Sep 5 2011 --- Aker BioMarine Antarctic announces the formation of the Aker BioMarine Science Board (ASB), made up of recognized scientific experts in fields that directly impact the commercial and scientific activities in which the company is engaged. Given the international scope of Aker BioMarine Antarctic’s business, each member of the ASB will provide guidance to the company from diverse complementary disciplines as well as from different geographical regions,

“The Aker Science Board will provide strategic guidance for our ongoing research and development program including in vitro, preclinical and clinical studies,” said Hogne Vik, MD, PhD, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board. “Further, these experts will contribute to our strategic regulatory plans in Europe, North America, and Asia.”

Matts Johansen, EVP Sales, Marketing, R&D added, “Aker BioMarine has since its founding invested significantly in research and documention of the health benefits of our krill derived products, Superba and Qrill. Now establishing a scientific advisory board, demonstrate our commitment to further ramp up our scientic efforts. Our ASB will help us successfully navigate the development of not only supplements, but also the food and beverage, cosmetics, and feed categories internationally.”

The inaugural meeting of ASB will take place in Oslo on the 28th and 29th of September 2011.

Founding Board Members Include:
Dr. Sebastiano Banni, Associate Professor of Physiology at the Faculty of Sciences for the University of Cagliari. A PhD in Molecular and Experimental Pathology from the University of Torino, Italy, Dr. Banni is on the Board of Directors of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL). Co-author of more than 90 publications, he regularly serves as a referee for numerous scientific journals.

Professor Philip Calder, President of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (ISSFAL). He was appointed to a personal Chair in Nutritional Immunology at the University of Southampton in 2002 and currently serves on the Council of the British nutrition Foundation and on the Board of Directors of the European Nutraceutical Association and ILLSI Europe. Prof. Calder has over 360 research publications and his work has been cited over 11,000 times. His research focuses on understanding the influence of dietary fatty acids on aspects on cell function and human health, in particular in relation to cardiovascular disease, inflammation, and immunity.

Dr. Vincenzo Di Marzo, Research Director at the Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry of the National Research Council in Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy; coordinator of the Endocannabinoid Research Group in the Naples region. Dr. Di Marzo is co-author of more than 440 published articles, including seven reviews on endocannabinoids. In December 2010 he was Top Scientist in the field of “Phamacology and Toxicology,” according to Thomson Reuters.

Dr.Tomohito Hamazaki, past president and chair of the board of Japan Society for Lipid Nutrition. A physician and researcher, Dr. Hamazaki has been studying the effects of fish oil on health as well as the control of hostility and aggression using fish oil treatment. He has conducted research through in vitro studies, in and ex vivo studies, as well as randomized clinical studies and epidemiology.

Dr. William Harris, PhD in Nutritional Biochemistry from the University of Minnesota, Director of Research and Clinical Trials at Health Diagnostic Laboratory, Inc. (Richmond, VA, USA). Over the last 32 years, Dr. Harris’s research has focused on human lipid and lipoprotein metabolism, especially as they are affected by omega-3 fatty acids. Dr. Harris has been the principal investigator on 5 omega-3 related NIH grants, and is currently evaluating the "omega-3 index" as a new risk factor for cardiovascular neuropsychiatric diseases. In 2009 he founded a company (OmegaQuant, LLC) to offer the test commercially.

Mr. Willem van Nieuwenhuyzen, Ir. (MSc.) degree in Food Science and Technology from Wageningen University (the Netherlands) Founder Lecipro Consulting, the Netherlands. Mr. van Nieuwenhuyzen is a world-class expert on phosphlipids and has written over 70 conference papers, scientific publications and book chapters on lecithins, proteins, oils & fats, and food emulsions. He is a member of America Oil Chemists Society (AOCS), and is the Executive Director of the International Lecithin and Phopholipid Society (ILPS).