WP_Query Object
(
    [query] => Array
        (
            [post_type] => event
            [posts_per_page] => 5
            [type] => 
            [area] => 
            [before] => 
            [after] => 
            [tags] => 
            [showtitle] => 
            [meta_query] => Array
                (
                    [relation] => AND
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [key] => _ilsi_date
                            [value] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => 2026-01-01
                                    [1] => 2026-10-07
                                )

                            [compare] => BETWEEN
                        )

                    [1] => Array
                        (
                            [key] => _ilsi_date
                            [value] => 2026-10-07
                            [compare] => <
                        )

                )

            [paged] => 1
            [meta_key] => _ilsi_date
            [orderby] => meta_value
            [order] => DESC
        )

    [query_vars] => Array
        (
            [post_type] => event
            [posts_per_page] => 5
            [type] => 
            [area] => 
            [before] => 
            [after] => 
            [tags] => 
            [showtitle] => 
            [meta_query] => Array
                (
                    [relation] => AND
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [key] => _ilsi_date
                            [value] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => 2026-01-01
                                    [1] => 2026-10-07
                                )

                            [compare] => BETWEEN
                        )

                    [1] => Array
                        (
                            [key] => _ilsi_date
                            [value] => 2026-10-07
                            [compare] => <
                        )

                )

            [paged] => 1
            [meta_key] => _ilsi_date
            [orderby] => meta_value
            [order] => DESC
            [error] => 
            [m] => 
            [p] => 0
            [post_parent] => 
            [subpost] => 
            [subpost_id] => 
            [attachment] => 
            [attachment_id] => 0
            [name] => 
            [pagename] => 
            [page_id] => 0
            [second] => 
            [minute] => 
            [hour] => 
            [day] => 0
            [monthnum] => 0
            [year] => 0
            [w] => 0
            [category_name] => 
            [tag] => 
            [cat] => 
            [tag_id] => 
            [author] => 
            [author_name] => 
            [feed] => 
            [tb] => 
            [meta_value] => 
            [preview] => 
            [s] => 
            [sentence] => 
            [title] => 
            [fields] => all
            [menu_order] => 
             => 
            [category__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [category__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [category__and] => Array
                (
                )

            [post__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [post__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [post_name__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag__and] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag_slug__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [tag_slug__and] => Array
                (
                )

            [post_parent__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [post_parent__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [author__in] => Array
                (
                )

            [author__not_in] => Array
                (
                )

            [search_columns] => Array
                (
                )

            [ignore_sticky_posts] => 
            [suppress_filters] => 
            [cache_results] => 1
            [update_post_term_cache] => 1
            [update_menu_item_cache] => 
            [lazy_load_term_meta] => 1
            [update_post_meta_cache] => 1
            [nopaging] => 
            [comments_per_page] => 50
            [no_found_rows] => 
        )

    [tax_query] => WP_Tax_Query Object
        (
            [queries] => Array
                (
                )

            [relation] => AND
            [table_aliases:protected] => Array
                (
                )

            [queried_terms] => Array
                (
                )

            [primary_table] => wp_21_posts
            [primary_id_column] => ID
        )

    [meta_query] => WP_Meta_Query Object
        (
            [queries] => Array
                (
                    [0] => Array
                        (
                            [key] => _ilsi_date
                        )

                    [1] => Array
                        (
                            [0] => Array
                                (
                                    [key] => _ilsi_date
                                    [value] => Array
                                        (
                                            [0] => 2026-01-01
                                            [1] => 2026-10-07
                                        )

                                    [compare] => BETWEEN
                                )

                            [1] => Array
                                (
                                    [key] => _ilsi_date
                                    [value] => 2026-10-07
                                    [compare] => <
                                )

                            [relation] => AND
                        )

                    [relation] => AND
                )

            [relation] => AND
            [meta_table] => wp_21_postmeta
            [meta_id_column] => post_id
            [primary_table] => wp_21_posts
            [primary_id_column] => ID
            [table_aliases:protected] => Array
                (
                    [0] => wp_21_postmeta
                    [1] => mt1
                    [2] => mt2
                )

            [clauses:protected] => Array
                (
                    [wp_21_postmeta] => Array
                        (
                            [key] => _ilsi_date
                            [compare] => =
                            [compare_key] => =
                            [alias] => wp_21_postmeta
                            [cast] => CHAR
                        )

                    [mt1] => Array
                        (
                            [key] => _ilsi_date
                            [value] => Array
                                (
                                    [0] => 2026-01-01
                                    [1] => 2026-10-07
                                )

                            [compare] => BETWEEN
                            [compare_key] => =
                            [alias] => mt1
                            [cast] => CHAR
                        )

                    [mt2] => Array
                        (
                            [key] => _ilsi_date
                            [value] => 2026-10-07
                            [compare] => <
                            [compare_key] => =
                            [alias] => mt2
                            [cast] => CHAR
                        )

                )

            [has_or_relation:protected] => 
        )

    [date_query] => 
    [request] => SELECT SQL_CALC_FOUND_ROWS  wp_21_posts.ID
					 FROM wp_21_posts  INNER JOIN wp_21_postmeta ON ( wp_21_posts.ID = wp_21_postmeta.post_id )  INNER JOIN wp_21_postmeta AS mt1 ON ( wp_21_posts.ID = mt1.post_id )  INNER JOIN wp_21_postmeta AS mt2 ON ( wp_21_posts.ID = mt2.post_id )
					 WHERE 1=1  AND ( 
  wp_21_postmeta.meta_key = '_ilsi_date' 
  AND 
  ( 
    ( mt1.meta_key = '_ilsi_date' AND mt1.meta_value BETWEEN '2026-01-01' AND '2026-10-07' ) 
    AND 
    ( mt2.meta_key = '_ilsi_date' AND mt2.meta_value < '2026-10-07' )
  )
) AND ((wp_21_posts.post_type = 'event' AND (wp_21_posts.post_status = 'publish' OR wp_21_posts.post_status = 'acf-disabled')))
					 GROUP BY wp_21_posts.ID
					 ORDER BY wp_21_postmeta.meta_value DESC
					 LIMIT 0, 5
    [posts] => Array
        (
            [0] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 31168
                    [post_author] => 353
                    [post_date] => 2026-08-03 03:49:12
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2026-08-03 03:49:12
                    [post_content] => 

					
	
	

								
				
				ABOUT THE SEMINAR				
				
								
				
				PROGRAM OUTLINE				
				
								
				
				VENUE				
				
				
	
					
						ABOUT THE SEMINAR
					
						
For over two decades, ILSI Southeast Asia Region has been fostering dialogue on nutrition labeling, and nutrition and health claims across Southeast Asia.
Building on this long-standing initiative, ILSI SEA Region is partnering with ILSI Japan and ILSI Taiwan to organize a 1-day seminar that will bring together regulators, scientists, and industry experts to discuss the latest developments on nutrition and health issues, regulatory frameworks, nutrient profiling models, and front-of-pack (FOP) labeling. It aims to provide a valuable platform to strengthen collaboration and promote scientific exchange among stakeholders from Japan, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Food industry personnel, food scientists, nutritionists, dietitians and health professionals, regulatory officers from different government departments and agencies, researchers and academicians
					
						PROGRAM OUTLINE
					
						

Nutrition and Health Issues in Japan
Japan's Nutrient Profiling System for Dishes
Status of Nutrition and Health Claims in Japan, Southeast Asia and Taiwan
Status of Nutrition Labeling Harmonization in ASEAN

					
						VENUE
					
						
The1-day seminar will be held at:

Tokyo International Forum

Address: 3 Chome-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan

Website: https://www.t-i-forum.co.jp/en/ 
View and Download Full Program

			PROGRAM AND SPEAKERS	
	FULL PROGRAMCollapse
 
08:35 - 09:15 hr (GMT+8)    Registration 
09:15- 09:30 hr Welcome Address and Introduction

Mrs. Boon Yee Yeong, ILSI SEA Region, Singapore

ILSI Japan
Session Chair: Dr. E-Siong Tee, ILSI SEA Region, Malaysia
09:30-09:55 hr The 100-Year Evolution of Nutrition: The Japanese Model for Asian Longevity
Dr. Keiichi Abe, National Institute of Health and Nutrition (NIHN), Japan
09:55-10:15 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from Japan
Mr Yuichi Itoi, Office of Health and Nutrition Labelling, Food Labeling Division, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan
10:15-10:35 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from Taiwan
Dr Yi-Chen Yang, Food & Drug Administration, Taiwan
10:35-10:45 hr Q & A
10:45-11:00 hr Morning Tea Break
11:00-11:15 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from SEA Region - Indonesia
Ms Kinarsashanti Puspitaninganindita, Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM), Indonesia
11:15-11:30 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from SEA Region - Malaysia
Ms. Atiqah Jalila binti Jusoh, Food Safety and Quality Programme, Ministry of Health Malaysia
11:30-11:45 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from SEA Region - Singapore
Dr. Eunice Pang, Policy and Strategy Development, Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singapore
11:45-12:00 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from SEA Region - Thailand
Dr. Kotchaphon Manoonphol, Food Division, Food and Drug Administration, Thailand
12:00-12:15 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from SEA Region - Vietnam

Dr Tran Khanh Van, National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam


12:15-12:30 hr Q & A
12:30-13:35 hr Lunch
Session Chair: Ms. Pauline Chan, ILSI SEA Region, Singapore
13:35-13:55 hr Harmonization of Nutrition Labeling Regulations in ASEAN - Current Status
Ms. Ruhana binti Abdul Latif, Food Safety and Quality Programme, Ministry of Health Malaysia
13:55-14:25 hr Japan's Nutrient Profiling System for Dishes
Dr. Hidemi Takimoto, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition (NIBN), Japan
14:25-14:45 hr The Ajinomoto Group Nutrient Profiling System (ANPS): From Product to Whole-Day Diet in Japan
Dr. Yuki Nakayama, Institute of Food Science and Technologies, Ajinomoto, Co. Inc., Japan
14:45-14:55 hr Q&A
14:55-15:10 hr Closing and End of Seminar

					
	
	Dr E Siong Tee

 TES Nutrihealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia
Biography
Dr E Siong Tee, TES Nutrihealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia

Dr E Siong Tee has been a Member of the Board of Directors of ILSI SEA Region since 1996 and Scientific Coordinator of ILSI Malaysia Country Committee since 2005. He is currently a Nutrition Consultant for TES NutriHealth Strategic Consultancy. Dr. Tee was Head of the Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Centre of the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, until his retirement in February 2002, after serving for 30 years. He was President of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM) till March 2024. In this capacity, he has led the implementation of various community nutrition promotion programs including the Nutrition Month Malaysia programme since 2002. He is also Vice-President of the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS). Dr Tee is a member of several Technical Working Groups of the Ministry of Health Malaysia, including the committees related to Malaysian Food Regulations and Codex Alimentarius. He initiated the formation of the Southeast Asia Public Health Nutrition (SEA-PHN) Network in 2014 and is the current Chairman of the Network. Dr Tee is also Adjunct Professor of the IMU University, Malaysia.

					
	
	Dr Keiichi Abe

National Institute of Health and Nutrition (NIHN), Japan
Biography
Dr. Keiichi Abe, National Institute of Health and Nutrition (NIHN), Japan

Dr. Keiichi Abe has a distinguished career spanning the food industry, a national research institute, and a major scientific foundation. He holds a Ph.D. specializing in Microbiology and Natural Product Chemistry from the University of Tokyo.

Dr. Abe developed his extensive career by bridging corporate innovation, public sector health research, and philanthropic scientific advancement. He previously served as a Board Director at Suntory's Science Institute for Life Sciences (SIC), the Executive Vice President of R&D at Cerebos, the Director-General of the National Institute of Health and Nutrition, and the Executive Director of the BIKEN Foundation.

His core research expertise encompasses microbiology, natural product chemistry, bioactive substances, nutritional chemistry, and the efficacy of food components, backed by extensive human intervention studies. Notably, during his tenure in the private sector, Dr. Abe served as the research and development leader for a series of highly successful FOSHU (Foods for Specified Health Uses) products, pioneering the market with household hits such as Black Oolong Tea (Kuro-Oolong Tea), Sesame Barley Tea (Goma-Mugicha), and Tokucha. Throughout his career, he has successfully demonstrated outstanding leadership across different sectors, driving collaboration between private industries, government bodies, and academic institutions both in Japan and globally.

					
	
	Mr Yuichi Itoi

Office of Health and Nutrition Labelling, Food Labeling Division, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan
Biography
Mr Yuichi Itoi,Office of Health and Nutrition Labelling, Food Labeling Division, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan

After joining the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 2006,  Mr Yuichi Itoi served in the Ministry's Office for Import Food Safety Measures, the Office for Review of Pesticide Residue Standards, and the Secretariat of the Food Safety Commission, and has held his current position on secondment since April 2025. 

					
	
	Dr Yi-Chen Yang

Section of Food Labeling and Nutrition, Division of Food Safety, Food & Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
Biography
Dr. Yi-Chen Yang, Section of Food Labeling and Nutrition, Division of Food Safety, Food & Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan

Dr. Yi-Chen Yang currently serves as the Section Chief of the Food Labeling and Nutrition Section within the Food Safety Division at the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ministry of Health and Welfare. Over her distinguished career with the Taiwan FDA, she has held key leadership positions, including Section Chief of the Food Registration Section in the Food Safety Division and Section Chief of the Biologics Section in the Research and Analysis Division. Having also served as a Technical Specialist, Dr. Yang brings extensive expertise in food labeling regulation, nutrition claim, biologics, and food registration standards to her work.

					
	
	Ms Kinarsashanti Puspitaninganindita

Directorate of Processed Food Registration, National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), Indonesia
Biography
Ms Kinarsashanti Puspitaninganindita, Directorate of Processed Food Registration, National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), Indonesia

Kinarsashanti Puspitaninganditta is a pharmacist and food safety professional with extensive experience in processed food registration and regulatory affairs at the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM). She holds a Master's degree in Food Safety from Wageningen University, the Netherlands, as well as Pharmacist Professional Degree from Airlangga University, Indonesia.

She began her career at Indonesian FDA (BPOM) in 2004 and has held various positions in food safety evaluation and processed food registration, including leadership roles in the evaluation and registration of foods for specific dietary purposes, special medical purposes, and food additives. She currently serves as a Senior Food and Drug Control Officer at BPOM.

