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Research and Markets: Global Medical Nutrition Market Is Expected To Grow At a Steady Pace, Clocking A CAGR Of 6.7 …

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DUBLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Global Medical Nutrition Market 2012-2016" report to their offering.

The Global Medical Nutrition market includes a large number of small and large vendors. Groupe Danone S.A., Nestle Group, General Mills Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Pfizer Inc., Mead Johnson and Company, and Fresenius Kabi AG are some of the leading vendors in the market. The increasing number of mergers and acquisitions in the market is changing the market share composition frequently. In April 2012, Nestle acquired Pfizer's Infant Nutrition business for US$11.85 billion. The acquisition is expected to boost Nestle's presence in the Infant Nutrition market in China, since Pfizer had a major presence in that country.

Commenting on the report, an analyst from TechNavio's Healthcare team said: ''Vendors are leveraging their widespread distribution networks to increase their customer base. They are increasingly relying on online marketing and promotional activities to increase sales and brand equity. Through online marketing and promotional activities, more and more consumers are becoming aware of the positive health and nutrition benefits of probiotic products. Furthermore, online availability of medical nutrition products not only provides customers with easy access, but also helps vendors reduce their set-up, distribution, and operational costs. Thus, the increase in promotional activities by vendors is seen to have a positive impact on the Global Medical Nutrition market.''

The report also includes a discussion of the other vendors operating in this market. The other vendors in the market are Fresenius Kabi AG, Dairy Crest Group plc, General Mills Inc., HiPP GmbH and Co. Vertrieb KG, Hospira Inc., Hain Celestial Group, Nature's One, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory Inc., Perrigo Co.(PBM Nutrition), Pfizer Inc., Springfield Creamery Inc., and Terumo Medical Corp.

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Research and Markets is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends.

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Research and Markets: Global Medical Nutrition Market Is Expected To Grow At a Steady Pace, Clocking A CAGR Of 6.7 ...

Sports and Fitness Nutrition Foods and Drinks Markets Examined in Insightful GIA Report Available at MarketPublishers …

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LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The worldwide markets for sports and fitness nutrition foods and drinks are currently on the rise given the growing demand from the consumer side. An increasing number of people start to consume sports beverages and sport and energy bars every day. However, the global economic uncertainty may pose challenges to the markets in the upcoming years since it will possibly lead to the reduction of the consumer spending. Meantime, most products available on the markets for sports and fitness nutrition foods and drinks fall within the premium product category.

The USA represents the dominant country market. Latin America forms the fastest growing regional market and is expected to demonstrate significant growth in the forthcoming years. Currently, the global sports and fitness nutrition foods and drinks markets are reined by such majors as Coca-Cola Co., GNC Holdings Inc., Abbott Laboratories Inc., to name a few.

Market research report Sports and Fitness Nutrition Foods and Drinks: Market Research Report developed by Global Industry Analysts (GIA) offers a comprehensive guide to the worldwide markets for sports and fitness nutrition foods and drinks. The study offers detailed industry outlook, including data on consumption and sales dynamics, safety regulations, distribution channels, etc. The research report discloses trends and issues related to the industry; contains insightful product overview, information on product innovations and introductions; describes latest activities in the marketplace. The study unveils corporate activities in the recent past; thoroughly analyses country and regional markets; profiles top companies and forecast future market development.

Report Details:

Title: Sports and Fitness Nutrition Foods and Drinks: Market Research Report Published: February, 2013 Pages: 843 Price: US$ 4,800.00 http://marketpublishers.com/report/food/sports_nutrition/sports-n-fitness-nutrition-foods-n-drinks_gia.html

Report Contents:

I.INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & PRODUCT DEFINITION

Study Reliability and Reporting Limitation

Disclaimers

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Protein improves efficacy of tumor-killing enzyme

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Public release date: 30-Apr-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Jim Sliwa jsliwa@asmusa.org 202-942-9297 American Society for Microbiology

Scientists have devised a method for delivering tumor cell-killing enzymes in a way that protects the enzyme until it can do its work inside the cell. In their study in mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, researchers assembled microscopic protein packages that can deliver an enzyme called PEIII to the insides of cells. By attaching a protein called ubiquitin to the enzyme, they were able to protect it from degradation by the cell, allowing the enzyme to complete its mission. The results indicate that ubiquitin may be a useful addition to targeted toxins.

