Welcome
Date: 6 May 2026
Time: From 9:00h to 16:30h CEST
Location: Hybrid (Rhodes / Greece)
Join us for the 4th Purina Pro Plan Pre-EuroGut Symposium, where we will explore the impact of microbiota on pet nutrition!
Sessions will cover the influence of feeding practices on gut health and how microbiota can be modulated through the diet, the role of biomarkers in microbiome-related diseases, the importance of in vitro models in gastrointestinal research, and microbiota-targeted strategies for managing chronic enteropathies.
Additionally, attendees will discover the significant role of probiotics in influencing canine behavior and will have the opportunity to review real-life case reports. The symposium will also highlight the responsibilities of pet food companies in promoting canine welfare and will delve into the profound connections between pets and their human companions.
The symposium will conclude with an engaging round table discussion, where your insights will contribute to the conversation and enrich the collective learning experience.
We look forward to welcoming you to this remarkable event!
Meet the experts
Dr. Aarti Kathrani
BVetMed (Hons), PhD, DACVIM (SAIM & Nutrition), FHEA, FRCVSAarti graduated from the RVC in 2006 before completing a rotating small animal medicine and surgery internship at the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals in 2007 and a PhD in canine inflammatory bowel disease at the RVC in 2011. She completed a small animal internal medicine residency at Cornell University in 2014 and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (SAIM). She also completed a small animal clinical nutrition residency at the University of California-Davis in 2016 and is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Nutrition). She was appointed Senior Lecturer in Small Animal Medicine at the University of Bristol (2016-2018) before returning to the RVC in 2018.
Dr. Jan S. Suchodolski
DrVetMed, PhD, AGAF, DACVM Professor, Small Animal Internal Medicine, Purina PetCare Endowed Chair for Microbiome Research, Associate Director for Research, Head, Microbiome Sciences Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Texas A&M UniversityJan S. Suchodolski is a professor, Purina PetCare Endowed Chair for Microbiome Research, associate director and head of microbiome sciences at the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M University. He received his DrVetMed from the University Vienna, Austria and his PhD in veterinary microbiology from Texas A&M University. He is board certified in immunology by the American College of Veterinary Microbiologists (ACVM). His research is focused on developing biomarkers for gastrointestinal disease and therapeutic approaches for the modulation of the intestinal microbiota. He has authored or co-authored more than 400 peer-reviewed articles in the area of veterinary gastroenterology and microbiome research. In 2024, he received the AVMA career achievement in canine research award.
Dr. Jenifer Molina
PhD, Veterinary Medicine, NPPE VHCP Scientific Affairs Manager at Nestlé Purina PetCareJenifer finished her veterinary degree in 2010 and her residency in small animal nutrition in 2016. She holds a PhD in veterinary medicine and worked as an associate professor in pet nutrition at the Universitat Autonoma of Barcelona (UAB), managing the pet nutrition research line within the Animal Nutrition and Welfare Service. She led the Small Animal Clinical Nutrition Service at Hospital Clinic Veterinari (UAB). She joined Nestle PURINA EMENA in 2017 and is currently Vet Health Care Professionals Scientific Affairs at Nestle PURINA Europe. She has delivered scientific communications at national and international congresses and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Dr. Kelly S. Swanson
PhD in Nutritional Sciences; Director, Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-ChampaignKelly Swanson is Director of the Division of Nutritional Sciences, Kraft Heinz Company Endowed Professor in Human Nutrition, and Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His lab studies nutritional interventions affecting health outcomes, gut microbiota, gastrointestinal health, and obesity in companion animals. He has led an internationally recognized research program supported by over $28 million in grants and gifts, with 295 peer-reviewed articles and 180 invited lectures. He has trained more than 55 graduate students and post-doctoral fellows, mentored over 40 undergraduate research projects, and taught over 3,300 students across about 70 courses, including the online Companion Animal Nutrition Certificate Program.
Dr. Linda Toresson
DVM, PhD, Swedish Specialist in small animal internal medicineLinda Toresson graduated from the Swedish University of Agricultural Science in 1995, became a Swedish Specialist in diseases of dogs and cats in 2002, and a Swedish Specialist in Small Animal Internal Medicine in 2007. She combines clinical practice in gastroenterology at the Evidensia Specialist Animal Hospital in Sweden with research. In 2018, she defended her PhD in gastroenterology at Helsinki University on oral cobalamin supplementation in dogs with chronic enteropathies. In 2024-2025, she completed a post-doc at the Gastrointestinal Laboratory at Texas A&M University focused on fecal microbiota transplantation and bile acid diarrhea. She is the author of 25+ scientific papers and has contributed to several book chapters.
Dr. Miquel Montserrat
DVM, PhD, Science and Nutrition Lead at Nestlé Purina PetCareMiquel Montserrat earned his veterinary medicine degree in 2019 and completed his PhD in animal nutrition in 2024 at Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, focusing on prebiotics, probiotics, and synbiotics for dogs and cats, resulting in several scientific publications. He gained additional experience in companion animal clinical nutrition and pet nutrition research at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and Utrecht University. Since 2023, he has served as Science and Nutrition Lead at Nestle Purina PetCare, providing technical support in pet nutrition across European markets.
Rosa Carbonell
Head of B2B & Veterinary Affairs at Nestlé Purina PetCare & FEDIAF PresidentRosa Carbonell, Head of B2B and Veterinary Affairs at Nestle Purina PetCare and FEDIAF President, has held various leadership roles. She started her career at Unilever Spain in the FIC (Food Industry Cleaning), moved to Rhone-Merieux as Marketing Director in Spain, and was promoted to European Marketing Director at Merial SAS in France. She relocated to Spain to join Nestle Petcare Espana as Specialist Business Unit Director, then joined the European team in Switzerland as Head of Veterinary Channel EMENA where she developed a regional expansion model and led growth objectives. She moved to the international hub in Barcelona as Head of Veterinary Advocacy Zone Europe and was appointed Head of B2B and Veterinary Affairs Zone Europe, focusing on business transformation, B2B strategy, portfolio recommendations, and strategic alliances.
