**Meet the editors**

Dr. Rao, Professor Emeritus, Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, has established a major focus in the area of diet, nutrition and health. His research has focused on the role of oxidative stress and antioxidant phytochemicals in the causation and prevention of chronic diseases, with particular emphasis on the role of carotenoids and

polyphenols. His research interest also includes the role of prebiotics and probiotics in human health. He is recognized internationally for his contributions in this area. He has over 100 publications in scientific journals and several books and book chapters. He has a distinguished academic career spanning over 50 years. He is popularly sought by the international media to express his opinions on the subjects of nutrition, probiotics, prebiotics and antioxidant phytochemicals in human health.

Dr. Leticia Rao is an adjunct professor of Medicine; a full member of the Graduate Faculty, Institute of Medical Science, at the University of Toronto; the director of the Calcium Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine; and a staff scientist at St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario. She has a BSc Chemistry from the University of the Philippines, an MSc in Food Science and Technology

from Oregon State University, and a PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Toronto. Her expertise is in the area of bone cell biology with the goal of finding the prevention of osteoporosis by studying bone cells in the laboratory and carrying out clinical studies of drugs and nutritional supplements in postmenopausal women. Her research has been presented to a number of symposia both nationally and internationally and published extensively in peer-reviewed scientific journals. She coauthored a book entitled 'Bone Building Solution' and coedited the book 'Phytochemicals: Isolation, Characterization and Role in Human Health'.
