Mary Norris has a BS in Kinesiology with a concentration in Exercise Science from California State University, San Bernardino and a MSc in Physical Education and Recreation from the University of Alberta where she specialized in exercise oncology research. Mary brings with her extensive project manager experience from previous institutes such as USC, City of Hope, and most recently Dana-Farber Cancer Institute before joining the Prado Lab. 

Krista obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science, Dietetics Specialization with Distinction from the University of Alberta in 2021. She is a Registered Dietitian who previously worked for Alberta Health Services in the field of chronic kidney disease management. While working in this capacity, she provided nutrition care to patients in a variety of outpatient renal clinics including chronic kidney disease, hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and renal transplant clinics. Eager to explore the realm of nutrition research, she now works as a Research Assistant in Dr. Carla Prado’s lab.

Outside of work, Krista enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, and taking her dog, Paprika, to the park.

Zoe graduated from the University of Alberta with a B.Sc. in Nutrition and an M.Sc. in Food Science and Technology. During her graduate program, she developed and tested sourdough fermentations in order to make preservative-free, mould-resistant bread. After convocating in spring 2024, Zoe chose to continue on in academia as a member of the Prado lab, turning her attention from product development back to nutrition. She's now a proud member of the RESILIENCE team, focusing on improving health outcomes for endometrial cancer survivors.

Zoe has a passion for food safety, sewing and design, and taking her dog to the beach.

Bruna completed a Nutrition and Metabolism degree at the University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil - her home Country - where she is a registered dietitian. She also completed her internship at the University of São Paulo Faculty of Medicine Clinics Hospital of Ribeirão Preto, USP.

She has been involved in academic research since the beginning of her undergraduate program. She started researching obesity, body composition, and since 2015 she has been enthusiastic about breast cancer and body composition. Therefore, she decided to go deeper in this research area, through a doctorate degree at the University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, where she studies different techniques for assessing body composition, diet, oxidative stress and quality of life in breast cancer.

Due to Bruna's passion for having direct contact with patients, she also volunteered as a dietitian during her first and second year of PhD at the Faculty of Medicine Clinics Hospital of Ribeirão Preto. Bruna received a federal academic excellence award to visit Dr. Prado's lab, under the supervision of Dr Prado and was offered a post-doctoral position upon completing her doctoral degree. Bruna is a recipient of a MITACS fellowship award.

She loves cats, music, spending time with her family, playing sports, and travelling.

Flavio holds a Bachelor’s, a Master’s, and a Ph.D. in Human Nutrition, all from Brazil, his home country. He also has international and multicultural experience, having been a visiting undergraduate student at the University of Porto, Portugal, and a visiting Ph.D. student at the University of Alberta, Canada, in the Fall of 2021 - being awarded nationally competitive scholarships on both occasions. 

Flavio holds two Postgraduate diplomas. The first one is in Clinical Nutrition, obtained by the Residency Program in Clinical Nutrition, gaining hands-on experience providing nutritional care for clinical populations. The second one is in Epidemiology, deepening knowledge in scientific methods and biostatistics, and gaining hands-on experience working for Brazil’s Ministry of Health as a technical consultant. Additionally, Flavio holds a registered dietitian credential in Brazil and a Postgraduate Specialization credential in Nutrition Therapy, issued by the Brazilian Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition. 

Flavio is passionate about teaching and research, having 5 years of experience as an undergraduate and postgraduate Professor in nutrition at different universities/colleges in Brazil. His research focuses on assessing body composition, energy metabolism, usual food intake, physical function, metabolic markers, gut microbiota, and ultimately on the study of sarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity. His research is primarily focused on clinical populations, especially people living with obesity, obesity-related comorbidities, and post-bariatric surgery. 

Flavio is completely passionate about volleyball (watching and playing) and loves to do outdoor activities. He likes to spend his leisure time with friends and family, dancing and listening to music, watching movies and TV series. 

