bacterial colonization of the gastrointestinal tract and mechanisms of bacterial adhesion, pathogen inhibition and immune modulation in animals and humans in order to develop ways of modulating the microbiome for health.
dsm-firmenich, Singapore
Ms Stephanie Baker, dsm-firmenich, Singapore
Ms Stephanie Baker is a Registered Nutritionist and Scientist within the APAC Regional Science team at dsm-firmenich. With over a decade of experience in nutrition science, innovation, and scientific affairs, she is dedicated to advancing evidence-based nutritional solutions that support healthy ageing and lifelong health. Throughout her career, Steph has worked across research and development, product innovation, science communication, and stakeholder engagement, helping translate emerging scientific discoveries into impactful health and nutrition solutions. Based in Singapore, she collaborates closely with academic researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry partners across Asia-Pacific to drive scientific partnerships and promote the role of nutrition in extending healthspan. Her particular interests include healthy longevity, gut health, and translating cutting-edge nutrition science into meaningful benefits for consumers and patients.
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Asst Prof Dr Varanya Techasukthavorn, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Assistant Professor Dr. Varanya Techasukthavorn is a university professor, researcher, and registered dietitian who bridges the gap between food science and clinical nutrition. A leading expert in food rheology and dysphagia management, she specializes in the science of food texture modification, ensuring that altered-diet meals are both clinically safe and sensorially appealing.
She has played a pioneering role in adapting and implementing the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) frameworks in Thailand and across the broader Asian region. Her research into fluid mechanics and hydrocolloid thickeners investigates how innovative food products can ensure that texture-modified meals precisely meet global safety standards.
Recognizing that modified diets must be enjoyable to prevent malnutrition and food fatigue in aging populations and clinical patients, Dr. Techasukthavorn actively spearheads culinary innovations. She led the creation of "46 IDDSI-Compliant Swallowing Practice Menus" (developed in collaboration with the Thai Dietetic Association), which served as Thailand's first-ever cookbook designed to assist with swallowing rehabilitation. She subsequently built upon this foundation by publishing "Happy to Swallow: 52 Simple Recipes for Delicious Meals."
Beyond her laboratory research and academic publications, Dr. Techasukthavorn is deeply committed to translating complex food science and sensory principles into real-world, community-level solutions that improve patient quality of life.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
Prof Suzana Shahar, Aging and Wellness Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
Prof Dr Suzana Shahar is a Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics from the Healthy Aging and Wellness Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM); and Honorary Fellow of the Malaysian Dietitians' Association. She is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UKM. She is the founder of the Centre for Healthy Aging, UKM and the Senior Citizen Centre (PAWE UKM).
Prof Shahar obtained her BSc (Hons) (Dietetics) from UKM and MMed Sci (Human Nutrition) and PhD (Human Nutrition) from the University of Sheffield, UK. Her research interest is on nutrition, wellness and aging. Prof Shahar led a nationwide project on 'Neuroprotective Model for Healthy Longevity among Malaysian Elderly', and currently leads a clinical trial to reverse cognitive frailty among Malaysian older adults under the auspice of the World-Wide FINGERS Trial. Both projects were funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia. Prof Shahar also led the Newton Impact Fund Scheme on Developing Salt Reduction Policy for Malaysia. She has filed two formulations for improvement of oxidative stress and cognitive function in aging population, i.e. TP3in1 juice and Cosmos Caudatus powder.
Prof Shahar has published more than 300 publications. She also serves as committee member of several guidelines spearheaded by the Ministry of Health, under the National Coordinating Committee of Food and Nutrition, as well as the International Research Networking on Dementia Prevention, WHO Working Guideline Committee of Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline, and Consortium on Longitudinal Study on Memory (COSMIC).
Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia
Prof Diana Nur Afifah, Department of Nutrition Science at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia
Prof. Dr. Diana Nur Afifah is a Professor at the Department of Nutrition Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia. Her expertise focuses on nutrition science of local foods and food biotechnology, with extensive research on Indonesian fermented foods, functional foods, food bioactives, metabolic health, gut health, and sustainable local food innovation. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Food Technology and doctoral degree in Food Science from IPB University, and her master's degree in Community Nutrition from Universitas Diponegoro. She has also undertaken postdoctoral and academic experiences at Gyeongsang National University, South Korea, and The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Prof. Afifah has published widely on gembus tempeh, fibrinolytic enzymes from fermented foods, banana resistant starch, mangrove-based foods, fish protein hydrolysate, sacha inchi tempeh, and functional noodles. Her work bridges traditional food practices with modern scientific evidence, particularly in exploring how local bioresources and fermented foods may contribute to improved nutrition, metabolic health, and healthy longevity. Her current research interest includes the development of noodles as functional foods and sustainable local food innovation for health benefits. At the 2nd Regional Symposium on Nutrition and Healthy Longevity, she will present "Fermented Foods, the Microbiome and Metabolic Health: from Cultural Practice to Modern Evidence."
Suntory Beverage & Food Asia, Singapore
Dr Lee Cheng Phua, Suntory Beverage & Food Asia, Singapore
Dr Lee Cheng Phua is a clinical scientist with a background in clinical and translational research and health technology assessment.
A pharmacist by training, Dr Phua obtained her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the National University of Singapore, where her research focused on biomarkers for cancer detection and prediction of treatment outcomes. She subsequently conducted clinical research at Singapore General Hospital and later worked in Health Technology Assessment at Singapore's Ministry of Health, evaluating the clinical and cost effectiveness of healthcare interventions.
She is currently involved in the design, conduct and interpretation of clinical studies in brain health and healthy longevity at Suntory Beverage & Food Asia. She collaborates with academic investigators and research partners across Asia to advance evidence-based nutritional research.
China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, China
Dr Huihui Bao, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, China
Bao Huihui, Ph.D., serves as a Research Fellow at the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA). Dr. Bao Huihui also serves as an expert in on-site inspections of health food products, a reviewer for novel foods, novel food additives, and novel food-related products, and a Council Member of the National Food and Medicine Homology Industry Technology Innovation Alliance.
