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The Yanomami Foundation
The Yanomami Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, is dedicated to supporting the Yanomami people in preserving their culture and protecting their Amazonian homeland. Our diverse team collaborates with Yanomami leaders to provide essential tools, resources, and intercultural training tailored to their needs. By focusing on sustainable projects and addressing community challenges, we aim to ensure the long-term success and prosperity of Yanomami communities.
Milestones
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Leadership Team
President
Hortensia Caballero-Arias, PhD
Head of Anthropology of Development Laboratory and Senior Associate Researcher, Venezuelan Institute for Scientific Research (IVIC), Venezuela
Dr. Hortensia Caballero-Arias researches the cultural, historical and political transformations among the Venezuelan Yanomami as well as intercultural processes and indigenous rights among Amazonian peoples. In addition to serving as President of the Yanomami Foundation, Dr. Caballero-Arias serves on the advisory council for the Wenner-Gren Foundation.
Founder and Executive Director
David Good, MSc
PhD Candidate, University of Guelph, Canada
David Good is a member of the Yanomami tribe and PhD candidate in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Guelph. His unique ancestry and scientific training provide a rare opportunity to advance understanding of Yanomami society while building global awareness of the importance of protecting these few remaining isolated indigenous societies. In 2023, David received the Explorer's Club (EC)50 award for his numerous scientific expeditions into remote areas of the Amazon rainforest to study the skin and gut microbiomes of the Yanomami people.
Treasurer
Grant Rogers, BA
Director, Chief Informations Officer at Metis Capital Management LLC, USA
Grant Rogers holds a BA in economics from Boston University. He began his career as a private banker at the Boston Safe Deposit and Trust Company and was involved with marketing equities for Julius Baer and for CIC Securities to institutional investors. He was Head of Sales for CIC's fixed income, derivative, and currency division in Paris, France. He is the founder and CEO of Metis Capital. Grant manages the Yanomami Endowment Fund investment portfolio.
Board Director
Serena Belsby, MBA
Director, Writer, and Producer
Serena Belsby earned a BA in Economics from the University of Texas and an MBA from Texas Christian University. She wrote, directed, and produced her first feature film, The Merry Graingers. Since then, her work has been showcased at the Sundance Writers Lab and the Plume et Pellicule writers' workshop, sponsored by Dreamago in Sierre, Switzerland. What started as a script has grown into a profound personal connection to the Yanomami.
Board Director
Britt Rios-Ellis, PhD
President, California State University Stanislaus, USA
Dr. Britt Rios-Ellis earned an MSc in Health and Fitness Management and a PhD in Community Health from the University of Oregon in addition to a certification in Women's Studies. She also completed the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education Program at Harvard University and the HERS Program for Women’s Leadership in Higher Education.
Scientific Advisor
Simone Renwick, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of California San Diego, USA
Dr. Simone Renwick is a microbiome researcher and postdoctoral fellow at UC San Diego, USA, with a PhD from the University of Guelph, Canada. She specializes in developing microbiome-based therapeutics, integrating wet and dry lab approaches, including anaerobic culture, mouse models, and multi-omics techniques. Her research explores microbial community function in health and disease. Passionate about bioethics, she is committed to advancing microbiome science while ensuring ethical and responsible applications in therapeutics and healthcare.
Advisors
Emma Allen-Vercoe, PhD
Professor and Canada Research Chair, University of Guelph, Canada
Dr. Emma Allen-Vercoe began her career with undergraduate and graduate studies at the Central Veterinary Laboratories and the Centre for Applied and Microbiological Research, UK. After completing a postdoctoral position at the University of Calgary, she received a Fellow-to-Faculty Transition award from the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology to study the human microbiota's impact on health. Dr. Allen-Vercoe continued this research at the University of Guelph, eventually co-founding NuBiyota to develop "Microbial Ecosystem Therapeutics" for treating gut microbial dysbiosis-related disorders.
Luciana Campos Paulino, PhD
Professor, Universidade Federal do ABC, Brazil
Dr. Luciana Campos-Paulino earned her MSc in Biological Sciences followed by her PhD in Genetics and Molecular Biology from the Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Brazil. She next pursued postdoctoral research at New York University. Her current research as a Professor at the Federal University in São Paulo State, Brazil, focuses on microbial communities associated with the human body and their roles in health and disease, with a particular focus on bacterial and fungal communities of the skin. Additionally, she is interested in the microbiome of built environments and their impact on human health.
Andrew Balcof
Filmaker
Andrew Balcof is a storyteller who creates content intended to engage audience's deepest emotions. Wayumi, and his upcoming scripted feature, Angels of Mercy, highlight characters with stories regularly excluded from mainstream media. Whether it's documenting a man torn between his juxtaposed lineage (Wayumi) or creating a world where heroes can have atypical bodies (Angels of Mercy), the ultimate objective of Andrew's films is to take their audiences on a journey that persists even after they've left the theater.
Javier Carrera-Rubio, PhD
Anthropologist
Dr. Javier Carrera-Rubio received his PhD in Anthropology from the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Since 1990, he has worked among the Yanomami in the Upper Orinoco (Amazonas State), Venezuela, serving as an anthropology advisor to the Yanomami association, SUYAO (Shaponos Unidos Yanomami del Alto Orinoco), the Upper Orinoco Biosphere Reserve Project for the Venezuelan Ministry of Environment, and the Yanomami Health Plan for the Venezuelan Ministry of Health.
Larry Weiss, MD
Partner, Holobiont Medical Research Foundation
Dr. Larry Weiss is an experienced microbiome executive with vast experience in the biotechnology industry. He is skilled in Research and Development (R&D), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) processes, Chemistry, Protein Chemistry, and Life Sciences. With a strong background in medical science, Dr. Weiss holds a BSc in Biochemistry from Cornell University and a Doctor of Medicine (MD) from the Stanford University School of Medicine.
Julia Durack, Ph.D.
Microbiologist | Executive Director, Holobiont Medical Research Foundation
Dr. Julia Durack is the Executive Director of the Holobiont Medical Research Foundation, a non-profit focused on advancing microbiome research to improve human health. She earned her PhD in Food Microbiology and BSc Biomedical Science (Honors) from the University of Tasmania, Australia prior to completing postdoctoral training at UC Berkeley and UC San Francisco in the USA. Passionate about advancing healthcare, Dr. Durack uses her expertise to create innovative microbiome-centered products in the cosmeceutical and dietary supplement space, supporting established and emerging health and wellness brands.
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