Ana Paula is a PhD candidate supervised by Dr Prado. She completed a Nutrition and Metabolism degree at the University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto, Brazil - her home country -, where she is a registered dietitian. She also completed both her internship and Specialization in Nutrition at the Hospital of Clinics, Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, USP. During her specialization she began working on the field of body composition assessment of patients with cancer and became very passionate about it. As such, she decided to pursue this passion working on a Master degree, also at USP, and received a competitive two-year scholarship. She completed her degree in 2019 and her work focuses on exploring different techniques for body composition assessment in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

Ana Paula also loves connecting with patients and students. As a graduate student, she has volunteered as a dietitian at the Hospital of Clinics of Medical School of Ribeirão Preto, providing nutritional care for oncological outpatients and assisting undergraduate students during their internship at the same institution. As a PhD student, her current research aims to study energy requirements in patients with cancer using innovative techniques and approaches.

In her spare time she likes reading fiction books, watching tv series and movies and spending time with her husband and her dog Sushi.  

Julia has completed her BSc and internship in Nutrition at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), in Brazil, her home-country. She discovered her love for science during undergraduate degree, when she worked on different projects in the food science field. Julia also has a MSc degree in Food and Nutrition from the same university. Currently, she is a PhD student in Nutrition and Metabolism, supervised by Dr. Prado. Her academic excellence has led her to publish articles, present her work at academic conferences, and receive competitive scholarships. Julia’s study focuses on the impact of a higher protein intake in metabolism, body composition and gut microbiota in people with excessive body weight. In her spare time, Julia likes hiking, traveling, reading, and listening to music. 

Chris is a first-year Master’s student supervised by Dr. Prado and Dr. Puneeta Tandon. In 2018, he earned his degree, a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Food Science with distinction, with a minor in Physical Activity, from the University of Alberta. He completed a year-long integrated dietetic internship and started his career in health care as a Registered Clinical Dietitian helping individuals use diet modifications to manage chronic diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease, and obesity. Though he continues to utilize his nutritional expertise and lifestyle counselling in health care he was introduced to the research world by Dr. Prado and his current research at the University of Alberta focuses on digital technologies to create innovative nutrition solutions for chronic disease. Outside of academia, Chris enjoys weightlifting, bodybuilding, rock climbing and playing video games and he has a strong interest in men’s fashion, is a creative cook, and tattoo collector. 

Camila Orsso is a doctoral student of Dr. Prado in the Nutrition and Metabolism program.

She previously earned a master’s degree in the same program at the UofA and a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education from the Federal University of Technology – Paraná in Brazil. Camila’s efforts have focused on improving people’s physical activity and nutrition behaviours to support optimal body composition, health, and well-being.

Throughout her research training, she has gained first-hand experience in conducting exercise and nutrition studies as well as evaluating body composition in a wide range of clinical groups (including children with obesity, postmenopausal women, cancer survivors, and lung transplant candidates). Her current PhD research focuses on investigating the efficacy of a multimodal and digital intervention to improve body composition and chronic disease risk factors for people living in larger bodies. In her spare time, Camila enjoys having coffee with friends, spending time with her family, and exercising.

Homa completed her BSc of Science in Chemistry, with a minor in Biological Sciences, at the University of Calgary in 2018. Realizing her passion about making a difference in people’s lives to promote their health, she subsequently enrolled in the BSc of Nutrition and Food Science, Dietetics Specialization at the University of Alberta. During her undergraduate degree, she researched the efficiency and feasibility of current malnutrition screening tools in acute care settings. After completing a one-year Dietetic internship, she aspired to explore clinical nutrition research further, and to focus on how nutrition and lifestyle interventions can positively impact a person’s overall wellbeing and quality of life. Homa is a graduate student in Nutrition and Metabolism, supervised by Dr. Prado, her research will aim to investigate how digital platforms can be used to improve the health of Endometrial cancer survivors. Outside of academia, Homa enjoys spending time with her family, going on road trips, reading books, and watching movies.

