Dr Leo Pruimboom is a pioneer in Clinical Psychoneuroimmunology (CPNI), a translational medical discipline that studies the interaction between the neurological, endocrine, immune and metabolic systems, and their role in our health and wellbeing. A biochemist by training, he has dedicated his career to developing medical protocols that not only treat the symptoms of diseases, but also address their underlying physiological, social and ecological causes. Recognising a need to incorporate this integrative approach into medical practice, he founded the Pruimboom Institute in 2023 to provide training to medical and paramedical professionals. Dr Pruimboom is the creator of Intermittent Living: a series of practical strategies that rebalance health and promote wellness in the general population. He runs week-long immersive programs in natural surroundings that apply the principles of CPNI. He also founded the European Academy of Psychoneuroimmunology in 1996, and PNI Europe in 2014. He has combined his scientific research in the field with consultancy on its implementation in medical practice. He has treated thousands of patients from all over the world, integrating psychology, neurology and sociology among other disciplines. Dr Pruimboom is the author of three books, and has published several scientific papers in the field of clinical psychoneuroimmunology.

Over the last four decades working in non-profits, academia and as a consultant, Rob Verkerk has developed an intimate relationship with the tightropes that span between science and law, between academia and industry, between corporations, governments and the people — and not least — between our species’ internal and external environments. He has masters and doctorate degrees from Imperial College London, where he also worked as a postdoctoral research fellow for 7 years. Rob’s work has taken him to all the corners of the earth and his recognition of human co-dependence on nature, as well as the human propensity to exploit and destroy it, has helped him devote his life to finding better ways of working with, rather than against nature. Rob is firmly of the view that nature-based solutions hold the key to human and planetary sustainability. In 2002, Dr Verkerk founded the Alliance for Natural Health International (ANH-Intl) and has acted as its executive and scientific director since this time. He has directed legal actions to protect the right to natural health and has campaigned on diverse issues including against toxins in the food supply, in drinking water and in the environment, as well as against genetically modified foods, gene editing and transhumanism. He has been among the leading scientists exposing the distorted science during the COVID-19 crisis as well as in risk analysis as used by drug and food regulators. He is a recognised pioneer in the development of novel, scientifically rational risk-benefit assessment approaches as well as a new, sustainable model for community-based health regeneration. He is also the scientific director of the Alliance for Natural Health’s US office (www.anh-usa.org) and a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition. Dr Verkerk has authored some 60 papers in scientific journals and conference proceedings and contributes regularly to magazines and other popular media. He is an accomplished and inspirational speaker and communicator on a wide range of issues relating to challenges and solutions as they relate to scientific, medical, political, social and environmental aspects of healthcare, agriculture, human nutrition and the environment.