Dr. Bao Huihui primary research focuses on technical support for the management of food-medicine homology substances, as well as risk assessment of chemical substances and nanomaterials in food. Dr. Bao Huihui has led several priority projects, including Risk Assessment of Nonylphenol in Infant Foods, Dietary Exposure Risk Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Chinese Population, Re-assessment of Dietary Lead Exposure in the Chinese Population, Risk Assessment of Cadmium Exposure from Rice Noodles, and Risk Assessment of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Exposure in Priority Foods
Dr. Bao Huihui has also led initiatives on the national survey of food-medicine homology substance consumption among Chinese residents, safety assessment, standards system development and health claims for food-medicine homology substances .
Dr. Bao Huihui has participated in National Key R&D Program projects and other national-level research programs. published more than 40 articles and has contributed to the compilation and translation of more than 10 books and chapters.
Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), Thailand
Prof (Emeritus) Pavinee Chinachoti, Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), Thailand
Pavinee Chinachoti received Ph.D. in Food Science (U of Illinois) at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), she pioneered the study of water mobility in foods that impacts microbial activity, staling mechanisms, lipid oxidation, and MREs shelf-life. In 2003, she became the founding Chair of Product Science group at Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. where she led some functional ingredient projects such as fish oil, probiotics, palatability, encapsulation, and chitosan etc. She became Dean and Director of NFF R&D Center at PSU, Thailand. She is now active in FDA's regulatory aspects of health claims. She is current IUFoST's President-Elect.
ORGANIZER
CO-ORGANIZER
COLLABORATOR
PLATINUM SPONSORS
GOLD SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
SPONSOR
CONTACT
If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us through:
For Local Participants:Dr. Tee E Siong
Email: estee@nutrihealth.com.my For Overseas Participants:
ILSI Southeast Asia Region
18 Mohamed Sultan Road #03-01 Singapore 238967
Tel: 65 6352 5220
Email: event@ilsisea.org.sg [post_title] => 2nd Regional Symposium on Nutrition and Healthy Longevity [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => 2nd-regional-healthy-longevity-2026 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-09-16 03:22:46 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-09-16 07:22:46 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsi.org/?post_type=event&p=52439 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => event [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [1] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 52493 [post_author] => 351 [post_date] => 2026-07-09 09:50:54 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-07-09 09:50:54 [post_content] =>
Although there is a wealth of data on how nutrients and diets can support cognitive functions and brain health, their therapeutic and pharmacological potential in humans and clinical conditions remains largely unexplored. Major health organisations have not yet provided dietary recommendations for preserving brain health and cognition. Specific nutrients' role in maintaining brain function during ageing have been clearly defined.
ILSI Europe's Symposium on Nutrition for the Ageing Brain aims to address these gaps by gathering top scientists and stakeholders to review the evidence supporting how nutrients, food and diet influence brain health.
The 6th edition of the symposium will take place on 20 & 21 April 2027 at the Living Place Hotel(opens in new tab) in Bologna, Italy.
This edition will be co-located with the ILSI Europe Annual Symposium 2027, taking place on 22 April 2027 at the same venue.
Further details, including programme and speakers, will be announced in due course. Stay connected through our official channels for updates!
Scientific and Organising Committee
- Dr. David Vauzour, University of East Anglia (UK)
- Dr. Sandrine Thuret, King's College London (UK)
- Prof. Wim Vanden Berghe, University of Antwerp (BE)
- Prof. Louise Dye, University of Sheffield (UK)
- Dr. Piril Hepsomali, University of Reading (UK)
- Dr. Yannick Vermeiren, Wageningen University (NL)
- Dr. Rachael Patusco, Haleon (US)
The full agenda of the event will be announced in the upcoming months. Stay tuned!
SponsorsOur Sponsors for 2027
Platinum
Gold
Call for Sponsors
The Scientific Committee is looking for food and related industry companies as well as scientific journals to support the event.
Rather than scale, the symposium on Nutrition for the Ageing Brain is designed for depth-enabling direct, high-quality interactions and in-depth scientific exchange. For sponsors, this means privileged access to the people driving research and innovation, with the time and setting to build meaningful, lasting connections.
Sponsors have the unique opportunity to help define the event agenda by driving the scientific themes and discussions.
Read the sponsorship brochure
To secure your sponsorship package or discuss alternative options not listed here, contact Sebastien Alexandre at salexandre@ilsieurope.be(opens in new tab)
If you have any question about the event, please don't hesitate to contact Maria Tonti (mtonti@ilsieurope.be) or Hugo Costa (hcosta@ilsieurope.be).
[post_title] => 6th Symposium on Nutrition for the Ageing Brain [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => 6th-symposium-on-nutrition-for-the-ageing-brain [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-09-08 05:39:14 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-09-08 09:39:14 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsi.org/?post_type=event&p=52493 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => event [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 52495 [post_author] => 351 [post_date] => 2026-07-09 10:12:10 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-07-09 10:12:10 [post_content] =>
Explore the latest research on food packaging safety and sustainability
The ILSI Europe International Symposia on Food Packaging are held every four years and are internationally recognised as a scientific forum to discuss science that ensures the safety and quality of food packaging.
This multi-disciplinary meeting will be of interest to those active in issues associated with the safety and quality of food packaging. It will bring together those involved in basic studies, those responsible for bringing innovations to the market place, and those charged with ensuring the safety and quality of food contact materials.
The 9th edition of the symposium will take place from 4 to 7 April 2028 in Athens, Greece.