With more than 20 years of professional experience, she has also participated as an international speaker in various forums involving food safety, halal labeling, food and beverage imports, and regulatory affairs for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the Austrian Embassy, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), US Dairy Export Council, etc. Her professional interests include food safety, food regulation, and processed food registration.

					
	
	Ms Atiqah Jalila Binti Jusoh

Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health, Malaysia
Biography
Ms Atiqah Jalila Binti Jusoh, Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health, Malaysia

Atiqah Jalila Binti Jusoh is a Nutritionist at Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health Malaysia. She has experience in sports nutrition, community nutrition and  food labelling, with particular focus in special purpose foods, nutrition labelling and nutrition claims. In FSQP, she is involved in the development and review of standards and regulations under the Malaysian Food Regulations 1985. She serves as Secretariat to the Expert Committee on Nutrition, Health Claims and Advertising, which evaluates applications for nutrition and health claims. She  is also involved in preparing regulatory responses on nutrition claims and foods for special dietary uses. She has contributed to the development of the Guideline on Labelling and online learning materials for the Public Sector E-Learning (EPSA) platform. She has also served as a speaker and presenter in food labelling training programmes, including the Food Product Labelling and Hands-on Training organised by the International Food Safety Training Centre (IFSTC). Her professional interests include nutrition labelling, nutrition claims and regulatory aspects of food and nutrition.

					
	
	Dr. Eunice H. Pang

Policy and Strategy Development, Health Promotion Board, Singapore
Biography
Dr. Eunice H. Pang, Policy and Strategy Development, Health Promotion Board, Singapore

Dr. Eunice H. Pang is Senior Deputy Director of Policy and Strategy Development at the Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singapore. She leads the development and implementation of evidence-based nutrition policies and regulatory strategies that support healthier consumer choices and population health outcomes. Her areas of expertise include nutrition labelling, nutrition and health claims, consumer nutrition information, and food policy interventions that translate nutrition science into practical public health action.

Dr. Pang has played a key leadership role in the development and implementation of Singapore's nutrition labelling policies, including the Nutri-Grade framework, and contributes to policy approaches that promote greater transparency and informed decision-making in the food environment. She works closely with government agencies, academia, and the food industry to ensure that nutrition communications and regulatory measures remain scientifically robust, relevant, and effective

Prior to joining HPB, Eunice was a Post-Doctoral Associate in nutritional immunology at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA-HNRCA) in Boston, USA. Her scientific training as a food scientist and researcher continues to inform her evidence-based approach to nutrition policy development and implementation.

					
	
	Dr. Kotchaphon Manoonphol

Food Division, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Biography
Dr. Kotchaphon Manoonphol, Food Division, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand

With over 25 years of experience in food regulation and nutrition, Dr Kotchaphon Manoonphol serves as the Deputy Director of the Food Division at the Thai Food and Drug Administration. Her expertise spans policy development, safety assessments, and nutrition promotion, with a strong focus on advancing food quality, product safety, and food innovation. She fosters collaboration across the food chain to strengthen consumer protection and public health. She is passionate about functional foods and driving efforts to build a health-conscious society by aligning the interests of regulators, consumers, and businesses.

					
	
	Dr Tran Khanh Van

National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam
Biography
Dr Tran Khanh Van, National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam

Dr. Tran Khanh Van is a physician, public health specialist, and nutrition scientist with more than 30 years of experience in nutrition research, policy development, and programme management. She currently serves as Principal Researcher and Head of the Department of Micronutrients at the National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam. Her work focuses on micronutrient nutrition, food fortification, nutrition labelling, and translating scientific evidence into practical nutrition policies and industry-relevant solutions. She was a member of the drafting team for Vietnam's Ministry of Health Circular No. 29/2023/TT-BYT on nutrition labelling and continues to contribute to national guidelines on the prevention and control of micronutrient deficiencies and regulations on food fortification. Dr. Van has collaborated with WHO, IAEA, the World Bank Group, OECD, UNICEF, GAIN, and the food sector. She is particularly interested in strengthening collaboration among government, researchers, and food businesses to improve regulatory implementation, nutrition labelling, responsible food reformulation, and access to healthier, micronutrient-rich foods.

					
	
	Ms Pauline Chan

 ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore
Biography
Ms Pauline Chan, ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore

As Director of Science Programs, Pauline has extensive experience in developing scientific programs and facilitating dialogue between scientists, government regulators, and industry to address regional and international issues in nutrition, food safety, sustainability and health. A frequently invited resource speaker at conferences and seminars, Ms. Chan is a registered dietitian (RD) with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Ms. Chan received her M.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics from New York University, USA, and her B.Sc. in Chemistry from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

					
	
	Ms Ruhana Abdul Latif

Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health, Malaysia
Biography
Ms Ruhana Abdul Latif, Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health Malaysia

Ruhana Abdul Latif is a Food Technologist at Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health Malaysia. She began her career in the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia since 2004. She completed a Master in Food Safety and Quality Assurance and Food Science and Technology Bachelor Degree both from University Putra Malaysia. She started her career by serving at Codex and Standards Branch of the FSQP. She has been involved with several national expert committees that advise on Malaysia Food Regulations 1985 and national Codex mirror committees namely the food additives and contaminants, fats and oils, commodity, labeling and packaging committees. She currently serves as the section head for Codex and International Section in FSQD, overseeing the activities on national Codex Committees and Malaysia Codex Contact point, ASEAN, bilateral and multilateral cooperation. She coordinates FSQP engagement in ASEAN for health, trade and agriculture sectors.

					
	
	Dr Hidemi Takimoto

National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Japan
Biography
Dr Hidemi Takimoto, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Japan

Dr. Hidemi Takimoto is a Doctor of Medicine and Executive Director of the National Institute of Health and Nutrition (Japan) since April 2023. She worked as Researcher at the Division of Maternal and Child Nutrition, National Institute of Health and Nutrition (Shinjuku, Tokyo) from September 1994 to March 2005 and as a Senior Researcher at the Department of Health Promotion Research, National Institute of Public Health (Saitama, Japan) from April 2005 to March 2012, as well as Director of Nutritional Epidemiology and Shokuiku, National Institute of Health and Nutrition from April 2012 to March 2023.   Dr. Takimoto is also a member of the Japanese Society of Nutrition and Dietetics, Japanese Society of Public Health, Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and American Society of Nutrition. Her recent research focuses on the development and application of Nutrient Profiling Model for Processed Foods in Japan (NPM-PFJ) and Nutrient Profiling Model for Dishes in Japan (NPM-DJ) (Nutrients 2024, 16(17), 3012 & 3026).  She has served in government committees, including the latest Dietary Reference Intakes for the Japanese, 2025.

					
	
	Dr. Yuki Nakayama

Institute of Food Science and Technologies, Ajinomoto, Co. Inc., Japan
Biography
Dr. Yuki Nakayama, Institute of Food Science and Technologies, Ajinomoto, Co. Inc., Japan

Yuki Nakayama earned his Ph.D. with doctoral research on obesity, focusing on adipose tissue and glucose metabolism. He then joined a pharmaceutical company, where he was engaged in the pharmacological studies required for the regulatory approval of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, as well as product development and national (government-funded) research projects. Since 2023 he has been with the Ajinomoto Group, where his work spans nutrition science, food technology, and digital transformation (DX). He is in charge of the Ajinomoto Group Nutrient Profiling System (ANPS) - including its Product, Dish, Meal, and Day variants - which scores the overall nutritional balance of foods. Leveraging DX technologies, he applies Python and large language models (LLMs) to improve operational efficiency, and advances data analysis and the development of nutrition-related technologies.  

			ORGANIZER	

					
	

			CO-ORGANIZERS	

					
	

					
	

			CONTACT	
	
If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the following:
	ILSI Southeast Asia Region

18 Mohamed Sultan Road #03-01 Singapore 238967

Tel: 65 6352 5220

Email: event@ilsisea.org.sg


                    [post_title] => Updates on Nutrition Issues and Health Claims in Japan, Southeast Asia Region and Taiwan
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => closed
                    [ping_status] => closed
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => nutrition-labeling-claims-2026
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2026-09-29 09:18:23
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-09-29 09:18:23
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => https://ilsisea-region.org/?post_type=event&p=31168
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => event
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

            [1] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 31099
                    [post_author] => 353
                    [post_date] => 2026-06-08 05:35:30
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2026-06-08 05:35:30
                    [post_content] => 
Download Full Program

			PROGRAM AGENDA	

			Day 1 | 23 September 2026	
	08:45 - 09:00 hr

Opening 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
	Opening Plenary and Keynote LectureCollapse

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 
Session 1: Translational Science and Midlife Nutrition: From Nutrients to ImpactExpand

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: From Nutrition Evidence to Healthy Ageing Strategies 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

11:45 - 12:00 hr Q&A

12:00 - 13:30 hr Lunch / Exhibit & Poster Viewing / Networking
Session 2: Women's Health and LongevityExpand

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

Prof Dr Ixora Kamisan Atan, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), 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


14:45 - 15:00 hr Q&A

15:00 - 15:30 hr Afternoon Break / Poster & Exhibit Viewing / Networking
 
Session 3: Enabling Healthy Aging Through Technology and SystemsExpand

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

Ms Siew Yee Khor, Department of Social Welfare Selangor, Malaysia
Dr Natthapong Kunthawong, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Ms Indah Mardhika, Ministry of Health, Indonesia



17:20 - 17:30 hr Q&A

17:30 hr End of Day 1
 
 

			Day 2 | 24 September 2026	
	
08:50 - 09:00 hr Welcome and Announcement
	Session 4: Innovation and Product Development for Healthy LongevityCollapse

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 Q&A

10:00 - 10:45 hr Morning Tea Break / Exhibit Viewing / Networking




Chair: Prof Dr Lay Ching Chai, Sunway University, Malaysia

From Gut Science to Nutrition Solutions: Evidence, Limits, and Clinical Readiness of Microbiome-Informed 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

11:45 - 12:00 hr Q&A

12:00 - 13:30 hr Lunch / Exhibit Viewing / Networking
Session 5A: Functional Food, Ingredients and Culture - Beyond NutrientsExpand

Chair: Prof Patricia Conway, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
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

14:10 - 14:45 hr Q&A

14:45 - 15:15 hr Afternoon Break / Exhibit Viewing / Networking
Session 5B: Regulatory FrameworkExpand

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
Panel Discussion - Scaling Longevity Solutions: Cross-Sector Collaboration for Regional Priorities and Public Health ImplementationExpandPanel Discussion - Scaling Longevity Solutions: Cross-Sector Collaboration for Regional Priorities and Public Health Implementation

Moderator: Prof Yoke Mun Chan, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Panelists:

Dr Stéphane Vidry, ILSI Global, USA

Prof Suzana Shahar, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia

Ms Alicia Ng, Haleon, Singapore
	16:45 - 17:00 hr Closing Remarks

Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI SEA Region, Singapore
Download Full Program

			SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS	

					
	
	Dr Manami Uechi

Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia
Biography
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.   

					
	
	Prof Howard D. Sesso

Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA
Biography
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.

					
	
	Prof Hidenori Arai

National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (NCGG), Japan
Biography
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.

					
	
	Dr Yoke Mun Chan

Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Biography
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.

					
	
	Prof Satoshi Fujita

Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Biography
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.

					
	
	Prof Dr Ixora Kamisan Atan

Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
Biography
Prof Dr Ixora Kamisan Atan, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia

Professor Dr. Ixora Kamisan Atan is a Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist & Urogynaecologist, 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. In 2024, she was awarded the IUGA Clinical Research Grant for her study on the role of plateet rich plasma in stress urinary incontinence. 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. 

					
	
	Dr Mya-Thway Tint

Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore
Biography
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.

					
	
	Assoc Prof Dr Rinkoo Dalan

Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Biography
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.

					
	
	Prof Lei Feng 

Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
Biography
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.   

					
	
	Ts Dr Ee Xion Tan

Sunway University, Malaysia
Biography
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.  

					
	
	Ms Siew Yee Khor

Department of Social Welfare Selangor, Malaysia
Biography
Ms Siew Yee Khor, Department of Social Welfare Selangor, Malaysia

Ms Khor Siew Yee graduated from Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) with a degree in Finance and Banking and subsequently pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM).

She began her career with the Department of Women's Development before advancing her career with the Department of Social Welfare (JKM), where she has served in several states. She also previously served with the Research and Development Cluster at the Social Institute of Malaysia (ISM).

Throughout her career, she has gained extensive experience in social development, programme implementation and community-based services, covering areas such as women's development and affairs, anti-trafficking in persons, child welfare and case management, financial assistance for vulnerable groups, and volunteerism.

She currently serves as a Principal Assistant Director at the Selangor State Department of Social Welfare (JKM Selangor), where she is involved in matters relating to older persons and persons with disabilities, with a focus on promoting their well-being, inclusion, empowerment and quality of life.

					
	
	Dr Natthapong Kunthawong

Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Biography
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.

					
	
	Ms Indah Nugraheni Mardhika

Ministry of Health, Indonesia
Biography
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.

					
	
	Asst Prof Vincenzo Sorrentino

National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
Biography
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)

					
	
	Prof Junjie Xiao

Shanghai University, China
Biography
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.

					
	
	Prof Dr Nurpudji Astuti Daud

Hasanuddin University, Indonesia 
Biography
Prof Dr Nurpudji Astuti Daud, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia 

Prof. Dr. dr. Nurpudji 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.

					
	
	Prof Patricia Conway

Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Biography
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.

					
	
	Ms Stephanie Baker

dsm-firmenich, Singapore
Biography
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.

					
	
	Asst Prof Dr Varanya Techasukthavorn

Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Biography
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.

					
	
	Prof Suzana Shahar

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
Biography
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).

					
	
	Prof Diana Nur Afifah

Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia
Biography
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."

					
	
	Dr Lee Cheng Phua

Suntory Beverage & Food Asia, Singapore
Biography
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.

					
	
	Dr Huihui Bao

China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, China
Biography
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.

					
	
	Prof (Emeritus) Pavinee Chinachoti

Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), Thailand
Biography
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.

