Core Team
The DAO Institute’s Core Team brings together specialists in nutrition, clinical research, medicine and healthcare innovation. Our work as a Healthtech integrates academic research, clinical practice, and technological development to advance the understanding and management of DAO Deficiency worldwide.
Adriana Duelo
Co-Founder, CEO & Scientific Director – DAO Institute
Researcher, BAPfood Group – University of Barcelona
Registered Dietitian (MSc) with over 15 years of clinical experience, specialising in histamine-related disorders and DAO deficiency. Since 2011, she has led patient-centred nutritional care.
She is currently completing her PhD at the University of Barcelona within the BAPfood Research Group (Bioactive Amines and Polyamines in Food), where her work focuses on DAO enzymatic activity, histamine metabolism, genetic variability (AOC1), and clinical symptom evolution with a specific dietary treatment protocol.
As CEO and Scientific Director of the DAO Institute, Adriana leads the organisation’s research roadmap, development of evidence-based clinical protocols, and international specialist training programs. Her work bridges academic research, translational science, and real-world clinical implementation, contributing to the standardisation and professionalisation of DAO deficiency management across multiple countries.
Juanjo Duelo
Co-founder, Chair of the Board
Pioneer in DAO Deficiency Research. Committed to advancing scientific knowledge and clinical understanding of DAO Deficiency through collaboration, education, and international dialogue.
Sara Sánchez
Core Team – DAO Institute
Registered Dietitian (MSc) and key leader at the DAO Institute’s headquarters. She provides direct patient follow-up, addresses clinical queries, and plays an essential role in professional education, particularly in the foundational training for members of the Institute’s global community.
Fernanda Lima
Core Team & Business Development Manager
Drives the growth of our global community and expands the Institute’s presence across new regions. She also supports licensed members in improving their local impact, helping them scale their practice and integrate the DAO Institute framework within their respective countries.
Hélène Mantecon
Core Team – DAO Institute
Registered Dietitian (MSc) at the DAO Institute’s headquarters, bringing a long-standing background in DAO deficiency. She contributes to the Institute’s core clinical work with deep, consolidated experience across patient care and nutritional practice.
Victoria Raventos
Core Team – DAO Institute
Medical Doctor and Registered Dietitian at the DAO Institute’s headquarters. She focuses on clinical-nutrition work and integrates both medical and nutritional perspectives into the organisation’s core clinical practice.
Gemma del Pozo
Core Team – DAO Institute
Responsible for Patient Care and Administration at the DAO Institute’s headquarters. She ensures clear communication and smooth coordination between patients and healthcare professionals.
Scientific Advisory Council
The Scientific Advisory Council is composed of leading experts in clinical nutrition, biochemistry, neuroscience, and food science who provide strategic guidance for the Institute’s research and educational programs. Its members contribute to the evaluation of emerging evidence, the development of clinical standards, and the integration of scientific advances into patient-centered practice.
Our Professional Community.
Leading Experts in DAO Deficiency
Are you ready to revolutionize your practice by prioritizing prevention with nutritional therapy?
The International Institute of DAO Deficiency offers a Global License Program linked to Membership for registered dietitians, medical doctors, and psychologists who aim to distinguish themselves in the clinical field by specializing in DAO deficiency.
“Being part of the Institute means joining an international network of professionals like you, committed to specializing in DAO deficiency and integrating change into their lives and careers—a change rooted in action and grounded in nutritional treatment through prevention.”– Adriana Duelo, Global Director DAO Institute