Organising Committee
- Charlene Lacourt - Danone
- Thomas Gude - ETH Zurich
- Peter Oldring - Sherwin Williams
- Marinella Vitulli - Food Contact Center
- Cristina Nerin - University of Zaragoza
- Hugo Costa - ILSI Europe
- Luigi De Rosa - ILSI Europe
- Konrad Korzeniowski - ILSI Europe
Scientific Committee
- Christian Kirchnawy - Austrian Research Institute
- Cristina Nerin - University of Zaragoza
- Deepti Salvi - North Carolina State University
- John Koontz - FDA
- Alejandro Ariosti - University of Buenos Aires
- Peter Ragaer - University of Gent
- Salvatore Ciano - University of Zaragoza
- Frank Welle - Fraunhofer Institute
- Marco Zhong - National Reference Laboratory of Food Contact Material
The full agenda of the event will be announced in the upcoming months. Stay tuned!
RegistrationBook your spot to join us!
Click here to register(opens in new tab)
Deadlines
- Early bird registration: Open Now (Soon next week) ; Deadline: June 30th 2027
- Regular registration: closed; Deadline: March 1st 2028
Early Bird Fees
- Industry: 1000 €
- Non-industry: 700 €
- Students: 400 €
Regular Fees
- Industry: 1300 €
- Non-Industry and Additional Task Force Member Company: 850 €
- Students: 550 €
Cancellation policy
- Cancellations received before 18 December 2027 will be fully refunded.
- Cancellations received between 19 December 2027 and 1 February 2028 will be partially refunded at 50% of the registration fee (minus €50 handling charge).
- Cancellations received after 1 February 2028 and no-shows will not be refunded.
- Cancellations requests must be submitted in writing to Hugo Costa at hcosta@ilsieurope.be(opens in new tab)
Substitution
Substitution of attendees are accepted if addressed in writing to Hugo Costa at hcosta@ilsieurope.be(opens in new tab)
Hotel Booking
- Participants are solely responsible for managing their hotel bookings, including any modifications or cancellations. These should be arranged directly with the hotel.
Call for abstract is open!
Click here to submit your abstract
Themes
- Advances in Analytical Chemical Testing
- Advances in Analytical Biological Testing
- Advances in In Silico Techniques
- Advances in Toxicology Related to Food Packaging
- Progress in Risk Assessment
- Food Contact Materials in the Circular Economy
- Impact of the PPWR on Food Packaging
- Management of NIAS
Deadlines
- Oral abstracts submission: 31st October 2027
- Poster abstracts submission: 31st December 2027
Rules
Abstracts should be focused on themes mentioned above and should not exceed 2500 characters.
When composting your abstract, please keep in mind:
- Relevance: The abstract should be relevant to the conference theme or topic.
- Originality: The abstract should present original research or innovative ideas.
- Clarity: The abstract should be written in clear and concise language, with a well-defined structure and logical flow.
- Significance: The abstract should demonstrate the significance and potential impact of the research or ideas presented.
- Methods: The abstract should provide a clear and concise summary of the research methods used, including the study design, data collection, and analysis.
- Results: The abstract should clearly and accurately describe the research findings and their implications.
- Conclusion: The abstract should provide a clear and concise conclusion that summarizes the main points of the research or ideas presented.
- Grammar and References: The abstract should adhere to grammar rules and include appropriate and relevant references, cited correctly.
Call for sponsors is open!
Members of ILSI Europe and non-members alike are welcome to become sponsors of the symposium.
Attending this conference as a sponsor provides a valuable opportunity to engage with and target a relevant audience, allowing you to focus on key topics and establish meaningful connections within your industry.
To secure your sponsorship package or discuss alternative options not listed here, contact Hugo Costa at hcosta@ilsieurope.be(opens in new tab)
If you have any question about the event, please don't hesitate to contact Konrad Korzeniowski (kkorzeniowski@ilsieurope.be) or Hugo Costa (hcosta@ilsieurope.be).
[post_title] => 9th International Symposium on Food Packaging [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => 9th-international-symposium-on-food-packaging [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-09-16 05:09:32 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-09-16 09:09:32 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsi.org/?post_type=event&p=52495 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => event [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 52618 [post_author] => 361 [post_date] => 2026-09-08 13:18:19 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-09-08 13:18:19 [post_content] =>Nature, Risk and Reward: Valuing Nature for a Resilient Food System
Nature underpins the food we produce, the resilience of our supply chains and our long-term food security. Yet its true value is rarely reflected in the decisions that shape our food system.
Are we valuing nature accordingly?
About the Forum
This policy forum brings together leaders from agriculture, food and drink businesses, finance, government and research to explore how valuing nature more effectively can strengthen resilience across the food system. Discussions will examine the growing risks posed by climate change, biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, and consider how investment, policy and market incentives can be better aligned to reward practices that sustain and restore natural capital. A central theme will be the alignment of incentives. Current market, policy and financial signals often fail to reward those delivering environmental benefits or investing in long-term resilience. The forum will explore how taxes, subsidies, private finance and emerging nature markets could be better calibrated to encourage sustainable practices and direct capital towards natural capital restoration, and why achieving this requires shared responsibility across the whole food chain, from farmers and manufacturers to retailers, investors and policymakers. With speakers from:- Food industry
- Finance sector
- University of Limerick, Ireland
- London School of Economics, UK
- Queen's University Belfast, UK
- Maastricht University, Netherlands
Programme and registration details to follow shortly.
For event-related queries, please contact: events@ilsieurope.be
About BIOFIN-EU
BIOFIN-EU aims to establish a comprehensive framework and technology that fosters the necessary conditions for nature-positive investments.
BIOFIN-EU is actively innovating and experimenting with novel approaches for capturing, aggregating, and analysing biodiversity and ecosystem services (ES) data. The goal is to minimise transaction and reporting costs associated with finance that supports the protection and restoration of biodiversity.
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The ILSI Europe Symposium is a gathering of experts from around the world who meet to shed light on the current and future challenges in food safety, nutrition, and sustainability. It is a unique opportunity for scientists from academia, industry and public sector to take part in the debate around those topics and create connections.
The next edition of the Symposium will take place on 22 April 2027 at the Living Place Hotel(opens in new tab) in Bologna, Italy. This edition will follow the 6th Symposium on Nutrition for the Ageing Brain, taking place at the same venue. Further details, including programme and speakers, will be announced in due course.