Sabina Valentine is a doctoral student working with Dr. Prado in the Nutrition and Metabolism program.

Sabina had previously earned two master’s degrees at the University of British Columbia in Sport Nutrition, and another Master’s degree in Nutrition at the University of Alberta in nutrition and women’s health.  Sabina is also a Registered Dietitian and worked in cancer for almost 20 years.  She really enjoys teaching and has taught at the University of Alberta in the Nutrition program since 2000.

Her current PhD research focuses on exploring the experience that immigrants have with a digital lifestyle management program for decreasing chronic disease risk.  In addition, Sabina’s research will also involve working with Indigenous women to explore the culturally relevant information that should be included in nutrition education materials for cancer care as well as explore how best to deliver these materials using telehealth modalities.

Alice is a PhD student at the University of Alberta, specializing in Pediatric Nutrition. Her academic journey began in Brazil, her home country, where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Human Nutrition, a Master of Science Degree in Child and Adolescent Health, and completed a Residency in Pediatric Nutrition, all from the State University of Campinas (UNICAMP). Alice's clinical experience as a Registered Dietitian with both outpatient and inpatient settings has equipped her with comprehensive skills in dietary prescription, anthropometric evaluation, and nutritional guidance. Her Master's thesis focused on hypophosphatemia in pediatric critically ill patients receiving enteral and oral nutrition. Throughout her career, Alice has contributed to peer-reviewed publications, including studies on hypophosphatemia, sarcopenia, and protein intake deficiency in critically ill children. Her work has been presented at important international conferences in her field. Currently, Alice is conducting a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of fiber supplementation, metformin, and their combined use in managing insulin resistance and obesity in adolescents. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, Alice loves traveling and exploring new places, capturing the world and special moments through her photography, and enjoying a good cup of coffee along the way.

Camilla is a MSc student in the Nutrition and Metabolism Program. She received her Bachelor of Nutrition from Federal University of Goias in Brazil, her home country. After her graduation she completed a Residency in Oncology. She holds another two Postgraduate diplomas, in Nutritional Therapy and in Palliative Care. She has worked as a Registered Dietitian in the oncology field for 6 years. She has extensive hands-on experience in the hospital setting, having also worked as a RD in ICUs during the COVID pandemic, and as an effective member of the multidisciplinary nutritional therapy team in three different hospitals. Furthermore, Camilla has worked as a teaching assistant, supervising undergraduate students during their clinical nutritional internship, giving occasional lectures for the BSc in Nutrition, and evaluating final projects. Her current research focuses on body composition assessment in pediatrics and youth onset metabolic disorders.

Camilla is passionate about sports (big soccer fan) and coffee. In her spare time, she enjoys learning new languages, going to festivals, reading books, listening to music and podcasts, and watching movies and TV shows.

Giovanna is a first-year PhD student in Nutrition and Metabolism under the supervision of Dr. Prado and Dr. Andrea Haqq at the University of Alberta. She completed her academic trajectory in Brazil, her home country, where she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Nutrition from Centro Universitário São Camilo – São Paulo, a Postgraduate degree in Hospital Nutrition, and a Master’s degree in Health Sciences from Faculdade Israelita de Ciências da Saúde Albert Einstein (FICSAE) – São Paulo. 

Alongside her studies, Giovanna worked for seven years at Einstein Hospital Israelita. During this period, she dedicated five years to bedside care in clinical nutrition and two years to enhancing the nutritional patient experience and safety. Throughout her clinical practice, she also actively engaged in the diabetes multidisciplinary team, an experience that directly connects with her current research, which aims to investigate the effects of a 6-month semaglutide intervention on changes in energy expenditure and body composition in adults with obesity and type 2 diabetes. 

