Upcoming Events
2nd Regional Symposium on Nutrition and Healthy Longevity
23/09/2026 – 24/09/2026
Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
Updates on Nutrition Issues and Health Claims in Japan, Southeast Asia Region and Taiwan
30/09/2026
Tokyo International Forum, Japan
Scientific Sessions at IUFoST World Food Congress 2026
25/10/2026 – 29/10/2026
AsiaWorld-Expo , Hong Kong
Science Symposium on Front-of-Pack Labeling: Evidence, Design, and Regional Experience
10/11/2026
Manila, Philippines
- Opening Plenary: The Longevity Imperative in ASEAN
Dr Manami Uechi, Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia - Keynote Lecture: Nutrition for Healthy Longevity: An Integrative Approach through Epidemiology, Randomized Trials, and Biological Pathways (Virtual)
Prof Howard D Sesso, Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA
10:00 - 10:30 hr Morning break / Networking
Chair: Prof Dr Mahenderan Appukutty, Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Addressing Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity in Asian Populations
Prof Hidenori Arai, National Center for Geriatrics and gerontology (NCGG), Japan - Seizing the Midlife Window: Nutrition Interventions and Models for Healthy Aging in Asia
Prof Yoke Mun Chan,Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia - From Nutrients to Muscle Health: Protein, Micronutrients and Physical Activities in Muscle Biology
Prof Satoshi Fujita, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
12:00 - 13:30 hr Lunch / Exhibit & Poster Viewing / Networking
Chair: Prof Dr Hamid Jan Jan Mohamed, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Foundations of Women's Longevity: Life-Course Health, Nutrition, and Integrated Care from Reproductive Years to Aging
Assoc Prof Dr Ixora Kamisan Atan, UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia - Muscle and Bone Health in Women During Menopause Transition
Dr Mya-Thway Tint, Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore - Protected, or Just Delayed? Rethinking Cardiovascular Risk in Southeast Asian Women -Insights from a Deeply Phenotyped Multiethnic Cohort
Dr Rinkoo Dalan, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
15:00 - 15:30 hr Afternoon Break / Poster & Exhibit Viewing / Networking
Chairs: TBC
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Promoting Brain Health in Aging: From Observation to Interventions
Prof Feng Lei, 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
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Dr Natthapong Kunthawong, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
- Ms Indah Mardhika, Ministry of Health, Indonesia
17:30 hr End of Day 1
Day 2 | 24 September 2026
08:45 - 09:30 hr Rapid-Fire Poster Oral Presentations
Chair: TBC
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
10:30 - 10:45 hr Q&A
Chair: Prof Dr Lay Ching Chai, Sunway University, Malaysia
- From Gut Science to Solutions: Translating Microbiome Research into Nutrition Interventions
Prof Dr Nur Pudji Astuti Daud, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia - Nutrients and Micronutrients Supplementation for Healthy Aging: Evidence, Efficacy and Practical Applications
Prof Patricia Conway, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore - The Ageing Gut: Unlocking Innovative Nutritional Solutions for Healthy Longevity
Ms Steph Baker, dsm-firmenich, Singapore
12:00 - 13:30 hr Lunch / Exhibit & Poster Viewing / Networking
Chair: Dr Yoke Mun Chan, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Traditional Knowledge Meets Modern Science: Functional Foods for Asian Longevity
Prof Suzana Shahar, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia - Fermented Foods, the Microbiome and Metabolic Health: From Cultural Practice to Modern Evidence
Prof Diana Nur Afifah, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia - From Bioactives to Benefits: Efficacy and Clinical Relevance of Functional Food Components for Healthy Aging
Dr Lee Cheng Phua, Suntory Beverage & Food Asia, Singapore
14:45 - 15:15 hr Afternoon Break / Poster & Exhibit Viewing / Networking
Chair: Dr E Siong Tee, TES Nutrihealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Regulating Functional Foods and Ingredients for Healthy Longevity: the China Experience
Speaker TBC, China - Labelling, Education and Communication of Functional Foods: From Science to Consumer Understanding
Prof (Emeritus) Pavinee Chinachoti, Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), Thailand
15:55 - 16:05 hr Q&A
16:05 - 16:45 hr Panel Discussion16:45 - 17:00 hr
Announcement of Best Posters/ Oral Presentation Awards
Closing Remarks
Summary and Call-to-action
SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS
Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia
Dr Manami Uechi, Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia
Dr. Manami Uechi serves as the Director of Healthcare Services and leads the Health and Social Welfare Research Unit at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), an international research organisation and policy think tank in Jakarta, Indonesia. A primary care physician, educator, global health practitioner, and nutritionist, Dr. Uechi possesses extensive international experience in both clinical and academic settings across diverse geographical and sociocultural landscapes, including Japan, the United States, Central Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Her clinical training in resource-impoverished communities has heightened her awareness of the urgent needs to address health disparities and inequities faced by the world's most marginalised and vulnerable populations. She is a passionate advocate for health and social equity, and her research interests lie on the intersections of food/nutrition insecurity, malnutrition, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which disproportionately affect low-income communities, Indigenous peoples, and other historically underserved populations in both urban and rural areas. Dr. Uechi holds a BSc in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University, a Bachelor of Medicine and Doctor of Medicine from Universitas Indonesia, and a Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery from Harvard University.
Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA
Prof Howard D. Sesso, ScD, MPH, FAHA, Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA
Dr. Howard D. Sesso is an Associate Epidemiologist at the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He designs and conducts randomized clinical trials and epidemiologic studies, focusing on dietary supplements, nutrition, and lifestyle factors to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, cancer, and other aging-related outcomes. Dr. Sesso is Associate Director of the Division of Preventive Medicine and Director of Nutrition and Supplement Research at the Osher Center for Integrative Health. Dr. Sesso has been involved in several major trials at the Division of Preventive Medicine, helping lead the Physicians' Health Study (PHS), conducting several ancillary studies in the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL, and co-leading the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS). He has also conducted several small-scale clinical trials testing dietary supplements and nutrition, plus initiated an Epigenetics Working Group stemming from several research grants across PHS, VITAL, and COSMOS. He has published extensively, teaches courses on clinical trials and epidemiology, and enjoys mentoring students and junior faculty.
National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (NCGG), Japan
Prof Hidenori Arai, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (NCGG), Japan
Prof. Hidenori Arai is the President of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Japan. He obtained his M.D. and Ph.D. from Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine.
Prof. Arai has held various academic and leadership positions, including Director and Deputy Director of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, as well as Professor at the Department of Human Health Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine.
He currently serves in leadership roles in several professional organizations, including as President of the Japanese Association on Sarcopenia and Frailty, and President of the Asian Academy of Medicine for Ageing. He is also a board member of the Japan Geriatrics Society and the Japan Atherosclerosis Society. Prof. Arai has contributed extensively to the scientific community through editorial roles in international journals and has received recognition for his work, including the JAT Award 2014 and John Morley Award 2020.
Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Prof Yoke Mun Chan, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Prof. Dr. Chan is a distinguished academician-dietitian at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and a leading expert in Dietetics and Gerontology. As the Program Head of Medical Gerontology at the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing, UPM, she also spearheads the Research Centre of Excellence in Nutrition and Non-communicable Diseases (RCoE NNCD) at UPM. A passionate advocate for nutrition-focused research, Prof. Dr. Chan specializes in renal nutrition, geriatric nutrition, capacity building, health promotion, and digital dietetics innovation. Her interdisciplinary research spans nutritional interventions, health promotion, epidemiology, and mobile health solutions, aiming to enhance patient and community self-efficacy. With an impressive portfolio, she has led 27 research projects and authored over 100 publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles, national guidelines, modules, and books. Recognized as a key opinion leader, she serves on expert panels for various national and international committees, contributing to crucial policy documents. Her unwavering commitment to research excellence, innovation, and community empowerment underscores her mission to strengthen the scientific ecosystem in the region while shaping the future of nutrition and health sciences.
Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Prof Satoshi Fujita, Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Dr Satoshi Fujita is a Professor at the College of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University. His current area of research focus is on nutritional and contractile regulation of muscle growth in the prevention of sarcopenia. He was the recipient of the Recognition Award for Meritorious Research by a Young Investigator from the American Physiological Society, as well as the Abstract Competition Award from the American Society for Nutrition. Dr. Fujita has previously held posts as an assistant professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics at the Sealy Center on Aging at the University of Texas Medical Branch and assistant professor at the Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies of the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo. He received his Ph.D. in kinesiology from the University of Southern California.
UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia
Assoc Prof Dr Ixora Kamisan Atan, UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia
Dr. Ixora Kamisan Atan is a Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist & Urogynaecologist and an Associate Professor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Head of O&G Department in the Faculty of Medicine and Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, National University of Malaysia (UKM), and an Adjunct Professor in the Putra University Malaysia. She is a member of Malaysian O&G Conjoint Board for postgraduate O&G specialty training and is the course director for the Doctor of O&G (DrObGyn) Programme, and Urogynaecology Clinical Fellowship Programme in UKM. She is an active member of the International Urogynaecology Association (IUGA) and was previously a member of IUGA Research and Development committee. Now she is a member of IUGA Fellowship Development Committee and PISQ-IR writing Group. She is also the Vice President for Malaysian Urogynaecology Society (MUGS). She is a lactation consultant and is a breastfeeding advocate.
She graduated with a medical degree in 1999 and master in O&G in 2007. She completed her subspecialty training in Urogynaecology and PhD in Sydney Medical School Nepean, University of Sydney in 2014 and 2018, respectively. Her main expertise is maternal birth trauma and pelvic floor imaging with her PhD thesis titled: "Pelvic floor trauma following delivery." She is the first Malaysian gynaecologist to be formally trained in Translabial / Transperineal Pelvic Floor ultrasound. From 20122014, she was appointed as the Honorary Clinical Lecturer in O&G by the University of Sydney. She was awarded the 'Isobel Corin Award' for young researchers in 2012 and 2014, by the Nepean Medical Research Foundations (Australia) and, the University of Sydney Postgraduate Research Scheme in 2014 and 2015 to present her work in pelvic floor trauma and pelvic floor dysfunction internationally. Her special interest is in Maternal Birth Trauma and has set up a Maternal Birth trauma clinic in HCTM, a specially designated clinic aimed to manage women who had sustained major perineal trauma. She had numerous publications related to pelvic floor trauma following childbirth and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore
Dr Mya-Thway Tint, Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore
Dr Mya Thway Tint is a Principal Scientist at Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and an adjunct assistant professor at Human Potential Translational Research Program, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore.
Her expertise is in advanced body-composition assessment using criterion methods such as air displacement plethysmography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and quantitative magnetic resonance technology.
Her research adopts a life-course approach to understanding body composition, spanning early development to adult phenotypes. Her work examines how developmental factors shape offspring's obesity and metabolic risk leveraging Singapore's major longitudinal birth cohorts; GUSTO and S-PRESTO.
A key focus of her research is musculoskeletal health across the life course, with a particular emphasis on identifying early, silent phenotypes that predispose individuals to later musculoskeletal disorders. Her research aims to transform musculoskeletal healthcare from its current reactive model into a proactive, preventive life course approach.
Her aspiration is to prevent sarcopenia, frailty, and related comorbidities through early risk profiling, systematic screening, and tailored intervention strategies.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Assoc Prof Dr Rinkoo Dalan, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Assoc Prof Dr Rinkoo Dalan is a Senior Consultant Endocrinologist and clinician-scientist focused on vascular health in cardiometabolic disease. Supported by successive NMRC awards (Transition Award 2014; Clinician Scientist Award), she built a deeply-phenotyped vascular cohort and studied therapeutic effects on vascular health in diabetes. She founded the Predict-2-Prevent programme for personalised cardiometabolic risk management program. She is also the clinical co-director of Nutrition, Metabolism and Health in LKCMedicine, NTU. Her current work includes a longitudinal prospective cohort of individuals with cardiometabolic conditions, colchicine trial to reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes and digital-twin predictive analytics for diabetes care.
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
Prof Feng Lei, Department of Psychological Medicine & Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
Prof Dr Feng Lei received his medical and psychiatric trainings in Shandong, China and obtained his PhD from the National University of Singapore in 2009. He has worked as a lecturer of medical psychology at Weifang Medical University in Shandong province, China from 2000 to 2004, where he also provided counselling and psychotherapy services. He received research training on functional neuroimaging, at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge in 2013 and conducted visiting research on cognitive aging at the Aging Research Center (ARC), Karolinska Institute (KI) in 2016. Dr Feng is currently a Principal Investigator and Research Assistant Professor at Department of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore.
His primary research interests include healthy longevity and the epidemiology and prevention of cognitive decline and dementia, with a particular focus on lifestyle factors, nutrition, and plant-based bioactive compound.
He has been involved in cognitive aging and dementia research for over 20 years. He is currently leading several community-based studies in Singapore: The Diet and Healthy Aging (DaHA) study, the Aging in a Community Environment Study (ACES), the Choral Singing for Dementia Prevention Trial, Evidence-based Lifestyle Interventions Trial, and the Efficacy of Mushroom to Prevent Cognitive Decline Study, with over 200 research publications on ageing, dementia, psychiatric and neuroscience research studies.
He has won numerous awards like the Alice Lim Memorial Fund Award in 2010, the NUHS Academic Medicine Development Award in 2013, and the NUHS Clinician Scientist Program Award in 2014. He was chosen to receive the NMRC Clinician Scientist Transition Award in 2017 and the NMRC Clinician Scientist Award in 2023.
Sunway University, Malaysia
Ts. Dr. Ee Xion Tan, Sunway University, Malaysia
Ts. Dr. Ee Xion Tan is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University. With a background in Computer Science and Information Systems, her expertise lies at the intersection of digital health, health informatics, data analytics, and AI-enabled decision support systems. She has experience designing and evaluating data-driven solutions for healthcare delivery, clinical decision-making, and health education. Her research focuses on translating evidence into practice through applied analytics, digital health innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with particular interest in implementation-focused research that bridges clinical needs, technology design, and real-world healthcare impact.
