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Dr. Pedro Mena is currently an Associate Professor in human nutrition 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). Then, Pedro joined the Human Nutrition Unit at the University of Parma (Italy) as Post-doctoral Research Fellow under the supervision of Prof. Daniele Del Rio (2013-2019). He became Assistant Professor in 2019 and Associate Professor two years after (August 2021). He has been awarded an ERC Starting Grant (PREDICT-CARE) in 2020.
His line of research is related to the bioavailability and biological activity of plant bioactives in human, animal, and cell models, with a particular focus on (poly)phenolic compounds and inter-individual variability. Pedro is also devoted to the development and use of realistic experimental models, trying to make science more robust and translatable. Indeed, the ERC PREDICT-CARE project aims at implementing integrative tools for the prediction, at individual level, of the cardiometabolic response to the consumption of dietary (poly)phenols, taking into account inter-individual differences in both metabolism and health effects of these plant food bioactives. He is also interested in the assessment of food intake through biomarkers of food intake.
Dr. Mena has published >135 papers in peer reviewed ISI journals, has >50 contributions to international conferences, some invited presentations at international conferences, 8 book chapters, 4 granted patents, and active participations in international networks and EU funded projects. He is a Senior Editorial Board Member for Scientific Reports and member of the editorial boards of Nutrients, International Journal of Molecular Sciences, Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, and Microbiota Research Reports, among other journals. He was also co-chair of the 3rd International Conference on Food Bioactives and Health (Parma, June 2022).
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