Although researchers have been developing tumor-directed "targeted toxins" for decades, their success has been hindered by technical problems, including inadequate tumor specificity, low efficiency of delivery to the interior of the cell (also called the cytosol), and other issues. In this study, researchers from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases sought to improve the persistence of the enzyme in the cytosol.

They created bundles of proteins designed to carry this out. The targeted toxin assembly included two components the researchers have used before in targeted toxins: the "killing" enzyme PEIII, and a set of targeting proteins called LFn that deliver the PEIII enzyme via pores to the inside of the cell. The LFn delivery system was engineered to specifically target and attach to tumor cells.

The third component in the bundle was a new addition: ubiquitin, a small protein that is normally used by cells to target waste proteins for degradation. The researchers inserted ubiquitin in between the LFn and the PEIII, then tested the bundle on mice with tumors. The idea was to use the cell's own ubiquitin-cleaving enzymes to cut the ubiquitin off and free up the PEIII enzyme once it's inside the cell.

The system worked. Tumor growth was inhibited in mice treated with targeted toxins that either carried the wild-type ubiquitin or engineered ubiquitin without lysine residues in it, a change that should prevent it from being degraded by the cell. The addition of ubiquitin enhanced the ability of the PEIII enzyme to persist inside the cell thereby enhancing its potency. And the ubiquitin didn't seem to hinder the efficiency of delivering the PEIII inside the cell.

As an added bonus, the addition of ubiquitin reduced the toxicity of the targeted toxin to non-tumor tissues.

The authors point out that the use of ubiquitin linkers shows considerable promise and could be an effective strategy for enhancing the potency of tumor-targeting toxins for use in patients. In research currently underway, they are attempting to improve on the system by making changes to the ubiquitin that allow it to unfold appropriately inside the cell.

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Bruker Expands Capabilities of MALDI Biotyper Platform for Microbiology

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BERLIN--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

At the 23rd European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID), Bruker shows new capabilities of the MALDI Biotyper platform.

The MALDI Biotyper (MBT) is the market-leading system for microbial identification based on MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. It is widely used in clinical microbiology, industrial microbiology, animal health and food safety and has become the broadly accepted laboratory standard for next generation microbial identification. While conventional biochemical testing takes time-consuming incubation after selection of the microbes from the culture plate, the MALDI Biotyper allows for an instantaneous identification of colonies from a plate. The MALDI Biotyper system covers a broad range of more than 4,600 microbial isolates from gram-negative bacteria, gram-positive bacteria, yeasts, multicellular fungi and mycobacteria. It is broadly applicable as a standard identification tool in various fields of microbiology. Microbial identification with the MALDI Biotyper is done using a proteomic fingerprint. This unique species-specific pattern is automatically compared with reference spectra in the MALDI Biotyper library. In addition, the MALDI Biotyper supports the Open Microbiology Concept which allows customers to generate their own database entries from regional isolates via a push-button storage in a customer-specific sub-library.

The new second edition of the MBT Mycobacteria Library adds another 140 isolates from 37 new species. The library is fully compatible with all standard cultivation media for mycobacteria, such as solid Lwenstein-Jensen medium or in liquid culture using the MGIT system from Becton Dickinson. With these added capabilities the MALDI Biotyper covers now more than 130 species of mycobacteria.

The new MALDI Biotyper Pilot accessory complements the satellite software to a complete, barcoded and paperless workflow. The MBT Pilot is used for light-guided manual target preparation using cross hairs to indicate the next position for preparation on the MALDI target. Barcoding of the MALDI target and the sample, along with multiple isolate support, ensure that the complete process is fully traceable.

The new MALDI Biotyper Galaxy performs a quality-controlled automated deposition of the MALDI matrix onto the target plate. After the preparation it scans the target positions and checks if each spot is optimally prepared for MALDI Biotyper measurements. The MBT Galaxy has a seamless integration into the MBT server coupled with on-board barcode reading and automated loading of the associated project work list. Both MBT Pilot and MBT Galaxy are scheduled to be commercially available in 2013.

