Meet our team

The sucess of MED4Youth builds on the expertise of a multidisciplinary team of 6 partners from 5 countries.

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Eurecat (Spain)

Eurecat is the leading Technology Centre of Catalonia. It provides the industrial and business sector with differential technology and advanced expertise to boost their competitiveness in a fast-paced environment. The Biotechnology area is focused on the relation of nutrition with metabolic diseases such as obesity and its derived alterations, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease; behaviour and cognitive function and personalized nutrition using cutting edge methods and performing continuous innovation in all omic sciences.

Antoni Caimari
Antoni Caimari
Director of Eurecat’s Biotechnology Area.

BSc in biology and BSc in biochemistry. PhD studying the molecular mechanisms involved in body weight control in adipose tissue and peripheral mononuclear cells –PBMC-. He has expertise in the realisation and supervision of nutritional studies in both animals and humans, in biomarker detection and in the use of transcriptomics, metabolomics and metagenomics. He is the Principal Investigator of MED4Youth and the Project Head.

Aurora Sesé
Aurora Sesé
Project Manager at Eurecat’s Project Management Office.

BSc Psychology; Msc International Development; Msc Economic History. She has more than nine years’ experience in Project Management working in Research & Education, Health, International Development and Advocacy projects in the R&D and charity sectors. She is the Project Coordinator.

Josep Ma del Bas
Josep Ma del Bas
Head of Eurecat’s Nutrition and Health Unit.

BSc in chemistry and BSc in biochemistry. PhD in nutrition and metabolism, with international stages in university of Milan (Italy) and Baylor college of Medicine (Texas, USA). As a postdoctoral researcher in the university of Liverpool (UK) he worked in the field of membrane trafficking. He is Technical Supervisor of project.

Nuria Canela
Nuria Canela
Head of the Technological Unit of Omic Science (COS).

PhD in Pharmacy from the University of Barcelona. She has extensive experience in both academic and industrial research and has participated in various scientific and technical platforms and services dedicated to omics sciences. She is Technical Supervisor of project.

Helena Torrell
Helena Torrell
Advanced researcher and specialist in genomics and metabolomics.

PhD in Biomedicine and bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology. She works on the development of metagenomics applications in the field of functional food through mass sequencing, and on the application of bioinformatics analysis and data processing tools. She is leader of the analyses of gut-derived metabolites and microbiota and the system biology approach. Her role in the project is Task Leader and Researcher.

Marina Presas
Marina Presas
Communication and Dissemination Specialist at Eurecat’s Research Communication Office

Journalist specialized in Science and Technology communication graduated at the University Pompeu Fabra (Barcelona). Equipped with skills and practical knowledge in the digital marketing, corporate communication and public relations fields, she has experience in defining and executing communication and dissemination strategies throughout the project’s lifecycle and leading Dissemination and Communication WPs of EU-funded projects.

Míriam Vendrell
Míriam Vendrell
Communication and Dissemination Specialist at Eurecat’s Research Communication Office

Journalist specialized in Culture and Society graduated at the Autonomous University of Catalonia (Barcelona). She has knowledge in corporate communications and public relations. She has experience in communication and dissemination strategies throughout the project’s lifecycle and she has participated in Dissemination and Communication tasks of EU-funded projects.

Università di Parma (Italy)

The University of Parma, in Italy, is one of the oldest universities in the world and promotes knowledge creation, transfer and progress to meet the increasing demand of advanced education and research in our society. It enrols about 30,000 students and graduates more than 5,000 alumni per year, while staffing about 1,800 lecturers and administrative employees. The research units involved in the project, led by the Human Nutrition Unit, belong to the Department of Veterinary Science, the Department of Food and Drugs, the Department of Medicine and Surgery, and the Department of Mathematical, Physical and Computer Sciences. 

Daniele Del Rio
Daniele Del Rio
PhD in Food Science and is Associate Professor of Human Nutrition and the Head of the School of Advanced Studies on Food and Nutrition at the University of Parma.

He also acts as Scientific Director of the Need For Nutrition Education/Innovation Programme Global Centre for Nutrition & Health, in Cambridge, UK. He will be the Technical Coordinator of the MED4Youth project and he will be leader of the Technical and Risk Management task.

Francesca Scazzina
Francesca Scazzina
PhD in Food Science and is Associate Professor of Human Nutrition at the Department of Food and Drugs, University of Parma.

She has been involved in food education projects implemented in primary schools of the Parma area where she acquired a deep experience in educational health learning programs and children population surveys. In the MED4Youth project, she will be the leader of WP4 -Nutritional assessment and analyses of biomarkers of food intake, health and microbiota status) and responsible for the Nutritional education task.

Furio Brighenti
Furio Brighenti
Full Professor of Human Nutrition at the Department of Food and Drug.

Immediate past Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of Parma. He is the Immediate Past President of the Italian Nutrition Society. In the MED4Youth project, he will be involved in the multi-centre intervention and the nutritional assessment and analyses of biomarkers.

