Redox Resilience: How Glutathione and Mitochondrial Function Shape Cardiovascular Risk
Oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are increasingly recognized as central drivers of cardiovascular disease, influencing endothelial function, inflammation, lipid oxidation, and metabolic resilience. At the core of these processes lies redox balance—particularly the role of glutathione as the body’s master antioxidant and its intimate relationship with mitochondrial health.
This course explores the mechanistic links between redox biology, mitochondrial function, and cardiovascular risk across the lifespan. Participants will examine how impaired glutathione synthesis and recycling contribute to oxidative damage, vascular dysfunction, and cardiometabolic imbalance, as well as how mitochondrial stress amplifies these effects. The session will integrate emerging research with clinical insights, highlighting assessment strategies and therapeutic approaches aimed at restoring redox resilience and supporting mitochondrial function to improve cardiovascular outcomes.
Designed for clinicians and health professionals, this program offers a systems-based framework for understanding cardiovascular risk through the lens of redox biology and mitochondrial health, with practical implications for prevention and personalized care.
Speakers
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Jeff Bland, PhDJeffrey Bland, PhD, is a pioneering figure in the food-is-medicine movement and a leading expert in nutritional biochemistry. As founder of Big Bold Health, he now focuses on longevity through immune health, championing the concept of immune rejuvenation as a pathway to healthy aging. Dr. Bland’s work highlights the powerful role of plant polyphenols and omega-3 fatty acids in supporting immune resilience. Widely known as the “father of Functional Medicine,” he has spent more than 40 years advancing nutrition science, regenerative agriculture, and personalized approaches to lifelong vitality.
Dr. Bland began his career in academia as a university professor. In the early 1980s, he became a protégé of two-time Nobel Laureate, Dr. Linus Pauling. Dr. Bland then spent decades as a natural products industry insider and entrepreneur, while also serving as a scientific advisor and mentor to dynamic founders and leading brands.
A lifelong educator, Dr. Bland has traveled the world many times over as a renowned speaker. In 1991, he and his wife, Susan, founded The Institute for Functional Medicine. In 2012, they established another educational nonprofit called The Personalized Lifestyle Medicine Institute, which brings together researchers, clinicians, industry leaders, and other stakeholders to focus on new models of healthcare delivery, advancements in medical nutrition therapy, and exciting emerging science.
Dr. Bland is the author of The Disease Delusion: Conquering the Causes of Chronic Illness for a Healthier, Longer, and Happier Life, as well as additional books and many research papers. His next book will be published by HarperCollins in March 2027. The Nourished Gene: Rejuvenate Your Immunity, Reverse Chronic Symptoms, and Activate Your Longevity is now available for pre-order from all major booksellers.
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Nayan Patel, PharmDDr. Patel is a recognized expert in clinical pharmacy services. He has built Central Drugs Compounding Pharmacy into one of the leading and fastest-growing compounding pharmacies in the United States. Nayan is a frequent guest lecturer internationally on topics such as hormone replacement therapy, menopause and andropause, osteoporosis, and breast cancer. When it comes to patient healthcare, Nayan believes in a team approach. He is passionate about working together with physicians, nutritionists, and patients to develop a comprehensive plan to improve each patient’s overall health and quality of life. In addition to his work with patients and practitioners at Central Drugs, Nayan is involved with the USC School of Pharmacy as a guest lecturer and faculty member.
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Sanjay Bhojraj, MDSanjay Bhojraj, MD is an interventional cardiologist and nationally recognized leader in functional and integrative cardiology. He is certified in Functional Medicine through the Institute for Functional Medicine and serves as a faculty speaker for IFM and several other national organizations. Dr. Bhojraj specializes in cardiometabolic optimization, mitochondrial health, redox biology, and longevity-focused cardiovascular prevention. He is the founder of the Well12 Program and host of The Curious Cardiologist podcast, where he translates cutting-edge science into practical strategies for improving heart health and resilience across the lifespan.
