# Functional Foods, Bioactives and Human Health ## expand\_more **Co-Chairs:**[ *Howard Sesso*](https://prevmed.bwh.harvard.edu/howard-d-sesso-scd-mph/)[*,*](https://researchfaculty.brighamandwomens.org/BRIProfile.aspx?id=2349) *Associate Epidemiologist, Harvard T. Chan School of Public Health, Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School Brigham and Women's Hospital;* [*Montaña Cámara*](/people/monta%C3%B1a-c%C3%A1mara-hurtado)[*,*](https://www.ucm.es/english/directorio?id=7495) *Professor of Nutrition and Food Science, School of Pharmacy, Complutense University of Madrid.* The goal of the study group on Functional Foods, Bioactives and Human Health is to foster original and innovative research on new food and food ingredients developments with special incidence in those focuses on human health promotion. Our holistic sight of foods comprises the study of food composition (nutrients and bioactive compounds) and the evaluation of its health properties; the new developments (as biotechnology and others); and the social aspects of foods (including regulation, food habits and consumer studies). ![functionalnovelfoods.png](/sites/g/files/omnuum986/files/rcc/files/functionalnovelfoods.png) Its main fields of application are: - The understanding of the international framework of novel food and functional food regulation. - The identification and quantification of nutrients and bioactive compounds present in food, food ingredients and food supplements with special incidence in human health. - The study of dietary factors such as nutrients and bioactive compounds (vitamins, minerals, carotenoids, polyphenols among others) on the prevention of non- communicable diseases (CVD, hypertension and obesity) as well as the enhancement of immune system. - To evaluate consumer acceptance of these new food products including neophobic and sensory studies. - To perform research and training activities concerning food safety and human nutrition problems. **Future events:** - **V PhD Seminar**. June 29th 2026 9:00am to 12:00pm. **Past events:** - [I Conference on Functional Foods, Bioactives and Human Health:](/event/i-conference-functional-and-novel-foods) 29th April, 2022. **Invited Speakers:** José Mª Ordovás (Tufts University); Jean-Xavier Guinard (University of California, Davis) - [At What Time Do We Have to Eat to Be Healthy?](/event/what-time-do-we-have-eat-be-healthy): 16thMay, 2022. **Invited Speaker:** Dra. Marta Garaulet Aza (University of Murcia, Spain) - I PhD International Seminar on Functional Foods, Bioactives and Human Health: 20th May, 2022. **Invited Speaker:** Marta Guasch Ferré (Harvard University) - [Tech Innovation Meeting: Madrid / Boston Connection](/event/tech-innovation-meeting-madrid-boston-connection): From Thursday, September 22nd, 2022 to Friday, September 23rd, 2022. **Invited Speaker:** Howard Sesso (Harvard University) - [Food Bioactives and Eye Health:](/event/food-bioactives-and-eye-health) Friday, 18th November, 2022. **Invited Speakers:** Dra. Maria Dolores Pinazo Durán (University of Valencia); Dr. Shrinivas Pundlik (Harvard University); Dra. Maria Cinta Puell (Complutense University of Madrid, Spain ); Beatriz Sánchez Gavilán, PhD Candidate (Complutense University of Madrid, Spain – Harvard University) - [II PhD Seminar on Functional Foods, Bioactives and Human Health, RCC Harvard.](/event/phd-seminar-functional-foods-bioactives-and-human-health) May 16th, 2023. - [International Seminar on Nutrition and Public Health](/event/food-bioactives-and-health-%E2%80%93-workshop-international-community-experiences)**.** **RCC- University of Parma.** June 1st, 2023. - **Scientific Sesion RCC at Harvard University - Spanish Royal Academy of Pharmacy (RANF).** **Date:** 12nd September, 2023. - **III PhD Seminar on Functional Foods, Bioactives and Human Health.** May 30th, 2024. **Invited Speaker:** Helena Sandoval Insausti (Research Associated at Department of Nutrition, Harvard University T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts). - **ICPH. 11th International Conference on Polyphenols and Health. Date:** October 16-19th, 2024. Location: Boston, MA. - [Targeted Metabolic Profiling of (Poly)phenols Metabolites from Mediterranean Diet after Oral Administration in Brain, their Ability to Cross the Blood-Brain Barrier in Vivo and in Vitro, and their Anti-Inflammatory Activity in Brain Cells](https://rcc.harvard.edu/event/targeted-metabolic-profiling-polyphenols-metabolites-mediterranean-diet-after-oral): 8th April, 2025. Invited Speaker: Antonio Gonzalez Sarrias (*Tenured Scientist at CEBAS-CSIC (Murcia, Spain))* - [**IV PhD Seminar:**](/event/functional-foods-bioactives-and-human-health "Functional Foods, Bioactives and Human Health") Functional Foods, Bioactives and Human Health: 17th November, 2025. **Fellows:** - [Irene Sánchez Gavilán. ](/people/irene-s%C3%A1nchez-gavil%C3%A1n)Postdoctoral Researcher at Division of Preventive Medicine, Harvard Medical School. ​​​​​​**Selected publications:** - Park, S. J., Gavilan, I. S., Li, S., Clar, A., Lau, J., Karbowski, G. C., Sarkisian, A., Cámara, M., & Sesso, H. D. (2026). Effects of pistachio consumption on cognition, cardiometabolic risk factors, and life satisfaction in older adults: Protocol for a remote-based randomized controlled trial. Contemporary Clinical Trials, 108316. - Gavilán, Irene Sánchez, et al. “A pilot and feasibility analysis of serum TMAO and choline in a randomized sample from the COSMOS trial.” Food & Function, (2025). - Design and baseline characteristics of participants in the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS). *Contemporary Clinical Trials*, Volume 116, 2022, 106728. - Effect of cocoa flavanol supplementation for the prevention of cardiovascular disease events: the COcoa Supplement and Multivitamin Outcomes Study (COSMOS) randomized clinical trial, *The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition*, 2022;, nqac055. - Wild sweet cherry, strawberry and bilberry as underestimated sources of natural colorants and bioactive compounds with functional properties. *Food Chemistry,* Volume 414, 2023, 135669. . - Extracts rich in nutrients as Novel Food Ingredients to be used in Food Supplements: a proposal classification. *Nutrients,* 2022 Aug 4;14(15):3194. doi: 10.3390/nu14153194. - Scientific Evidence of the Beneficial Effects of Tomato Products on Cardiovascular Disease and Platelet Aggregation. *Front. Nutr.* 9:849841.[https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.8498](https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.849841) - A review of the role of micronutrients and bioactive compounds on immune system improvement to fight against the COVID-19 disease. *Foods* 2021, 10, 1088. - Food-Based Dietary Guidelines around the World: A Comparative Analysis to Update AESAN Scientific Committee Dietary Recommendations. *Nutrients,* 13(9), 3131. - An international regulatory review of food health-related claims in functional food products labeling. Journal of Functional Foods, 68, 103896.