Carlo Caffarelli
Carlo Caffarelli
Associate Professor in Pediatrics at the University of Parma.

He works as Pediatrician at Clinica Pediatrica, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria of Parma, where he is also the Responsible of Center of Allergology and Clinical Immunology. He is the current Director of the postgraduate school in Pediatrics at the University of Parma. In the MED4Youth project, he will be in charge of the recruitment of volunteers and of the data collection in Italy.

Federico Bergenti
Federico Bergenti
PhD in Information Technology and is Associate Professor of Computer Science at the University of Parma.

He is the head of the Laboratory for Artificial Intelligence of the University of Parma. Federico has a consolidated track record of scientific publications in various areas of artificial intelligence, and it served as primary investigator for the University of Parma in four research projects funded by the European Commission in 5th and 6th Framework Programmes. In the MED4Youth project, he will participate in the web-application design and development and in data collection.

Pedro Mena
Pedro Mena
Assistant Professor at the University of Parma, Italy.

He holds a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cell Biology and developed his predoctoral work at the Dept. of Food Science and Technology of CEBAS-CSIC (Spanish National Research Council) (Murcia, Spain) (2009-2013). His line of research is related to the bioavailability and biological activity of plantbioactives in humanand cell models, with a particular focus on (poly)phenolic compounds, inter-individual variability, and realistic experimental models. In the MED4Youth project, he will be the leader of tasks related to targeted analysis of phenolic metabolites and of biomarkers of adipose tissue function, insulin resistance, inflammation and cardiovascular risk, as well as the task related to the contribution to the ongoing and future standardization developments.

Alice Rosi
Alice Rosi
Post-doctoral research fellow in Human Nutrition at the Department of Food & Drugs, University of Parma (Italy).

She holds a Master Degree in Human Nutrition (University of Milan) and a Ph.D in Food Science (University of Parma). Currently, she is actively involved in European and local projects, and RCTs focused on nutritional assessment, food choices, and eating behaviour, as well as the development of mobile applications for dietary assessment, edutainment, and nutritional coaching. In the MED4Youth project, she will be involved in the development of the education materials and web-application, in data collection,  and in the analysis of dietary data.

SHIKMA

Shikma (Israel)

Shikma Field Crop Partnership No. 540185618, Established on 1966. Partnership of Kibbutz Mishmar Hanegev and Kibbutz Beit Kama. Located in the northeastern Negev in central Israel. Cultivated area about ​3,300 hectares. Main crops: winter wheat and barley for grains and silage – 2,400 hectares (150 organic), edible chickpea – 150 hectares, potatoes – 350 hectares (40 organic), carrot – 70 hectares (40 organic), sweet paprika – 60 hectares, organic jojoba oil – 115 hectares, organic pomegranates – 55 hectares. Cultivation Methods: agricultural activities are conducted according to the GlobalGAP directives (Europe) with special cate to soil conservation and sustainability. Certifications: GlobalGAP, GRASP, Albert Heijn (Netherlands) TNC (England) standards, Organic Standards of Israel (PPIS) Europe and the United States (NOP).

Zeev Rachman
Zeev Rachman
Shikma coordinator for Med4Youth

Graduate Computers Practical Engineer in data processing at Rupin Institute. Former CEO of Shikma Field Crops Agriculture business consultant.

Maor Levi
Maor Levi
Responsible for Pomegranates supply to Med4Youth project

Graduate of Plant Sciences in Agriculture. Hebrew University, Faculty of Agriculture. Pomegranates and Plantation grower at Shikma Field Crops.

Scientific Food Center (Jordan)

The Scientific Food Center recognized pioneer R&D centre for the development of food science technology at national and MENA (Middle East and North Africa) region countries, driven by the motto ”From- Farm–to- Fork”, with a mission and vision dedicated to provide: analysis, consultation, research, assessment & developments for accreditation for certifications in ISO, HACCP, GMP and training services for developing growth strategies, awareness-raising and professionalism within food chains and stakeholders.

Hanee M. Al - Dmoor
Hanee M. Al - Dmoor
Founder of the Scientific Food Centre.

Professor of Food Science & Technology in the Department of Nutrition and Food Processing of Al-Balqa Applied University in Jordan. He has been involved in several scientific publications, and committees in different food science and technology fields. He will contribute in the design and elaboration of diets, as well as on the nutritional characterisation of the different products before the intervention. He is the leader of the dissemination activities.

Lubna Atyayat
Lubna Atyayat
Nutrition and Food Scientist

Technical coordinator, fooddeveloper, researcher , food analyst and nutritionist .

Rayah Ayman
Rayah Ayman
Nutrition and Food Scientist

Quality coordinator, food developer, researcher, food analyst and nutritionist.

Sara Atyayat
Sara Atyayat
Nutrition and Food Scientist

Client’s coordinator food developer, researcher, food analyst and nutritionist

Haneen Al-Dmoor
Haneen Al-Dmoor
Nutrition and Food Scientist

Trainer coordinator food developer, researcher, food analyst and nutritionist.

