Meet the people who help us be Relentlessly Better™.
From initial concept to final formulation, these experts provide valuable clinical input to the Research & Development team. Their viewpoints—from varied disciplines—help us stay at the forefront of nutritional science, always pushing for more.
Matthew Hand, DO
Dr. Hand, DO is a pediatric nephrologist and integrative medicine physician who has spent his career advancing a more holistic model of pediatric care. After training at Maine Medical Center and Boston Children’s Hospital, he established both the pediatric nephrology and pediatric integrative medicine divisions at Maine Medical Center.
Since 2019, he has been at Dartmouth Health Children’s, where he is working to help transform the pediatric healthcare model into a more integrative, whole-child system—an effort focused on bridging conventional medicine with evidence-based integrative approaches.
He has been featured on 20/20, the Discovery Channel, and The Oprah Winfrey Show.
AnnAlisa Behling, ND
Dr. AnnAlisa Behling, ND, is an internationally recognized naturopathic physician, educator, and medical consultant with more than two and a half decades of experience in integrative and functional medicine. Specializing in women’s health and phototherapy medicine, Dr. Behling is known for her individualized, root-cause approach that combines evidence-informed natural therapies with compassionate patient care.
After earning her undergraduate degree from Duke University, Dr. Behling completed her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine in Portland, Oregon. She has pursued extensive advanced clinical training in bioidentical hormone therapy, fertility support, nutritional and botanical medicine, homeopathy, NAET, and lifestyle medicine.
Dr. Behling currently has three private practices in Michigan and is Vice President of the Michigan Naturopathic Association. A respected voice in integrative healthcare, she lectures internationally and has contributed to numerous clinical articles, podcasts, radio programs, and media interviews focused on advancing natural and complementary medicine.
Jim Fox, DC
Jim Fox, DC graduated from Life College in Marietta, Georgia in 1981 and proceeded to build a successful chiropractic practice in southeast Oklahoma. In 1990, he accepted a position at the Parker Chiropractic College of Dallas, Texas as Director of the Student Clinic. Two years later, Dr. Fox returned to active private practice in the Charlotte, North Carolina area. During the years that followed, Dr. Fox and his wife, Janine, who is also a chiropractor, developed an Active Integrated Nutrition / Natural Medicine Practice that evolved into the highly successful company, Doctor’s Nutrition.
Mingruo Guo, PhD
Mingruo Guo, PhD is currently a professor of Food Science at the University of Vermont, a food chemist, and an inventor. He specializes in functional foods, whey-based environmentally safe products, prebiotics & probiotics, infant formulas, beneficial herbs, and nutritional food development. His ongoing research projects include whey protein-based nanotechnology and its applications in foods and nutritional supplements; milk-, soy-, and oat-based synbiotic foods; CBD bioavailability; maple-based food products; and functional goat-milk yogurt and kefir.
He published more than 200 peer-reviewed journal articles on functional foods, food chemistry, dairy foods, and nutritional supplements. He holds more than a dozen patents that have resulted in commercialized products, including infant formulas, functional foods, and nutritional supplements. He authored and/or edited 12 books in food science both in English and Chinese languages.
Most recently, Dr. Guo played an integral role in the development and the patented technology for manufacture of DaVinci®’s Glutathione with Provail®, where the ingredient delivers 2.5X more absorption and works faster than other products in the marketplace.
Meet The
Research & Development Team
Get to know the passionate people behind DaVinci® who work every day to support the health and wellbeing of people. They bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our innovation process.
Roger V. Kendall, PhD
Pioneer in Research and Development
Roger Kendall, PhD joined DaVinci® in 1978. Since then, he has been involved in designing nutritional products and conducting research into the role supplements have in supporting optimal health and well-being.
Dr. Kendall is widely considered the leading expert on the biochemistry and therapeutic benefits of N, N-Dimethylglycine (DMG) and Perna® (Green-Lipped Mussel). His research on DMG and its many health applications is documented in his book, Building Wellness with DMG. He has also examined the therapeutic role of Perna® in supporting joint health. Dr. Kendall has been awarded multiple patents for his research, including five specifically on the health benefits of DMG.
His interests also include the roles that nutritional factors play in supporting the immune system, the inflammatory system, and antioxidant/free radical defenses. He continues to support Davinci® Laboratories in our efforts to provide healthcare practitioners with the best scientifically formulated nutritional products for their patients.
Pedro Machado, DVM, MSc, PhD
Vice President, Research & Development
Dr. Pedro Machado is a veterinary scientist and an accomplished innovation leader with nearly two decades of experience in science-driven product development across health and nutrition. Pedro brings an uncommon blend of training and interests. He is a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) with advanced training in pathology and microbiology, and he holds an advanced degree in economics with a focus on applied econometrics and agricultural marketing – a combination that pairs scientific rigor with market insight.
He leads formulation strategy, evidence planning, and product development across DaVinci®, translating scientific research into practical, high-quality supplements designed to support real-world outcomes. Pedro has led and supported dozens of field and clinical studies, with a focus on safety, efficacy, and trust. He is passionate about raising the evidence bar in supplements and helping people live healthier, more comfortable lives.
Outside of work, he’s an avid outdoor enthusiast who enjoys surfing, snowboarding, and cycling, and he also enjoys home brewing and hands-on crafts.
Kyle Donovan, CFS
New Product Development Manager
Kyle Donovan, Certified Food Scientist, joined the company in 2020 as a QA/QC Analyst before moving into his current New Product Development (NPD) role in 2023.
Before working with DaVinci®, Kyle spent over a decade in pharmaceutical and skincare manufacturing, including several years leading formulation development teams and launching hundreds of products annually in high-volume production facilities. His experience spans formulation development, process improvement, regulatory compliance, vendor relationships, and regulatory audits.
A proud alumnus of the University of Vermont with a degree in Chemistry (2007), Kyle brings a wealth of expertise to the table. His skill set spans quality assurance, laboratory testing, innovative ideation, process enhancement, strategic cost reduction strategies, and the management of 3rd party manufacturing relationships.
Outside of work, Kyle enjoys traveling, home improvements, cooking, and skiing throughout Vermont.
Adena Mock, CFS
Product Development Scientist
Adena Mock, a Certified Food Scientist, has been a key member of the DaVinci® team since 2001. Over more than two decades, she has built deep expertise in product development, research and development, and formulation. She leads the creation of new products and the continuous improvement of DaVinci's existing lines.
Her work spans the full product lifecycle, from concept through commercialization. She designs and optimizes formulas for efficacy, stability, and manufacturability, and she selects and qualifies raw materials based on quality, bioavailability, and supplier reliability. She also refines established products to meet evolving standards and consumer needs.
Adena thrives on variety, and no two days in her role are the same. Her energy and adaptability make her a trusted partner to internal departments, including Quality, Regulatory, Marketing, and Operations. She also works directly with customers, suppliers, and vendors to solve technical challenges and bring new ideas to market.
Outside the lab, Adena is a devoted animal lover who opens her heart and home to a variety of animals in need of a foster or fur-ever home.