Ministry of Health, Indonesia
Ms Indah Nugraheni Mardhika, Ministry of Health, Indonesia
Indah N Mardhika, MScPH, is the Team Leader for Elderly Health at the Directorate of Vulnerable Groups Health Services, Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia. She has extensive experience in public health and health program development within the Ministry of Health. In her current role, she leads and coordinates the development and implementation of policies and programs for older persons' health across the continuum of care, including active and healthy ageing, integrated primary and community-based health services, and long-term care.
She holds a Master of Science in Public Health, specializing in International Public Health, from Griffith University, Australia, and a Bachelor of Public Health from Universitas Indonesia.
National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
Asst Prof Vincenso Sorrentino, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
Vincenzo Sorrentino is an Italian-born scientist in the fields of aging, mitochondrial biology and neuromuscular degeneration. After his PhD with honors obtained at the University of Amsterdam, he carried his postdoctoral research in Prof. Johan Auwerx's lab at the EPFL in Switzerland. From 2019 till 2022, he took a role as Group Leader at the Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences in Switzerland, to lead research focused on integrating basic discoveries on natural bioactives that modulate NAD+, mitochondria and protein homeostasis with their possible translation into clinical applications. Currently, he is Assistant Professor at the NUS with the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam. His work on mitochondria and NAD+ metabolism in Alzheimer's disease and muscle aging has resulted in his discoveries appearing in Nature (2017), Cell Reports (2021) and recently with the discovery of a novel natural NAD+ modulator and of a link between cellular senescence, NAD+ metabolism and epigenetics in early kidney disease appearing in in Nature Metabolism (2024) and in Cell Reports (2026)
Shanghai University, China
Prof Junjie Xiao, Shanghai University, China
Prof Junjie Xiao is the dean of the School of Life Science, Shanghai University, China. In addition, he is the director of the Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials and Technology for Organ Regeneration of the Ministry of Education, the director of the Shanghai Organ Regeneration Engineering Technology Research Centre, and the head of the Cardiovascular Research Institute of Shanghai University. He is an Associate Editor of Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology and Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, and is on the editorial boards of several other notable journals. He has authored or co-authored in journals such as Circulation and Circulation Research. His research focuses on heart failure intervention and risk prediction, with a particular emphasis on exercise-induced cardiac regeneration and the identification of novel therapeutic targets. He is also interested in epigenetic and metabolic regulations of cardiac function upon exercise and under pathological conditions such as aging.
Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
Prof Dr Nur Pudji Astuti Daud, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
Prof. Dr. dr. Nur Pudji Astuti Daud, MPH., Sp.GK.subsp.PK. FRSPH, AIFO (K) is a distinguished academic, Clinical Nutrition Consultant, researcher, medical educator, and professional organization leader with extensive experience in clinical nutrition, medical specialist education, scientific research, health innovation, food security, and community outreach.
She has devoted her professional career to the advancement of Clinical Nutrition and specialist medical education in Indonesia. Her academic leadership at Hasanuddin University includes serving as Secretary of the Academic Senate, Chairwoman of Commission II for Research and Community Outreach, and Chairperson of Commission II of the Professor Board. She has also served as Head of the Clinical Specialist Program at the Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University since 2014.
Her clinical leadership includes serving as Chief of the Functional Medical Staff for Clinical Nutrition at Dr. Wahidin Hospital and Hasanuddin University Teaching Hospital. She currently continues her clinical practice as a Clinical Nutrition Consultant at Stella Maris Hospital.
At the national professional level, she served as Chairperson of the Indonesian Clinical Nutrition Physician Society (PDGKI) from 2015 to 2023 and previously served as Chairperson of the Indonesian Collegium of Clinical Nutrition Physicians from 2012 to 2015. Since 2014, she has also contributed as a Member of the Expert Working Group of the Food Security Council, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia.
Her academic and scientific interests include Clinical Nutrition, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals, Food Science, Metabolic Health, Obesity, Diabetes, Gut Microbiome, Maternal and Child Nutrition, Food Security, Indigenous Food Resources, and nutrition-based health innovation.
Her research activities have resulted in an extensive portfolio of internationally indexed scientific publications as well as numerous invention patents, simple invention patents, copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights. Her innovations particularly focus on transforming Indonesia's indigenous food resources and bioactive compounds into functional foods, nutritional supplements, and health-related products.
Her academic, research, professional, and innovation achievements have been recognized through numerous national awards, including Best Lecturer, Outstanding Lecturer, Best Researcher, Best Innovation Award, multiple Satya Karya Lencana awards from the President of the Republic of Indonesia, and recognition as an inspiring woman in health and research.
In 2026, she was recognized by the Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI) as the Initiator and Founder of the Clinical Nutrition Specialist Education Program.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Prof Patricia Conway, Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Prof Patricia Conway is Visiting Professor of the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Singapore and CEO of PC Biome Pte Ltd. She was Professor at the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering and in the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Food Technology Centre, NTU. She has extensive research and industry R&D experience, including authorship on over 100 scientific papers in international journals, monographs or book chapters, and numerous plenary or keynote lectures at international meetings. She is inventor on over 20 patent applications and Principal Investigator on grants in Sweden, Australia and Singapore. Prof Conway's research interests are gastrointestinal microbiology, functional foods including probiotics and prebiotics. She has a particular focus on bacterial colonization of the gastrointestinal tract and mechanisms of bacterial adhesion, pathogen inhibition and immune modulation in animals and humans in order to develop ways of modulating the microbiome for health.
dsm-firmenich, Singapore
Ms Stephanie Baker, dsm-firmenich, Singapore
Ms Stephanie Baker is a Registered Nutritionist and Scientist within the APAC Regional Science team at dsm-firmenich. With over a decade of experience in nutrition science, innovation, and scientific affairs, she is dedicated to advancing evidence-based nutritional solutions that support healthy ageing and lifelong health. Throughout her career, Steph has worked across research and development, product innovation, science communication, and stakeholder engagement, helping translate emerging scientific discoveries into impactful health and nutrition solutions. Based in Singapore, she collaborates closely with academic researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry partners across Asia-Pacific to drive scientific partnerships and promote the role of nutrition in extending healthspan. Her particular interests include healthy longevity, gut health, and translating cutting-edge nutrition science into meaningful benefits for consumers and patients.
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Asst Prof Dr Varanya Techasukthavorn, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Assistant Professor Dr. Varanya Techasukthavorn is a university professor, researcher, and registered dietitian who bridges the gap between food science and clinical nutrition. A leading expert in food rheology and dysphagia management, she specializes in the science of food texture modification, ensuring that altered-diet meals are both clinically safe and sensorially appealing.
She has played a pioneering role in adapting and implementing the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) frameworks in Thailand and across the broader Asian region. Her research into fluid mechanics and hydrocolloid thickeners investigates how innovative food products can ensure that texture-modified meals precisely meet global safety standards.
Recognizing that modified diets must be enjoyable to prevent malnutrition and food fatigue in aging populations and clinical patients, Dr. Techasukthavorn actively spearheads culinary innovations. She led the creation of "46 IDDSI-Compliant Swallowing Practice Menus" (developed in collaboration with the Thai Dietetic Association), which served as Thailand's first-ever cookbook designed to assist with swallowing rehabilitation. She subsequently built upon this foundation by publishing "Happy to Swallow: 52 Simple Recipes for Delicious Meals."
