Bio
Francisca Castro Mendes is a postdoctoral researcher at the EPIUnit – Institute of Public Health, University of Porto. She holds a PhD in Public Health from the University of Porto, with a focus on the dietary neuroimmune modulation of asthma and respiratory health in children. Her research interests include the interplay between nutrition, environmental exposures, and the development of allergic diseases. Dr. Castro Mendes is also active in international initiatives, serving as the chair of a European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) task force on childhood asthma risk prediction, aiming to improve early identification and prevention strategies for at-risk children.

Research Keywords
Professor Vanessa Garcia Larsen is a nutritional epidemiologist whose research focuses on the role of diet in the prevention and management of allergic and respiratory diseases. She has extensive experience investigating how nutritional factors can modula

Bio
Dr. Inês Paciência is an environmental health scientist with a strong background in how environmental exposures impact allergic diseases and asthma. She earned her PhD in Biomedical Sciences in Portugal, where she studied the influence of indoor air quality and other environmental determinants on pediatric asthma. Currently a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oulu, Dr. Paciência’s work examines the dynamic interplay between indoor environments, neighborhood green/blue spaces, and the development of allergies and respiratory issues in children. She is also the Chair the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology’s “One Health” working group, contributing to research and policies that integrate human, animal, and environmental health approaches to mitigate allergic disease risk.

Bio
Prof. Refiloe Masekela is a renowned pediatric pulmonologist and researcher with over 17 years of experience in lung health. She leads the Department of Pediatrics & Child Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and serves as co-Chair of the Global Asthma Network and President of the Pan African Thoracic Society. Prof. Masekela's research focuses on pediatric asthma epidemiology and improving access to care in resource-limited settings. She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and is a strong advocate for addressing social determinants in respiratory health.