Dr. Sourabh Kharait (MD / PhD) is Clinical Nephrologist and Medical Director of Clinical Trials at Summit Nephrology Medical Group, Medical Director at Fresenius MC Dialysis Clinic in Lincoln, CA and the Founder and CEO of IGH Naturals, a platform company that designs Functional Foods and Nutritional products for athletes and patients with chronic diseases. Dr. Kharait is the inventor of the patented MAGNAK electrolyte formula designed to prevent muscle cramps in athletes as well as HuMOLYTE, an electrolyte mix with human milk oligosaccharides. On the clinical side, he has cared for patients with chronic and end-stage kidney disease for more than a decade and has directed numerous clinical trials in the field of renal disease bringing novel drugs into practice. Selected recent trials that he led as a principal investigator include Finerenone (Kerendia) in diabetic nephropathy for Bayer, Vadadustat for anemia in CKD and ESRD for Akebia Therapeutics, Roxadustat in patients with anemia of CKD for Fibrogen, Inc., Accrufer for Shield Therapeutics and Korsuva for uremic pruritus for Vifor Pharmaceuticals. Dr. Kharait has authored numerous peer reviewed original research articles, book chapters, expert opinions and has advised numerous professional athletes on hydration and nutritional practice. After finishing his medical school, Dr. Kharait received his PhD in molecular physiology from the University of Pittsburgh. He completed a residency in Internal Medicine from Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New York and a fellowship in Nephrology from the University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Kharait’s passion includes addressing the unmet need of using nutritional ingredients as therapies for chronic diseases (Food as Medicine).

Rich Foreman is the current Chief Operating Officer at IGH Naturals. Prior to this role, he served as the founding Chief Technology Officer and spearheaded the development of the CordicoShield/CordicoFire Wellness App. Under his leadership, Cordico was honored with the Sacramento Innovation Award in 2021 and was acquired by Lexipol . Rich’s educational background includes a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Washington and a Master’s in Public Administration from Troy State University. He also served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. Furthermore, Rich co-authored the book “Tap into the Mobile Economy.” Rich also co-founded Apptology, which received recognition as the Small Business of the Year in 2014 by the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber.

Dan is an accomplished senior executive with comprehensive biotech, pharma, nutraceutical, and Agtech experience and serves as the Chief Financial Officer for IGH Naturals. He most recently led Kaydence Pharma, a development-stage pharmaceuticals company, and prior to that served as CEO of its former parent company, NattoPharma ASA. Dan spent nearly twenty years at FMC Corporation, in both the AG Products Group and Health & Nutrition division which focused on functional ingredients serving food, beverage, pharmaceutical and nutraceutical segments. Dan’s C-suite experience includes stints as CEO, COO, and CFO in the U.S. and abroad with extensive experience in areas of strategic planning, financial management, business turnarounds, acquisitions, and integration. He holds an MBA from Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business Administration and twin BAs in Economics and Fine Arts from Cornell.

The Foods for Health Institute at UC Davis was created to increase the understanding of how diet and nutrients enhance health and prevent chronic diseases and has been a large ecosystem that connects entrepreneurs and startups with academic scientists to foster mutual collaboration in the mission of Food for Health. FFHI consists of distinguished scientists and leaders in HMO discovery such as Drs. J. Bruce German, PhD, David A. Mills, PhD and Carlito Lebrilla, PhD. FFHI provides logistical, academic and laboratory support to startups with its core metabolic and cell/molecular microbiology capabilities and significant expertise in the gut microbiome research.

Shields Chair in Food Technology, UC Davis

Dr. Mills is a pioneer in Food Science and Technology and Microbiology research as it pertains to nutrients, nutrition and their influence on the gut microbiome. He is one of the most cited researcher at UC Davis, has been internationally recognized for his contributions to the science of milk bioactives on human (and infant) health and has co-founded numerous startups that have raised more than $100 million combined in research funding.

Dr. Mills advises IGH Naturals on the effect of HMOs and HMO based formulations on the gut microbiome including assistance in development of microbiome assays and their clinical interpretation.

Dr. Deepti Behl, MD

Medical Oncologist and Medical Director of SIMR. Dr. Behl specializes in treating thoracic and head and neck cancers and actively collaborates with the group in designing clinical trials with HuMOLYTE for patients on chemotherapy. Dr. Behl brings in the ecosystem of the head and neck cancer team at Sutter Health that includes medical oncologists, radiation oncologists and Head/Neck ENT surgeons to specifically advise on outcomes of these clinical trials.

Harold Schmitz, PhD and Carol Dollard, PhD

Dr. Harold Schmitz is the Founding Partner of the March Group (previously, The March Fund or TMF), a venture capital fund specifically investing in early stage startups in Food Science and technology. Prior to this, he was the longest serving and the first Chief Scientific Officer of Mars Inc., and offers strategic advice to IGH Naturals.

Dr. Carol Dollard was a strategic advisor to IGH Naturals from 2020-2022 and now serves as an ad-hoc consultant. Carol had a decorated career for 17 years at PepsiCo and was the COO of Vitamin Water until its acquisition by the Coca Cola group.