Beyond her laboratory research and academic publications, Dr. Techasukthavorn is deeply committed to translating complex food science and sensory principles into real-world, community-level solutions that improve patient quality of life.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
Prof Suzana Shahar, Aging and Wellness Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
Prof Dr Suzana Shahar is a Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics from the Healthy Aging and Wellness Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM); and Honorary Fellow of the Malaysian Dietitians' Association. She is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UKM. She is the founder of the Centre for Healthy Aging, UKM and the Senior Citizen Centre (PAWE UKM).
Prof Shahar obtained her BSc (Hons) (Dietetics) from UKM and MMed Sci (Human Nutrition) and PhD (Human Nutrition) from the University of Sheffield, UK. Her research interest is on nutrition, wellness and aging. Prof Shahar led a nationwide project on 'Neuroprotective Model for Healthy Longevity among Malaysian Elderly', and currently leads a clinical trial to reverse cognitive frailty among Malaysian older adults under the auspice of the World-Wide FINGERS Trial. Both projects were funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia. Prof Shahar also led the Newton Impact Fund Scheme on Developing Salt Reduction Policy for Malaysia. She has filed two formulations for improvement of oxidative stress and cognitive function in aging population, i.e. TP3in1 juice and Cosmos Caudatus powder.
Prof Shahar has published more than 300 publications. She also serves as committee member of several guidelines spearheaded by the Ministry of Health, under the National Coordinating Committee of Food and Nutrition, as well as the International Research Networking on Dementia Prevention, WHO Working Guideline Committee of Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline, and Consortium on Longitudinal Study on Memory (COSMIC).
Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia
Prof Diana Nur Afifah, Department of Nutrition Science at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia
Prof. Dr. Diana Nur Afifah is a Professor at the Department of Nutrition Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia. Her expertise focuses on nutrition science of local foods and food biotechnology, with extensive research on Indonesian fermented foods, functional foods, food bioactives, metabolic health, gut health, and sustainable local food innovation. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Food Technology and doctoral degree in Food Science from IPB University, and her master's degree in Community Nutrition from Universitas Diponegoro. She has also undertaken postdoctoral and academic experiences at Gyeongsang National University, South Korea, and The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Prof. Afifah has published widely on gembus tempeh, fibrinolytic enzymes from fermented foods, banana resistant starch, mangrove-based foods, fish protein hydrolysate, sacha inchi tempeh, and functional noodles. Her work bridges traditional food practices with modern scientific evidence, particularly in exploring how local bioresources and fermented foods may contribute to improved nutrition, metabolic health, and healthy longevity. Her current research interest includes the development of noodles as functional foods and sustainable local food innovation for health benefits. At the 2nd Regional Symposium on Nutrition and Healthy Longevity, she will present "Fermented Foods, the Microbiome and Metabolic Health: from Cultural Practice to Modern Evidence."
Suntory Beverage & Food Asia, Singapore
Dr Lee Cheng Phua, Suntory Beverage & Food Asia, Singapore
Dr Lee Cheng Phua is a clinical scientist with a background in clinical and translational research and health technology assessment.
A pharmacist by training, Dr Phua obtained her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the National University of Singapore, where her research focused on biomarkers for cancer detection and prediction of treatment outcomes. She subsequently conducted clinical research at Singapore General Hospital and later worked in Health Technology Assessment at Singapore's Ministry of Health, evaluating the clinical and cost effectiveness of healthcare interventions.
She is currently involved in the design, conduct and interpretation of clinical studies in brain health and healthy longevity at Suntory Beverage & Food Asia. She collaborates with academic investigators and research partners across Asia to advance evidence-based nutritional research.
Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), Thailand
Prof (Emeritus) Pavinee Chinachoti, Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), Thailand
Pavinee Chinachoti received Ph.D. in Food Science (U of Illinois) at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), she pioneered the study of water mobility in foods that impacts microbial activity, staling mechanisms, lipid oxidation, and MREs shelf-life. In 2003, she became the founding Chair of Product Science group at Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. where she led some functional ingredient projects such as fish oil, probiotics, palatability, encapsulation, and chitosan etc. She became Dean and Director of NFF R&D Center at PSU, Thailand. She is now active in FDA's regulatory aspects of health claims. She is current IUFoST's President-Elect.
Stay tuned for more eminent speakers!
ORGANIZER
CO-ORGANIZER
COLLABORATOR
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
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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 ATTENDFood industry personnel, food scientists, nutritionists, dietitians and health professionals, regulatory officers from different government departments and agencies, researchers and academicians
- 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
The1-day seminar will be held at:
Address: 3 Chome-5-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda City, Tokyo 100-0005, Japan
Website: https://www.t-i-forum.co.jp/en/
REGISTRATION
| Industry (Non-ILSI Members) | ¥ 25,000 |
| Industry (ILSI Members) | ¥ 16,500 |
PROGRAM AND SPEAKERS
08:35 - 09:15 hr (GMT+8) Registration
09:15- 09:30 hr Welcome Address and IntroductionMrs. 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
Speaker TBC, CAA, Japan 10:15-10:35 hr Updates on Health Claims Regulations from Taiwan
Speaker TBC, 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
Speaker TBC, 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
Speaker TBC
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
TES Nutrihealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia
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.
National Institute of Health and Nutrition (NIHN), Japan
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.
Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health, Malaysia
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.
Policy and Strategy Development, Health Promotion Board, Singapore
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.
Food Division, Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
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.
ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore
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.
Food Safety and Quality Programme (FSQP), Ministry of Health, Malaysia
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.
National Institutes of Biomedical Innovation, Health and Nutrition, Japan
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.
Institute of Food Science and Technologies, Ajinomoto, Co. Inc., Japan
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 Region18 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] => 2026-09-08 06:31:34 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-09-08 06:31:34 [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 ) [2] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 31207 [post_author] => 353 [post_date] => 2026-08-19 03:55:35 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-08-19 03:55:35 [post_content] =>
ILSI SEA Region, in collaboration with ILSI Global(opens in new tab) and ALSIN(opens in new tab), will participate in the upcoming IUFoST World Food Congress 2026, to be held on 25-29 October 2026 in Hong Kong. The IUFoST World Food Congress brings together scientists, technologists, policymakers, industry leaders and other stakeholders from around the world to exchange scientific knowledge, share perspectives and explore evidence-based approaches to the evolving challenges in food, health and sustainability.
Scientific Sessions
As part of the Congress program, ILSI SEA Region, in collaboration with ILSI Global and ALSIN, will organize 2 scientific sessions:
Food Consumption Pattern, Processed Foods and Dietary Guidance - Perspectives from Asia and SE Asia
26 October 2026, 16:00 - 17:30 hrs
The Protein Landscape in SE Asia - Dietary Supply, Health and Sustainable Solution
27 October 2026, Time TBC
Further details on the program, speakers and session schedules will be announced soon.
Come and Say Hello! Visit us at our Exhibition Booth!
You can also find us at the Congress exhibition. Stop by our booth to learn more about our scientific programs, activities and collaborative work across the world.