ProgrammeThe full agenda of the event will be announced in the upcoming months. Stay tuned!
If you have any question about the event, please don't hesitate to contact Isabelle Guelincxk (iguelinckx@ilsieurope.be) or Hugo Costa (hcosta@ilsieurope.be).
[post_title] => ILSI Europe Symposium 2027 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => ilsi-europe-symposium-2027 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-09-07 08:45:52 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-09-07 12:45:52 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsi.org/?post_type=event&p=52598 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => event [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 5 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 52439 [post_author] => 353 [post_date] => 2026-06-08 05:35:30 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-06-08 05:35:30 [post_content] =>REGISTRATION
Local Registration(opens in new tab)Overseas Registration(opens in new tab)PROGRAM AGENDA
Day 1 | 23 September 2026
08:45 - 09:00 hrOpening and Welcome Remarks
Mrs Boon Yee Yeong, ILSI SEA Region, Singapore
Prof Dr Mahenderan Appukutty, Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), Malaysia
Prof Dr Lay Ching Chai, Sunway University, Malaysia
Chair: Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Opening Plenary: The Longevity Imperative in ASEAN
Dr Manami Uechi, Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia - Keynote Lecture: Nutrition for Healthy Longevity: An Integrative Approach through Epidemiology, Randomized Trials, and Biological Pathways (Virtual)
Prof Howard D Sesso, Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA
10:00 - 10:30 hr Morning break / Networking
Chair: Prof Dr Mahenderan Appukutty, Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Addressing Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity in Asian Populations
Prof Hidenori Arai, National Center for Geriatrics and gerontology (NCGG), Japan - Seizing the Midlife Window: Nutrition Interventions and Models for Healthy Aging in Asia
Prof Yoke Mun Chan,Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia - From Nutrients to Muscle Health: Protein, Micronutrients and Physical Activities in Muscle Biology
Prof Satoshi Fujita, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
12:00 - 13:30 hr Lunch / Exhibit & Poster Viewing / Networking
Chair: Prof Dr Hamid Jan Jan Mohamed, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Foundations of Women's Longevity: Life-Course Health, Nutrition, and Integrated Care from Reproductive Years to Aging
Assoc Prof Dr Ixora Kamisan Atan, UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia - Muscle and Bone Health in Women During Menopause Transition
Dr Mya-Thway Tint, Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore - Protected, or Just Delayed? Rethinking Cardiovascular Risk in Southeast Asian Women -Insights from a Deeply Phenotyped Multiethnic Cohort
Assoc Prof Dr Rinkoo Dalan, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
15:00 - 15:30 hr Afternoon Break / Poster & Exhibit Viewing / Networking
Chairs: Dr Manami Uechi, Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia
Prof Siti Anom bt Ahmad, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Promoting Brain Health in Aging: From Observation to Interventions
Prof Lei Feng, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore - Digital Health and AI for Healthy Aging: From Data to Daily Practice
Ts Dr Ee Xion Tan, Sunway University, Malaysia
16:10 - 16:20 hr Q&A
- From Innovation to Impact: Healthy Longevity Systems and Digital Inclusion for Healthy Aging in the Community: Country Examples
- Malaysia
- Dr Natthapong Kunthawong, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
- Ms Indah Mardhika, Ministry of Health, Indonesia
17:30 hr End of Day 1
Day 2 | 24 September 2026
08:50 - 09:00 hr Welcome and Announcement
Chair: Dr Mya-Thway Tint, Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Keeping Up with NAD+ for Healthy Aging: Opportunities and Challenges
Asst Prof Vincenzo Sorrentino, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore - Exercise as a Biotherapeutic: Targeting the Hallmarks of Aging for Healthy Longevity
Dr Junjie Xiao, Shanghai University, China - Designing for Aging: Sensory Science, Texture and Acceptability in Nutrition Products
Asst Prof Dr Varanya Techasukthavorn, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
10:00 - 10:15 hr Morning Tea Break / Exhibit Viewing / Networking
Chair: Prof Dr Lay Ching Chai, Sunway University, Malaysia
- From Gut Science to Solutions: Translating Microbiome Research into Nutrition Interventions
Prof Dr Nurpudji Astuti Daud, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia - Nutrients and Micronutrients Supplementation for Healthy Aging: Evidence, Efficacy and Practical Applications
Prof Patricia Conway, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore - The Ageing Gut: Unlocking Innovative Nutritional Solutions for Healthy Longevity
Ms Steph Baker, dsm-firmenich, Singapore
12:00 - 13:30 hr Lunch / Exhibit & Poster Viewing / Networking
Chair: Dr Yoke Mun Chan, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Traditional Knowledge Meets Modern Science: Functional Foods for Asian Longevity
Prof Suzana Shahar, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia - Fermented Foods, the Microbiome and Metabolic Health: From Cultural Practice to Modern Evidence
Prof Diana Nur Afifah, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia - From Bioactives to Benefits: Efficacy and Clinical Relevance of Functional Food Components for Healthy Aging
Dr Lee Cheng Phua, Suntory Beverage & Food Asia, Singapore
14:45 - 15:15 hr Afternoon Break / Poster & Exhibit Viewing / Networking
Chair: Dr E Siong Tee, TES Nutrihealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Labelling, Education and Communication of Functional Foods: From Science to Consumer Understanding
Prof (Emeritus) Pavinee Chinachoti, Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), Thailand - Regulating Functional Foods and Ingredients for Healthy Longevity: the China Experience
Dr Huihui Bao, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, China
15:55 - 16:05 hr Q&A
16:05 - 16:45 hr Panel Discussion16:45 - 17:00 hr Closing Remarks
Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI SEA Region, Singapore
SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS
Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia
Dr Manami Uechi, Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia
Dr. Manami Uechi serves as the Director of Healthcare Services and leads the Health and Social Welfare Research Unit at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), an international research organisation and policy think tank in Jakarta, Indonesia. A primary care physician, educator, global health practitioner, and nutritionist, Dr. Uechi possesses extensive international experience in both clinical and academic settings across diverse geographical and sociocultural landscapes, including Japan, the United States, Central Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Her clinical training in resource-impoverished communities has heightened her awareness of the urgent needs to address health disparities and inequities faced by the world's most marginalised and vulnerable populations. She is a passionate advocate for health and social equity, and her research interests lie on the intersections of food/nutrition insecurity, malnutrition, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which disproportionately affect low-income communities, Indigenous peoples, and other historically underserved populations in both urban and rural areas. Dr. Uechi holds a BSc in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University, a Bachelor of Medicine and Doctor of Medicine from Universitas Indonesia, and a Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery from Harvard University.
Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA
Prof Howard D. Sesso, ScD, MPH, FAHA, Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA
Dr. Howard D. Sesso is an Associate Epidemiologist at the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He designs and conducts randomized clinical trials and epidemiologic studies, focusing on dietary supplements, nutrition, and lifestyle factors to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, cancer, and other aging-related outcomes. Dr. Sesso is Associate Director of the Division of Preventive Medicine and Director of Nutrition and Supplement Research at the Osher Center for Integrative Health. Dr. Sesso has been involved in several major trials at the Division of Preventive Medicine, helping lead the Physicians' Health Study (PHS), conducting several ancillary studies in the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL, and co-leading the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS). He has also conducted several small-scale clinical trials testing dietary supplements and nutrition, plus initiated an Epigenetics Working Group stemming from several research grants across PHS, VITAL, and COSMOS. He has published extensively, teaches courses on clinical trials and epidemiology, and enjoys mentoring students and junior faculty.
National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (NCGG), Japan
Prof Hidenori Arai, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (NCGG), Japan
Prof. Hidenori Arai is the President of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Japan. He obtained his M.D. and Ph.D. from Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine.
Prof. Arai has held various academic and leadership positions, including Director and Deputy Director of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, as well as Professor at the Department of Human Health Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine.
He currently serves in leadership roles in several professional organizations, including as President of the Japanese Association on Sarcopenia and Frailty, and President of the Asian Academy of Medicine for Ageing. He is also a board member of the Japan Geriatrics Society and the Japan Atherosclerosis Society. Prof. Arai has contributed extensively to the scientific community through editorial roles in international journals and has received recognition for his work, including the JAT Award 2014 and John Morley Award 2020.
Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Prof Yoke Mun Chan, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Prof. Dr. Chan is a distinguished academician-dietitian at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and a leading expert in Dietetics and Gerontology. As the Program Head of Medical Gerontology at the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing, UPM, she also spearheads the Research Centre of Excellence in Nutrition and Non-communicable Diseases (RCoE NNCD) at UPM. A passionate advocate for nutrition-focused research, Prof. Dr. Chan specializes in renal nutrition, geriatric nutrition, capacity building, health promotion, and digital dietetics innovation. Her interdisciplinary research spans nutritional interventions, health promotion, epidemiology, and mobile health solutions, aiming to enhance patient and community self-efficacy. With an impressive portfolio, she has led 27 research projects and authored over 100 publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles, national guidelines, modules, and books. Recognized as a key opinion leader, she serves on expert panels for various national and international committees, contributing to crucial policy documents. Her unwavering commitment to research excellence, innovation, and community empowerment underscores her mission to strengthen the scientific ecosystem in the region while shaping the future of nutrition and health sciences.
Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Prof Satoshi Fujita, Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Dr Satoshi Fujita is a Professor at the College of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University. His current area of research focus is on nutritional and contractile regulation of muscle growth in the prevention of sarcopenia. He was the recipient of the Recognition Award for Meritorious Research by a Young Investigator from the American Physiological Society, as well as the Abstract Competition Award from the American Society for Nutrition. Dr. Fujita has previously held posts as an assistant professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics at the Sealy Center on Aging at the University of Texas Medical Branch and assistant professor at the Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies of the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo. He received his Ph.D. in kinesiology from the University of Southern California.
UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia
Assoc Prof Dr Ixora Kamisan Atan, UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia
Dr. Ixora Kamisan Atan is a Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist & Urogynaecologist and an Associate Professor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Head of O&G Department in the Faculty of Medicine and Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, National University of Malaysia (UKM), and an Adjunct Professor in the Putra University Malaysia. She is a member of Malaysian O&G Conjoint Board for postgraduate O&G specialty training and is the course director for the Doctor of O&G (DrObGyn) Programme, and Urogynaecology Clinical Fellowship Programme in UKM. She is an active member of the International Urogynaecology Association (IUGA) and was previously a member of IUGA Research and Development committee. Now she is a member of IUGA Fellowship Development Committee and PISQ-IR writing Group. She is also the Vice President for Malaysian Urogynaecology Society (MUGS). She is a lactation consultant and is a breastfeeding advocate.
She graduated with a medical degree in 1999 and master in O&G in 2007. She completed her subspecialty training in Urogynaecology and PhD in Sydney Medical School Nepean, University of Sydney in 2014 and 2018, respectively. Her main expertise is maternal birth trauma and pelvic floor imaging with her PhD thesis titled: "Pelvic floor trauma following delivery." She is the first Malaysian gynaecologist to be formally trained in Translabial / Transperineal Pelvic Floor ultrasound. From 20122014, she was appointed as the Honorary Clinical Lecturer in O&G by the University of Sydney. She was awarded the 'Isobel Corin Award' for young researchers in 2012 and 2014, by the Nepean Medical Research Foundations (Australia) and, the University of Sydney Postgraduate Research Scheme in 2014 and 2015 to present her work in pelvic floor trauma and pelvic floor dysfunction internationally. Her special interest is in Maternal Birth Trauma and has set up a Maternal Birth trauma clinic in HCTM, a specially designated clinic aimed to manage women who had sustained major perineal trauma. She had numerous publications related to pelvic floor trauma following childbirth and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore
Dr Mya-Thway Tint, Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore
Dr Mya Thway Tint is a Principal Scientist at Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and an adjunct assistant professor at Human Potential Translational Research Program, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore.