					
	
	Dr Stéphane Vidry

ILSI Global, USA
Biography
Dr Stéphane Vidry, ILSI Global, USA

Dr. Stéphane Vidry is the Global Executive Director of ILSI and Executive Director of ILSI U.S. and Canada, headquartered in Washington D.C., USA. Prior to that, Stéphane was Assistant Director for ILSI Europe where for 12 years, he managed several food safety-nutrition activities including coordination of a European Commission-funded project on Benefit Risk Analysis of Foods and led a team of 7 scientists. Stéphane also worked for the European Commission Joint Research Center, the international dairy company Lactalis. Stéphane holds a PhD in Food Sciences from University of Montpellier, France where he also taught.

					
	
	Ms Alicia Ng

Haleon, Singapore
Biography
Ms Alicia Ng, Haleon, Singapore

Alicia has 30 years of experience working in a wide range of R&D functions in various MNCs responsible for innovation strategy, formulation and development, product design, regulatory & scientific affairs in the diversified portfolio of consumer healthcare ranging from pharmaceuticals, health / dietary supplements / nutraceuticals, health / functional food, Food for Special Medical Purpose, and Food for Special Dietary Use.  She is currently the Vice President and R&D Head, Asia Pacific and Indian Subcontinent at HALEON.  She leads end to end R&D team in innovation & development, regulatory affairs, medical & scientific affairs, packaging, consumer science, project management, external innovation, R&D quality and procurement in the Asia Pacific & Indian Subcontinent region.

Prior to GSK / HALEON, she worked at Pfizer as Head of Regulatory & Medical Affairs Asia Pacific.  She spent 13 years in Nestlé R&D in nutrition product development with a few years stint as Global Regulatory Affairs Expert at the Nestlé global head office in Vevey, Switzerland & Health Claims Development and Assessment Scientist at the Nestlé Research Centre in Lausanne and, 3 years in Nestlé Health Science as Regional Head of Regulatory Affairs and Advocacy - Asia, Oceania, Africa & Middle East. She also worked in R&D in Suntory & Ajinomoto in her earlier years.

			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] => 2026-09-23 03:27:04
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-09-23 03:27:04
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => https://ilsisea-region.org/?post_type=event&p=31099
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => event
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

            [2] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 31090
                    [post_author] => 353
                    [post_date] => 2026-05-17 17:24:56
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2026-05-17 17:24:56
                    [post_content] => 

																	
						

							
													
										
																	
						

							
													
										
	

								
				
				Background				
				
								
				
				Program Highlights and Topics				
				
								
				
				Venue				
				
								
				
				About the Organizers				
				
								
				
				About the Sponsors				
				
				
	
					
						Background
					
						
The gut microbiota is a complex and diverse ecosystem comprising over 100 trillion microorganisms located predominantly in the distal gut and plays essential roles in nutrient absorption and metabolism, protection against pathogens, regulation of immune function, and strengthening of the gut and intestinal barriers. Increasing evidence recognises a healthy gut microbiota as a critical determinant of human health, while alterations in its composition and functionality, often referred to as microbial dysbiosis, are associated with metabolic disorders and pathological processes such as inflammatory bowel disease, obesity, metabolic syndrome, autism, and certain cancers. Among the many factors that influence the diversity and composition of the gut microbiota, dietary factors are considered one of the main drivers across the lifetime.
This symposium, co-organized by Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health, Malaysia, and Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), will focus on 3 bioactive dietary factors in promoting healthy gut microbiota, namely prebiotics, probiotics, and postbiotics, which are increasingly recognised for their potential health benefits to the host. 
Objectives


The symposium aims to:

Provide scientific updates, including their roles in promoting a healthy gut microbiota
Share research, innovative development and applications in food and supplements
Review of regulatory status in SEA countries
Discuss consumer understanding, perception and utilization


					
						Program Highlights and Topics
					
						

					
						Venue
					
						
The1-day symposium will be held at:

M World Hotel Petaling Jaya (Formerly AVANTE Hotel)

Address: 31, Persiaran Bandar Utama, Bandar Utama, 47800 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Website: www.mworldhotel.com.my
					
						About the Organizers
					
						
ORGANIZER
ILSI SEA Region


ILSI Southeast Asia Region (ILSI SEA Region) is a regional branch of the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), a nonprofit, worldwide organization whose mission is to provide science that improves human health and well-being, and safeguards the environment. Established in 1978 and headquartered in Washington, DC, USA, ILSI carries out its work through a global network of 10 entities across the world. ILSI has specialized consultative status with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).

ILSI SEA Region seeks to achieve ILSI's mission by fostering collaboration among experts from academia, government, and industry, to provide a balance of perspectives and ensure its scientific outcomes are useful at the local, national and international levels. Its activities include scientific meetings and conferences, capability development programs, and research and community projects. ILSI SEA Region's scientific programs are guided by the principles of integrity, independence and transparency. By maintaining our neutrality and independence, we have worked closely and effectively with our key stakeholder groups from academia, industry, international organizations and governments.
CO-ORGANIZERS
Nutrition Society of Malaysia
Established in 1985, the Nutrition Society of Malaysia is a non-profit professional organisation with 500 members, comprising mainly of nutritionists. Its objectives are to 1) promote, advance, and disseminate scientific knowledge of food and nutrition, and 2) promote healthy eating and active living amongst all Malaysians. As a professional organisation, NSM is guided by a simple belief - the more people understand food and nutrition, the better they can care for their health and wellbeing. For that reason, NSM supports the advancement of research, sharing practical insights and important discoveries for the benefits for all. NSM also support the Government's efforts in promoting healthy nutrition in the society to combat nutrient deficiencies as well as diet-related chronic diseases in the country (e.g. obesity, diabetes, hypertension and coronary heart disease). In caring for the community, NSM continuously disseminate practical nutrition information to the young and old alike, guiding them to discover the benefits of good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.
Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health, Malaysia
					
						About the Sponsors
					
						
Gold Sponsor
Yakult

More than 90 years ago, Dr. Minoru Shirota, the founder of Yakult, pursued preventive medicine and succeeded in strengthening and culturing our representative strain Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain Shirota (previously known as Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota). He then released an inexpensive, good-tasting fermented milk drink "Yakult" in 1935 so that as many people as possible could benefit from this lactic acid bacteria. Today, about 40 million bottles of our dairy products are consumed in 40 countries and regions across the world.
Since its founding, as a pioneer in the field of Probiotics, Yakult has been expanding our operations to food and beverages, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical products based on scientific evidence. With the passionate desire of our founder, we contribute to the health and happiness of people around the world through the pursuit of excellence in life science in general and our research and experience in microorganisms in particular.
Silver Sponsor
Beneo

Beneo has long-term experience in developing and producing plant-based functional ingredients from natural sources for the food, feed and pharmaceutical industries. By supporting health and optimising taste and texture, they help improve the nutritional and technical properties of a wide variety of products.
Through a unique chain of expertise, BENEO offers customers advice and inspiration on new product ideas that support a healthy lifestyle in a holistic way. This includes the BENEO-Institute that provides decisive insights into nutrition science and legislation, and the BENEO-Technology Center that consults in application technology.
Formed in 2007, BENEO is active in over 80 countries, employs more than 1200 people and has six state-of-the-art production sites in Belgium, Chile, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands that deliver high-quality ingredients at all times.
 
View Full Program(opens in new tab)

			PROGRAM	
	
08:00 - 08:45 hr Registration
	08:45 - 09:00 hr

Opening and Welcome Remarks

Mrs Boon Yee Yeong, ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore

Prof Dr Mahenderan Appukutty, Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), Malaysia


	Keynote Lecture 1 & 2Collapse

Chair: Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:

Keynote Lecture 1: The Human Gut Microbiome Ecosystem in Health and Disease

Prof Patricia Conway, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Keynote Lecture 2: Healthy Gut Microbiome - the Role of Dietary Factors

Emeritus Prof Margaret Morris, University of New South Wales, Australia

10:20 - 10:40 hr  Q&A

10:40 - 11:00 hr Morning Refreshment Break/ Networking
Session 1: Prebiotics - Current Science and Functional ApplicationsExpand

Chair: Prof Dr Hamid Jan Bin Jan Mohamed, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:

Science, Definition and Applications of Prebiotics for Health  

Dr Stephan Theis, BENEO-Institute, Germany
Decoding the Biological Functions of Human Milk Oligosaccharides: From Human Milk Diversity to Gut-Brain Health

Prof Bing Wang, Charles Sturt University, Australia
HMO Profiles and Maternal Determinants in Multi-Ethnic Asians: Insights from the GUSTO Study  

Dr Han Zhang,Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore

11:55 - 12:10 hr Q&A

12:10 - 13:00 hr Lunch / Networking
Session 2: Probiotics - From Scientific Evidence to Clinical PracticeExpand

Chair: Prof Teck Yew Low, Sunway University, Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:

Effect of Continuous Intake of Fermented Milk with Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain Shirota on Aflatoxin Exposure

Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Redzwan bin Sabran, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia
Food Applications of Probiotics: From Microbiome Science to Health Outcomes  

Dr Chyn Boon Wong, Advanced Research and Technology, Haleon, Singapore
Clinical Practice and Application of Probiotics 

Prof Dr Norfilza Binti Mohd Mokhtar, Research Management Centre (RMC), Management & Science University (MSU), Malaysia

14:00 - 14:15 hr Q&A

13:10 - 14:00 hr Lunch/ Exhibit Viewing / Networking
Session 3: Postbiotics - Emerging Science and Consumer UnderstandingExpand

Chair: Dr Stephan Theis,BENEO-Institute, Germany
Featuring the following presentation and speaker:

Scientific Perspective and Global Consumer Understanding of Postbiotics  

Dr Andy Jin, Royal Agricultural University, United Kingdom
Development of Next Generation Probiotics: Versatile Halal Postbiotics and Cytobiotics  

Prof Dr Hooi Ling Foo, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia

14:55 - 15:05 hr  Q&A

15:05 - 15:25 hr  Afternoon Refreshment Break / Networking
Session 4: Regulatory Landscape of Pre-, Pro- and Postbiotics in SEAExpand

Chair: Ms Pauline Chan, ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Philippines
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:

Country sharing: Malaysia  

Ts Nurul Hidayati Mohd Nasir, Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health Malaysia
Country sharing: China

Prof Dr Xuesong Xiang, Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
Country sharing: Thailand 

Ms Dissaya Kittithanavimon,Thai Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Country sharing: Indonesia

Prof Purwiyatno Hariyadi,IPB University, Indonesia

16:30 - 16:50 hr Q&A
Panel Discussion: Turning Microbiome Science into Meaningful Health OutcomesExpand
 
16:50 - 17:25 hr Panel Discussion: Turning Microbiome Science into Meaningful Health Outcomes


Moderator: Dr E Siong Tee, TES Nutrihealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia
Panelists:

Prof Dr Hooi Ling Foo, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia
Dr Chyn Boon Wong, Advanced Research and Technology, Haleon, Singapore
Ts Nurul Hidayati binti Mohd Nasir, Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health, Malaysia

 
	17:25 - 17:30 hr

Closing Remarks

Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore
End of Symposium
View Full Program(opens in new tab)

			CHAIRPERSONS AND MODERATOR	

					
	
	Mr Geoffry Smith

ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore


Biography
Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore

Mr. Geoff Smith serves as President of ILSI SEA Region based in Singapore, and co-representative to the global ILSI Assembly. ILSI SEA Region was established as a regional branch of the world-wide scientific-foundation ILSI in 1993, covering ASEAN and Australasia. 
Mr. Smith is also the Chairman of the Essential Micronutrients Foundation, a non-profit organization which addresses micronutrient deficiencies globally as a public health issue. He is a past Member of the Executive Committee of the global ILSI Board. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Smith was the Global Director, Health Chelates for AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals. He was responsible for the global project within AkzoNobel addressing iron deficiency anemia, which resulted in completely revised guidelines by the World Health Organization for flour fortification with iron. A thirty-year veteran of the chemical industry in Asia-Pacific and globally, Mr. Smith has resided in Singapore for more than 30 years. 

					
	
	Prof Dr Hamid Jan Bin Jan Mohamed

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia


Biography
Prof Dr Hamid Jan Bin Jan Mohamed, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia

Professor Dr Hamid Jan Bin Jan Mohamed has been a professor at the Nutrition Programme, Universiti Sains Malaysia USM) since 2007. He joined this institution immediately after completing his PhD (Nutrition) at King's College London, United Kingdom. He holds a Master's Degree in Nutrition from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia and Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition and Community Health from Universiti Putra Malaysia. He received extensive training in laboratory skills from the Diploma in Medical Laboratory Technology Course at USM.

The diversity of his educational background contributed to the creation of several novel research related to nutrition and disease in Malaysia. Dr Hamid Jan initiated the first birth cohort in Malaysia named the USM Pregnancy Cohort Study which started in 2009. This cohort was aimed at investigating the role of maternal nutrition, oxidative stress and adipokines in the development of obesity and diabetes. The findings of this study are published in several local and international journals. Currently, Prof. Hamid is working on several intervention projects related to the prevention of stunting in children.

At USM , he is the Deputy Dean of Research, Innovation and Industry-Community Engagement. He also works closely with the Ministry of Health Malaysia as a committee member of the Technical Working Group for Nutrition Guidelines (Children/Adults/Elderly) and other consultative activities. He is currently the Chairman of Technical Working Group (Nutrition Research) for the Ministry of Health Malaysia and is a Science Advisor of ILSI SEA Region. He is  a Council Member of the Developmental Origin of Health and Disease Society (DOHaD). Currently, he is the vice-president of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia. He is the recipient of the Top Research Scientists Malaysia Award 2024 by Academy of Sciences Malaysia.

					
	
	Prof Teck Yew Low

Sunway University, Malaysia


Biography
Prof Teck Yew Low, Sunway University, Malaysia

Professor Low Teck Yew brings over two decades of research experience in proteomics, biological mass spectrometry, and proteogenomics. He is internationally recognized for his high-impact publications, invited talks at global conferences, and leadership roles in prominent scientific organizations. Through active involvement in interdisciplinary projects and a strong international network, he contributes significantly to global proteomics initiatives. Beyond his research, Professor Low is a passionate mentor and educator who fosters critical thinking and intellectual curiosity through innovative teaching methods. His leadership in AOHUPO and HUPO plays a key role in identifying and nurturing the next generation of international research talent.

