Our Collaborators & Faculty

Brad Cieslak is a seasoned healthcare business development executive with over a decade of experience driving growth, operational efficiency, and strategic partnerships across diagnostic laboratories and medical technology firms. Based in the Greater Chicago Area, Brad currently serves as Vice President of Business Development at Simple Laboratories, where he leads initiatives to expand clinical outreach and streamline lab operations for private practices and health systems.

Brad’s career reflects a consistent trajectory of leadership and innovation. As the founder of Paragon Health Partners, he built a platform focused on optimizing lab services and improving patient outcomes. His prior roles include Vice President of Sales at Helix Diagnostics and Regional Sales Manager at NTL Laboratory, where he spearheaded territory expansion and revenue acceleration.

Earlier in his career, Brad spent over four years at Smith & Nephew Endoscopy, supporting surgical teams with equipment installations, troubleshooting, and in-theater technical guidance. His ability to assimilate complex medical information and translate it into actionable solutions has made him a trusted partner to clinicians and administrators alike.

Brad is known for his hands-on approach, deep industry knowledge, and commitment to helping healthcare providers improve lab efficiencies, save time, and drive revenue. His work bridges clinical insight with strategic execution, making him a valuable asset in the evolving landscape of diagnostic and procedural care.

As Managing Partner of Solutions in the Land LLC, leads innovation in whole-system farming practices that generate revenue while restoring ecosystems. His work links consumer and urban demands to on-farm production of food, feed, fuel, fiber, and fun—while advancing the flow of ecological services. His mission is rooted in protecting soil and water through the integration of emerging technologies and ancestral wisdom, creating a milestone shift in land stewardship paradigms.

Ron’s prior roles include Agriculture Director at Dancing Goat Distillery, where he led whole-system farming design for Washington Island, and Executive Director of the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, overseeing education, research, and outreach for one of the nation’s pioneering sustainable agriculture institutes. Earlier, as Specialty Grains Originator for ITOCHU International, he connected U.S. farmers with Japanese consumers, building cross-cultural supply chains and market access for regenerative grains.

Throughout his career, Ron has collaborated with leading thinkers around the globe, cultivating cross-sector networks and shared-vision partnerships that illuminate clear pathways for agricultural transformation. His work continues to inspire a new generation of land stewards, practitioners, and policymakers committed to restoring the health of our planet through practical, profitable, and principled agriculture.

Dr. John Fagan is a leading authority on sustainability in the food and agricultural systems, as well as on biosafety and food authenticity. Currently, he is Cofounder, Chairman, and Chief Scientist at Health Research Institute (www.HRILabs.org), where he investigates the links between (a) regenerative agricultural practices, (b) the safety and nutritional value of foods, and (c) consumer health and well-being. HRI collaborates widely to catalyze the global transition to regenerative agricultural methods that produce pure, safe, healthy food while creating balance and regenerating the planet. HRI also conducts research and development to advance transparency and safety related to genetically modified foods, including gene-edited foods. 

He is also the Chairman of the social venture, Global Family Farms (www.globalfamilyfarms.com), which improves the livelihoods and well-being of farmers in the developing world by providing training in regenerative organic agriculture and access to international markets. As a Professor of Molecular Biology at Maharishi International University in the USA, he leads a research program investigating the transcriptomic and metabolomic effects of practicing Transcendental Meditation. Based on his personal experience of life-long meditation practice, he volunteers as an international leader in the TM organization (www.tm.org, www.davidlynchfoundation.org).

  Dr. Richard Frye, MD, PhD, is a nationally recognized neurologist and clinical researcher specializing in neurodevelopmental disorders, with a particular focus on autism spectrum conditions. He currently serves as Director of Research and Neurologist at Rossignol Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona, where he leads translational initiatives that integrate biomedical, nutritional, and neurological approaches to autism care.

Dr. Frye is also President of the Autism Discovery and Treatment Foundation and a Principal Investigator at the Southwest Autism Research & Resource Center, where he advances cutting-edge studies on metabolic and immune dysfunction in children with autism. His work bridges clinical practice with research innovation, aiming to uncover root causes and personalized treatment pathways for complex neurodevelopmental conditions.