Her expertise is in advanced body-composition assessment using criterion methods such as air displacement plethysmography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and quantitative magnetic resonance technology.
Her research adopts a life-course approach to understanding body composition, spanning early development to adult phenotypes. Her work examines how developmental factors shape offspring's obesity and metabolic risk leveraging Singapore's major longitudinal birth cohorts; GUSTO and S-PRESTO.
A key focus of her research is musculoskeletal health across the life course, with a particular emphasis on identifying early, silent phenotypes that predispose individuals to later musculoskeletal disorders. Her research aims to transform musculoskeletal healthcare from its current reactive model into a proactive, preventive life course approach.
Her aspiration is to prevent sarcopenia, frailty, and related comorbidities through early risk profiling, systematic screening, and tailored intervention strategies.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Assoc Prof Dr Rinkoo Dalan, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Assoc Prof Dr Rinkoo Dalan is a Senior Consultant Endocrinologist and clinician-scientist focused on vascular health in cardiometabolic disease. Supported by successive NMRC awards (Transition Award 2014; Clinician Scientist Award), she built a deeply-phenotyped vascular cohort and studied therapeutic effects on vascular health in diabetes. She founded the Predict-2-Prevent programme for personalised cardiometabolic risk management program. She is also the clinical co-director of Nutrition, Metabolism and Health in LKCMedicine, NTU. Her current work includes a longitudinal prospective cohort of individuals with cardiometabolic conditions, colchicine trial to reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes and digital-twin predictive analytics for diabetes care.
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
Prof Lei Feng, Department of Psychological Medicine & Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
Prof Dr Lei Feng received his medical and psychiatric trainings in Shandong, China and obtained his PhD from the National University of Singapore in 2009. He has worked as a lecturer of medical psychology at Weifang Medical University in Shandong province, China from 2000 to 2004, where he also provided counselling and psychotherapy services. He received research training on functional neuroimaging, at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge in 2013 and conducted visiting research on cognitive aging at the Aging Research Center (ARC), Karolinska Institute (KI) in 2016. Dr Feng is currently a Principal Investigator and Research Assistant Professor at Department of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore.
His primary research interests include healthy longevity and the epidemiology and prevention of cognitive decline and dementia, with a particular focus on lifestyle factors, nutrition, and plant-based bioactive compound.
He has been involved in cognitive aging and dementia research for over 20 years. He is currently leading several community-based studies in Singapore: The Diet and Healthy Aging (DaHA) study, the Aging in a Community Environment Study (ACES), the Choral Singing for Dementia Prevention Trial, Evidence-based Lifestyle Interventions Trial, and the Efficacy of Mushroom to Prevent Cognitive Decline Study, with over 200 research publications on ageing, dementia, psychiatric and neuroscience research studies.
He has won numerous awards like the Alice Lim Memorial Fund Award in 2010, the NUHS Academic Medicine Development Award in 2013, and the NUHS Clinician Scientist Program Award in 2014. He was chosen to receive the NMRC Clinician Scientist Transition Award in 2017 and the NMRC Clinician Scientist Award in 2023.
Sunway University, Malaysia
Ts. Dr. Ee Xion Tan, Sunway University, Malaysia
Ts. Dr. Ee Xion Tan is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University. With a background in Computer Science and Information Systems, her expertise lies at the intersection of digital health, health informatics, data analytics, and AI-enabled decision support systems. She has experience designing and evaluating data-driven solutions for healthcare delivery, clinical decision-making, and health education. Her research focuses on translating evidence into practice through applied analytics, digital health innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with particular interest in implementation-focused research that bridges clinical needs, technology design, and real-world healthcare impact.
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Dr Natthapong Kunthawong, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Dr.Natthapong Kunthawong, he plays a significant role in advancing the national system for health promotion and healthy ageing. His work focuses on preparing the population for older age, promoting healthy ageing, enabling older adults to maintain functional independence, and improving their overall quality of life. At the same time, his efforts aim to prevent or delay dependency and reduce the caregiving burden on families, communities, and the healthcare system. One of his key contributions has been the development and implementation of Thailand's long-term care system for older adults and people with dependency. He has also promoted Healthy Aging through Lifestyle Medicine, with the aim of supporting older adults in maintaining good health, functional capacity, and a better quality of life. In addition, he has contributed to the development of training programs and capacity-building curricula for caregivers and religious leaders within communities, as well as the development of senior day care services in Thailand.
Ministry of Health, Indonesia
Ms Indah Nugraheni Mardhika, Ministry of Health, Indonesia
Indah N Mardhika, MScPH, is the Team Leader for Elderly Health at the Directorate of Vulnerable Groups Health Services, Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia. She has extensive experience in public health and health program development within the Ministry of Health. In her current role, she leads and coordinates the development and implementation of policies and programs for older persons' health across the continuum of care, including active and healthy ageing, integrated primary and community-based health services, and long-term care.
She holds a Master of Science in Public Health, specializing in International Public Health, from Griffith University, Australia, and a Bachelor of Public Health from Universitas Indonesia.