Booth number and further details will be announced soon.
For more information regarding the IUFoST World Food Congress 2026, visit:
IUFoST World Food Congress 2026 Homepage(opens in new tab) [post_title] => Scientific Sessions at IUFoST World Food Congress 2026 [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => ilsi-iufost-2026 [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-08-31 03:57:08 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-08-31 03:57:08 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsisea-region.org/?post_type=event&p=31207 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => event [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) [3] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 31211 [post_author] => 353 [post_date] => 2026-08-25 02:54:31 [post_date_gmt] => 2026-08-25 02:54:31 [post_content] =>Details regarding the program and registration will be shared soon. Stay tuned!
[post_title] => Science Symposium on Front-of-Pack Labeling: Evidence, Design, and Regional Experience [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => fopl-2026-ph [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2026-08-25 02:55:02 [post_modified_gmt] => 2026-08-25 02:55:02 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://ilsisea-region.org/?post_type=event&p=31211 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => event [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 4 [current_post] => -1 [before_loop] => [in_the_loop] => [post] => 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] =>REGISTRATION
Local Registration(opens in new tab)Overseas Registration(opens in new tab)PROGRAM AGENDA
Day 1 | 23 September 2026
08:45 - 09:00 hrOpening and Welcome Remarks
Mrs Boon Yee Yeong, ILSI SEA Region, Singapore
Prof Dr Mahenderan Appukutty, Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), Malaysia
Prof Dr Lay Ching Chai, Sunway University, Malaysia
Chair: Mr Geoffry Smith, ILSI Southeast Asia Region, Singapore
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Opening Plenary: The Longevity Imperative in ASEAN
Dr Manami Uechi, Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia - Keynote Lecture: Nutrition for Healthy Longevity: An Integrative Approach through Epidemiology, Randomized Trials, and Biological Pathways (Virtual)
Prof Howard D Sesso, Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA
10:00 - 10:30 hr Morning break / Networking
Chair: Prof Dr Mahenderan Appukutty, Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Addressing Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Obesity in Asian Populations
Prof Hidenori Arai, National Center for Geriatrics and gerontology (NCGG), Japan - Seizing the Midlife Window: Nutrition Interventions and Models for Healthy Aging in Asia
Prof Yoke Mun Chan,Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia - From Nutrients to Muscle Health: Protein, Micronutrients and Physical Activities in Muscle Biology
Prof Satoshi Fujita, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
12:00 - 13:30 hr Lunch / Exhibit & Poster Viewing / Networking
Chair: Prof Dr Hamid Jan Jan Mohamed, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Foundations of Women's Longevity: Life-Course Health, Nutrition, and Integrated Care from Reproductive Years to Aging
Assoc Prof Dr Ixora Kamisan Atan, UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia - Muscle and Bone Health in Women During Menopause Transition
Dr Mya-Thway Tint, Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore - Protected, or Just Delayed? Rethinking Cardiovascular Risk in Southeast Asian Women -Insights from a Deeply Phenotyped Multiethnic Cohort
Dr Rinkoo Dalan, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
15:00 - 15:30 hr Afternoon Break / Poster & Exhibit Viewing / Networking
Chairs: TBC
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Promoting Brain Health in Aging: From Observation to Interventions
Prof Feng Lei, 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
- Singapore
- Malaysia
- Dr Natthapong Kunthawong, Ministry of Public Health, Thailand
- Ms Indah Mardhika, Ministry of Health, Indonesia
17:30 hr End of Day 1
Day 2 | 24 September 2026
08:45 - 09:30 hr Rapid-Fire Poster Oral Presentations
Chair: TBC
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
10:30 - 10:45 hr Q&A
Chair: Prof Dr Lay Ching Chai, Sunway University, Malaysia
- From Gut Science to Solutions: Translating Microbiome Research into Nutrition Interventions
Prof Dr Nur Pudji Astuti Daud, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia - Nutrients and Micronutrients Supplementation for Healthy Aging: Evidence, Efficacy and Practical Applications
Prof Patricia Conway, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore - The Ageing Gut: Unlocking Innovative Nutritional Solutions for Healthy Longevity
Ms Steph Baker, dsm-firmenich, Singapore
12:00 - 13:30 hr Lunch / Exhibit & Poster Viewing / Networking
Chair: Dr Yoke Mun Chan, Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Traditional Knowledge Meets Modern Science: Functional Foods for Asian Longevity
Prof Suzana Shahar, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia - Fermented Foods, the Microbiome and Metabolic Health: From Cultural Practice to Modern Evidence
Prof Diana Nur Afifah, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia - From Bioactives to Benefits: Efficacy and Clinical Relevance of Functional Food Components for Healthy Aging
Dr Lee Cheng Phua, Suntory Beverage & Food Asia, Singapore
14:45 - 15:15 hr Afternoon Break / Poster & Exhibit Viewing / Networking
Chair: Dr E Siong Tee, TES Nutrihealth Strategic Consultancy, Malaysia
Featuring the following presentations and speakers:
- Regulating Functional Foods and Ingredients for Healthy Longevity: the China Experience
Speaker TBC, China - Labelling, Education and Communication of Functional Foods: From Science to Consumer Understanding
Prof (Emeritus) Pavinee Chinachoti, Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), Thailand
15:55 - 16:05 hr Q&A
16:05 - 16:45 hr Panel Discussion16:45 - 17:00 hr
Announcement of Best Posters/ Oral Presentation Awards
Closing Remarks
Summary and Call-to-action
SYMPOSIUM SPEAKERS
Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia
Dr Manami Uechi, Economic Research Institute of ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), Indonesia
Dr. Manami Uechi serves as the Director of Healthcare Services and leads the Health and Social Welfare Research Unit at the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), an international research organisation and policy think tank in Jakarta, Indonesia. A primary care physician, educator, global health practitioner, and nutritionist, Dr. Uechi possesses extensive international experience in both clinical and academic settings across diverse geographical and sociocultural landscapes, including Japan, the United States, Central Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East. Her clinical training in resource-impoverished communities has heightened her awareness of the urgent needs to address health disparities and inequities faced by the world's most marginalised and vulnerable populations. She is a passionate advocate for health and social equity, and her research interests lie on the intersections of food/nutrition insecurity, malnutrition, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), which disproportionately affect low-income communities, Indigenous peoples, and other historically underserved populations in both urban and rural areas. Dr. Uechi holds a BSc in Nutritional Sciences from Cornell University, a Bachelor of Medicine and Doctor of Medicine from Universitas Indonesia, and a Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery from Harvard University.
Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA
Prof Howard D. Sesso, ScD, MPH, FAHA, Brigham and Women's Hospital / Harvard Medical School, USA
Dr. Howard D. Sesso is an Associate Epidemiologist at the Division of Preventive Medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital, Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School, and Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. He designs and conducts randomized clinical trials and epidemiologic studies, focusing on dietary supplements, nutrition, and lifestyle factors to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, cancer, and other aging-related outcomes. Dr. Sesso is Associate Director of the Division of Preventive Medicine and Director of Nutrition and Supplement Research at the Osher Center for Integrative Health. Dr. Sesso has been involved in several major trials at the Division of Preventive Medicine, helping lead the Physicians' Health Study (PHS), conducting several ancillary studies in the VITamin D and OmegA-3 TriaL, and co-leading the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS). He has also conducted several small-scale clinical trials testing dietary supplements and nutrition, plus initiated an Epigenetics Working Group stemming from several research grants across PHS, VITAL, and COSMOS. He has published extensively, teaches courses on clinical trials and epidemiology, and enjoys mentoring students and junior faculty.