In addition, Giovanna has served as an invited lecturer in postgraduate programs at FICSAE teaching topics, such as nutritional diabetes care and nutritional assessment in the hospital setting.

In her free time, she enjoys spending time in nature and practicing physical activities.

Dr. Horst is adjunct professor at the Faculty of Nutrition (FANUT) and tenured professor in the graduate program of Nutrition and Health at the Federal University of Goiás (UFG). She also holds a Registered Dietitian title in Brazil. Dr. Horst received her PhD in Food Science from the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the University of São Paulo (USP) and later completed two postdoctoral fellowships: the first in Food Science at USP and the second in Cancer Molecular Biology at Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP).

Dr. Horst is co-organizer of the book Nutritional Genomics: From Fundamentals to Molecular Nutrition and leader of the working group "Nutritional Genomics and Metabolic Changes Related to Chronic Non-communicable Diseases". Her expertise lies in Nutritional Genomics, Experimental Nutrition and Molecular Biology. She mainly focuses on chemoprevention, gene expression, nutrigenomics, nutrigenetics and epigenetics, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma and miRNAs.

Outside of the lab, Dr. Horst enjoys spending time with her family and cats, travelling and flying drones.

Dr. Sara Verde is an adjunct professor at the State University of Ceará (UECE) and a researcher in the Graduate Program in Nutrition and Health (PPGNS/UECE). She received her bachelor's degree in Nutrition from UECE and her PhD in Science from the School of Public Health (FSP/USP) in Brazil. She worked as a clinical nutritionist treating patients with cancer, expanding her experience in cancer care. She is the leader of the Study, Research, and Innovation Group in Oncological Nutrition (@GENO) and has been conducting research involving nutrition and body composition in women with cancer. Outside the laboratory, she dedicates her time to her family, street running, and spirituality.

Kelly is a visiting doctoral student from Brazil who received a federal award for academic excellence to participate in research projects at the Prado Lab. She holds a degree in Nutrition from the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), completed a Residency in Cardiology at the Institute of Cardiology of Rio Grande do Sul – University Foundation of Cardiology (IC-FUC), obtained a Master’s degree in Medical Sciences: Endocrinology (Nutrition and Metabolism emphasis) from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), and is currently pursuing a PhD in Health Sciences at UFCSPA.

Kelly has extensive experience in clinical nutrition, particularly in the nutritional assessment of hospitalized patients. Her doctoral research aims to evaluate the transparency and reproducibility of clinical practice guidelines and systematic reviews with meta-analyses addressing various stages of nutritional care for critically ill patients through meta-research approaches.

In her free time, Kelly enjoys exploring new skills, crocheting, and crafting handmade creations.

Jarson is a clinical dietitian in Brazil with a background in providing nutrition care for people living with cancer and those receiving intensive care. He holds a Master’s degree in Nutrition and is currently a PhD candidate at the Federal University of Pernambuco, Brazil.

He is a visiting researcher at the University of Alberta (Prado Lab) through the ESPEN Broaden Your Horizons Grant Program.

Jarson is an Associate Editor for Clinical Nutrition ESPEN and is an Early Career Faculty member of ESPEN. He is passionate about advancing clinical nutrition care through translational research and improving nutritional assessment methods.

In his free time, Jarson enjoys spending time with his dog, traveling, playing the ukulele, and connecting with friends and family, often over good food and wine. 

Mojtaba is a visiting researcher from Iran and a master’s student in Food Safety and Food risk management at the University of Parma, with a background in clinical nutrition. He is currently undertaking a research visit at the University of Alberta within the Human Nutrition Research Unit (HNRU), supported by the Erasmus+ program.

Mojtaba’s research focuses on evidence synthesis, including systematic reviews and meta-analyses, with an emphasis on nutrition and health outcomes. He has experience in statistical analysis and is interested in advancing applied and data-driven approaches in nutrition research.

In his free time, Mojtaba enjoys reading, exploring new places, and staying physically active.