					
	
	Dr Stephan Theis

BENEO-Institute, Germany
Biography
Dr Stephan Theis, BENEO-Institute, Germany

Dr. Stephan Theis is Head of Nutrition Science and Communication at the BENEO-Institute. He leads global research on the nutritional and health benefits of functional ingredients such as prebiotic dietary fibres and Palatinose™ and oversees scientific communication. Having joined the Südzucker/BENEO Group in 2001, he holds a diploma in Nutrition Science from the University of Giessen and a PhD from the Technical University of Munich. Stephan is a member of the Senior Leadership Team of BENEO and a founding member of the BENEO-Institute inaugurated in 2009. He is actively involved in international scientific committees and collaborative research projects including several Committees of the International Life Science Institute (ILSI) and provides nutritional expertise to regulatory approval work and marketing activities.

					
	
	Ms Pauline Chan

ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore
Biography
Ms Pauline Chan, ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore

As Director of Science Programs, Pauline has extensive experience in developing scientific programs and facilitating dialogue between scientists, government regulators, and industry to address regional and international issues in nutrition, food safety, sustainability and health. A frequently invited resource speaker at conferences and seminars, Ms. Chan is a registered dietitian (RD) with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Ms. Chan received her M.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics from New York University, USA, and her B.Sc. in Chemistry from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

					
	
	Dr E Siong Tee

TES Nutrihealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia
Biography
Dr E Siong Tee, TES Nutrihealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia

Dr E Siong Tee has been a Member of the Board of Directors of ILSI SEA Region since 1996 and Scientific Coordinator of ILSI Malaysia Country Committee since 2005. He is currently a Nutrition Consultant for TES NutriHealth Strategic Consultancy. Dr. Tee was Head of the Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Centre of the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, until his retirement in February 2002, after serving for 30 years. He was President of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM) till March 2024. In this capacity, he has led the implementation of various community nutrition promotion programs including the Nutrition Month Malaysia programme since 2002. He is also Vice-President of the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS). Dr Tee is a member of several Technical Working Groups of the Ministry of Health Malaysia, including the committees related to Malaysian Food Regulations and Codex Alimentarius. He initiated the formation of the Southeast Asia Public Health Nutrition (SEA-PHN) Network in 2014 and is the current Chairman of the Network. Dr Tee is also Adjunct Professor of the IMU University, Malaysia.

			SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS	

					
	
	Prof Patricia Conway

Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
Biography
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.

					
	
	Emeritus Prof Margaret Morris

University of New South Wales, Australia
Biography
Emeritus Prof Margaret Morris, National University of New South Wales, Australia

Emeritus Professor Margaret Morris (FRSN, BScPhD Monash) is a neuropharmacologist who established the Environmental Determinants of Obesity Research lab at UNSW in 2005. Her research addresses critical questions concerning the impact of adverse early life events and lifestyle factors on chronic disease risk, and lifestyle and pharmacological options for intervention. NH&MRC funded work includes intergenerational transmission of obesity and the psychology of eating, e.g. how does provision of a varied, energy rich diet override the control mechanisms that should maintain body weight?  The impacts of maternal obesity, cycling between healthy and unhealthy diets, and time restricted feeding, on metabolic health, composition of the gut microbiome and cognitive function is a key interest.  

Morris was the inaugural Professor and Head of Pharmacology at UNSW. Having held other key academic positions (Melbourne, Deakin, Flinders Universities) educating health professionals (Medicine, Nursing, Optometry, Dentistry, Exercise Science) and Science students, she was instrumental in driving curriculum development and postgraduate training. 

					
	
	Dr Stephan Theis

BENEO-Institute, Germany
Biography
Dr Stephan Theis, BENEO-Institute, Germany

Dr. Stephan Theis is Head of Nutrition Science and Communication at the BENEO-Institute. He leads global research on the nutritional and health benefits of functional ingredients such as prebiotic dietary fibres and Palatinose™ and oversees scientific communication. Having joined the Südzucker/BENEO Group in 2001, he holds a diploma in Nutrition Science from the University of Giessen and a PhD from the Technical University of Munich. Stephan is a member of the Senior Leadership Team of BENEO and a founding member of the BENEO-Institute inaugurated in 2009. He is actively involved in international scientific committees and collaborative research projects including several Committees of the International Life Science Institute (ILSI) and provides nutritional expertise to regulatory approval work and marketing activities.

					
	
	Prof Bing Wang

 Charles Sturt University, Australia
Biography
 Prof Bing Wang, Charles Sturt University, Australia

Professor Bing Wang received her medical degree from Tianjin Medical University, China, and a PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of Sydney, Australia. She has been a registered Nutritionist with the Nutrition Society of Australia (NSA) since 2008. Before joining Charles Sturt University in December 2012, she led Nutritional Neurodevelopment Research programs in both academia and industry. Her research focuses on elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which nutrient components influence metabolic responses critical for neurodevelopment and cognition from fetal stages to late life, with a strong emphasis on translating basic science into clinical and industrial applications. Professor Wang is internationally recognised for her contributions to Pediatric Nutrition, Nutritional Glycoscience, and Nutritional Neurodevelopment, particularly for advancing understanding of the role of sialic acid, human milk oligosaccharides and lactoferrin in human nutrition. She was elected a Fellow of the NSA in 2023.

					
	
	Dr Han Zhang

 Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore
Biography
Dr Han Zhang, Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore

Dr Zhang is a developmental cognitive neuroscientist whose work seeks to deepen the mechanistic understanding of how maternal and early-life environmental factors shape offspring neurodevelopment and mental well-being. Grounded in the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) framework, her research focuses on identifying plausible targets of neuroplasticity and psychological resilience that promote optimal developmental trajectories. Utilizing neuroimaging (MRI), cognitive-behavioral profiles, and computational modeling, she systemically explores modifiable drivers in relation to brain development. Her current research focuses on how early nutritional exposures-such as Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs), which are closely tied to the gut-brain axis, and other nutritional markers-influence offspring neurodevelopment. Dr Zhang actively leverages large-scale birth cohorts and multidisciplinary collaborations, aiming to contribute to evidence-based, actionable insights to inform public health and foster resilient developmental pathways.

					
	
	Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Redzwan bin Sabran

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia
Biography
Assoc Prof Dr Mohd Redzwan bin Sabran, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia

Dr. Mohd Redzwan Bin Sabran is an Associate Professor in the Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). He obtained his bachelor's degree in biomedical science with a specialization in Nutrition from the University of Auckland, New Zealand, in 2010, followed by a PhD in Nutritional Sciences from UPM in 2014. During his doctoral training, he was a Research Scholar at the Molecular Biomarkers Laboratory, University of Georgia, USA (2012-2013), where he gained experience in environmental health and molecular biomarker research. Besides, he is also a Research Associate at the Laboratory of Food Safety and Food Integrity, Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security (ITAFoS), UPM.

His research focuses on nutritional sciences and food safety, with interests in probiotics and prebiotics, dietary strategies to mitigate food contaminant exposure, and the value-added utilization of agricultural by-products. Through two human intervention studies conducted in collaboration with Yakult Honsha Co., Ltd., Japan, and Yakult (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., his research demonstrated the potential of the probiotic Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strain Shirota (LcS) as a safe, dietary-based approach for reducing aflatoxin exposure in healthy adults. Through his research and collaborative partnerships, he is dedicated to advancing evidence-based nutrition and food safety to improve public health and promote sustainable food systems.

					
	
	Dr Chyn Boon Wong

Advanced Research and Technology, Haleon, Singapore
Biography
Dr Chyn Boon Wong,  Advanced Research and Technology, Haleon, Singapore

 Dr Chyn Boon is a Principal Scientist in the Advanced Research and Technology team at Haleon, based in Singapore. She is a PhD microbiologist with more than 12 years of experience in gut microbiome science, probiotics, postbiotics, healthy ageing, and translational wellness innovation. Her work focuses on translating emerging science into consumer-relevant opportunities through cross-functional R&D leadership, external innovation, and platform strategy. Before joining Haleon, she held research, scientific communication, and commercial strategy roles at Morinaga Milk Industry in Japan, where she translated biotics science into application-ready propositions for global B2B customers. She is passionate about making complex science actionable, credible, and meaningful for everyday health innovation.

					
	
	Prof Dr Norfilza Binti Mohd Mokhtar

Research Management Centre (RMC), Management & Science University (MSU), Malaysia
Biography
Prof Dr Norfilza Binti Mohd Mokhtar, Research Management Centre (RMC), Management & Science University (MSU), Malaysia

Prof. Dr. Norfilza Mohd Mokhtar is currently Vice President for Research at Management and Science University (MSU), Malaysia. Her expertise lies in molecular medicine, with a strong research focus on gastrointestinal health, gut microbiota, digestive diseases, and the role of probiotics in human health.

She has held significant academic and administrative roles, including leadership positions at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), and has also contributed internationally as an Adjunct Professor in Arabian Gulf University, Bahrain. Deeply committed to education, she is actively involved in supervising postgraduate students in the medical and health sciences fields.

Her research portfolio is extensive, covering emerging areas such as microplastics and their impact on health, as well as non-communicable diseases. She has secured numerous national and international research grants and has published widely in reputable scientific journals.

					
	
	Dr Andy Jin

Royal Agricultural University, United Kingdom
Biography
Dr Andy Jin, Royal Agricultural University, United Kingdom

Dr Jin is a transdisciplinary social science researcher. He integrates theories and methods from social psychology, sociology, and economics to examine how individuals and societies respond to risk and sustainability challenges in the agri-food sector, with the aim of informing socially robust and policy-relevant agri-food solutions. He has extensive experience working on interdisciplinary agri-food projects across Asia and Europe, and to date his research has led to over 35 peer-reviewed academic publications.

Before joining RAU, Dr Jin was a Senior Lecturer at the University of Portsmouth (2021-2025) and a Research Associate at Newcastle University (2019-2021). Prior to his academic career, he also worked with international organisations and private companies. He is currently the Programme Leader for MSc Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security (RAU at Qingdao Agricultural University Joint Institute).

					
	
	Prof Dr Hooi Ling Foo

Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia
Biography
Prof Dr Hooi Ling Foo, Department of Bioprocess Technology, 
Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia

Prof Dr Hooi Ling is a Professor of Industrial Biotechnology at the Faculty of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM). She is the current head of the University-Driven Research Programme on Lactic Acid Bacteria Biota Technology at the Research Laboratory of Probiotics and Cancer Therapeutics, Institute of Bioscience, UPM. 

Prof. Foo has broad research interests that encompass the application of lactic acid bacteria and their bioactive derivatives. She has authored 2 technical books, 6 book chapters and over 145 articles in peer-reviewed journals (Scopus Citations: 5,306; H-index: 42). Moreover, 20 of 33 patents were filed as the project leader and 10 patents were granted in Malaysia, Australia, Singapore, China, Japan, the USA and Korea. Hence, she has 5 commercialisation experiences with the granted patents. With the experience in commercialisation, Prof. Foo has been elected as an executive council member of the Malaysia Laboratories for Academia-Business Collaboration (MyLAB) Research Programme of the Ministry of Higher Education of Malaysia since 2023. 

Prof. Foo is also active in various scientific societies. She has been the elected Vice President of the Asian Federation of Societies for Lactic Acid Bacteria (AFSLAB) since 2019. She was the organising chair of the 12th Asian Congress of Lactic Acid Bacteria (ACLAB 12, 20-22nd September 2022). She has also been the elected President of the Malaysian Society for Lactic Acid Bacteria (MSLAB) since 2021. Additionally, she has a long-standing record of contributions to the Malaysian Society for Microbiology (MSM). She served as Honorary Secretary from 2004-2006, Honorary Treasurer from 2006-2015, Vice President from 2015-2017 and Honorary Auditor from 2017-2019.

					
	
	Ts. Nurul Hidayati Mohd. Nasir

Food Safety and Quality Programme, Ministry of Health Malaysia
Biography
Ts. Nurul Hidayati Mohd. Nasir, Food Safety and Quality Programme, Ministry of Health Malaysia

Ts. Nurul Hidayati Mohd. Nasir is a Nutritionist with the Food Safety and Quality Programme, Ministry of Health Malaysia, where she has served since 2008. Her key responsibilities include reviewing applications related to food labelling, nutrition labelling, and health claims, as well as contributing to amendments to the Malaysian Food Regulations. She serves as the Secretariat to the Expert Committee on Nutrition, Health Claims and Advertising, which evaluates applications for nutrition and health claims, and also as the Secretariat to the Codex Committee on Nutrition and Foods for Special Dietary Uses (CCNFSDU), coordinating Malaysia's draft responses and national positions on issues concerning foods for special dietary uses. In addition, Ts. Nurul Hidayati is a panel member of the Organic Food Certification Scheme and serves as a member of the Rare Diseases Committee and the Committee on the Code of Ethics for the Marketing of Infant Foods, Ministry of Health Malaysia. She was a key contributor to the development of the Malaysian Vegetarian Dietary Guidelines. Her professional interests focus on food labelling, nutrition, and food regulatory affairs.

					
	
	Prof Dr Xuesong Xiang

Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
Biography
Prof Dr Xuesong Xiang, Institute of Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China

Prof Dr Xuesong Xiang is a Professor at the National Institute for Nutrition and Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC). He serves as a Council Member of the Chinese Nutrition Society (CNS), Vice Chair and Secretary-General of the Probiotic, Prebiotic and Health Branch of the CNS, a Standing Committee Member of the Food Hygiene Branch of the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, and a Member of the Asia-Pacific Branch of the International Carbohydrate Quality Consortium (ICQC-AP).

His research expertise encompasses dietary nutrition, gut microbiota, and the evaluation of scientific evidence on probiotics and prebiotics. He has authored more than 60 publications in national and international peer-reviewed journals and co-edited 14 books on nutrition, making significant contributions to the advancement of nutrition science and public health.

Prof. Xiang has also played a pivotal role in the development of national and industry standards, as well as expert consensus statements in China. As the lead drafter and principal author, he contributed to several landmark Chinese Nutrition Society (CNS) Expert Consensus documents, including those on probiotics, prebiotics, postbiotics, and the definition and sources of dietary fibre.

					
	
	Ms Dissaya Kittithanavimon

Thai Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Biography
Ms Dissaya Kittithanavimon, Thai Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand

Ms. Dissaya Kittithanavimon is a Food and Drug Technical Officer, Professional Level, at Food division, Thai Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health. She received her Master Degree in Food and Nutrition Toxicology from Mahidol University. She has over 14 years of experience in food regulatory affairs, responsible for establishing food safety regulations under the Food Act B.E. 2522 (1979) by synthesizing scientific evidence with socio-economic impact assessments to ensure practical and effective implementation. The role also encompasses managing and updating food safety standards and regulations, especially in area of food additives, microbial food cultures and probiotics, alongside conducting safety assessments for use of probiotic microorganisms in food and chemicals of interest. Her work includes the collaboration among academics, business operators, and the public sector for ensuring food safety with fair practices in food trade and creating a health-conducive food ecosystem for better consumer well-being.