National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (NCGG), Japan
Prof Hidenori Arai, National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (NCGG), Japan
Prof. Hidenori Arai is the President of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, Japan. He obtained his M.D. and Ph.D. from Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine.
Prof. Arai has held various academic and leadership positions, including Director and Deputy Director of the National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology, as well as Professor at the Department of Human Health Sciences, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine.
He currently serves in leadership roles in several professional organizations, including as President of the Japanese Association on Sarcopenia and Frailty, and President of the Asian Academy of Medicine for Ageing. He is also a board member of the Japan Geriatrics Society and the Japan Atherosclerosis Society. Prof. Arai has contributed extensively to the scientific community through editorial roles in international journals and has received recognition for his work, including the JAT Award 2014 and John Morley Award 2020.
Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Prof Yoke Mun Chan, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
Prof. Dr. Chan is a distinguished academician-dietitian at Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM) and a leading expert in Dietetics and Gerontology. As the Program Head of Medical Gerontology at the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing, UPM, she also spearheads the Research Centre of Excellence in Nutrition and Non-communicable Diseases (RCoE NNCD) at UPM. A passionate advocate for nutrition-focused research, Prof. Dr. Chan specializes in renal nutrition, geriatric nutrition, capacity building, health promotion, and digital dietetics innovation. Her interdisciplinary research spans nutritional interventions, health promotion, epidemiology, and mobile health solutions, aiming to enhance patient and community self-efficacy. With an impressive portfolio, she has led 27 research projects and authored over 100 publications, including peer-reviewed journal articles, national guidelines, modules, and books. Recognized as a key opinion leader, she serves on expert panels for various national and international committees, contributing to crucial policy documents. Her unwavering commitment to research excellence, innovation, and community empowerment underscores her mission to strengthen the scientific ecosystem in the region while shaping the future of nutrition and health sciences.
Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Prof Satoshi Fujita, Faculty of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University, Japan
Dr Satoshi Fujita is a Professor at the College of Sport and Health Science, Ritsumeikan University. His current area of research focus is on nutritional and contractile regulation of muscle growth in the prevention of sarcopenia. He was the recipient of the Recognition Award for Meritorious Research by a Young Investigator from the American Physiological Society, as well as the Abstract Competition Award from the American Society for Nutrition. Dr. Fujita has previously held posts as an assistant professor of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics at the Sealy Center on Aging at the University of Texas Medical Branch and assistant professor at the Department of Human and Engineered Environmental Studies of the Graduate School of Frontier Sciences at the University of Tokyo. He received his Ph.D. in kinesiology from the University of Southern California.
UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia
Assoc Prof Dr Ixora Kamisan Atan, UKM Medical Centre, Malaysia
Dr. Ixora Kamisan Atan is a Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist & Urogynaecologist and an Associate Professor in Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Head of O&G Department in the Faculty of Medicine and Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz, National University of Malaysia (UKM), and an Adjunct Professor in the Putra University Malaysia. She is a member of Malaysian O&G Conjoint Board for postgraduate O&G specialty training and is the course director for the Doctor of O&G (DrObGyn) Programme, and Urogynaecology Clinical Fellowship Programme in UKM. She is an active member of the International Urogynaecology Association (IUGA) and was previously a member of IUGA Research and Development committee. Now she is a member of IUGA Fellowship Development Committee and PISQ-IR writing Group. She is also the Vice President for Malaysian Urogynaecology Society (MUGS). She is a lactation consultant and is a breastfeeding advocate.
She graduated with a medical degree in 1999 and master in O&G in 2007. She completed her subspecialty training in Urogynaecology and PhD in Sydney Medical School Nepean, University of Sydney in 2014 and 2018, respectively. Her main expertise is maternal birth trauma and pelvic floor imaging with her PhD thesis titled: "Pelvic floor trauma following delivery." She is the first Malaysian gynaecologist to be formally trained in Translabial / Transperineal Pelvic Floor ultrasound. From 20122014, she was appointed as the Honorary Clinical Lecturer in O&G by the University of Sydney. She was awarded the 'Isobel Corin Award' for young researchers in 2012 and 2014, by the Nepean Medical Research Foundations (Australia) and, the University of Sydney Postgraduate Research Scheme in 2014 and 2015 to present her work in pelvic floor trauma and pelvic floor dysfunction internationally. Her special interest is in Maternal Birth Trauma and has set up a Maternal Birth trauma clinic in HCTM, a specially designated clinic aimed to manage women who had sustained major perineal trauma. She had numerous publications related to pelvic floor trauma following childbirth and pelvic floor dysfunction.
Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore
Dr Mya-Thway Tint, Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), A*STAR, Singapore
Dr Mya Thway Tint is a Principal Scientist at Institute for Human Development and Potential (IHDP), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) and an adjunct assistant professor at Human Potential Translational Research Program, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, Singapore.
Her expertise is in advanced body-composition assessment using criterion methods such as air displacement plethysmography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and quantitative magnetic resonance technology.
Her research adopts a life-course approach to understanding body composition, spanning early development to adult phenotypes. Her work examines how developmental factors shape offspring's obesity and metabolic risk leveraging Singapore's major longitudinal birth cohorts; GUSTO and S-PRESTO.
A key focus of her research is musculoskeletal health across the life course, with a particular emphasis on identifying early, silent phenotypes that predispose individuals to later musculoskeletal disorders. Her research aims to transform musculoskeletal healthcare from its current reactive model into a proactive, preventive life course approach.
Her aspiration is to prevent sarcopenia, frailty, and related comorbidities through early risk profiling, systematic screening, and tailored intervention strategies.
Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Assoc Prof Dr Rinkoo Dalan, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore
Assoc Prof Dr Rinkoo Dalan is a Senior Consultant Endocrinologist and clinician-scientist focused on vascular health in cardiometabolic disease. Supported by successive NMRC awards (Transition Award 2014; Clinician Scientist Award), she built a deeply-phenotyped vascular cohort and studied therapeutic effects on vascular health in diabetes. She founded the Predict-2-Prevent programme for personalised cardiometabolic risk management program. She is also the clinical co-director of Nutrition, Metabolism and Health in LKCMedicine, NTU. Her current work includes a longitudinal prospective cohort of individuals with cardiometabolic conditions, colchicine trial to reduce cardiovascular risk in type 2 diabetes and digital-twin predictive analytics for diabetes care.
Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
Prof Feng Lei, Department of Psychological Medicine & Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore
Prof Dr Feng Lei received his medical and psychiatric trainings in Shandong, China and obtained his PhD from the National University of Singapore in 2009. He has worked as a lecturer of medical psychology at Weifang Medical University in Shandong province, China from 2000 to 2004, where he also provided counselling and psychotherapy services. He received research training on functional neuroimaging, at the Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge in 2013 and conducted visiting research on cognitive aging at the Aging Research Center (ARC), Karolinska Institute (KI) in 2016. Dr Feng is currently a Principal Investigator and Research Assistant Professor at Department of Psychological Medicine, National University of Singapore.
His primary research interests include healthy longevity and the epidemiology and prevention of cognitive decline and dementia, with a particular focus on lifestyle factors, nutrition, and plant-based bioactive compound.
He has been involved in cognitive aging and dementia research for over 20 years. He is currently leading several community-based studies in Singapore: The Diet and Healthy Aging (DaHA) study, the Aging in a Community Environment Study (ACES), the Choral Singing for Dementia Prevention Trial, Evidence-based Lifestyle Interventions Trial, and the Efficacy of Mushroom to Prevent Cognitive Decline Study, with over 200 research publications on ageing, dementia, psychiatric and neuroscience research studies.
He has won numerous awards like the Alice Lim Memorial Fund Award in 2010, the NUHS Academic Medicine Development Award in 2013, and the NUHS Clinician Scientist Program Award in 2014. He was chosen to receive the NMRC Clinician Scientist Transition Award in 2017 and the NMRC Clinician Scientist Award in 2023.
Sunway University, Malaysia
Ts. Dr. Ee Xion Tan, Sunway University, Malaysia
Ts. Dr. Ee Xion Tan is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Sunway University. With a background in Computer Science and Information Systems, her expertise lies at the intersection of digital health, health informatics, data analytics, and AI-enabled decision support systems. She has experience designing and evaluating data-driven solutions for healthcare delivery, clinical decision-making, and health education. Her research focuses on translating evidence into practice through applied analytics, digital health innovation, and interdisciplinary collaboration, with particular interest in implementation-focused research that bridges clinical needs, technology design, and real-world healthcare impact.
Ministry of Health, Indonesia
Ms Indah Nugraheni Mardhika, Ministry of Health, Indonesia
Indah N Mardhika, MScPH, is the Team Leader for Elderly Health at the Directorate of Vulnerable Groups Health Services, Ministry of Health, Republic of Indonesia. She has extensive experience in public health and health program development within the Ministry of Health. In her current role, she leads and coordinates the development and implementation of policies and programs for older persons' health across the continuum of care, including active and healthy ageing, integrated primary and community-based health services, and long-term care.
She holds a Master of Science in Public Health, specializing in International Public Health, from Griffith University, Australia, and a Bachelor of Public Health from Universitas Indonesia.
National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
Asst Prof Vincenso Sorrentino, National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore
Vincenzo Sorrentino is an Italian-born scientist in the fields of aging, mitochondrial biology and neuromuscular degeneration. After his PhD with honors obtained at the University of Amsterdam, he carried his postdoctoral research in Prof. Johan Auwerx's lab at the EPFL in Switzerland. From 2019 till 2022, he took a role as Group Leader at the Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences in Switzerland, to lead research focused on integrating basic discoveries on natural bioactives that modulate NAD+, mitochondria and protein homeostasis with their possible translation into clinical applications. Currently, he is Assistant Professor at the NUS with the Healthy Longevity Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, and an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Amsterdam. His work on mitochondria and NAD+ metabolism in Alzheimer's disease and muscle aging has resulted in his discoveries appearing in Nature (2017), Cell Reports (2021) and recently with the discovery of a novel natural NAD+ modulator and of a link between cellular senescence, NAD+ metabolism and epigenetics in early kidney disease appearing in in Nature Metabolism (2024) and in Cell Reports (2026)
Shanghai University, China
Prof Junjie Xiao, Shanghai University, China
Prof Junjie Xiao is the dean of the School of Life Science, Shanghai University, China. In addition, he is the director of the Key Laboratory of Biomedical Materials and Technology for Organ Regeneration of the Ministry of Education, the director of the Shanghai Organ Regeneration Engineering Technology Research Centre, and the head of the Cardiovascular Research Institute of Shanghai University. He is an Associate Editor of Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology and Journal of Cardiovascular Translational Research, and is on the editorial boards of several other notable journals. He has authored or co-authored in journals such as Circulation and Circulation Research. His research focuses on heart failure intervention and risk prediction, with a particular emphasis on exercise-induced cardiac regeneration and the identification of novel therapeutic targets. He is also interested in epigenetic and metabolic regulations of cardiac function upon exercise and under pathological conditions such as aging.
Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
Prof Dr Nur Pudji Astuti Daud, Hasanuddin University, Indonesia
Prof. Dr. dr. Nur Pudji Astuti Daud, MPH., Sp.GK.subsp.PK. FRSPH, AIFO (K) is a distinguished academic, Clinical Nutrition Consultant, researcher, medical educator, and professional organization leader with extensive experience in clinical nutrition, medical specialist education, scientific research, health innovation, food security, and community outreach.
She has devoted her professional career to the advancement of Clinical Nutrition and specialist medical education in Indonesia. Her academic leadership at Hasanuddin University includes serving as Secretary of the Academic Senate, Chairwoman of Commission II for Research and Community Outreach, and Chairperson of Commission II of the Professor Board. She has also served as Head of the Clinical Specialist Program at the Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University since 2014.
Her clinical leadership includes serving as Chief of the Functional Medical Staff for Clinical Nutrition at Dr. Wahidin Hospital and Hasanuddin University Teaching Hospital. She currently continues her clinical practice as a Clinical Nutrition Consultant at Stella Maris Hospital.
At the national professional level, she served as Chairperson of the Indonesian Clinical Nutrition Physician Society (PDGKI) from 2015 to 2023 and previously served as Chairperson of the Indonesian Collegium of Clinical Nutrition Physicians from 2012 to 2015. Since 2014, she has also contributed as a Member of the Expert Working Group of the Food Security Council, Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Indonesia.
Her academic and scientific interests include Clinical Nutrition, Medical Nutrition Therapy, Functional Foods, Nutraceuticals, Food Science, Metabolic Health, Obesity, Diabetes, Gut Microbiome, Maternal and Child Nutrition, Food Security, Indigenous Food Resources, and nutrition-based health innovation.
Her research activities have resulted in an extensive portfolio of internationally indexed scientific publications as well as numerous invention patents, simple invention patents, copyrights, trademarks, and other intellectual property rights. Her innovations particularly focus on transforming Indonesia's indigenous food resources and bioactive compounds into functional foods, nutritional supplements, and health-related products.
Her academic, research, professional, and innovation achievements have been recognized through numerous national awards, including Best Lecturer, Outstanding Lecturer, Best Researcher, Best Innovation Award, multiple Satya Karya Lencana awards from the President of the Republic of Indonesia, and recognition as an inspiring woman in health and research.
In 2026, she was recognized by the Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI) as the Initiator and Founder of the Clinical Nutrition Specialist Education Program.
Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Prof Patricia Conway, Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore
Prof Patricia Conway is Visiting Professor of the Singapore Centre for Environmental Life Sciences Engineering (SCELSE), Singapore and CEO of PC Biome Pte Ltd. She was Professor at the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering and in the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Food Technology Centre, NTU. She has extensive research and industry R&D experience, including authorship on over 100 scientific papers in international journals, monographs or book chapters, and numerous plenary or keynote lectures at international meetings. She is inventor on over 20 patent applications and Principal Investigator on grants in Sweden, Australia and Singapore. Prof Conway's research interests are gastrointestinal microbiology, functional foods including probiotics and prebiotics. She has a particular focus on bacterial colonization of the gastrointestinal tract and mechanisms of bacterial adhesion, pathogen inhibition and immune modulation in animals and humans in order to develop ways of modulating the microbiome for health.
dsm-firmenich, Singapore
Ms Stephanie Baker, dsm-firmenich, Singapore
Ms Stephanie Baker is a Registered Nutritionist and Scientist within the APAC Regional Science team at dsm-firmenich. With over a decade of experience in nutrition science, innovation, and scientific affairs, she is dedicated to advancing evidence-based nutritional solutions that support healthy ageing and lifelong health. Throughout her career, Steph has worked across research and development, product innovation, science communication, and stakeholder engagement, helping translate emerging scientific discoveries into impactful health and nutrition solutions. Based in Singapore, she collaborates closely with academic researchers, healthcare professionals, and industry partners across Asia-Pacific to drive scientific partnerships and promote the role of nutrition in extending healthspan. Her particular interests include healthy longevity, gut health, and translating cutting-edge nutrition science into meaningful benefits for consumers and patients.
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Asst Prof Dr Varanya Techasukthavorn, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Assistant Professor Dr. Varanya Techasukthavorn is a university professor, researcher, and registered dietitian who bridges the gap between food science and clinical nutrition. A leading expert in food rheology and dysphagia management, she specializes in the science of food texture modification, ensuring that altered-diet meals are both clinically safe and sensorially appealing.
She has played a pioneering role in adapting and implementing the International Dysphagia Diet Standardisation Initiative (IDDSI) frameworks in Thailand and across the broader Asian region. Her research into fluid mechanics and hydrocolloid thickeners investigates how innovative food products can ensure that texture-modified meals precisely meet global safety standards.
Recognizing that modified diets must be enjoyable to prevent malnutrition and food fatigue in aging populations and clinical patients, Dr. Techasukthavorn actively spearheads culinary innovations. She led the creation of "46 IDDSI-Compliant Swallowing Practice Menus" (developed in collaboration with the Thai Dietetic Association), which served as Thailand's first-ever cookbook designed to assist with swallowing rehabilitation. She subsequently built upon this foundation by publishing "Happy to Swallow: 52 Simple Recipes for Delicious Meals."
Beyond her laboratory research and academic publications, Dr. Techasukthavorn is deeply committed to translating complex food science and sensory principles into real-world, community-level solutions that improve patient quality of life.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
Prof Suzana Shahar, Aging and Wellness Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM), Malaysia
Prof Dr Suzana Shahar is a Professor in Nutrition and Dietetics from the Healthy Aging and Wellness Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM); and Honorary Fellow of the Malaysian Dietitians' Association. She is currently the Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, UKM. She is the founder of the Centre for Healthy Aging, UKM and the Senior Citizen Centre (PAWE UKM).
Prof Shahar obtained her BSc (Hons) (Dietetics) from UKM and MMed Sci (Human Nutrition) and PhD (Human Nutrition) from the University of Sheffield, UK. Her research interest is on nutrition, wellness and aging. Prof Shahar led a nationwide project on 'Neuroprotective Model for Healthy Longevity among Malaysian Elderly', and currently leads a clinical trial to reverse cognitive frailty among Malaysian older adults under the auspice of the World-Wide FINGERS Trial. Both projects were funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Malaysia. Prof Shahar also led the Newton Impact Fund Scheme on Developing Salt Reduction Policy for Malaysia. She has filed two formulations for improvement of oxidative stress and cognitive function in aging population, i.e. TP3in1 juice and Cosmos Caudatus powder.
Prof Shahar has published more than 300 publications. She also serves as committee member of several guidelines spearheaded by the Ministry of Health, under the National Coordinating Committee of Food and Nutrition, as well as the International Research Networking on Dementia Prevention, WHO Working Guideline Committee of Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline, and Consortium on Longitudinal Study on Memory (COSMIC).
Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia
Prof Diana Nur Afifah, Department of Nutrition Science at the Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Indonesia
Prof. Dr. Diana Nur Afifah is a Professor at the Department of Nutrition Science, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia. Her expertise focuses on nutrition science of local foods and food biotechnology, with extensive research on Indonesian fermented foods, functional foods, food bioactives, metabolic health, gut health, and sustainable local food innovation. She obtained her bachelor's degree in Food Technology and doctoral degree in Food Science from IPB University, and her master's degree in Community Nutrition from Universitas Diponegoro. She has also undertaken postdoctoral and academic experiences at Gyeongsang National University, South Korea, and The University of Auckland, New Zealand.
Prof. Afifah has published widely on gembus tempeh, fibrinolytic enzymes from fermented foods, banana resistant starch, mangrove-based foods, fish protein hydrolysate, sacha inchi tempeh, and functional noodles. Her work bridges traditional food practices with modern scientific evidence, particularly in exploring how local bioresources and fermented foods may contribute to improved nutrition, metabolic health, and healthy longevity. Her current research interest includes the development of noodles as functional foods and sustainable local food innovation for health benefits. At the 2nd Regional Symposium on Nutrition and Healthy Longevity, she will present "Fermented Foods, the Microbiome and Metabolic Health: from Cultural Practice to Modern Evidence."
Suntory Beverage & Food Asia, Singapore
Dr Lee Cheng Phua, Suntory Beverage & Food Asia, Singapore
Dr Lee Cheng Phua is a clinical scientist with a background in clinical and translational research and health technology assessment.
A pharmacist by training, Dr Phua obtained her PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the National University of Singapore, where her research focused on biomarkers for cancer detection and prediction of treatment outcomes. She subsequently conducted clinical research at Singapore General Hospital and later worked in Health Technology Assessment at Singapore's Ministry of Health, evaluating the clinical and cost effectiveness of healthcare interventions.
She is currently involved in the design, conduct and interpretation of clinical studies in brain health and healthy longevity at Suntory Beverage & Food Asia. She collaborates with academic investigators and research partners across Asia to advance evidence-based nutritional research.
Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), Thailand
Prof (Emeritus) Pavinee Chinachoti, Food Innovation and Regulation Network (FIRN), Thailand
Pavinee Chinachoti received Ph.D. in Food Science (U of Illinois) at the University of Massachusetts (Amherst), she pioneered the study of water mobility in foods that impacts microbial activity, staling mechanisms, lipid oxidation, and MREs shelf-life. In 2003, she became the founding Chair of Product Science group at Hill's Pet Nutrition, Inc. where she led some functional ingredient projects such as fish oil, probiotics, palatability, encapsulation, and chitosan etc. She became Dean and Director of NFF R&D Center at PSU, Thailand. She is now active in FDA's regulatory aspects of health claims. She is current IUFoST's President-Elect.
Stay tuned for more eminent speakers!
ORGANIZER
CO-ORGANIZER
COLLABORATOR
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
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