Our Conferences

Dr. Georgia Ede is an internationally recognized expert in nutritional and metabolic psychiatry. Her 25+ years of clinical experience include 12 years at Smith College and Harvard University, where she was the first psychiatrist to offer nutrition-based approaches to mental health conditions.     Dr. Ede co-authored the first inpatient study of the ketogenic diet for serious mental illness, developed the first medically accredited course in ketogenic diets for mental health, and is a recipient of the Baszucki Metabolic Mind Award. Her bestselling book Change Your Diet, Change Your Mind is recommended by the New York Times Book Review and has been translated into more than a dozen languages

Dr. Nasha Winters is an integrative oncology specialist, author of “The Metabolic Approach to Cancer” and “Mistletoe and the Emerging Future of Integrative Oncology,” host of the Metabolic Matters podcast, former Executive Director of the nonprofit organization the Metabolic Terrain Institute of Health (MTIH), CEO of Dr Nasha, Inc and co-founder and Medical Director of Terrain Holding Company. 

  An internationally recognized authority in integrative cancer care and a sought-after public speaker, she champions a comprehensive approach to cancer treatment, combining standard of care with vetted metabolic and complementary therapies for optimal outcomes. She is a trusted consultant for medical professionals and researchers worldwide, offering expertise in patient evaluation and treatment strategies. 

  Dr. Nasha is revolutionizing cancer care with her vision for a pioneering residential integrative oncology hospital and research institute. She recently took a giant step towards realizing that vision with the opening of a new, nonprofit metabolic research lab in Phoenix, Arizona, focusing on personalized cancer treatments and early detection tools. 

  She’s also enhancing cancer treatment education through the Integrative Metabolic Oncology Course (IMOC), Advanced Integrative Metabolic Course (AIMC), and the Terrain Advocate Program, training practitioners and advocates globally. To support patients, she’s raising funds for financial aid, ensuring access to innovative treatments. 

  Dr. Nasha’s for-profit ventures, MitoVida and MTOmics, are producing groundbreaking supplements and an AI-powered health data platform, respectively, targeting metabolic dysfunction and personalizing therapies. Her multifaceted efforts are on the cusp of transforming cancer care and metabolic health worldwide.

Dr. Nicole Avena is an Associate Professor of Neuroscience at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City, and a Visiting Professor of Health Psychology at Princeton University. She graduated Princeton University with a PhD in Psychology and Neuroscience, and completed her postdoctoral fellowship in molecular biology at The Rockefeller University in New York City. She is a research neuroscientist and expert in the fields of nutrition, diet and addiction, with a special focus on nutrition during the lifespan. She has done ground breaking work developing models to characterize food addition and the dangers of excess sugar intake. Her research achievements have been honoured by awards from several groups including the New York Academy of Sciences, the American Psychological Association, and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

In addition to over 100 peer-reviewed scholarly publications, Dr. Avena has written several popular books, including Why Diets Fail: Because You’re Addicted to Sugar, What to Eat When You’re Pregnant, What to Feed Your Baby and Toddler and What to Eat When You Want to Get Pregnant. Her latest book, Sugarless, covers the latest science on sugar addiction and how to overcome it. She frequently appears as a science expert in the media, including regular appearances on Good Day NY, Good Morning America, and the former Dr. Oz Show and The Doctors as well as many national and regional news programs. She was featured as an expert in Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness, as well as You Are What You Eat: A Twin Experiment and she is a go-to expert in the media for all things related to nutrition, health and wellness. Her work has been featured in Time Magazine, Bloomberg Business Week, The New York Times, and many other periodicals. Dr. Avena is a member of the Penguin Random House Speakers Bureau. She has the #2 most watched TED-ED Health talk, How Sugar Affects Your Brain, with over 17 million views and counting.

Dr. Erica LaFata is an Assistant Research Professor at the Drexel University Center for Weight, Eating, and Lifestyle Science and a licensed clinical psychologist in the state of Pennsylvania. She earned her doctoral degree in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan. Dr. LaFata’s program of research applies a cutting-edge perspective to understanding overeating and obesity by examining 1) how ultra-processed foods may be reinforcing in a manner that directly drives overeating, 2) whether core mechanisms of addictive disorders (e.g., withdrawal) may contribute to eating-related problems for vulnerable individuals, and 3) how ultra-processed food addiction may be a novel, clinically useful presentation to inform individualized interventions.

Dr. LaFata has investigated these empirical questions using a multi-method approach, including neuroimaging, scale development, food consumption paradigms, and self-report, and she has published over 50 academic papers and 5 book chapters on this topic. She is the recipient of a K23 Career Development Award, funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), investigating whether ultra-processed foods high in added fats, refined carbohydrates, or both are most associated with biobehavioral indicators of addictive-like reinforcement. In 2024, Dr. LaFata was honored as an Association of Psychological Science Rising Star.