The revolutionary MALDI-Biotyper-Spectrum-Beta-Lactamase workflow (MSBL) enables users to perform patented functional beta-lactam antibiotic resistance testing for selected antibiotics on the MALDI Biotyper platform. The cleavage of beta-lactam antibiotics, like penicillins, 3rd generation cephalosporins or carbapenems by resistant bacteria leads to specific mass shifts of the cleaved products. Such mass shifts can be observed and monitored using the MALDI Biotyper, and automatically interpreted with the MSBL software module, which is also expected to be commercially availability later this year.

Dr. Wolfgang Pusch, Executive Vice President - Microbiology Business at Bruker Daltonics, explained: At the 2013 ECCMID in Berlin, Bruker is again showcasing very significant developments to further improve and streamline the established MALDI Biotyper workflow. The MALDI Biotyper Pilot and MALDI Biotyper Galaxy automation accessories add further functionality for quality control and traceability and at the same time reduce the manual workload of the operators. The MSBL method is another major step ahead to apply the MALDI Biotyper platform also in the fields of hospital hygiene and epidemiology to get fast results concerning resistance of bacteria to selected antibiotics.

Professor David Livermore, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK, commented: I am very excited about the potential to detect beta-lactamases - and maybe other resistances - as well as to identify microbes by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Early information about resistance is very important to antibiotic stewardship.

About the Bruker MALDI Biotyper The dedicated MALDI Biotyper solution enables molecular identification, and taxonomical classification or dereplication of microorganisms like bacteria, yeasts and fungi. Classification and identification of microorganisms is achieved reliably and quickly using proteomic fingerprinting by high-throughput MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Applications include clinical routine microbial identification, environmental and pharmaceutical analysis, taxonomical research, food and consumer product safety and quality control, as well as marine microbiology. The robust MALDI Biotyper method requires minimal sample preparation and offers low consumables cost. The MALDI Biotyper is available in a research-use-only version, or in an IVD-CE version according to EU directive EC/98/79 in various European countries. In the United States of America the MALDI Biotyper is available for research use only, and not for use in diagnostic procedures.

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Healthy body, mind the key to longevity?

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Few things keep Janet Papelian from attending dancercise and aerobics classes at the Coral Gables Youth Center four times a week. Certainly not her age.

The 75-year-old says she feels more like a 50-year-old.

Papelian also enjoys the Current Events class offered at the center, which covers news items and encourages discussion, helping to keep the mind engaged.

The classes are very, very good and exactly what people like us [seniors] need, she said.

Many studies have linked longevity to maintaining a healthy body and mind. When it comes to the mind, many factors play a role, including genetics, lifestyle, diabetes, head traumas, and drug use.

The brain is unique in that we are born with all the cells were going to have, and we lose some everyday, said Dr. Allan Herskowitz, medical director of Neurological Services at Baptist Health Neuroscience Center. There are many factors that all play a role in cells deteriorating at a higher rate.

So what can a healthy person do to keep the mind sharp for as long as possible?

Herskowitz advises staying physically active and exercising the brain.

In South Florida, several centers and institutions offer a variety of classes, workshops and activities especially designed for seniors. And it doesnt have to be costly.

The Alliance for Aging serving Miami-Dade and Monroe counties, part of a national network of private nonprofits, provides a wide range of services and referrals for elders and caregivers. The organization especially focuses on serving low-income individuals.

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Princeton scientist feted for her role in creating protein data bank

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PRINCETON If you know the connection, the pictures hanging on the wall in Helen Bermans home go a long way in explaining what she does as a structural biologist.

There is a black-and-white photo of the Brooklyn Bridge. There is a picture by the Dutch printmaker M.C. Escher. And there is a collection of seashells arranged into columns, sorted by type. In Bermans mind they are linked by several factors, beauty and symmetry being just two of them.

But the real key lies in the fact that she has grouped them here at all. That is what she does. Berman puts things together. She amplifies the relationships between them, and oversees the archiving of their connections.

