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Post Nominals RNutr
Biography Professor Bermano is a Registered Nutritionist (Nutrition Science) with the UK Voluntary Register of Nutritionists (UKVRN), held by the Association for Nutrition. She obtained her degree (Laurea) in Food Science and Nutrition from the University of Milan, and her PhD in Molecular Nutrition from the Rowett Research Institute/University of Aberdeen. She joined Robert Gordon University in 2003 and, after 6 years (2009-2015) as Theme Leader for Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health research within the multi-disciplinary Institute for Health & Wellbeing Research , she is now Professor in Metabolic Nutrition. She is also Director of the Centre for Obesity Research and Education (CORE) and Co-Director of the Centre for Natural Products in Health, which focuses on the identification of novel pharmaceutical and nutraceutical agents from plant, marine algal and food processing waste-derived sources.
Research Interests Professor Bermano's research focuses on identifying novel “nutraceuticals” for optimal nutrition and disease prevention and to assess their effects at molecular and cellular levels in in vitro and in vivo models of disease, or clinical studies. She has an international reputation in micronutrient metabolism, obesity and health-related research, demonstrating significant achievement and effectiveness in these areas with publications in high impact journals (>40 full original papers, 6 reviews, 3 book chapters (h index 20, Research Gate Score 34.5)) and being returned in RAE 2008/REF 2014 with publications judged to be 3/4* and in REF2021.
Her research explores how normal physiology is altered in obesity-associated diseases such as cancer (Barron et al.2014,2017; Weichhaus et al.2011,2012,2014), diabetes (Hay et al.2005; Cockburn et al.2004; Macfarlane et al.2000), fatty liver disease (Barbosa et al.2020, 2021, Kapravelou et al.2015,2020) in order to identify novel nutritional/therapeutic targets. The most impactful contribution of her research is the demonstration that nutrients in the diet, such as the trace element selenium, can regulate the levels/activity of proteins important for human health and the identification of the mechanisms of this regulation (Bermano et al.1996a,b). Her research has highlighted a link between selenium status and colorectal cancer risk (Bermano et al.2007) and a nutrient-gene interaction leading to greater susceptibility of certain individuals to cancer (Bermano et al.2010).
Her work in sustainable nutrition and nutraceuticals has led to collaborations with food and drink industries to develop methods for valorisation of by-products, isolation of high-value/low-volume chemicals, assessing their activities in biological systems and identification of mechanisms of action for use as nutraceuticals. I have ongoing partnerships with several food & drink businesses and have secured funding from Zero Waste Scotland (Circular Economy Development Grant), BBSRC-IBioIC and InnovateUK (KTP).
Teaching and Learning While teaching is not a substantial part of her current position, Professor Bermano takes an active role in lecturing within RGU and supervising final years undergraduate students during their research projects.
ResearcherID AGF-7411-2022
Scopus Author ID 6602719636