David Wiss, PhD, is a mental health scientist and registered dietitian nutritionist. He founded Nutrition in Recovery, a group practice based in Los Angeles, CA, integrating nutrition care into substance use disorder treatment. Dr. Wiss founded the Wise Mind Nutrition mobile app, bridging the gap between nutrition and mental health.

As a clinician and researcher, he has over a decade of experience working one-on-one with patients. He has authored more than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles on topics related to disordered eating and ultra-processed food addiction. Dr. Wiss is dedicated to disrupting the status quo and contributing innovative solutions to the mental health crisis.

Kim Dennis, MD, is a board-certified psychiatrist, eating disorders specialist and board certified in addiction medicine. She specializes in treating eating disorders, addiction, trauma, and complex co-occurring psychiatric disorders. Dr. Dennis also brings lived experience to her work as a physician with long term recovery from an eating disorder, food addiction, and trauma.     She is the co-founder, Chief Medical Officer, and CEO of SunCloud Health. She obtained her medical degree from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine, and completed her psychiatry residency training at the University of Chicago Hospitals, where she served as Chief Resident.     Dr. Dennis is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Illinois Chicago in the Department of Psychiatry.   She practices with a holistic perspective in psychiatry, incorporating biological, psycho-social, and spiritual approaches into individually tailored, weight neutral treatments for each patient.     She serves as a board member for Galen Mental Health, a member of NEDA’s Clinical Advisory Council, a member of the American Association of Pediatrics Eating Disorders and Obesity Workgroup, and clinical advisory council for ANAD.

Prof. Adrian Soto-Mota is a medical doctor specialising in Internal Medicine. After his residency, he obtained his doctoral degree researching human ketone physiology at the University of Oxford and trained as a Data Scientist at Harvard.

He is a researcher and a Professor in the Internal Medicine Program at Mexico’s National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition. His research focuses on the clinical applications of different dietary interventions and the use and abuse of statistical methods in Biomedical Sciences.

He was accepted this year as a Fellow of the American College of Physicians.

Karen Thomson is a dynamic and influential figure in the health and wellness industry, dedicated to transforming lives through her passion for healthy living and overcoming addiction. As the founder of Sugar Free Revolution, she has emerged as a leading advocate for healthy eating and optimizing well-being. Karen’s unwavering commitment lies in assisting individuals to heal their relationship with food, alcohol, and addictive substances from the inside out. With a wealth of experience working with clients grappling with addiction, alcoholism, and eating disorders, she recognised the pressing need for a comprehensive program that would empower individuals to overcome their sugar and carb addiction.

Driven by her vision, Karen assembled a world-class team of experts, including doctors, nurses, dietitians, addictions specialists, psychiatrists, occupational therapists, counsellors, and trauma specialists. Together, they developed a cutting-edge treatment program that addresses the emotional, psychological, physiological, and spiritual aspects of addiction. The program encompasses a range of interventions, such as nutritional guidance, intensive trauma therapy, somatic breathwork, addictions counselling, meditation, art therapy, exercise, and more.

Karen’s impact extends beyond her revolutionary inpatient treatment program. She spearheaded The Sugar Free Revolution movement, utilising her popular blog and website to disseminate valuable information and resources. As an accomplished author, her bestselling book, Sugar-Free: 8 Weeks to Freedom from Sugar and Carb Addiction, has resonated with audiences in the UK and South Africa, further solidifying her expertise in the field.

Additionally, Karen’s trailblazing initiatives include the establishment of the HELP: Harmony Eating & Lifestyle Program in 2012 and the organisation of the inaugural LCHF Health Summit in Cape Town in February 2015. These ventures have brought together leading experts and enthusiasts, fostering collaboration and innovation in the pursuit of optimal health. Most recently Karen served as the Executive Director of CrossFit Health, a division of CrossFit, Inc. During her tenure from September 2017 to May 2023, she spearheaded a revolutionary function aimed at transforming global healthcare delivery. Harnessing the power of CrossFit’s methodology, affiliates, and community, Karen led efforts to address the root causes of chronic disease. Her strategic goals encompassed establishing CrossFit as a trusted authority on health, bridging the gap between fitness and medicine, fostering extensive networking among healthcare professionals, and developing professional education opportunities focused on CrossFit Rx.

Drawing inspiration from her personal journey, Karen embodies the principles she espouses on her Sugar Free Revolution website, blog, and online treatment programs. Her authentic dedication to healthy living serves as a testament to her unwavering belief in the transformative power of nourishing the body, mind, and spirit. Overall, Karen’s multifaceted contributions and innovative approach to wellness make her a true pioneer in the field. Her unwavering commitment to helping individuals reclaim their health and vitality has inspired countless individuals worldwide to embark on their own transformative journeys toward a sugar-free and fulfilling life.

Dr. Ignacio Cuaranta is a Board-Certified Clinical Psychiatrist from Argentina. He focuses on integrating metabolic and lifestyle interventions—such as low-carb and ketogenic diets, intermittent fasting, and stress management—into psychiatric practice to optimise mental health and improve quality of life.

