Biography:

Dr Diana Castro studied chemistry at the Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia. She holds a PhD in Bioprocess Sciences. Her research focuses on the biosynthesis, analysis and characterisation of functional foods, such as probiotics and prebiotics, and their use in the prevention of chronic degenerative diseases. She has trained students at undergraduate and postgraduate level. She currently has 24 publications, three book chapters and three patents. She has completed two international research stays, one at the Institute of Agrochemistry and Food Technology, Spain, and the other at the Texas Biomedical Research Institute and Southwest National Primate Research Center, USA