					
	
	Prof Purwiyatno Hariyadi

IPB University, Indonesia
Biography
Prof Purwiyatno Hariyadi, IPB University, Indonesia

Prof. Dr. Purwiyatno Hariyadi is Professor of Food Processing and Engineering at IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Indonesia. He previously served as Vice Dean (1995-2000), Head of the Department of Food Science and Technology (2000-2004), and Director of the Southeast Asian Food and Agricultural Science and Technology (SEAFAST) Center (2005-2015).

He is actively engaged in national and international professional communities, including the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and the Institute for Thermal Processing Specialists (IFTPS). He has held leadership roles as President of the Indonesian Palm Oil Society (2005-2009) and President of the Indonesian Association of Food Technologists (2006-2010). He serves on the Experts Panel of Indonesia's National Food Agency and Food and Drug Authority and advises government and industry. Internationally, he has been involved in Codex Alimentarius since 2010 and served as Vice-Chair of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (2017-2021). He is also Chief Editor of FoodReview Indonesia.

His research and teaching focus on food processing and engineering (including thermal and aseptic processing), post-harvest processing (particularly palm oil), and food regulatory sciences, reflecting his extensive Codex experience. He teaches food processing, thermal processing, food safety regulatory practices, and professional ethics, and supervises graduate students in these areas.

He is a member of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (2012) and the International Academy of Food Science and Technology (2016). He earned his Ph.D. in Food Chemistry (minor in Chemical Engineering) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1995.

			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] => Regional Symposium on Dietary Factors in Healthy Gut Microbiome: Prebiotics, Probiotics and Postbiotics
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => closed
                    [ping_status] => closed
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => gut-microbiome-2026
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2026-08-26 06:33:15
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-08-26 06:33:15
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => https://ilsisea-region.org/?post_type=event&p=31090
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => event
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

            [3] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 31033
                    [post_author] => 353
                    [post_date] => 2026-04-07 00:52:14
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2026-04-07 00:52:14
                    [post_content] => 

				
	
	

								
				
				Background				
				
								
				
				Venue				
				
				
	
					
						Background
					
						
As dietary patterns continue to evolve, excessive sodium intake among Filipinos remains a growing public health concern and a key risk factor for non-communicable diseases. This one-day symposium brings together distinguished global and local experts and key stakeholders to share diverse perspectives on sodium intake and its implications for health. Through sessions on sodium health and science, consumer insights, and industry perspectives, the symposium aims to bridge science and practice while fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration to address one of today's key nutrition challenges.
					
						Venue
					
						
The symposium will be held IN-PERSON at:

Ramada by Wyndham Manila Central

Address: 612 Ongpin, cor Quintin Paredes, Binondo, Manila

Website: https://www.ramadamanilacentral.com/
 
	
Registration Fee:  ₱ 1,500.00

			PROGRAM	
	08:00 - 09:00 AM (GMT+8) Registration

09:00 - 09:20 AM Welcome Remarks


					Session 1: Understanding Sodium in the Diet
											Expand
					09:20 - 10:05 AM

Why Should the Level of Sodium Intake be a Health Concern

Dr. Cecilia A. Jimeno, College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila
10:05 - 10:50 AM

Methodological Issues in Sodium Intake Assessment (Virtual)

Prof Rachel McLean, Department of Public Health, University of Otago, New Zealand 
10:50 - 11:35 AM

Local and Regional Dietary Guidelines in Sodium: Latest Evidence and Emerging Recommendations (Virtual)

Prof Andrew Mente, Population Health Research Institute and Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University, Canada
 

11:35 - 12:00 NN Q&A
12:00 - 1:00 PM Lunch
 
					Session 2: Stakeholder Engagement and Consumer Perspectives
											Expand
					1:00 - 1:45 PM

Sensory and Behavioral Drivers of Sodium Intake

Mr Nico V. Reyes, Rebel Marketing Philippines
1:45 - 2:30 PM

Communication Pathways in Encouraging Adoption of Lower- Sodium Foods

Ms Germaine A. Reyes, Synergy Market Research and Strategic Consultancy, Philippines
2:30 - 2:50 PM Q&A
 
					Session 3: Industry Perspectives
											Expand
					2:50 - 3:35 PM

Guidance for Industry on Voluntary Sodium Reduction

Dr. Diane S. Mendoza-Sarmiento, University of Santo Tomas, Manila
3:35 - 4:20 PM

Navigating Challenges and Opportunities in Sodium Reformulation

Mr. Koichiro Watabe, R&D and Quality Assurance, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation 
4:20 - 5:05 PM

Multisectoral Interventions Towards Advancing Sodium Reduction

Dr Mario V. Capanzana, Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers, Inc. (PCFMI)
5:05 - 5:25 PM Q&A 
	
5:25 - 5:30 PM Closing Remarks / End of Symposium
			
							View Full Program
					

			FEATURED SPEAKERS	

				
	
	
Dr. Cecilia A. Jimeno
	
College of Medicine and Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr. Cecilia A. Jimeno is a renowned Filipino endocrinologist, professor, and researcher, recognized for her expertise in diabetes, metabolism, and thyroid disorders. She currently serves as Associate Dean for Academic Development (ADAD), and as Professor and former Chair of the Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila. She is also an admitting physician at the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital in Manila and currently chairs the UP-Manila Research Ethics Board.

A recognized leader in endocrinology, Dr. Jimeno held numerous leadership roles in professional organizations, including serving as Past President of the Philippine College of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism (PCEDM). She has been actively engaged in national and regional scientific discussions and is regarded as a key contributor to advancing endocrine care in the Philippines. Her expertise spans internal medicine, with specialization in clinical endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism.

Dr. Jimeno is also a pioneer in the development of clinical practice guidelines in the Philippines, having contributed to and led initiatives on diabetes and thyroid disease management that have helped shape national healthcare standards. Widely recognized for her contributions as an educator and researcher, she has received numerous accolades, including the PCEDM Diamond Award for Leadership, the UPMAS Outstanding Educator Award, and multiple UP Professorial Chair Awards for excellence in teaching, research, and public service.

Her longstanding commitment to advancing medical science, improving patient care, and mentoring future health professionals underscores her significant impact on endocrinology and medical education in the Philippines.

				
	
	
Prof Rachel McLean
	
Department of Public Health, University of Otago, New Zealand
			
							Biography
					
			

Professor Rachael McLean is Professor of Public Health at the University of Otago, Dunedin New Zealand.  She trained in medicine, has worked in both Primary Care and Public Health Settings, and is a Fellow of the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine.  She is an internationally recognized expert in nutritional public health and epidemiology, including research methods and analysis.  She has broad expertise in investigating risk factors and interventions for prevention and better management of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. For the past 17 years she has had a particular research focus in dietary sodium assessment and reduction strategies. In this capacity she has advised the World Health Organization, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and the New Zealand Ministry of Health.  She has led international collaborations producing systematic reviews comparing different methods of assessment of dietary sodium intake, and these have been referenced in the 2019 USA/Canada Dietary Reference Intakes.  She has an established track record of obtaining competitive research grants, and publishing, including with international research collaborations. She has over 100 peer reviewed publications and has written commissioned reports for various government agencies including the New Zealand Ministry of Health, Ministry for Primary Industries, and New Zealand Food Safety Authority. 		

				
	
	
Prof Andrew Mente
	
Population Health Research Institute and Hamilton Health Sciences, McMaster University, Canada
			
							Biography
					
			

Dr. Andrew Mente received his doctoral degree in Epidemiology from the University of Toronto. He completed postdoctoral training in cardiovascular epidemiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, and is currently a Professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI) and the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) at McMaster University.

Dr. Mente's research focuses on the role of dietary sodium in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD). His work has contributed to large international studies examining sodium intake in populations globally and its association with cardiovascular outcomes. His research has been published in several landmark journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, JAMA, and the British Medical Journal.

Dr. Mente has also studied dietary nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns in relation to cardiovascular disease and mortality, and has co-led analyses on the role of fats and carbohydrates in cardiovascular disease as part of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) cohort. Recently, he developed a globally applicable healthy diet score using data from the PURE study, which was replicated in 5 independent studies involving participants across 80 countries.		

				
	
	
Mr Nico V. Reyes
	
Rebel Marketing Philippines
			
							Biography
					
			

Mr Nico Reyes is a strategic communications and public affairs adviser with over two decades of experience helping organizations translate complex public issues and technical information into clear messages that improve public understanding, support informed decisions and choices, and ultimately contribute to positive behavior change.

He is the Co-Founder and President of Rebel Marketing, a strategic advisory consultancy that works with multinational companies, government institutions, and industry organizations on communications strategy, stakeholder engagement, and public policy positioning.

Over the course of his career, he has advised organizations such as GCash, GSK, Sanofi, Nestlé Philippines, Unilever, and USAID, among others, on how to communicate complex issues in ways that are accessible, credible, and relevant to everyday decision-making.

He also contributes to advancing science communication in the Philippines as a member of DOST-PCIEERD's Technical Panel on Science Communication since 2019 and has recently delivered lectures and workshops for institutions such as DOST-FNRI and the Philippine Navy on communicating scientific and technical information in ways that resonate with everyday audiences.

				
	
	
Ms Germaine A. Reyes
	
Synergy Market Research and Strategic Consultancy, Philippines
			
							Biography
					
			
Ms Germaine Reyes is the President and CEO of Synergy Market Research + Strategic Consultancy, a management consulting, research, and data analytics firm. Synergy is the exclusive Philippine partner of YouGov, a globally recognized research and data analytics company.

Ms Reyes is a distinguished leader and pioneer in market research known for driving strategic forward-thinking insights that empower business and marketing professionals, including academe globally.

In 2025, she was personally honored as an Insight250 Award winner - a prestigious global recognition celebrating innovators advancing enterprise intelligence. Notably, she was the only Filipino recipient of this highly acclaimed award. Under her leadership, her firm, Synergy, has been continuously earning international distinctions for its groundbreaking thought leadership.

Prior to setting up Synergy, Ms Reyes held key directorship positions at major global organizations, including The Coca-Cola Company's Philippines Division, AC Nielsen, and prominent advertising firms such as PAC/BBDO (a subsidiary of BBDO New York) and Avellana & Associates.

She holds both a BS and Master of Statistics degrees from the University of the Philippines, Diliman.

				
	
	
Dr Diane Mendoza-Sarmiento
	
University of Santo Tomas, Philippines
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr Diane S. Mendoza-Sarmiento is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the College of Education, University of Santo Tomas, where she also serves as Nutrition Clinic Coordinator and researcher at the Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences. She earned her PhD in Health Research from the University of Santo Tomas as a DOST-SEI scholar and DA-PhilRice fellowship awardee, with doctoral research examining the role of pigmented rice in reducing cardiometabolic risks.

She is active in professional organizations, previously served as a Board Member of the Philippine Association of Nutrition in 2020-2021 and 2024-2025, and currently Secretary of the Philippine Stakeholders of Nutritionist-Dietitians. She is also an associate member of the National Research Council of the Philippines.		

				
	
	
Mr. Koichiro Watabe
	
R&D and Quality Assurance, Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation
			
							Biography
					
			
Mr Koichiro Watabe is currently the Associate Director of R&D and Quality Assurance at Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation. Since joining Ajinomoto Co., Inc., he has played a key role in the development and industrialization of seasonings and processed foods, contributing to projects across Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, and other Asian markets."		

				
	
	
Dr Mario V Campanzana
	
Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers, Inc. (PCFMI)
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr. Mario V. Capanzana is the Executive Director of the Philippine Center for Food and Migration Innovations (PCFMI) and a Technical Consultant of Monde Nissin Corporation. From 2005 to 2020, he was the Director of the Food and Nutrition Research Institute of the Department of Science and Technology (FNRI-DOST), where he led numerous initiatives in food technology and nutrition research.
Dr. Capanzana holds a PhD in Food Science and Technology from the University of New South Wales in Australia, an MSc in Food Technology from Mysore University/CFRI in India, a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Food Science from Hawkesbury Agricultural College, and a BSc in Chemical Engineering from National University in Manila.
His outstanding contributions have been recognized with several awards, including the Civil Service Commission's Lingkod Bayan Award in 2016 and the Francisco O. Santos Memorial Award from the Philippine Association of Nutrition in 2022. He is also an active member and leader in several professional bodies, including PICHE, PAFT, PAN, and NDAP.