Prior to his current roles, Dr. Frye served as Chief of Neurodevelopmental Disorders at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Professor of Child Health at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, where he oversaw multidisciplinary care and mentored emerging clinicians and researchers. His earlier leadership at Arkansas Children’s Hospital Research Institute and the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences included directing autism research and multispecialty clinics, establishing him as a pioneer in integrative autism diagnostics.

Dr. Frye began his academic career as an Assistant Professor at The University of Texas at Austin, and has since authored numerous peer-reviewed publications exploring mitochondrial dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and precision medicine in pediatric neurology. His work continues to shape the future of autism care through rigorous science, compassionate practice, and a commitment to unlocking each child’s potential.

Jeremy Malecha is a catalyst for transforming the future of integrative medicine through health intelligence, consumer advocacy, and scalable technology. As the CEO of Biocanic, Jeremy leads the development of the industry’s first Health Intelligence Platform—an ecosystem built by and for integrative health practitioners to deliver personalized, data-driven care. Under his leadership, Biocanic empowers providers to accelerate client outcomes and redefine vitality in a post-pandemic world.

With over two decades of experience in healthcare informatics and strategic development, Jeremy brings a rare blend of technical acumen and market foresight. Prior to founding Biocanic, he served as Vice President of Strategy Development and Global Product Management at ResMed, where he shaped the company’s SaaS portfolio, interoperability initiatives, and long-term informatics strategy across millions of connected devices.

Jeremy’s entrepreneurial reach extends beyond Biocanic. He is a Venture Partner at Interlock Capital, a Board Member of the Personal Connected Health Alliance, and a Partner at Cheeserock LLC, an investment firm supporting small businesses in the San Diego area. His work consistently bridges innovation and impact—whether through strategic M&A, market entry frameworks, or consumer-centered health platforms.

Driven by a belief that society must reclaim control of its health and wellness, Jeremy is building a new marketplace where integrative medicine meets precision, accessibility, and empowerment. His leadership is reshaping how practitioners and patients engage with health data—and how communities heal through intelligence.

Elizabeth McNeill, PhD, is a molecular nutritionist and Assistant Professor at Iowa State University, where she studies microRNA regulation in neurodevelopment and aging.  Her lab integrates bioinformatics, optogenetics, and nutritional biochemistry to explore gene-environment interactions.

The extensive complexity of tissue development and maintenance elicits questions about how the genome encodes for the great cellular diversity and morphological flexibility required for healthy function.  microRNAs (miRNAs), a class of small non-coding RNAs, have emerged as key regulators of gene expression, but their biological functions remain largely unexplored.  

The goal of Dr. McNeill's research is to elucidate the function of miRNAs in development and to understand their contribution to certain human disease conditions. The McNeill lab does this through a multi-disciplinary experimental platform using versatile transgenic tech- nologies,  genome engineering techniques, molecular biology, bioinform-   atics, fluorescence imaging,  and optogenetics.

Bob Miller, CTN is the founder and clinical director of the Functional Genomic Analysis Institute, where he leads pioneering work in the application of genetic and epigenetic insights to personalized health care. With over two decades of experience in integrative and functional medicine, Bob has become a trusted authority in translating complex genomic data into actionable clinical strategies that support detoxification, immune resilience, and neurological balance.

As a collaborative partner with the PEARL Study and Precise Health Solutions, Bob’s work bridges research and practice, advancing the use of bioinformatics and systems biology to uncover root causes of chronic illness. His approach integrates cutting-edge science with practical, patient-centered care, empowering practitioners to move beyond symptom management toward true resolution.

Bob is known for his educational leadership within the Clinical Translational Network (CTN), where he mentors clinicians in interpreting functional genomic profiles and designing targeted interventions. His contributions have helped shape a new frontier in precision health, one that honors biochemical individuality, environmental context, and the dynamic interplay of genetics and lifestyle.

Carole Reichardt is a landowner and farm manager based in Clive, Iowa, stewarding multi-county family farmland across Iowa and Missouri while advancing regenerative agriculture and conservation innovation. With deep experience in tenant collaboration and land stewardship, she champions soil health, water quality, and ecosystem restoration through no-till planting, cover cropping, holistic grazing, and prairie renewal. Carole and her sisters are pioneering a “commercial conservation community” model, rooted in the People, Planet, Profit framework, on a metro Des Moines farm transitioning to development. This model blends philanthropy, sustainability, and permanent land protection into a bold vision for rural-urban impact.

