Scientific & Nutrition Advisory Council

Tom Brenna, PhD, Director & SNAC Chair
Professor of Pediatrics & Chemistry, Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin
Professor of Human Nutrition, Chemistry, Food Science at Cornell University
Professor Tom Brenna's research couples Nutrition and Chemistry in a broadly interdisciplinary program.  The American Society for Nutrition will award him the 2017 Osborne and Mendel Award for outstanding contributions to basic research in nutrition; with ASN’s Robert Herman Award for advancement of clinical nutrition (2013) he is the fourth person to be honored with both awards. More >
Sara Baer-Sinnott
President
Oldways - Health Through Heritage
Sara Baer-Sinnott is President of Oldways, a nonprofit food and nutrition education organization, with a mission to guide people to good health through heritage. Sara joined Oldways in 1992 to work on one of the first overseas Symposiums (Food, Culture and Discovery in Spain) and the first Mediterranean Diet Conference. Sara has been President of Oldways since 2010 and oversees all strategy, projects and programs, and works closely with all members of the staff. More >
Susan E. Carlson, PhD
AJ Rice Professor of Nutrition, Department of Dietetics and Nutrition
University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS
Susan Carlson’s research studies the effects of providing omega-3 fatty acids that are found in seafood on pregnancy outcome and child development. She has recognized for her contributions to women and child health as an honorary member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, receipt of the March of Dimes Agnes Higgins Award, and Distinguished Alumna of Iowa State University. She is a University Distinguished Professor.  
Linda Chaves 
Founder & Principal, Chaves Strategies
Retired Senior Advisor, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Services 
Linda Chaves is the founder and principal of Chaves Strategies, a consultancy with expertise in a broad range of seafood issues including seafood and health, international trade, aquaculture, ecolabeling and certification, and industry advocacy. Prior to Chaves Strategies she worked at the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) where she was a champion of the need to improve the understanding of the role of seafood and omega-3 fatty acids in human health. More >
Jose Fernandez, PhD
Professor and Vice Chair for Education, Department of Nutrition Services
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Dr. José R. Fernández is a Professor and Vice Chair for Education in the Department of Nutrition Sciences. Dr. Fernández obtained his Ph.D. in Biobehavioral Health from Pennsylvania State University, training in genetics of complex traits under the advisory of Dr. Gerald McClearn. Dr. Fernández joined UAB in August 2001, bringing special expertise in the application of statistical models to detect and disentangle genetic and environmental influences in obesity-related traits. More >
William Harris, PhD 
Professor of Medicine, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota;
President and CEO of OmegaQuant
Dr. Harris is an internationally recognized expert on omega-3 fatty acids and how they can benefit patients with heart disease. Bill has been the recipient of five NIH grants for studies on the effects of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA and DHA) on human health. More >
Captain Joseph R. Hibbeln, MD, Acting Chief 
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institutes of Health
Dr. Joseph R. Hibbeln is Acting Chief, Section of Nutritional Neurosciences in the Laboratory of Membrane Biophysics & Biochemistry at the US Government National Institutes of Health. His areas of research include the positive role for Omega-3 fatty acids in depressive and aggressive disorders and the benefits of fish consumption during pregnancy in supporting higher IQ and more optimal social behaviors among children. More >
Bruce Holub, PhD 
University Professor Emeritus
Department of Human Health & Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph
Dr. Holub is University Professor Emeritus, Department of Human Health & Nutritional Sciences at the University of Guelph. He is the founder of the DHA/EPA Omega-3 Institute, which provides the most thorough and comprehensive body of knowledge and research relating to omega-3 fatty acids available on the internet.  More >
Penny Kris-Etherton, PhD, RD, FAHA, FNLA, FASN, CLS
Distinguished Professor of Nutrition, Pennsylvania State University
Dr. Penny Kris-Etherton, a world-renowned expert and national leader in food and nutrition, is Distinguished Professor of Nutrition in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the Pennsylvania State University, where she has been on the faculty since 1979. Her research expertise is cardiovascular nutrition. More >
Bill Lands, PhD
Omega-3 Expert, Author, Teacher, Advisor
Dr. Bill Lands is a renowned Omega-3 expert, was Professor of Biochemistry in Medical Schools at the University of Michigan (1955-1980) and the University of Illinois (1980-1991) where he studied the metabolism of fats, phospholipids, and prostaglandins.  He authored (as Lands, WE) over 300 papers and the book, Fish, Omega-3 and Human Health, 2nd Edition, updated in 2005 from the 1985, Fish and Human Health.  More >
Scott Nichols, PhD 
Founder & Principal, Food's Future LLC
Scott Nichols is the founder and principal of Food’s Future, LLC and works to accelerate aquaculture’s contribution to our future food supply. Prior to founding Food's Future, Scott was co-founder and managing director at Verlasso Harmoniously Raised Fish. More >
Norman Salem, Jr., PhD
Corporate Scientist, DSM
Dr. Norman Salem, Jr. serves as Corporate scientist at Royal DSM N.V. Norm is one of the world's leading researchers on DHA and the functions of polyunsaturated fatty acids and lipids. Prior to DSM and Martek, he spent 30 years with The National Institutes of Health where he led the internationally recognized Laboratory of Membrane Biochemistry and Biophysics. More >
Dr. Michael Tlusty 
Associate Professor – Sustainability and Food Solutions
University of Massachusetts Boston
Dr. Michael Tlusty is the Director of Ocean Sustainability Science at the New England Aquarium, and a Research Faculty at the University of Massachusetts Boston. He has been at the Aquarium since 1999, where he has been developing an aquaculture program that integrates the knowledge skills and abilities of the entire New England Aquarium community. More > 
Gretchen Vannice, MS, RDN 
Author, Omega-3 Handbook
Scientific Committee Chair for Global Organization for EPA and DHA Omega-3
Gretchen Vannice is a registered dietitian nutritionist and independent nutrition research and communications consultant. Considered a global expert on omega-3s, she is an international speaker and trainer and recently published the Omega-3 Handbook: A Ready Reference Guide for Health Professionals (www.omega3handbook.com). More >

In Memoriam: Dr. Sheila Innis June 1953 - February 2016

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Dr. Sheila Innis. She was a tireless proponent of the nutritional needs of babies, children and expectant mothers and she dedicated her life to improving our understanding of pre-natal and infant nutrition. Sheila was internationally recognized for her tremendous contributions to the field. We will sincerely miss Sheila.
Sheila Innis, PhD 
Professor, Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia; Director, Nutrition & Metabolism Research Program, CFRI
Dr. Sheila Innis is a Professor in the Division of Neonatology with the Department of Pediatrics at the University of British Columbia and a Director of Nutrition & Metabolism Research Program at Child & Family Research Institute (CFRI). She is a world renowned expert on essential fatty acids, with pioneering studies on n-3 fatty acids and brain development, and clinical studies relating maternal diet to placental and breast milk fat transfer, and the impact of diet in child development and health.