Functional Food Center Inc.

Functional Food Center Inc.



Functional Foods and Bioactive Compounds in Healthy Aging and Disease Management

36th International Conference of FFC - 24th International Symposium of ASFFBC

Conference at University of Tsukuba, Tokyo, Japan on October 8th - 10th, 2026. (In-Person and Virtual/Live Online Event)  
October 10th will be only virtual presentations.

Conference Committee Members

Committee Chair/Co-Chairs: Responsible for providing overall leadership, strategic direction, and final decision-making for the conference. This group ensures alignment with the conference mission, oversees major organizational and scientific decisions, coordinates with all committees, strengthens international partnerships, and represents the conference in communications with institutions, sponsors, and participants.

  • Danik Martirosyan, Conference Chair, PhD, President, Functional Food Center (Dallas, TX, USA); Functional Food Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
  • Akinori Yanaka, Co-Chair, MD, PhD, Former Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Visiting professor, Research Institute for Tokyo University of Science.

Local Organizing Committee Members: Composed of faculty and administrators from the host university or local institutions (city/country). This committee coordinates on-site logistics, venue arrangements, student volunteers, local hospitality, and day-to-day conference operations.

  • Akinori Yanaka, MD, PhD, Former Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Visiting professor, Research Institute for Tokyo University of Science.
  • Hirofumi Matsui, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
  • Hiromi Kurokawa, PhD, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
  • Mai Waguri, MD, Department of Breast Thyroid Endocrine Surgery, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
  • Hiromu Ito, PhD, National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan

  • Hideo Suzuki, MD, PhD, Director, Tsukuba Endoscopy Clinic,Tsukuba, Japan; Clinical Professor Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.

International Organizing Committee Members: Responsible for the overall planning and execution of the conference. This group oversees program development, speaker coordination, abstract management, editorial preparation of conference materials, and communication between all committees.

  • Watanabe Makoto, PhD, CEO, Phycochemy, Co. Ltd.; Former Professor, Institute of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba
  • Debasis Bagchi, PhD, Professor, Departement of Biology, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, USA.
  • Yoshikazu Higami, MD, PhD, Managing Director, Tokyo University of Science, Professor, Department of Medicinal and Life Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Tokyo, Japan
  • Michihiro Mutoh, MD, PhD, Professor, Department of Molecular-Targeting Prevention, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
  • Hirofumi Matsui, MD, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba Japan.
  • Hiroyoshi Moriyama, PhD, Ryusendo Co., Ltd., R&D, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Japan
  • Ken Itoh, MD, PhD, Professor, The Head of Laboratory adn Principal Investigator, Department of Stress Response Science, Hirosaki University, Hirosaki, Japan
  • Ikuo Nakanishi, PhD,Team Leader at National Institutes for Quantum Science and Technology, Chiba, Japan
  • Danik Martirosyan, PhD, President, Functional Food Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Functional Food Institute, San Diego, CA, USA
  • Akinori Yanaka, MD, PhD, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Visiting professor, Research Institute for Tokyo University of Science.

International Scientific Committee Members: Consists of distinguished researchers and experts from around the world. This committee ensures scientific quality through abstract selection, peer-review oversight, thematic session development, and guidance on scientific innovation and functional food science relevance.

  • Debasis Bagchi, PhD, Professor, Departement of Biology, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology, Adelphi University, Garden City, New York, USA.
  • Akinori Yanaka, MD, PhD, Former Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Visiting professor, Research Institute for Tokyo University of Science.
  • Danik Martirosyan, PhD, President, Functional Food Center, Dallas, TX, USA; Functional Food Institute, San Diego, CA, USA

Industry and Sponsorship Committee Members: Focused on collaboration with industry partners, sponsors, exhibitors, and companies involved in functional foods, nutrition, biotechnology, and health sciences. This committee develops sponsorship packages, outreach strategies, and ensures strong engagement with the private sector and governmental representatives.

  • Hideo Suzuki, MD, PhD, Director, Tsukuba Endoscopy Clinic,Tsukuba, Japan; Clinical Professor Department of Gastroenterology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan.
  • Hiroyoshi Moriyama, PhD, Ryusendo Co., Ltd., R&D, Toshima-ku, Tokyo, Japan