Nutritious Minds Clinic
Brain Health & Emotional Wellness
Scientific Advisory Team
Nutritious Minds Clinic is proud to be supported by an exceptional Scientific Advisory Team
Our Scientific Advisory Team comprising internationally recognised experts who are widely published and highly respected in the fields of nutrition, neuroscience, metabolic health, and neurodevelopment. The Advisory Team provides academic oversight, research guidance, and scientific rigour, supporting the integrity, professionalism, and evidence base of the clinic. Members contribute strategic insight, advise on best practice, and collaborate on research, publications, and future projects to ensure that Nutritious Minds Clinic remains grounded in robust, ethical, and translational science
Scientific Advisory Team
Our Scientific Advisory Team provides strategic oversight, research guidance, and academic rigour.
Robert H. Lustig
PROFESSOR OF PAEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY | SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
Dr Robert H. Lustig is Emeritus Professor of Paediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), and a globally recognised authority on metabolic health, nutrition, and the biological impact of ultra-processed foods and sugar on the brain and body. A neuroendocrinologist by training, his work has been instrumental in reframing obesity, mental health, and chronic disease through a metabolic and systems-based lens. Dr Lustig is the author of several influential books, including Fat Chance, The Hacking of the American Mind, and Metabolical, and has advised governments, institutions, and industry on food policy and public health. His research and advocacy focus on reducing metabolic dysfunction, improving food quality, and addressing the upstream drivers of disease. Dr Rachel Gow has worked closely with Dr Lustig since 2021. Together, they formed a scientific advisory team providing expert consultancy to Kuwait Danish Dairy Company (KDD), supporting the re-engineering of a large-scale food portfolio in favour of metabolic health. This collaborative work was published in 2023, contributing to the growing literature on reformulating ultra-processed foods to better support human health. As a Scientific Advisor to Nutritious Minds Clinic, Dr Lustig supports the clinic’s commitment to metabolically informed, evidence-based approaches to brain health and neurodevelopment.
Michael Crawford
PROFESSOR OF NUTRITION BRAIN HEALTH | SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
Professor of Nutrition & Brain Health | Scientific Advisor Professor Michael Crawford is a world-leading pioneer in nutritional neuroscience and brain evolution. His research has been foundational in establishing the essential role of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, particularly DHA, in brain development, cognition, and mental health across the lifespan. Formerly based at Imperial College London, Professor Crawford has published extensively on the links between nutrition, brain structure, neurodevelopment, and psychiatric outcomes. His work has shaped international understanding of how modern dietary patterns influence brain health and vulnerability to neurodevelopmental and mental health conditions. During her PhD training, Dr Rachel Gow was fortunate to receive advanced supervision in nutritional biochemistry under Professor Crawford’s external guidance at Imperial College London. They remain close colleagues and friends, and Dr Gow has supported Professor Crawford’s non-profit work through the Mother and Child Foundation, reflecting a shared commitment to early brain development and public health. Professor Crawford’s role within Nutritious Minds Clinic strengthens its scientific foundations in nutrition, neurodevelopment, and preventative brain health.
John Stein
PROFESSOR OF PAEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY | SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
Emeritus Professor of Neuroscience | Scientific Advisor. Professor John Stein is Emeritus Professor of Neuroscience at the University of Oxford and a leading authority on developmental neuroscience, with particular expertise in dyslexia, visual processing, and learning differences. His research has been instrumental in advancing understanding of the biological and sensory mechanisms underpinning reading, attention, and neurodevelopmental variation. Based within Oxford’s Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Professor Stein has published widely in peer-reviewed journals and has played a significant role in translating neuroscience research into educational and clinical contexts. His work has helped shift dyslexia from a behavioural description to a neurobiological framework. Professor Stein served as an external examiner during Dr Rachel Gow’s PhD viva at King’s College London. His academic oversight and support during this formative stage reflect a long-standing professional connection grounded in shared scientific values and mutual respect. As a Scientific Advisor to Nutritious Minds Clinic, Professor Stein contributes expertise in neurodevelopment, learning differences, and the application of neuroscience to real-world educational and clinical practice.
Alex Richardson
SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST | SCIENTIFIC ADVISOR
Dr Alex Richardson is a leading researcher in nutritional neuroscience, internationally recognised for her work on omega-3 fatty acids, ADHD, dyslexia, and developmental coordination disorder. Formerly a Senior Research Scientist at the University of Oxford, she has led and contributed to multiple clinical trials exploring how dietary interventions influence attention, behaviour, mood, and learning. Dr Richardson is the founder of Food and Behaviour Research, a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing evidence-based understanding of nutrition and mental health. Her work has had significant impact on both academic research and public policy, particularly in relation to children’s diet and neurodevelopment. Dr Rachel Gow has been an associate of Food and Behaviour Research and a close collaborator and colleague of Dr Richardson since around 2007. Their long-standing professional relationship reflects a shared commitment to translating high-quality research into practical, accessible support for families and neurodivergent individuals. Dr Richardson’s advisory role supports Nutritious Minds Clinic’s research integrity, educational mission, and evidence-led approach to neurodivergence and brain health.
Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas
CLINICAL NEUROSCIENTIST RESEARCH AFFILIATE
Dr Miguel Toribio-Mateas is a clinical neuroscientist, applied microbiologist, and nutrition researcher with over two decades of experience advancing understanding of the gut–brain axis and mental health.
He is an Honorary Research Fellow at Cardiff University’s School of Psychology and a Lecturer in Nutrition, Quality Improvement, and Public Health at the University of West London. His work bridges neuroscience, microbiome research, and nutritional psychiatry, with a strong focus on translating complex science into compassionate, real-world applications.
Miguel is particularly passionate about supporting neurodivergent and marginalised communities through inclusive, evidence-based approaches. As an Ambassador for the Nutritious Minds Trust, his contribution strengthens the clinic’s research translation, academic credibility, and commitment to equity in brain health.