The group will provide strategic insight into nutrition and health trends, assist NBTY in advancing its global scientific efforts, and provide guidance and feedback on new product development and innovation, said the company. It brings together expertise in a variety of disciplines, including nutrition epidemiology, alternative medicine and herbs, food science, sports nutrition and more.
The group is chaired by Dr David Katz, founding director of Yale University's Prevention Research Center, and includes other notable names such as Tom Brenna (Cornell University), Martin Floch (Yale University School of Medicine), Gilbert Leveille (Leveille Associates), Diane McKay (Tufts University), David Nieman (Appalachian State University), Aviva Romm (creator of Herbal Medicine for Women), and Susan Mitmesser (Director of Nutrition Research at NBTY).
“This type of cross-disciplinary collaboration is fantastic for industry development, achievement and advancement,” said Dr Katz. “Being able to engage in discussion and debate with leaders in so many different areas of academia and discipline will be informative and useful to all of the members of the Council and to NBTY.”
Steve Cahillane, President & CEO of NBTY, said: “Science is at the heart of our business. Scientific research is what drives the development of all of our trusted products and brands and what serves as the foundation of our innovation and our success.
“We are excited to have attracted a highly respected and influential panel of experts, whose collaboration and guidance will be invaluable as we take the company to the next level of industry leadership.”
Dr Mitmesser said: “Maintaining our high-quality standards, whether we are talking about the ingredients, the manufacturing processes or the scientific data that supports each of our products, is of the utmost importance to us.
“We are honored to have the expertise of this Council available to us and look forward to the exciting innovations that collaboration with these great minds will bring.”