Bermans interest in bioinformatics methods for organizing and analyzing biological data has led to her crowning achievement, one she is known for even outside the cloistered world of structural biology, where she has spent her entire career.

This month, Berman received the American Society for Biochemistrys prestigious DeLano Award for Computational Biosciences. She won the award for her part and it is a large one in the creation of the RCSB Protein Data Bank, now housed at Rutgers University, where Berman is a professor with the chemistry department.

RCSB stands for Research Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics where collaboration is another key part of Bermans philosophy.

Used by scientists, researchers, doctoral students and pharmaceutical companies, among others, the Protein Data Bank (PDB) is the product of decades of scientific cooperation and sheer dogged work on Bermans side.

When the PDB began at a different location 42 years ago, it catalogued just seven structures of protein molecules. Today, there are over 90,000.

Ive learned to be very patient, said Berman during an interview at her home. What Im doing is not the same as making a scientific discovery. Its a very different kind of thing. You have to be patient, take into account that other people work differently and that certain things have to be embargoed for a while.

Ultimately, I was successful.

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Princeton scientist feted for her role in creating protein data bank

Averica Discovery Services and Worcester Polytechnic Institute Establish Research Collaboration

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WORCESTER, Mass., April 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Averica Discovery Services, a contract research organization (CRO) with specialized expertise in small molecule analysis and purification, today announced that it has established a research collaboration with the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI). The open-ended agreement allows the two organizations to share their expertise on a variety of projects.

"WPI's emphasis on real world applications of advanced research fits well with Averica's focus on providing the highest quality analytical services to early stage drug researchers," noted Jeffrey Kiplinger, PhD, president of Averica. "WPI's expertise in solid state chemistry enhances our strengths as we expand our suite of pre-formulation services, and we intend to develop specific research collaborations that will be fruitful for both organizations. In Massachusetts we are fortunate to be located near many world class academic institutions, and we anticipate establishing additional collaborations going forward."

Averica Discovery Services supplies a wide variety of chromatography and analytical services to pharmaceutical, biotechnology and other life sciences researchers. Averica works with its clients to speed lead optimization and early development timelines and it provides highly pure assay material for programs requiring milligram to kilogram quantities.

"One factor that sets WPI apart is our commitment to engaging faculty and students in interdisciplinary projects addressing real world issues," said Arne Gericke, John C. Metzger Professor and head of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. "Collaborations with innovative companies such as Averica are invaluable for ensuring that our science remains on the cutting edge, while also enabling us to contribute to their growing success."

Financial details of the collaboration were not disclosed.

About Averica Discovery Services Founded in 2007, Averica Discovery Services is a contract research organization with specialized expertise in small molecule analysis and purification. Averica works with drug discovery and development teams to speed lead optimization and timelines in early development. Its services include scalable compound supply, chiral resolution, pre-formulation and proprietary services such as Targeted Isolation. Averica is located in the heart of the East Coast life sciences corridor, just west of Boston. For more information, visit: http://www.avericadiscovery.com.

About Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) Founded in 1865 in Worcester, Mass., WPI was one of the nation's first engineering and technology universities. Its 14 academic departments offer more than 50 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science, engineering, technology, business, the social sciences, and the humanities and arts, leading to bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. WPI's talented faculty work with students on interdisciplinary research that seeks solutions to important and socially relevant problems in fields as diverse as the life sciences and bioengineering, energy, information security, materials processing, and robotics. Students also have the opportunity to make a difference to communities and organizations around the world through the university's innovative Global Perspective Program. For more information, visit http://www.wpi.edu.

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Averica Discovery Services and Worcester Polytechnic Institute Establish Research Collaboration

Dr. Dov Rand Launches New Programs

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WEST ORANGE, N.J., April 29, 2013 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- Dr. Dov Rand is proud to announce the introduction of multiple new services focused on improving the lives of his patients. Each new procedure and treatment is focused on transforming the health of women and men with diseases related to the aging process. The new procedures are a direct result of Dr. Dov Rand and his colleagues interest in functional medicine.

"Too often, western medicine focuses on the symptom and the symptom only. With functional medicine, we take a look at the patient as a whole. We want to treat the person and not just the problem they're seeking help for," says Dr. Dov Rand .