			ORGANIZER	

				
	

			COLLABORATOR	

				
	

			CONTACT	
	
If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us through:
	Ellaine Javier

ILSI SEA Region Philippine Country Community

Email: ellainejavier@ilsisea.org.sg


                    [post_title] => Science Symposium on Sodium and Health
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => closed
                    [ping_status] => closed
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => sodium-philippines-2026
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2026-06-23 02:14:45
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-06-23 02:14:45
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => https://ilsisea-region.org/?post_type=event&p=31033
                    [menu_order] => 0
                    [post_type] => event
                    [post_mime_type] => 
                    [comment_count] => 0
                    [filter] => raw
                )

            [4] => WP_Post Object
                (
                    [ID] => 30986
                    [post_author] => 353
                    [post_date] => 2026-01-29 04:06:32
                    [post_date_gmt] => 2026-01-29 04:06:32
                    [post_content] => 

			REGISTRATION	

			PROGRAM	
	08:00 - 08:45 hr Registration

08:45 - 09:00 hr Welcome Remarks

                           Mrs Boon Yee Yeong, ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore
					Session 1: Understanding Sodium in the Diet
											Expand
					

Chair: Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore
09:00 - 09:30

Sodium: State of the Science - Health, Guidelines, and Data Challenges

Prof Andrew Mente, McMaster University, Canada
09:30 - 10:00

Understanding Sodium Intake: History, Culture, and Dietary Sources

Prof Christiani Jeyakumar Henry, Global Centre for Asian Women's Health (GloW), NUS Medicine, Singapore


10:00 - 10:15 Q&A
10:15 - 10:35 Morning Refreshment Break / Networking
 
					Session 2: Community and Public Health Approaches to Sodium Reduction
											Expand
					

Co-chairs:

Dr Lynne Cobiac, ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Australia

Dr Cecilia Cristina Santos-Acuin, University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Philippines
10:35 - 11:00 hr

Salt Substitution for Cardiovascular Health Promotion at Population Level

Prof Yangfeng Wu, Peking University Clinical Research Institute, China
11:00 - 11:20 hr

Salt Preference: Sensory and Behavioral Drivers of Salt Use and Sodium Reduction

Dr Yee How Say, Sunway University, Malaysia


11:20 - 11:40 hr

Glutamate-rich Seasonings and Educational Strategies for Better Sodium Reduction

Dr Vu Thi Thu Hien, National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Vietnam
11:40 - 12:00 hr Q&A
12:00 - 12:45 hr

National Sodium Reduction Initiatives: Country Examples


Singapore

Dr Eunice Pang, Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singapore
Malaysia

Dr Sivarajan Ramasamy, Ministry of Health, Malaysia
Thailand

Dr Krisada Hanbanjerd, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
12:45 - 13:00 hr Q&A
13:00 - 14:15 hr Lunch Break / Networking
 
					Session 3: Industry and Innovative Solutions
											Expand
					
Chair: Prof Purwiyatno Hariyadi, IPB University, Indonesia
14:15 - 14:35 hr

Guidance and Innovations for Industry on Voluntary Sodium Reduction Goals 

Dr Diane Mendoza-Sarmiento, University of Santo Tomas, Philippines
14:35 - 15:20 hr

Navigating Reformulation of Lower-Sodium Products: Industry Challenges, Opportunities, and Pathways 
 1) How Low Can We Go: Industry Insights from Australia's Healthy Food Partnership

Ms Anne-Marie Mackintosh, Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC), Australia

2) Lower Sodium Without Compromise: Unlocking Healthier Foodservice Solutions in Southeast Asia

Mr Haibin Guo, Unilever Food Solutions, Thailand

3) Sodium Reduction for Better Health Without Compromising Taste

Mr Ken Yap Chee Kiean, Ajinomoto, Malaysia
15:20 - 15:40 Q&A
15:40 - 16:00 Afternoon Refreshment Break / Networking
 
					Panel Discussion - Sodium Reduction in Southeast Asia: Aligning Policy, Food Environments, and Public Behavior
											Expand
					16:00 - 16:45 hr

Panel Discussion - Sodium Reduction in Southeast Asia: Aligning Policy, Food Environments, and Public Behavior
Moderator:

Dr E Siong Tee, TES NutriHealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia
Panelists:

Prof Datin Dr Yook-Chin Chia, Sunway University, Malaysia

Dr Terence Ng, Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singapore

Mr Kevin Carpio, Monde Nissin Corporation, Philippines

Ms Pek Yee Chow, Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore


	16:45 - 17:00 hr Closing Remarks

End of Symposium
			
							Full Program
					

			SESSION CHAIRS	

				
	
	
Mr Geoffry Smith
	
ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore
			
							Biography
					
			
Mr. Geoff Smith serves as President of ILSI SEA Region based in Singapore, and co-representative to the global ILSI Assembly. ILSI SEA Region was established as a regional branch of the world-wide scientific-foundation ILSI in 1993, covering ASEAN and Australasia. 

Mr. Smith is also the Chairman of the Essential Micronutrients Foundation, a non-profit organization which addresses micronutrient deficiencies globally as a public health issue. He is a past Member of the Executive Committee of the global ILSI Board. Prior to his current positions, Mr. Smith was the Global Director, Health Chelates for AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals. He was responsible for the global project within AkzoNobel addressing iron deficiency anemia, which resulted in completely revised guidelines by the World Health Organization for flour fortification with iron. A thirty-year veteran of the chemical industry in Asia-Pacific and globally, Mr. Smith has resided in Singapore for more than 30 years

				
	
	
Dr Lynne Cobiac
	
ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Australia
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr Lynne Cobiac is a retired scientist (PhD, MBA) having served senior positions at the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Australia's National Science Agency. She has over 30 years of experience and leadership in research and management in the nutrition and preventative health domains within both research organizations and university environments. Dr. Cobiac held several executive roles as Deputy Director, Science Director and Director in a number of different business units. Before her retirement in 2023, Dr Cobiac was Director (Acting) of CSIRO's Health and Biosecurity business unit overseeing 400 researchers.

Besides her career and contributions to CSIRO, Dr. Cobiac held a Professorial position at Flinders University, Australia as Foundation Chair (Professor) for Nutrition and Dietetics, and was Associate Dean at Flinders Clinical and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine between 2007 - 2011.

Dr Cobiac has been actively involved as a Science Advisor and Scientific Director of ILSI Southeast Asia Region (2019 - present), where she is also Chair of the ILSI SEA Region Working Group for Protein Needs and Sustainable Solutions (2024 - present). She was previously Chair of the ILSI SEA Region Working Group on Scientific Integrity (2020-2023). In Australia, she has just been appointed to The Hospital Research Foundation Group - Parkinsons South Australia Board of Governors group (2025-present).

				
	
	
Dr Cecilia Cristina Santos-Acuin
	
University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Philippines
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr. Cecilia Acuin is an Associate Professor (adjunct, retired) at the Institute of Human Nutrition and Food, University of the Philippines, Los Baños and a consultant at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center, Department of Family & Community Medicine. She serves as nutrition consultant for the World Bank Philippines office and in this capacity provides technical assistance to the Philippine Multisectoral Nutrition Project (PMNP) and the 'Repurposing for Healthier Diets' Program. She was the Senior Scientist, lead for Human Nutrition, at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Philippines until May 2020. Prior to her work at IRRI, she was the Chief Science Research Specialist, Nutritional Assessment & Monitoring Division and Chair, Institutional Ethics Committee at the Food & Nutrition Research Institute (FNRI), Department of Science & Technology, Philippines. Dr. Acuin's involvement in multi-country research initiatives includes the following among others: member of the International Union of Nutritional Sciences Committee on Nutrition and Anthropology; Consultant and Vice-Chair of the WPRO Regional Advisory Committee on Health Research in the WHO Western Pacific Region. In the Philippines, Dr. Acuin has been the Co-Chair of the Philippine National Health Research System, Research Utilization Committee; Head of the Secretariat of the Universal Health Care (UHC) Study Group; consultant in various capacities of USAID, UNICEF, Helen Keller International, the International Institute for Rural Reconstruction (IIRR), etc., as well as for academic institutions and local organizations such as the Zuellig Family Foundation. She obtained her Ph.D. in Nutrition with minors in Nutritional Epidemiology and Risk Communication from Cornell University, USA, her masters in Medical Anthropology from the University of Connecticut (UCONN) Storrs, and her MD and BS Zoology (cum laude) from the University of the Philippines. Her research interests are in the areas of maternal and child health and nutrition, food security, food and health systems and operations research, and risk factors of non-communicable diseases.

				
	
	
Prof Purwiyatno Hariyadi
	
IPB University, Indonesia
			
							Biography
					
			
Prof. Dr. Purwiyatno Hariyadi is Professor of Food Processing and Engineering at IPB University (Bogor Agricultural University), Indonesia. He previously served as Vice Dean (1995-2000), Head of the Department of Food Science and Technology (2000-2004), and Director of the Southeast Asian Food and Agricultural Science and Technology (SEAFAST) Center (2005-2015).

He is actively engaged in national and international professional communities, including the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) and the Institute for Thermal Processing Specialists (IFTPS). He has held leadership roles as President of the Indonesian Palm Oil Society (2005-2009) and President of the Indonesian Association of Food Technologists (2006-2010). He serves on the Experts Panel of Indonesia's National Food Agency and Food and Drug Authority and advises government and industry. Internationally, he has been involved in Codex Alimentarius since 2010 and served as Vice-Chair of the Codex Alimentarius Commission (2017-2021). He is also Chief Editor of FoodReview Indonesia.

His research and teaching focus on food processing and engineering (including thermal and aseptic processing), post-harvest processing (particularly palm oil), and food regulatory sciences, reflecting his extensive Codex experience. He teaches food processing, thermal processing, food safety regulatory practices, and professional ethics, and supervises graduate students in these areas.

He is a member of the Indonesian Academy of Sciences (2012) and the International Academy of Food Science and Technology (2016). He earned his Ph.D. in Food Chemistry (minor in Chemical Engineering) from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1995.

			SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS	

				
	
	
Prof Andrew Mente
	
McMaster University, Canada
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr. Andrew Mente received his doctoral degree in Epidemiology from the University of Toronto. He completed postdoctoral training in cardiovascular epidemiology at McMaster University in Hamilton, Canada, and is currently a Professor in the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI) and the Population Health Research Institute (PHRI) at McMaster University.

Dr. Mente's research focuses on the role of dietary sodium in relation to cardiovascular disease (CVD). His work has contributed to large international studies examining sodium intake in populations globally and its association with cardiovascular outcomes. His research has been published in several landmark journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, JAMA, and the British Medical Journal.

Dr. Mente has also studied dietary nutrients, foods, and dietary patterns in relation to cardiovascular disease and mortality, and has co-led analyses on the role of fats and carbohydrates in cardiovascular disease as part of the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) cohort. Recently, he developed a globally applicable healthy diet score using data from the PURE study, which was replicated in 5 independent studies involving participants across 80 countries.

				
	
	
Prof Christiani Jeyakumar Henry
	
Global Centre for Asian Women's Health (GloW), NUS Medicine, Singapore
			
							Biography
					
			
Prof. Jeyakumar Henry is currently Senior Advisor, at GloW, National University of Singapore. He trained as a Nutritionist at   the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and was the founding Director of the Clinical Nutrition Research Centre, A*STAR, Singapore (2011-2023), and first Director of Functional Food Centre in Oxford, UK. He was a Board member of UK Food Standards Agency, and served as a consultant to UNICEF, FAO, WHO, on International Nutrition. His work on energy metabolism led to the development of the Henry Equation to predict basal metabolic rate that is used worldwide. He has been active in developing novel foods and ingredients to improve human health worldwide. He was made a Fellow of the International Academy of Food Scientists and Technologists (2012), Fellow of the British Nutrition Society (2022), and Fellow of the American Society for Nutrition (2024) - the highest award in Human Nutritional science.		

				
	
	
Prof Yangfeng Wu
	
Peking University Clinical Research Institute, China
			
							Biography
					
			
Prof Yangfeng Wu is a Professor of Epidemiology and Sciences in Clinical Research at the School of Public Health and the Clinical Research Institute of the Institute of Advanced Clinical Medicine, Peking University. He has successively presided over dozens of scientific research projects and has published over 440 papers in domestic and international medical journals, and has edited and co-edited 21 monographs in Chinese and English. He led the development of China's first cardiovascular disease risk prediction model and chaired the formulation of the "Practical Guidelines for Primary Hypertension Prevention and Treatment" and the "Chinese Guidelines on Low-Sodium Salt Use and Promotion ". He has received numerous honors, including the Ministry of Health Science and Technology Progress Award, Wu Jie Ping Medical Research Award - Paul Janssen Pharmaceutical Award, Paul Dudley White International Lecture at AHA Scientific Sessions 2012, and many others. He has served as the Director of the World Health Organization's Cardiovascular Disease Training and Cooperation Center (Beijing), the Director of The George Institute for Global Health, China and an Honorary Professor at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Medicine. His main research focuses on the effective strategies for prevention and control of major chronic diseases.		

				
	
	
Dr Yee How Say
	
Sunway University, Malaysia
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr. Say Yee How is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biomedical Sciences at the Sir Jeffrey Cheah Sunway Medical School, Faculty of Medical and Life Sciences, Sunway University, Malaysia. His research focuses on nutrition and genetics in non-communicable diseases, particularly nutrigenetics, dietary behaviour, and metabolic health. His work investigates how genetic variation influences taste perception-including bitter, sweet, salty, umami, and fatty tastes-and how these differences shape dietary preferences, nutrient intake, and risk of obesity and related metabolic conditions. He is actively involved in population nutrition research, particularly studies on dietary sodium reduction and healthier food environments. His recent work includes research and intervention studies aimed at reducing salt and sugar intake in institutional and out-of-home food settings, including campus-based initiatives to improve dietary practices and cardiometabolic health. Dr. Say is also involved in the Malaysian Society for World Action on Salt, Sugar and Health (MyWASSH), a multidisciplinary initiative that promotes salt and sugar reduction strategies, public education, and policy engagement to address non-communicable diseases in Malaysia. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications in international journals, including research on salt reduction interventions and population dietary behaviours, contributing to evidence-based strategies to improve nutrition and reduce chronic disease risk. 		

				
	
	
Dr Vu Thi Thu Hien
	
National Institute of Nutrition (NIN), Vietnam
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr. Vu Thi Thu Hien is the Head of the Biochemistry and Nutrition Metabolism Department at the National Institute of Nutrition (NIN). She earned her medical degree from Hanoi Medical University in 1996, followed by a Master's degree in Nutrition from Tokushima University, Japan in 2004, and a PhD in Nutrition from Ochanomizu University, Japan in 2008. Since 2006, she has led the Biochemistry and Nutrition Metabolism Department at NIN. She has been a lecturer at Hanoi Medical University since 2011, was appointed Associate Professor in 2014, and has also been a lecturer at Nam Dinh University of Nursing since 2018. In addition, she has been an active member of the Steering Committee of the Vietnam Dietetic Association since 2019.		

				
	
	
Dr Eunice Pang
	
Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singapore
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr Eunice Pang leads in the development and implementation of regulatory policies as well as upstream food-related strategies to tackle public health issues. Her notable contributions include the implementation of the Nutri-Grade nutrition labelling system, an initiative that empowers consumers to make informed dietary choices. She is also instrumental in overseeing the sodium and saturated fat reduction strategy in response to Singapore's high prevalence of hypertension and elevated blood cholesterol. Her expertise encompasses familiarity with the food ecosystem and the translation of food and nutrition guidelines into practical implementation

Prior to her tenure at HPB, Eunice established her scientific foundation as a trained food scientist and served as a Post-Doctoral Associate in nutritional immunology at the USDA-Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA-HNRCA) in Boston, USA. This research background provides her with the scientific rigour and evidence-based approach that underpins her current policy leadership.