National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
Asst Prof Vincenso Sorrentino, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
Vincenzo Sorrentino is an Italian-born scientist in the fields of aging, mitochondrial biology and neuromuscular degeneration. After his PhD with honors obtained at the University of Amsterdam, he carried his postdoctoral research in Prof. Johan Auwerx's lab at the EPFL in Switzerland. From 2019 till 2022, he took a role as Group Leader at the Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences in Switzerland, to lead research focused on integrating basic discoveries on natural bioactives that modulate NAD+, mitochondria and protein homeostasis with their possible translation into clinical applications. Currently, he is Assistant Professor at the NUS with the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam. His work on mitochondria and NAD+ metabolism in Alzheimer's disease and muscle aging has resulted in his discoveries appearing in Nature (2017), Cell Reports (2021) and recently with the discovery of a novel natural NAD+ modulator and of a link between cellular senescence, NAD+ metabolism and epigenetics in early kidney disease appearing in in Nature Metabolism (2024) and in Cell Reports (2026)
Shanghai University, China
Prof Junjie Xiao, Shanghai University, China
Prof Junjie Xiao is the dean of the School of Life Science, Shanghai University, China. In addition, he is the director of the Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials and Technology for Organ Regeneration of the Ministry of Education, the director of the Shanghai Organ Regeneration Engineering Technology Research Centre, and the head of the Cardiovascular Research Institute of Shanghai University. He is an Associate Editor of Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology and Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, and is on the editorial boards of several other notable journals. He has authored or co-authored in journals such as Circulation and Circulation Research. His research focuses on heart failure intervention and risk prediction, with a particular emphasis on exercise-induced cardiac regeneration and the identification of novel therapeutic targets. He is also interested in epigenetic and metabolic regulations of cardiac function upon exercise and under pathological conditions such as aging.
Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
Prof Dr Nur Pudji Astuti Daud, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
Prof. Dr. dr. Nur Pudji Astuti Daud, MPH., Sp.GK.subsp.PK. FRSPH, AIFO (K) is a distinguished academic, Clinical Nutrition Consultant, researcher, medical educator, and professional organization leader with extensive experience in clinical nutrition, medical specialist education, scientific research, health innovation, food security, and community outreach.
She has devoted her professional career to the advancement of Clinical Nutrition and specialist medical education in Indonesia. Her academic leadership at Hasanuddin University includes serving as Secretary of the Academic Senate, Chairwoman of Commission II for Research and Community Outreach, and Chairperson of Commission II of the Professor Board. She has also served as Head of the Clinical Specialist Program at the Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University since 2014.
Her clinical leadership includes serving as Chief of the Functional Medical Staff for Clinical Nutrition at Dr. Wahidin Hospital and Hasanuddin University Teaching Hospital. She currently continues her clinical practice as a Clinical Nutrition Consultant at Stella Maris Hospital.
At the national professional level, she served as Chairperson of the Indonesian Clinical Nutrition Physician Society (PDGKI) from 2015 to 2023 and previously served as Chairperson of the Indonesian Collegium of Clinical Nutrition Physicians from 2012 to 2015. Since 2014, she has also contributed as a Member of the Expert Working Group of the Food Security Council, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia.
Her academic and scientific interests include Clinical Nutrition, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals, Food Science, Metabolic Health, Obesity, Diabetes, Gut Microbiome, Maternal and Child Nutrition, Food Security, Indigenous Food Resources, and nutrition-based health innovation.
Her research activities have resulted in an extensive portfolio of internationally indexed scientific publications as well as numerous invention patents, simple invention patents, copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights. Her innovations particularly focus on transforming Indonesia's indigenous food resources and bioactive compounds into functional foods, nutritional supplements, and health-related products.
Her academic, research, professional, and innovation achievements have been recognized through numerous national awards, including Best Lecturer, Outstanding Lecturer, Best Researcher, Best Innovation Award, multiple Satya Karya Lencana awards from the President of the Republic of Indonesia, and recognition as an inspiring woman in health and research.
In 2026, she was recognized by the Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI) as the Initiator and Founder of the Clinical Nutrition Specialist Education Program.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Prof Patricia Conway, Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Prof Patricia Conway is Visiting Professor of the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Singapore and CEO of PC Biome Pte Ltd. She was Professor at the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering and in the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Food Technology Centre, NTU. She has extensive research and industry R&D experience, including authorship on over 100 scientific papers in international journals, monographs or book chapters, and numerous plenary or keynote lectures at international meetings. She is inventor on over 20 patent applications and Principal Investigator on grants in Sweden, Australia and Singapore. Prof Conway's research interests are gastrointestinal microbiology, functional foods including probiotics and prebiotics. She has a particular focus on bacterial colonization of the gastrointestinal tract and mechanisms of bacterial adhesion, pathogen inhibition and immune modulation in animals and humans in order to develop ways of modulating the microbiome for health.
dsm-firmenich, Singapore
Ms Stephanie Baker, dsm-firmenich, Singapore
Ms Stephanie Baker is a Registered Nutritionist and Scientist within the APAC Regional Science team at dsm-firmenich. With over a decade of experience in nutrition science, innovation, and scientific affairs, she is dedicated to advancing evidence-based nutritional solutions that support healthy ageing and lifelong health. Throughout her career, Steph has worked across research and development, product innovation, science communication, and stakeholder engagement, helping translate emerging scientific discoveries into impactful health and nutrition solutions. Based in Singapore, she collaborates closely with academic researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry partners across Asia-Pacific to drive scientific partnerships and promote the role of nutrition in extending healthspan. Her particular interests include healthy longevity, gut health, and translating cutting-edge nutrition science into meaningful benefits for consumers and patients.
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Asst Prof Dr Varanya Techasukthavorn, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Assistant Professor Dr. Varanya Techasukthavorn is a university professor, researcher, and registered dietitian who bridges the gap between food science and clinical nutrition. A leading expert in food rheology and dysphagia management, she specializes in the science of food texture modification, ensuring that altered-diet meals are both clinically safe and sensorially appealing.
She has played a pioneering role in adapting and implementing the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) frameworks in Thailand and across the broader Asian region. Her research into fluid mechanics and hydrocolloid thickeners investigates how innovative food products can ensure that texture-modified meals precisely meet global safety standards.
Recognizing that modified diets must be enjoyable to prevent malnutrition and food fatigue in aging populations and clinical patients, Dr. Techasukthavorn actively spearheads culinary innovations. She led the creation of "46 IDDSI-Compliant Swallowing Practice Menus" (developed in collaboration with the Thai Dietetic Association), which served as Thailand's first-ever cookbook designed to assist with swallowing rehabilitation. She subsequently built upon this foundation by publishing "Happy to Swallow: 52 Simple Recipes for Delicious Meals."
