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 BSc, PhD, DSc, FRSB, FRSPH, FRCPath, FRSC is a staff member of the Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine within King's College London. He is also a member of the Division of Diabetes and Nutritional Sciences (research) and the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics (teaching). Professor Preedy is also Director of the Genomics Centre of King's College London. Professor Preedy graduated in 1974 with an Honours Degree in Biology and Physiology with Pharmacology. He gained his University of London PhD in 1981. In 1992, he received his Membership of the Royal College of Pathologists and in 1993 he gained his second doctorate (DSc), for his outstanding contribution to protein metabolism in health and disease. Professor Preedy was elected as a Fellow to the Institute of Biology in 1995 and to the Royal College of Pathologists in 2000. Since then he has been elected as a Fellow to the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health (2004) and The Royal Institute of Public Health (2004). In 2009, Professor Preedy became a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health and in 2012 a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry. Professor Preedy has carried out research when attached to Imperial College London, The School of Pharmacy (now part of University College London) and the MRC Centre at Northwick Park Hospital. He has collaborated with research groups in Finland, Japan, Australia, USA and Germany. Prof Preedy is a leading expert on the science of health and has a long standing interest in neurological disease and tissue pathology. He has lectured nationally and internationally. To his credit, Professor Preedy has published over 600 articles, which includes peer-reviewed manuscripts based on original research, abstracts and symposium presentations, reviews and numerous books and volumes.