				
	
	
Dr Sivarajan Ramasamy
	
Ministry of Health, Malaysia
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr. Sivarajan Ramasamy is a Public Health Medicine Specialist with the Ministry of Health Malaysia, currently leading the Cardio-Renal-Metabolic (CRM) Prevention and Control agenda under the Disease Control Division. With over 15 years of experience in population health, he plays a key role in shaping national strategies on non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with a strong focus on diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular health, and integrated risk factor management.

He is actively involved in the development of Malaysia's upcoming National Strategic Plan for NCD (2026-2030), driving a paradigm shift towards a more integrated, outcome-driven CRM approach. His work emphasises lifestyle intervention as first-line therapy, supported by system transformation, behavioural insights, and multi-sectoral collaboration to strengthen prevention and early intervention across the life course.

Dr. Sivarajan currently leads national efforts on sodium reduction policy within the Ministry of Health Malaysia, advancing the implementation of the Salt Reduction Strategy to Prevent and Control NCD for Malaysia (2021-2025). His work focuses on translating evidence into policy and practice, including strengthening reformulation initiatives, public awareness, and interventions targeting high-risk dietary behaviours particularly in out of home food environments. Through cross-sectoral engagement, he continues to drive innovative, scalable solutions to reduce population salt intake and improve cardiovascular health outcomes in Malaysia

				
	
	
Dr Krisada Hanbunjerd
	
Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr. Krisada Hanbunjerd is currently the Director of the Division of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) at the Ministry of Public Health, Thailand. He previously served in various key roles at Bamrasnaradura Infectious Diseases Institute, including Chief of Ophthalmology Department, Associate Director for IT and Medical Services, and Deputy Director. He also served as Director of Rajprachasamasai Institute from 2020 to 2021. Dr. Hanbunjerd earned his Doctor of Medicine and a Certificate in Ophthalmology from Chulalongkorn University, and a Master's degree in IT Management from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang.

				
	
	
Dr Diane Mendoza-Sarmiento
	
University of Santo Tomas, Philippines
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr Diane S. Mendoza-Sarmiento is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at the College of Education, University of Santo Tomas, where she also serves as Nutrition Clinic Coordinator and researcher at the Research Center for Natural and Applied Sciences. She earned her PhD in Health Research from the University of Santo Tomas as a DOST-SEI scholar and DA-PhilRice fellowship awardee, with doctoral research examining the role of pigmented rice in reducing cardiometabolic risks.

She is active in professional organizations, previously served as a Board Member of the Philippine Association of Nutrition in 2020-2021 and 2024-2025, and currently Secretary of the Philippine Stakeholders of Nutritionist-Dietitians. She is also an associate member of the National Research Council of the Philippines.		

				
	
	
Ms Anne-Marie Mackintosh
	
Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC), Australia
			
							Biography
					
			
Ms Anne-Marie Mackintosh is a dietitian with over 25 years' experience spanning industry, government, and healthcare. As Associate Director - Health , Trade and Regulatory Affairs  at the Australian Food & Grocery Council, she helps shape nutrition policy and advocates for healthier choices. She also contributes nationally through key committees and initiatives  such as the Australian Government Healthy Food Partnership. Passionate about collaboration, she's always looking for practical ways to make a positive impact on food and health.

				
	
	
Mr Haibin Guo
	
Unilever Food Solutions, Thailand
			
							Biography
					
			
Haibin Guo is R&D Director, SEA&METAP, Unilever Food Solutions, with over 10 years of experience in research and innovation across the food and consumer goods industries. His work spans multiple sectors, including ice cream, skincare, and food service. Haibin holds master degrees from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and California Polytechnic State University in food science and dairy science. He focuses on translating consumer insights and culinary trends into scalable innovations for professional kitchens worldwide.

				
	
	
Mr Ken Yap Chee Kiean
	
Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad
			
							Biography
					
			
Mr Ken Yap is Head of Industrial Business Department at Ajinomoto (Malaysia) Berhad, with over 16 years of experience in the food industry. He leads sales, marketing, business development and technical solution strategy, helping food manufacturers develop innovative products across categories including snacks, seasonings, processed meat, beverages and food service. With regional experience spanning Asia and Latin America, Ken brings broad market insights into food innovation and healthier product development. He specialises in savoury taste optimisation, Halal food solutions and formulation strategies that support reduced-sodium product development without compromising taste.		

				
	
	
Dr E Siong Tee
	
TES NutriHealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr E Siong Tee has been a Member of the Board of Directors of ILSI SEA Region since 1996 and Scientific Coordinator of ILSI Malaysia Country Committee since 2005. He is currently a Nutrition Consultant for TES NutriHealth Strategic Consultancy. Dr. Tee was Head of the Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Centre of the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, until his retirement in February 2002, after serving for 30 years. He was President of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM) till March 2024. In this capacity, he has led the implementation of various community nutrition promotion programs including the Nutrition Month Malaysia programme since 2002. He is also Vice-President of the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS). Dr Tee is a member of several Technical Working Groups of the Ministry of Health Malaysia, including the committees related to Malaysian Food Regulations and Codex Alimentarius. He initiated the formation of the Southeast Asia Public Health Nutrition (SEA-PHN) Network in 2014 and is the current Chairman of the Network. Dr Tee is also Adjunct Professor of the IMU University, Malaysia.		

				
	
	
Prof Datin Dr Yook-Chin Chia
	
Sunway University, Malaysia
			
							Biography
					
			
Prof Yook-Chin Chia is Head of the Ageing, Health and Wellbeing Research Centre (CARE) at Sunway University and is an Emeritus Professor of University of Malaya. She is a council member and the past-president of the Malaysian Society of Hypertension and is a member of the Malaysian Clinical Practice Guidelines on Management of Hypertension for many editions

Dr Chia is also a hypertension specialist of the European Society of Hypertension and is a member of the Asia Pacific Regional Advisory Group of the International Society of Hypertension. She is the founding president of MyWASSH, (Malaysian Society for World Action on Salt and Sugar for Health) a new non-governmental society to promote reduction of salt and sugar consumption in Malaysia. Her current research is focused on salt reduction and she has been recognized by the World Hypertension League with the 2022 Graham MacGregor Excellence Award in Dietary Salt Reduction at the Population Level    

Much of her clinical work and research is on hypertension and its related cardiovascular diseases. Her current research activities are with the HOPE-Asia Network, a group of hypertension specialists from Asia. For her research activities, she was awarded the Senior Female Researcher from the International Society of Hypertension  in 2022

She is also a member of editorial board of several journals and mentors young investigators on hypertension and its related cardiovascular diseases research. She has published widely and is recognised as a Top 2% Most cited Scientists in the World since 2020

				
	
	
Dr Terence Ng
	
Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singapore
			
							Biography
					
			
Dr Terence Ng is Director in the Innovation Office and the Policy and Strategy Division in the Health Promotion Board Singapore. He is responsible for the formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of priority public health policy.
In addition, he also leads the design and implementation of National Healthy Population projects, which leverage pioneering capabilities of technology companies to co-innovate solutions in precision public health.
Terence is a trained sociologist and lawyer who was previously an Assistant Professor at the University of California, San Francisco doing research on home and community-based care for the elderly and disabled.

				
	
	
Mr Kevin Carpio
	
Monde Nissin Corporation, Philippines
			
							Biography
					
			
Kevin Carpio is a nutritionist-dietitian with nearly a decade of experience in corporate nutrition, advocacy, communications, and stakeholder engagement in the food and beverage industry. He is currently the Nutrition Advocacy Manager at Monde Nissin Corporation, a major Philippine-based global food manufacturer, where he leads the company's nutrition agenda by embedding nutrition into product innovation, guiding strategies across brand portfolios, and fostering consumer trust through products that make good nutrition more accessible and affordable. Before joining Monde Nissin, he built multinational experience in corporate nutrition and spearheaded large-scale nutrition education initiatives, earning recognition through various industry and communications awards. He holds a Master of Science in Clinical Nutrition and a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics. He also serves as Vice President for External Affairs of the Philippine Association of Nutrition, Inc. (PAN), the Philippines' oldest multisectoral nutrition organization.

Prior to his corporate career, he taught nutrition and dietetics in the academe and gained experience in both fitness and clinical nutrition practice. With global exposure and a strong track record in building impactful nutrition initiatives, he is passionate about making science-based nutrition practical, accessible, and relevant to everyday life.

				
	
	
Ms Pek Yee Chow
	
Khoo Teck Puat Hospital, Singapore
			
							Biography
					
			
Ms. Chow Pek Yee is a highly qualified nutrition and dietetics professional with over two decades of experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition & Dietetics from the University of Kentucky and a Master in Nutrition & Dietetics from the University of Sydney. Currently serving as Principal Dietitian of the Nutrition & Dietetics Department at Khoo Teck Puat Hospital in Singapore, her expertise centres on kidney failure patients and chronic disease management, including weight management, renal nutrition, malnutrition, and frailty.

Beyond her clinical work, Ms. Chow is an active speaker on nutrition-related topics. She has played a pivotal role in the Singapore Nutrition and Dietetics Association since 2000, serving in various committee and office bearer roles including treasurer, secretary, and vice president before becoming president from 2008 to 2018. She also held regional leadership as President of the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (2011-2014) and currently holds a lifetime appointment as Honorary Council Member since 2019.		

			ORGANIZER	

				
	

			COLLABORATOR	

				
	

			CONTACT	
	
If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us through:
	ILSI Southeast Asia Region

18 Mohamed Sultan Road #03-01 Singapore 238967

Tel: 65 6352 5220

Email: event@ilsisea.org.sg


                    [post_title] => Science Symposium on ReThink Sodium: Science, Behavior, Guidance and Solutions for Public Health
                    [post_excerpt] => 
                    [post_status] => publish
                    [comment_status] => closed
                    [ping_status] => closed
                    [post_password] => 
                    [post_name] => rethink-sodium-2026
                    [to_ping] => 
                    [pinged] => 
                    [post_modified] => 2026-06-23 01:21:53
                    [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-06-23 01:21:53
                    [post_content_filtered] => 
                    [post_parent] => 0
                    [guid] => https://ilsisea-region.org/?post_type=event&p=30986
                    [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] => 31168
            [post_author] => 353
            [post_date] => 2026-08-03 03:49:12
            [post_date_gmt] => 2026-08-03 03:49:12
            [post_content] => 

					
	
	

								
				
				ABOUT THE SEMINAR				
				
								
				
				PROGRAM OUTLINE				
				
								
				
				VENUE				
				
				
	
					
						ABOUT THE SEMINAR
					
						
For over two decades, ILSI Southeast Asia Region has been fostering dialogue on nutrition labeling, and nutrition and health claims across Southeast Asia.
Building on this long-standing initiative, ILSI SEA Region is partnering with ILSI Japan and ILSI Taiwan to organize a 1-day seminar that will bring together regulators, scientists, and industry experts to discuss the latest developments on nutrition and health issues, regulatory frameworks, nutrient profiling models, and front-of-pack (FOP) labeling. It aims to provide a valuable platform to strengthen collaboration and promote scientific exchange among stakeholders from Japan, Southeast Asia, and Taiwan.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Food industry personnel, food scientists, nutritionists, dietitians and health professionals, regulatory officers from different government departments and agencies, researchers and academicians
					
						PROGRAM OUTLINE
					
						

Nutrition and Health Issues in Japan
Japan's Nutrient Profiling System for Dishes
Status of Nutrition and Health Claims in Japan, Southeast Asia and Taiwan
Status of Nutrition Labeling Harmonization in ASEAN

					
						VENUE
					
						
The1-day seminar will be held at:

Tokyo International Forum

Address: 3 Chome-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan

Website: https://www.t-i-forum.co.jp/en/ 
View and Download Full Program

			PROGRAM AND SPEAKERS	
	FULL PROGRAMCollapse
 
08:35 - 09:15 hr (GMT+8)    Registration 
09:15- 09:30 hr Welcome Address and Introduction

Mrs. Boon Yee Yeong, ILSI SEA Region, Singapore

ILSI Japan
Session Chair: Dr. E-Siong Tee, ILSI SEA Region, Malaysia
09:30-09:55 hr The 100-Year Evolution of Nutrition: The Japanese Model for Asian Longevity
Dr. Keiichi Abe, National Institute of Health and Nutrition (NIHN), Japan
09:55-10:15 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from Japan
Mr Yuichi Itoi, Office of Health and Nutrition Labelling, Food Labeling Division, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan
10:15-10:35 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from Taiwan
Dr Yi-Chen Yang, Food & Drug Administration, Taiwan
10:35-10:45 hr Q & A
10:45-11:00 hr Morning Tea Break
11:00-11:15 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from SEA Region - Indonesia
Ms Kinarsashanti Puspitaninganindita, Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM), Indonesia
11:15-11:30 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from SEA Region - Malaysia
Ms. Atiqah Jalila binti Jusoh, Food Safety and Quality Programme, Ministry of Health Malaysia
11:30-11:45 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from SEA Region - Singapore
Dr. Eunice Pang, Policy and Strategy Development, Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singapore
11:45-12:00 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from SEA Region - Thailand
Dr. Kotchaphon Manoonphol, Food Division, Food and Drug Administration, Thailand
12:00-12:15 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from SEA Region - Vietnam

Dr Tran Khanh Van, National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam


12:15-12:30 hr Q & A
12:30-13:35 hr Lunch
Session Chair: Ms. Pauline Chan, ILSI SEA Region, Singapore
13:35-13:55 hr Harmonization of Nutrition Labeling Regulations in ASEAN - Current Status
Ms. Ruhana binti Abdul Latif, Food Safety and Quality Programme, Ministry of Health Malaysia
13:55-14:25 hr Japan's Nutrient Profiling System for Dishes
Dr. Hidemi Takimoto, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition (NIBN), Japan
14:25-14:45 hr The Ajinomoto Group Nutrient Profiling System (ANPS): From Product to Whole-Day Diet in Japan
Dr. Yuki Nakayama, Institute of Food Science and Technologies, Ajinomoto, Co. Inc., Japan
14:45-14:55 hr Q&A
14:55-15:10 hr Closing and End of Seminar

					
	
	Dr E Siong Tee

 TES Nutrihealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia
Biography
Dr E Siong Tee, TES Nutrihealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia

Dr E Siong Tee has been a Member of the Board of Directors of ILSI SEA Region since 1996 and Scientific Coordinator of ILSI Malaysia Country Committee since 2005. He is currently a Nutrition Consultant for TES NutriHealth Strategic Consultancy. Dr. Tee was Head of the Cardiovascular, Diabetes and Nutrition Research Centre of the Institute for Medical Research (IMR) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, until his retirement in February 2002, after serving for 30 years. He was President of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM) till March 2024. In this capacity, he has led the implementation of various community nutrition promotion programs including the Nutrition Month Malaysia programme since 2002. He is also Vice-President of the Federation of Asian Nutrition Societies (FANS). Dr Tee is a member of several Technical Working Groups of the Ministry of Health Malaysia, including the committees related to Malaysian Food Regulations and Codex Alimentarius. He initiated the formation of the Southeast Asia Public Health Nutrition (SEA-PHN) Network in 2014 and is the current Chairman of the Network. Dr Tee is also Adjunct Professor of the IMU University, Malaysia.

