Agenda
Time (EST)
Location
Topic
8:30 am
Lobby
Registration | Networking | Intercontinental Breakfast
9:00 am
Main Stage
Welcome Remarks
Julia Olayanju, Ph.D. MPH, Chair, Planning Committee
9:10 am
Main Stage
Opening Keynote
9:30 am
Main Stage
The Evolving Landscape of Nutritional, Lifestyle & Metabolic Psychiatry: Implications for Community Mental Health
As evidence grows connecting diet, lifestyle, and metabolic health to mental health outcomes, the fields of nutritional and metabolic psychiatry are becoming increasingly relevant to public health, clinical practice, and policy. This interdisciplinary panel brings together scholars and practitioners to explore how emerging research in this evolving field can be translated into effective, community-level interventions.
Panelists will examine the physiological mechanisms linking nutrition, inflammation, and metabolic function to mood and cognition, while also discussing the socioecological factors—such as food insecurity and access to care—that contribute to mental health disparities. The conversation will focus on bridging research and real-world application, offering insights that inform both future scholarship and public health initiatives.
Panel Chair: Dr. Uma Naidoo, Director, Nutrition and Lifestyle Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital
10:20 am
Main Stage
GLP-1, Food Innovation & Community Health: Navigating the New Normal.
The emergence of GLP-1 receptor agonists has rapidly reshaped the landscape of obesity and chronic disease treatment, offering new hope to millions. Yet as these therapies become more widespread, critical questions arise: What does this shift mean for the role of food in health? How should we adapt public health strategies to ensure equity, access, and long-term outcomes? And how can food innovation play a complementary role in a future increasingly shaped by pharmaceutical intervention?
This timely panel brings together experts in endocrinology, nutrition science, food innovation, and public health to explore the intersection of GLP-1 medications and food systems. With a focus on real-world community impact, panelists will discuss the implications of widespread GLP-1 use on food behavior, nutrition education, chronic disease prevention, and healthcare access—particularly among vulnerable populations.
Panel Chair: Dr. Julia Olayanju, Director, FoodNiche Institute
11:20 pm
Presentation
Solution Showcase (Sponsored Opportunity Available)
11:45 pm
Lobby
POWER LUNCH/NETWORKING
1:00 pm
Main Stage
Keynote II
1:30 pm
Main Stage
Fueling Innovation & Access: Funding the Future of Food for Health
Transforming food systems to support public health requires more than innovative ideas—it demands strategic investment. From sustainable food startups to community-based nutrition programs, access to funding is critical to scale impactful solutions that improve health outcomes and promote equity. This panel brings together leaders from venture capital, philanthropy, public health, and food innovation to discuss how funding can accelerate change at the intersection of food, health, and equity.
Panelists will explore the unique challenges and opportunities in securing venture capital, federal and foundation grants, and public-private partnerships. They will also highlight successful models, offer practical guidance, and address how funders are evaluating impact in this rapidly evolving space.
2:30 pm
Main Stage
The ROI of Preventive Nutrition: How Food Can Reduce Healthcare Costs
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Examining the long-term cost savings of nutrition-focused interventions for chronic disease prevention.
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Case studies of successful insurance-covered nutrition programs.
Exploring strategies that work and those that do not drive desirable results.