Beyond her laboratory research and academic publications, Dr. Techasukthavorn is deeply committed to translating complex food science and sensory principles into real-world, community-level solutions that improve patient quality of life.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
Prof Suzana Shahar, Aging and Wellness Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
Prof Dr Suzana Shahar is a Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics from the Healthy Aging and Wellness Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM); and Honorary Fellow of the Malaysian Dietitians' Association. She is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UKM. She is the founder of the Centre for Healthy Aging, UKM and the Senior Citizen Centre (PAWE UKM).
Prof Shahar obtained her BSc (Hons) (Dietetics) from UKM and MMed Sci (Human Nutrition) and PhD (Human Nutrition) from the University of Sheffield, UK. Her research interest is on nutrition, wellness and aging. Prof Shahar led a nationwide project on 'Neuroprotective Model for Healthy Longevity among Malaysian Elderly', and currently leads a clinical trial to reverse cognitive frailty among Malaysian older adults under the auspice of the World-Wide FINGERS Trial. Both projects were funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia. Prof Shahar also led the Newton Impact Fund Scheme on Developing Salt Reduction Policy for Malaysia. She has filed two formulations for improvement of oxidative stress and cognitive function in aging population, i.e. TP3in1 juice and Cosmos Caudatus powder.
Prof Shahar has published more than 300 publications. She also serves as committee member of several guidelines spearheaded by the Ministry of Health, under the National Coordinating Committee of Food and Nutrition, as well as the International Research Networking on Dementia Prevention, WHO Working Guideline Committee of Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline, and Consortium on Longitudinal Study on Memory (COSMIC).
Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia
Prof Diana Nur Afifah, Department of Nutrition Science at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia
Prof. Dr. Diana Nur Afifah is a Professor at the Department of Nutrition Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia. Her expertise focuses on nutrition science of local foods and food biotechnology, with extensive research on Indonesian fermented foods, functional foods, food bioactives, metabolic health, gut health, and sustainable local food innovation. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Food Technology and doctoral degree in Food Science from IPB University, and her master's degree in Community Nutrition from Universitas Diponegoro. She has also undertaken postdoctoral and academic experiences at Gyeongsang National University, South Korea, and The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Prof. Afifah has published widely on gembus tempeh, fibrinolytic enzymes from fermented foods, banana resistant starch, mangrove-based foods, fish protein hydrolysate, sacha inchi tempeh, and functional noodles. Her work bridges traditional food practices with modern scientific evidence, particularly in exploring how local bioresources and fermented foods may contribute to improved nutrition, metabolic health, and healthy longevity. Her current research interest includes the development of noodles as functional foods and sustainable local food innovation for health benefits. At the 2nd Regional Symposium on Nutrition and Healthy Longevity, she will present "Fermented Foods, the Microbiome and Metabolic Health: from Cultural Practice to Modern Evidence."
Suntory Beverage & Food Asia, Singapore
Dr Lee Cheng Phua, Suntory Beverage & Food Asia, Singapore
Dr Lee Cheng Phua is a clinical scientist with a background in clinical and translational research and health technology assessment.
A pharmacist by training, Dr Phua obtained her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the National University of Singapore, where her research focused on biomarkers for cancer detection and prediction of treatment outcomes. She subsequently conducted clinical research at Singapore General Hospital and later worked in Health Technology Assessment at Singapore's Ministry of Health, evaluating the clinical and cost effectiveness of healthcare interventions.
She is currently involved in the design, conduct and interpretation of clinical studies in brain health and healthy longevity at Suntory Beverage & Food Asia. She collaborates with academic investigators and research partners across Asia to advance evidence-based nutritional research.
China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, China
Dr Huihui Bao, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, China
Bao Huihui, Ph.D., serves as a Research Fellow at the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (CFSA). Dr. Bao Huihui also serves as an expert in on-site inspections of health food products, a reviewer for novel foods, novel food additives, and novel food-related products, and a Council Member of the National Food and Medicine Homology Industry Technology Innovation Alliance.
Dr. Bao Huihui primary research focuses on technical support for the management of food-medicine homology substances, as well as risk assessment of chemical substances and nanomaterials in food. Dr. Bao Huihui has led several priority projects, including Risk Assessment of Nonylphenol in Infant Foods, Dietary Exposure Risk Assessment of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) in the Chinese Population, Re-assessment of Dietary Lead Exposure in the Chinese Population, Risk Assessment of Cadmium Exposure from Rice Noodles, and Risk Assessment of Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Exposure in Priority Foods
Dr. Bao Huihui has also led initiatives on the national survey of food-medicine homology substance consumption among Chinese residents, safety assessment, standards system development and health claims for food-medicine homology substances .
Dr. Bao Huihui has participated in National Key R&D Program projects and other national-level research programs. published more than 40 articles and has contributed to the compilation and translation of more than 10 books and chapters.
Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), Thailand
Prof (Emeritus) Pavinee Chinachoti, Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), Thailand
Pavinee Chinachoti received Ph.D. in Food Science (U of Illinois) at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), she pioneered the study of water mobility in foods that impacts microbial activity, staling mechanisms, lipid oxidation, and MREs shelf-life. In 2003, she became the founding Chair of Product Science group at Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. where she led some functional ingredient projects such as fish oil, probiotics, palatability, encapsulation, and chitosan etc. She became Dean and Director of NFF R&D Center at PSU, Thailand. She is now active in FDA's regulatory aspects of health claims. She is current IUFoST's President-Elect.
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If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us through:
For Local Participants:Dr. Tee E Siong
Email: estee@nutrihealth.com.my For Overseas Participants:
ILSI Southeast Asia Region
18 Mohamed Sultan Road #03-01 Singapore 238967
Tel: 65 6352 5220
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