Dr. Daniel T. Stein, MD, is a renowned physician-scientist whose career spans over three decades of leadership in endocrinology, diabetes, metabolism, and clinical research. Recently retired as Chief Science Officer at Mosaic Diagnostics, Dr. Stein played a pivotal role in advancing integrative health solutions through biomarker-driven diagnostics and collaborative research, including partnerships with the PEARL Study and Precise Health Solutions.

Before his role at Mosaic, Dr. Stein served for over 25 years at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he held multiple academic and clinical leadership positions. As a Professor of Medicine in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, he served as a consulting and attending physician at Einstein-affiliated hospitals and clinics, including Montefiore Medical Center. He chaired the Institutional Review Board (IRB) from 2015 onward. He directed both the Biomarker Analytical Research Core and the Montefiore Biospecimen Repository, shaping the infrastructure for translational research and ethical oversight.

Dr. Stein’s earlier academic appointments include faculty roles at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where he served as Clinical Director of the Parkland Hospital Lipid Clinic and LDL Apheresis Program. His foundational training includes a fellowship in endocrinology and an internal medicine residency at the University of Massachusetts Hospital.

Throughout his career, Dr. Stein has been a driving force in bridging clinical care with research innovation. His work has consistently focused on uncovering the biochemical and metabolic underpinnings of chronic disease and translating those insights into actionable diagnostics and therapeutic strategies. He remains a respected voice in the field of precision health, committed to advancing science that empowers both practitioners and patients.

Jim West is the Director of Operations at Understanding Ag, LLC. Before joining us, Jim was a Senior Vice President for Operations, providing engineering services, information systems integration, and resilience support at one of the largest Federal Government services companies.  Additionally, he actively served 24 years in the Marine Corps as an Intelligence, Reconnaissance, and Electronic Warfare Officer.

Having grown up in Central Texas and being “free labor” on his grandfather’s farm, he has always had a love for the land and a healthy respect for the challenges of producing in the Central Texas environment. His Marine Corps career took him all over the world and exposed him to numerous agricultural practices from desert to jungle, and his Marine and corporate backgrounds kept him focused on analyzing data and measuring results. 

Jim and his wife Marti, have four grown children who are living all over the U.S.  Today, Jim and one of his sons own a regenerative agriculture business in Central Texas.  Jim is a graduate of Rice University and received his Masters from Marine Corps University in Strategy and Operations. With a passion for the Understanding Ag mission, Jim integrates his background and experiences with the team of unsurpassed regenerative consultants to help other producers realize the benefits of healthier soil to produce healthier plants and animals to facilitate healthier people.   

 Dr. Allen Williams is a 6th-generation family farmer and founding partner of Understanding Ag, the Soil Health Academy, and Regenified. He has consulted with more than 4000 farmers and ranchers in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, and 40+ other countries, on individual operations ranging from a few acres to over 2 million acres.

He is a “recovering academic”, having served 15 years on the faculty at Louisiana Tech University and Mississippi State University. He holds a B.S. and M.S. in Animal Science from Clemson University and a Ph.D. in Genetics and Physiology from LSU. He has authored more than 400 scientific and popular press articles, and is an invited speaker at regional, national, and international conferences and symposia.

Allen and his colleagues specialize in whole farm & ranch planning based on the concept of regenerative agriculture. They have worked in all 50 U.S. States and with farmers in dozens of countries globally. In the U.S. they are currently working across 34 million acres in regenerative transition.

He has been featured in Roots So Deep, in the Carbon Nation film series, Carbon Cowboys, on the Dr. Oz show, ABC Food Forecast News, in A Regenerative Secret, The Farmer’s Footprint film series and the Sacred Cow film series. Allen authored a book, Before You Have A Cow, with co-author Teddy Gentry.

Dr. Stephan van Vliet is a nutrition scientist with expertise in metabolomics, specifically in NDFS. He earned his PhD in Kinesiology as an ESPEN Fellow from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He received training at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the Duke University School of Medicine. He runs a lab focused on the intersection of agriculture and human nutrition. His research investigates the nutritional quality of foods and how sustainable and regenerative agricultural practices affect them. Dr. van Vliet’s research is performed at the nexus of agricultural and human health. He routinely collaborates with farmers, ecologists, and agricultural scientists to study critical linkages between agricultural production methods, the nutrient density of food, and human health.