					
	
	Dr Keiichi Abe

National Institute of Health and Nutrition (NIHN), Japan
Biography
Dr. Keiichi Abe, National Institute of Health and Nutrition (NIHN), Japan

Dr. Keiichi Abe has a distinguished career spanning the food industry, a national research institute, and a major scientific foundation. He holds a Ph.D. specializing in Microbiology and Natural Product Chemistry from the University of Tokyo.

Dr. Abe developed his extensive career by bridging corporate innovation, public sector health research, and philanthropic scientific advancement. He previously served as a Board Director at Suntory's Science Institute for Life Sciences (SIC), the Executive Vice President of R&D at Cerebos, the Director-General of the National Institute of Health and Nutrition, and the Executive Director of the BIKEN Foundation.

His core research expertise encompasses microbiology, natural product chemistry, bioactive substances, nutritional chemistry, and the efficacy of food components, backed by extensive human intervention studies. Notably, during his tenure in the private sector, Dr. Abe served as the research and development leader for a series of highly successful FOSHU (Foods for Specified Health Uses) products, pioneering the market with household hits such as Black Oolong Tea (Kuro-Oolong Tea), Sesame Barley Tea (Goma-Mugicha), and Tokucha. Throughout his career, he has successfully demonstrated outstanding leadership across different sectors, driving collaboration between private industries, government bodies, and academic institutions both in Japan and globally.

					
	
	Mr Yuichi Itoi

Office of Health and Nutrition Labelling, Food Labeling Division, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan
Biography
Mr Yuichi Itoi,Office of Health and Nutrition Labelling, Food Labeling Division, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan

After joining the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 2006,  Mr Yuichi Itoi served in the Ministry's Office for Import Food Safety Measures, the Office for Review of Pesticide Residue Standards, and the Secretariat of the Food Safety Commission, and has held his current position on secondment since April 2025. 

					
	
	Dr Yi-Chen Yang

Section of Food Labeling and Nutrition, Division of Food Safety, Food & Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
Biography
Dr. Yi-Chen Yang, Section of Food Labeling and Nutrition, Division of Food Safety, Food & Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan

Dr. Yi-Chen Yang currently serves as the Section Chief of the Food Labeling and Nutrition Section within the Food Safety Division at the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Ministry of Health and Welfare. Over her distinguished career with the Taiwan FDA, she has held key leadership positions, including Section Chief of the Food Registration Section in the Food Safety Division and Section Chief of the Biologics Section in the Research and Analysis Division. Having also served as a Technical Specialist, Dr. Yang brings extensive expertise in food labeling regulation, nutrition claim, biologics, and food registration standards to her work.

					
	
	Ms Kinarsashanti Puspitaninganindita

Directorate of Processed Food Registration, National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), Indonesia
Biography
Ms Kinarsashanti Puspitaninganindita, Directorate of Processed Food Registration, National Agency of Drug and Food Control (BPOM), Indonesia

Kinarsashanti Puspitaninganditta is a pharmacist and food safety professional with extensive experience in processed food registration and regulatory affairs at the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority (BPOM). She holds a Master's degree in Food Safety from Wageningen University, the Netherlands, as well as Pharmacist Professional Degree from Airlangga University, Indonesia.

She began her career at Indonesian FDA (BPOM) in 2004 and has held various positions in food safety evaluation and processed food registration, including leadership roles in the evaluation and registration of foods for specific dietary purposes, special medical purposes, and food additives. She currently serves as a Senior Food and Drug Control Officer at BPOM.

With more than 20 years of professional experience, she has also participated as an international speaker in various forums involving food safety, halal labeling, food and beverage imports, and regulatory affairs for New Zealand Trade and Enterprise, the Austrian Embassy, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), US Dairy Export Council, etc. Her professional interests include food safety, food regulation, and processed food registration.

					
	
	Ms Atiqah Jalila Binti Jusoh

Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health, Malaysia
Biography
Ms Atiqah Jalila Binti Jusoh, Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health, Malaysia

Atiqah Jalila Binti Jusoh is a Nutritionist at Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health Malaysia. She has experience in sports nutrition, community nutrition and  food labelling, with particular focus in special purpose foods, nutrition labelling and nutrition claims. In FSQP, she is involved in the development and review of standards and regulations under the Malaysian Food Regulations 1985. She serves as Secretariat to the Expert Committee on Nutrition, Health Claims and Advertising, which evaluates applications for nutrition and health claims. She  is also involved in preparing regulatory responses on nutrition claims and foods for special dietary uses. She has contributed to the development of the Guideline on Labelling and online learning materials for the Public Sector E-Learning (EPSA) platform. She has also served as a speaker and presenter in food labelling training programmes, including the Food Product Labelling and Hands-on Training organised by the International Food Safety Training Centre (IFSTC). Her professional interests include nutrition labelling, nutrition claims and regulatory aspects of food and nutrition.

					
	
	Dr. Eunice H. Pang

Policy and Strategy Development, Health Promotion Board, Singapore
Biography
Dr. Eunice H. Pang, Policy and Strategy Development, Health Promotion Board, Singapore

Dr. Eunice H. Pang is Senior Deputy Director of Policy and Strategy Development at the Health Promotion Board (HPB), Singapore. She leads the development and implementation of evidence-based nutrition policies and regulatory strategies that support healthier consumer choices and population health outcomes. Her areas of expertise include nutrition labelling, nutrition and health claims, consumer nutrition information, and food policy interventions that translate nutrition science into practical public health action.

Dr. Pang has played a key leadership role in the development and implementation of Singapore's nutrition labelling policies, including the Nutri-Grade framework, and contributes to policy approaches that promote greater transparency and informed decision-making in the food environment. She works closely with government agencies, academia, and the food industry to ensure that nutrition communications and regulatory measures remain scientifically robust, relevant, and effective

Prior to joining HPB, Eunice was a Post-Doctoral Associate in nutritional immunology at the USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging (USDA-HNRCA) in Boston, USA. Her scientific training as a food scientist and researcher continues to inform her evidence-based approach to nutrition policy development and implementation.

					
	
	Dr. Kotchaphon Manoonphol

Food Division, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
Biography
Dr. Kotchaphon Manoonphol, Food Division, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand

With over 25 years of experience in food regulation and nutrition, Dr Kotchaphon Manoonphol serves as the Deputy Director of the Food Division at the Thai Food and Drug Administration. Her expertise spans policy development, safety assessments, and nutrition promotion, with a strong focus on advancing food quality, product safety, and food innovation. She fosters collaboration across the food chain to strengthen consumer protection and public health. She is passionate about functional foods and driving efforts to build a health-conscious society by aligning the interests of regulators, consumers, and businesses.

					
	
	Dr Tran Khanh Van

National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam
Biography
Dr Tran Khanh Van, National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam

Dr. Tran Khanh Van is a physician, public health specialist, and nutrition scientist with more than 30 years of experience in nutrition research, policy development, and programme management. She currently serves as Principal Researcher and Head of the Department of Micronutrients at the National Institute of Nutrition, Vietnam. Her work focuses on micronutrient nutrition, food fortification, nutrition labelling, and translating scientific evidence into practical nutrition policies and industry-relevant solutions. She was a member of the drafting team for Vietnam's Ministry of Health Circular No. 29/2023/TT-BYT on nutrition labelling and continues to contribute to national guidelines on the prevention and control of micronutrient deficiencies and regulations on food fortification. Dr. Van has collaborated with WHO, IAEA, the World Bank Group, OECD, UNICEF, GAIN, and the food sector. She is particularly interested in strengthening collaboration among government, researchers, and food businesses to improve regulatory implementation, nutrition labelling, responsible food reformulation, and access to healthier, micronutrient-rich foods.

					
	
	Ms Pauline Chan

 ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore
Biography
Ms Pauline Chan, ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore

As Director of Science Programs, Pauline has extensive experience in developing scientific programs and facilitating dialogue between scientists, government regulators, and industry to address regional and international issues in nutrition, food safety, sustainability and health. A frequently invited resource speaker at conferences and seminars, Ms. Chan is a registered dietitian (RD) with the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Ms. Chan received her M.Sc. in Nutrition and Dietetics from New York University, USA, and her B.Sc. in Chemistry from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

					
	
	Ms Ruhana Abdul Latif

Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health, Malaysia
Biography
Ms Ruhana Abdul Latif, Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health Malaysia

Ruhana Abdul Latif is a Food Technologist at Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health Malaysia. She began her career in the Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia since 2004. She completed a Master in Food Safety and Quality Assurance and Food Science and Technology Bachelor Degree both from University Putra Malaysia. She started her career by serving at Codex and Standards Branch of the FSQP. She has been involved with several national expert committees that advise on Malaysia Food Regulations 1985 and national Codex mirror committees namely the food additives and contaminants, fats and oils, commodity, labeling and packaging committees. She currently serves as the section head for Codex and International Section in FSQD, overseeing the activities on national Codex Committees and Malaysia Codex Contact point, ASEAN, bilateral and multilateral cooperation. She coordinates FSQP engagement in ASEAN for health, trade and agriculture sectors.

					
	
	Dr Hidemi Takimoto

National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Japan
Biography
Dr Hidemi Takimoto, National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Japan

Dr. Hidemi Takimoto is a Doctor of Medicine and Executive Director of the National Institute of Health and Nutrition (Japan) since April 2023. She worked as Researcher at the Division of Maternal and Child Nutrition, National Institute of Health and Nutrition (Shinjuku, Tokyo) from September 1994 to March 2005 and as a Senior Researcher at the Department of Health Promotion Research, National Institute of Public Health (Saitama, Japan) from April 2005 to March 2012, as well as Director of Nutritional Epidemiology and Shokuiku, National Institute of Health and Nutrition from April 2012 to March 2023.   Dr. Takimoto is also a member of the Japanese Society of Nutrition and Dietetics, Japanese Society of Public Health, Japanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and American Society of Nutrition. Her recent research focuses on the development and application of Nutrient Profiling Model for Processed Foods in Japan (NPM-PFJ) and Nutrient Profiling Model for Dishes in Japan (NPM-DJ) (Nutrients 2024, 16(17), 3012 & 3026).  She has served in government committees, including the latest Dietary Reference Intakes for the Japanese, 2025.

					
	
	Dr. Yuki Nakayama

Institute of Food Science and Technologies, Ajinomoto, Co. Inc., Japan
Biography
Dr. Yuki Nakayama, Institute of Food Science and Technologies, Ajinomoto, Co. Inc., Japan

Yuki Nakayama earned his Ph.D. with doctoral research on obesity, focusing on adipose tissue and glucose metabolism. He then joined a pharmaceutical company, where he was engaged in the pharmacological studies required for the regulatory approval of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines, as well as product development and national (government-funded) research projects. Since 2023 he has been with the Ajinomoto Group, where his work spans nutrition science, food technology, and digital transformation (DX). He is in charge of the Ajinomoto Group Nutrient Profiling System (ANPS) - including its Product, Dish, Meal, and Day variants - which scores the overall nutritional balance of foods. Leveraging DX technologies, he applies Python and large language models (LLMs) to improve operational efficiency, and advances data analysis and the development of nutrition-related technologies.  

			ORGANIZER	

					
	

			CO-ORGANIZERS	

					
	

					
	

			CONTACT	
	
If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the following:
	ILSI Southeast Asia Region

18 Mohamed Sultan Road #03-01 Singapore 238967

Tel: 65 6352 5220

Email: event@ilsisea.org.sg


            [post_title] => Updates on Nutrition Issues and Health Claims in Japan, Southeast Asia Region and Taiwan
            [post_excerpt] => 
            [post_status] => publish
            [comment_status] => closed
            [ping_status] => closed
            [post_password] => 
            [post_name] => nutrition-labeling-claims-2026
            [to_ping] => 
            [pinged] => 
            [post_modified] => 2026-09-29 09:18:23
            [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-09-29 09:18:23
            [post_content_filtered] => 
            [post_parent] => 0
            [guid] => https://ilsisea-region.org/?post_type=event&p=31168
            [menu_order] => 0
            [post_type] => event
            [post_mime_type] => 
            [comment_count] => 0
            [filter] => raw
        )

    [comment_count] => 0
    [current_comment] => -1
    [found_posts] => 7
    [max_num_pages] => 2
    [max_num_comment_pages] => 0
    [is_single] => 
    [is_preview] => 
    [is_page] => 
    [is_archive] => 
    [is_date] => 
    [is_year] => 
    [is_month] => 
    [is_day] => 
    [is_time] => 
    [is_author] => 
    [is_category] => 
    [is_tag] => 
    [is_tax] => 
    [is_search] => 
    [is_feed] => 
    [is_comment_feed] => 
    [is_trackback] => 
    [is_home] => 1
    [is_privacy_policy] => 
    [is_404] => 
    [is_embed] => 
    [is_paged] => 
    [is_admin] => 
    [is_attachment] => 
    [is_singular] => 
    [is_robots] => 
    [is_favicon] => 
    [is_posts_page] => 
    [is_post_type_archive] => 
    [query_vars_hash:WP_Query:private] => 9570855ec2d86e382bd5ee1b2e8da4c8
    [query_vars_changed:WP_Query:private] => 
    [thumbnails_cached] => 
    [allow_query_attachment_by_filename:protected] => 
    [stopwords:WP_Query:private] => 
    [compat_fields:WP_Query:private] => Array
        (
            [0] => query_vars_hash
            [1] => query_vars_changed
        )

    [compat_methods:WP_Query:private] => Array
        (
            [0] => init_query_flags
            [1] => parse_tax_query
        )

    [query_cache_key:WP_Query:private] => wp_query:5496051a566175561be064273dfb0c91
)