Dairy in Human Health and Disease across the Lifespan

Ronald Ross Watson, PhD, is Professor of Health Promotion Sciences at the University of Arizona, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. Dr. Watson began his research in public health at the Harvard School of Public Health as a Fellow in 1971 doing field work on vaccines in Saudi Arabia. He has done clinical studies in Colombia, Iran, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United States which provides a broad international view of public health. He has served in the military reserve hospital for 17 years with extensive training in medical responses to disasters as the chief biochemistry officer of a general hospital, retiring as a Lt. Colonel. He is a distinguished member of several national and international nutrition, immunology, and cancer societies. Dr. Watson’s career has involved studying many lifestyle aspects for their uses in health promotion. He has edited over 100 biomedical reference books and 450 papers and chapters. His teaching and research focuses on alcohol, tobacco, and drugs of abuse in heart function and disease in mouse models.

Robert J. Collier received his B.S. degree in Zoology from Eastern Illinois University in 1969. After service in the Army Medical Corps he obtained his Master’s Degree in Zoology from Eastern Illinois University in 1973 and his Ph.D. in Dairy Science from the University of Illinois in 1976. His dissertation research was on the endocrine regulation of lactogenesis in the dairy cow. In 1976, Dr. Collier accepted an NIH post-doctorate at the Dairy Science Department of Michigan State University in the laboratory of Dr. Allen Tucker. His research was on the regulation of cortisol uptake in mammary tissue of cattle. In September, 1976, Dr. Collier joined the Dairy Science Department at the University of Florida as an Assistant Professor and continued his research on the endocrine regulation of lactation in cattle . . In 1985, Dr. Collier joined the Monsanto Company as a Science Fellow and initiated a discovery program in lactation and growth regulation. Dr. Collier was responsible for all pre-clinical and clinical research in North America required for the commercialization of Bovine Somatotropin as well as research on novel factors regulating growth, development and lactation of domestic animals.. In 1999, Dr. Collier joined the faculty of the Animal Sciences Department, University of Arizona as Professor of Environmental Physiology and later was Head of the Animal Sciences Department. He is presently Professor Environmental Physiology and Director of the Agricultural Research Complex in the Animal Sciences Department. in 2008 was awarded the Land O Lakes Award from the American Dairy Science Association for his contributions to the field of Dairy Research. He has also served on the Biotechnology Advisory Board for the European Economic Community as well as the University of Iowa. He has also served on both the Nutritional Sciences Advisory Committee and the Animal Sciences Advisory Board for the University of Illinois and the College of Life Sciences at Eastern Illinois University. In 2009, Dr. Collier and Dr. Nelson Horseman of the University of Cincinnati cofounded Amelgo Corporation in Covington, Kentucky. Amelgo provides patented discovery and innovation for the dairy industry. Dr. Collier is author or coauthor of 210 journal articles, chapters and reviews, 1 book, 170 abstracts, 60 popular articles and 9 U.S. Patents. His areas of expertise include environmental and lactation physiology, endocrinology and molecular biology.

Victor R. Preedy, PhD, is Professor of Nutritional Biochemistry in the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, at the King's College in London. He is also a Professor of Clinical Biochemistry in the Department of Clinical Biochemistry. Dr. Preedy is also Director of the Genomics Centre, King's College London. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists in 2000. In 1993, he gained a D.Sc. degree for his outstanding contribution to protein metabolism. He was elected as a Fellow to the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health (2004) and The Royal Institute of Public Health (2004). In 2009, Dr. Preedy was also elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH). He has written or edited over 550 articles, which includes over 160 peer-reviewed manuscripts based on original research and 85 reviews and 30 books. His interests pertain to matters concerning Public Health and how this is influenced by nutrition, addictions and other lifestyle factors. Professor Preedy is especially committed to bridging the person-public health divide.