Staff
Marla Cunningham
Executive Director
Marla Cunningham assumed the role of ISAPP’s Executive Director in April, 2023. Prior to 2023, Marla was an industry scientist within the ISAPP community and brings over 20 years of experience in the probiotic, prebiotic, and natural products industry, working across innovation, clinical research, product development, regulatory compliance, and education.
She trained as a healthcare practitioner in complementary medicine and has written and presented extensively for clinical audiences on the implementation of biotic-related science. Marla has broad scientific literacy across the fields of biotic substances, microbiome, gut health, nutrition, and human physiology, and brings a passion for harnessing science to deliver beneficial changes in health for our community and our planet.
Laura Tiernay
Executive Co-ordinator
Laura graduated from the Ontario College of Art and Design and began her administrative career in the interior design and construction industries. Having gained a broad range of experience in digital marketing, technology and various non-profit organizations, she is enthusiastic about contributing creatively to ISAPP’s mission. As the Executive Coordinator, Laura supports communication and marketing efforts, logistics and travel coordination, and the administrative framework of the organization.
Kristina Campbell
Consulting Communications Director
Kristina Campbell, MSc is a science and medical writer who specializes in creating books and other scientific resources on the gut microbiome and biotics. Kristina has authored 5 books, including Gut Health For Dummies and IBS For Dummies (Wiley Publishers). She holds degrees from University of Toronto and University of British Columbia, and now lives in Victoria, Canada.
Industry Advisory Committee Representatives
Dr. Jessica van Harsselaar, PhD
Senior IAC Representative
ISAPP member company: BENEO Institute
Jessica is Manager of Nutrition Science at the BENEO Institute. She is responsible for overseeing global scientific research on the nutritional and health benefits of BENEO’s prebiotic chicory root fibers. She is a nutrition scientist, specializing in prebiotic research and the human gut microbiota. She obtained her PhD from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, and is actively involved in international collaborative research projects with academic and industry partners, including contributions at the International Life Science Institute (ILSI).
Dr. Leila Shin, PhD
Junior IAC Representative
ISAPP member company: PepsiCo
Leila’s role is Life Sciences Associate Principal Scientist at PepsiCo. Leila’s main responsibility is leading scientific substantiation for claims related to gut health and biotics, including reviewing clinical evidence to ensure it is up to PepsiCo’s high standards, which use ISAPP guidelines as a basis. If the business demand for an ingredient is substantial, but there is a lack of scientific evidence surrounding it, Leila collaborates with external partners to design and execute randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. She also plays an integral role in educating cross-functional colleagues on the gut microbiome and nuances of pre-, pro-, and post-biotics. Leila is now working towards developing a strategic plan embodying the gut health space.