LLD (Hon Monash Uni.), DMedSci (Hon Uni. of Melbourne), MD (Hon. Uni of Sydney) Senior Fellow, Hudson Institute Institute of Medical Research Professor, Department of Medicine, Monash University Professorial Associate, Centre for Neuroscience, The University of Melbourne

Professor John Funder joined Prince Henry’s Medical Research Centre (now Hudson Institute of Medical Research) in 1973 as a Senior Research Fellow, where he later became a Senior Principal Research Fellow and Deputy Director. In 1990, he joined the Baker Institute in Melbourne as Director and upon his ‘retirement’ in 2001, he re-joined the Hudson Institute as a Senior Fellow. From 2008 to 2011, Prof. Funder was Director of Research Strategy at Southern Health (now Monash Health), Victoria’s largest health service provider. For the last 40 years, Prof Funder’s research has been focused on aldosterone, the primary mineralocorticoid hormone, and the role of the mineralocorticoid recep- tor in organs such as the kidney. His clinical and basic studies at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research have demonstrated the roles of both the hormone and its receptor in hypertension and heart failure. Prof. Funder has served as a link between endocrinology and cardiology, and is internationally acknowl- edged as leading an exciting new era of hitherto unexpected roles for mineralocorticoid receptors across a spectrum of disease states.

He has published more than 500 scientific papers.

B.Sc (Hons), Ph.D (Med), C.Chem, MRACI, AACNEM

Dr. Jaroslav Boublik earned his PhD from the Department of Medicine in 1985 from Monash University. Dr. Jaroslav Boublik has conducted research nationally and internationally at CSIRO, Prince Henry’s Medical Research Centre, The Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry, The Salk Institute, La Jolla USA and the Baker Medical Research Institute. He has published over 30 peer reviewed articles in scientific journals and presented 40 scientific papers. Dr. Boublik is a consultant to the nutrition R&D sector and a board member of several companies in nutritional medicine, complementary medical research and development, and water related technologies. He has been active in product research and development and has created successful products in the nutritional supplement, beverage, functional food and skincare and transdermal categories; he has published widely on the subjects of performance nutrition, hydration and water quality. He has a passion for understanding the nutritional requirements for building optimal wellness and maximizing performance, vitality and longevity. Dr. Boublik has recently returned to Australia to take up a board appointment and the CSO role following 10 years at MRM in Southern California where he was instrumental in the development of several product ranges for two key supplement brands. These included probiotics, gastrointestinal, joint support and hydration products. Dr. Boublik is Chief Scientist of LeafCann Group Pty Ltd and CEO of LeafCann Group Research & Advisory.

Paul A. Marks MD, Professor and Chair, Genetics and Development Department, Columbia University Medical Center

Prof. Karsenty completed both his medical degree and PhD at the Paris Medical School in France (1984), and has since held fellowship positions at the National Institute of Health and the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas. Over the past two decades, his lab has studied every aspect of skeletal biology ranging from development to physiology, and is credited with elucidating the molecular basis of osteoblast-specific gene expression.

Prof. Karsenty has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Endocrine Society Roy Orval Greep Award for Excellence in Basic Science, the Steven’s Triennial Prize for Excellence in Original Medical Research and The AACE Frontiers in Science Award. In 2017, he was elected as an Associate Member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). Prof. Karsenty is a global leader on the biology of bone, and how bone interacts with whole body physiology. His work has profoundly advanced the understanding of bone as an endocrine organ.

Dr Larsson holds a BSc and a PhD in analytical chemistry from Lund University, Sweden. He has a background within the medical device industry in Denmark, and has spent 3 years at Novo Nordisk A/S as a research scientist, and an additional 3 years as Research and Development Director at Millimed A/S. Dr Larsson joined Probi AB as Research Director in 2008, and is responsible for clinical research, patenting and regulatory questions. He currently coordinates and manages several probiotic-related research projects, with a special focus on clinical trial design in relation to regulatory demands. Since joining Probi, Dr Larsson has been responsible for the execution of several clinical trials, collaborations with both academia and industry partners, health claim applications on various markets as well as patent applications.

Dr. Maguin is the current Research Director of the Metaomics and Microbial Ecosystems (MEM) meta-programme, a cross-disciplinary research programme of the French National Institute for Agricultural Research. Dr. Maguin is the Coordinator of MicrobiomeSupport, a project funded by the European Commission which aims to establish international standards and protocols for microbiome research, address research and innovation policy agendas, optimise funding, increase public knowledge, and generate global impact. Dr. Maguin is also the co-director of the Master of Genomics and Environment program at Université Paris-Saclay.

Dr Pane holds a Master’s degree in microbiology and began his career as a researcher at Biolab laboratory in Novara, Italy, where he focused on research for the dietary supplement industry. At Probiotical he works with external innovation partners to drive new probiotic product development, supports worldwide sales and collaborates on research projects.

Dr Pane is a regular commentator on the technology, efficacy and consumer benefits of probiotic supplementation and healthy gut microbiota. He is part of the International Probiotic Association (IPA) Scientific Committee, member of the Pharmabiotic Research Institute (PRI) and expert Panel on Probiotic at the US Pharmacopoeia.