NOVAPAN (Spain)

Novapan, S.L. was founded in 1991 and hires more than 90 employees in two factories and 400 employees in shops. PANISHOP is the brand of NOVAPAN, S.L. and it was created in 1994. Nowadays, it counts with almost 40 shops and produces more than 80 bakery and 230 pastry product references. In 2013, the company started a new line of premium breads, named Slow Baking, produced without additives, based in the use of sourdough and long fermentation processes. 

Guillermo Saldaña
Guillermo Saldaña
R+D department in Novapan S.L.

He holds a degree in Veterinary Science (bromatology) (2005). Food Science and Technology (2007). Doctor by the University of Zaragoza in the group of New Technologies of Food Processing (2011). Science and food enthusiast equally, with experience in food microbiology, food preservation, new food processing technologies (PEAV, HPH, HPP) and development of new products. He works at the R+D department in Novapan S.L., where he is dedicated to the development of tasty and also healthier products, both through self-research and through funded projects.

Elisa Luengo
Elisa Luengo
R+D department of Novapan.

PhD in Food Science and Technology and Food Safety (2015) University of Zaragoza, her studies focused on the application of alternative technologies for food processing and obtaining natural bioactive compounds. Internships at INTA (Buenos Aires, Argentina. 2010) and at CNRS-IPBS (Toulouse, France. 2013). Currently, she works in the R+D department of Novapan. She is responsible for the design of new products and the management and execution of R+D projects for the development of healthier bakery products.

University of Coimbra (Portugal)

University of Coimbra (UC) is a reference in higher education and R&D in Portugal, due to the quality of the courses taught at its eight colleges and to the advances achieved in pure and applied research in various scientific domains and on technology related areas. UC pursues a policy of continuous improvement, ensuring high standards of teaching and research, and being an active participant in the development of the corporate world. The technological developments promoted by UC’s R&D units address the challenges involved in the design, operation and regulation of technologies, bringing together teachers from different scientific disciplines with a long experience in teaching, research, technology transfer and consultancy.

Filomena Botelho
Filomena Botelho
Director of Biophysics Institute of Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra and Leader of the Research Line Modeling in Oncobiology at CIMAGO.

Senior Researcher with a remarkable publication record in biophysics, animal models of human diseases and oncobiology. In MED4YOUTH project, she is the leader of WP3, being responsible for the coordination of the multi-centre interventions.

Ana Margarida Coelho
Ana Margarida Coelho
Auxiliary Professor at Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra

PhD in Health Sciences. She has published 104 full text publications in peer review journals, with 1065 citations and an h-index of 18. She has supervised and co-supervised 13 Master’s Dissertations and 6 PhD thesis. She has awarded with 41 prizes and has participated in national (Fundação para a Ciência em Tecnologia) and international research projects: ONCONET SUDOE (Interreg Sudoe), SPRINT (COST ACTION) and MED4YOUTH.

Ana Salomé Pires
Ana Salomé Pires
Assistant Professor at Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra

PhD in Biomedical Engineering. She has published 23 full-text papers, 1 book and 1 book chapter, 99 abstracts in periodic journals, more than 100 abstracts in conference proceedings and 12 communications by invitation, all publications with scientific refereeing. She is now participating in two international research projects: MED4YOUTH and SPRINT (COST ACTION).

Nuno Tiago Fidalgo
Nuno Tiago Fidalgo
Research Grant Holder at Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra

He holds a Master in Molecular and Cellular Biology by the University of Aveiro. Over the last years, he has participated in 2 full text scientific publications.

Paulo Matafome
Paulo Matafome
Researcher at the Faculty of Medicine of University of Coimbra and Invited Auxiliary Professor at ESTeSC, Polytechnic Institute of Coimbra.

PhD in Biomedical Sciences. His scientific interests lie in the development of new biomarkers of AGEing and loss of the crosstalk between gut hormones and adipose tissue, in order to identify new therapeutic targets and strategies to prevent the effects of glycation and the mechanisms of insulin resistance in obesity and type 2 diabetes. He is author of 55 peer-reviewed full-papers with 930 citations and an h-index of 18. He supervised or co-supervised 5 PhD students and 14 master students. He was also member of 9 and PI or Co-PI of 3 research projects.

Nanci Baptista
Nanci Baptista
Dietitian in the Pediatric Hospital – CHUC (Coimbra Hospital and Universitary Centre)

She holds a Master of Clinical Nutrition and she works as a Dietitian in Pediatric Hospital – CHUC (Coimbra Hospital and Universitary Centre) with responsibilities in Nutrition management in Inherited Metabolid Disorder and Ketogenic Diet. She is also working as part of a multidisciplinary team in the Endocrinology and Pediatric Diabetology Service. In 2013 and 2016 she was Assistant professor at ESTES – College of Health Technology of Coimbra in the degree of Dietetics and Nutrition.