Dr David Unwin FRCGP works at the Norwood NHS Surgery in Southport near Liverpool, UK where he has helped care for a practice of 9700 people since 1986 as a family doctor. To date 150 of his patients with T2 diabetes have achieved drug-free remission. This gives a remission rate of 50% at 30 months duration of those choosing a lower carb diet. This equates to a remission rate of over 20% of the diabetic population of the entire practice.  One of the best results for any clinic in the world. 

For the past few years, he has been a UK Royal College of General Practitioners expert clinical advisor on diabetes. David was also elected to fellowship of the college for his work in the training of trainee general practitioners.  

 In 2016 he was the proud UK National winner of the NHS Innovator Of The Year Award for published research into lifestyle changes; working with patients’ personal health goals as an alternative to drug therapy in type 2 diabetes – so that his GP practice has now saved £370,000 on drugs for diabetes since 2018.  As part of this he has also published over 20 research papers into improving blood pressure, lipid profiles, renal function and liver function by improving diet by reducing carbohydrate, especially sugar while increasing protein and healthy fats. His teaspoon of sugar infographics have been translated into thirty five languages and have been downloaded millions of times. 

His 2023 BMJ nutrition paper on the low carb diet in T2 diabetes* is the most popular paper ever published by that journal. 

With his psychologist wife Dr Jen Unwin he has presented to large audiences all over the world (Florida, Minnesota, California, Denver, New Zealand, Poland, Zurich, London, Glasgow and Edinburgh) 

Dr Unwin’s work has been covered by national television, The New Scientist, The Times, The Daily Mail and The British Medical Journal. As @lowcarbGP he has  108,000 followers on X (Twitter) 

https://twitter.com/lowcarbGP 

David also manages five small bird reserves and is senior trustee of the Three Owls Bird Sanctuary 

*Unwin D, Delon C, Unwin J, Tobin S, Taylor R. What predicts drug-free type 2 diabetes remission? Insights from an 8-year general practice service evaluation of a lower carbohydrate diet with weight loss. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. 2023:e000544.

Simon Dankel is professor of medicine and nutritional biochemistry at the University of Bergen, Norway, with a special interest in the link between nutrition and metabolic diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, fatty liver, cardiovascular disease and cancer.

As part of his interdisciplinary research he leads controlled dietary intervention studies in people with obesity and type 2 diabetes, and has contributed with several high-impact studies across the fields of molecular and cell biology, functional genomics and nutrition.

Mauro has a Degree in Cultural Anthropology from the University of Turin (Italy), a Master’s in Public Health from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland) and a Master’s in Nutrition Epidemiology from the University of Bordeaux (France).

Mauro has worked with civil society organizations and the United Nations and has more than 15 years international experience in health and nutrition in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Mauro’s work focuses on strengthening public policies to prevent the triple burden of malnutrition, especially food-based policies to transform food systems for children.

Dr Amy Reichelt (PhD) is a neuroscientist, nutritionist, speaker and author. Having spent over a decade in the thick of academic neuroscience research in the UK and Australia, she led her lab group to investigate how modern-day diets, replete with ultra-processed foods, refined sugar and saturated fats, impacts multiple facets of brain function – including memory, decision making and mood, and how the teenage brain may be particularly at risk of enduring deleterious effects. She has made numerous media appearances on radio, TV (including ABC’s The Science of Drugs as a sugar expert), podcasts, and TEDxSydney.

Dr. Scott W. Murray MBChB, BSc, MRCP, MD - Founding Cardiology Consultant at Start Heartily

Dr Scott W. Murray is an experienced consultant cardiologist based in Wirral, UK. Following his graduation from Glasgow University with a First Class Honours BSc in Sports and Exercise Medicine (1999), his initial research work was presented at the American Heart Association and involved BNP and ACE genotype work in Athletic LVH and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Upon completion of his medical degree in 2001 he relocated to Liverpool and began training in general medicine and cardiology, specialising in interventional cardiology, in particular intravascular imaging (IVUS) in stable and unstable coronary artery disease. During this time he undertook periods of research at the famous Thoraxcentre in Rotterdam and in Virginia, USA, focusing on using intravascular ultrasound and Cardiac CT to diagnose ‘vulnerable plaques’ in patients. His research led to numerous publications, awards and also the post-graduate MD degree from The University of Liverpool.

Scott now has a specialist interest in preventative cardiology after spending 10+ years focused on the vulnerable coronary plaque and interventional cardiology. He now prefers to deal solely with the “vulnerable patient” and believes in attenuating individual personal risks. He has given multiple lectures nationally and via social media. Scott is the past-president of the British Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (BACPR).

Scott prides himself on his down to earth rapport with patients, his ability to explain complex concepts in basic language and he tries hard to treat every patient like family. He is married (to another Doctor!) and they have three young boys. He doesn’t get to golf as much as he would like these days. You can keep up with his activities on X @DrScottMurray.