"We have launched programs specializing in different areas. Our new programs focus on weight loss, Yolo fat burning, and gut health programs. We also introduced programs for dysbiosis and food allergies," adds Dr. Dov Rand. Those were not the only programs introduced to Dr. Dov Rand 's medical office. Other programs recently introduced include bio-identical hormone replacement, vitamin therapy including IV vitamins, and Botox and fillers for facial rejuvenation.

"In all that we do, we focus on functional medicine. At the forefront of our practice is patient centered care. That is why we practice functional medicine. We've seen repeatedly how satisfied patients are with our practice. That is why I have personally received the Patient Recognition Award four consecutive years," says Dr. Dov Rand.

Patients seem to appreciate Dr. Dov Rand 's ability to restore balance to their lives and bodies. Many people notice differences about themselves as they age, and not all those differences are external. Dr. Dov Rand introduced all the new procedures to deal with imbalances or changes both internal and external. "Our treatments do work. I've treated several hundred patients and the results of treatment have been absolutely amazing," says Dr. Dov Rand .

Patients appreciate Dr. Dov Rand's ability to improve how they look and feel. If they want to restore a youthful appearance, they can choose Botox or another facial rejuvenation procedure. If they want to feel better, Dr. Dov Rand can help them determine what treatment they need.

About: Dr. Dov Rand introduced new procedures to improve patients' health inside and out.

Media Contact:

Dov Rand Optimizeup.com, 973-325-6400, support@optimizeup.com

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

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Nutrition Capital Network's NYC Investor Meeting April 29 – 30 Highlights High Growth Companies and Emerging Market …

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NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Nutrition Capital Network (NCN) (www.nutritioncapital.com), an organization that connects investors with high-potential growth companies in the nutrition and health & wellness industry, is holding its Spring Investor Meeting on April 29-30 in New York City, where 20-22 selected growth companies will present to 50-70 investment groups representing $6 billion in capital.

With private equity leaders and strategic investors such as Bayer, DSM, Coca-Cola, Kelloggs, Pepsi and Unilever among its distinguished Cornerstone Investors, NCN serves as a gateway for growth companies to obtain both capital and seasoned partners. The NCN XII Spring Investor Meeting in New York will highlight growth companies in a range of segments, including dietary supplements, natural & organic food and beverages, and nutritional ingredients, among others. Presenting companies are selected and coached by NCNs committee of industry veterans.

NCN investment meetings also present the Health & Wellness Investor Forum, where NCN Principals and Partners present industry data and insights into recent transactions.

NCN tracks investment activity in the nutrition and health & wellness industry throughout the year. The industry is on track to equal, if not surpass, the record high of 287 transactions posted in 2012 with recent Q1 transactions showing sustained interest among investors, noted Grant Ferrier, NCN CEO and co-founder. Last year, we saw over 50% growth in financings despite a 12% drop in M&A activity, indicating strong momentum in the nutrition and health & wellness markets served by NCN.

NCN has a successful track record of matching entrepreneurs, growth companies and technology innovators with suitable investors, acquirers and strategic partners. Of the 287 companies that have presented at NCN Investor Meetings from 2007-2012, 43% have completed some form of transaction. Past presenters that have closed significant transactions include Food Should Taste Good, a company acquired by General Mills in February 2012, in addition to Annies, Immaculate Baking, Zico and Zhenas Gypsy Tea.

For more information about Nutrition Capital Network and the upcoming NYC Investor Meeting, please contact Alissa Sears of Christie Communications at (805) 969-3744 or email alissa@christiecomm.com.

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American Academy of Arts and Sciences Elects Martin J. Blaser, MD, Professor of Medicine and Microbiology, to 2013 …

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NYU School of Medicine Professor Joins World Leaders in Academia, Business, Public Affairs, Humanities and the Arts

Newswise New York, NY, April 25, 2013 NYU School of Medicine is pleased to announce that The American Academy of Arts and Sciences (AMACAD) has elected Martin J. Blaser, MD, the George and Muriel Singer Professor of Medicine, professor of microbiology, and director of the Human Microbiome Program at NYU Langone, to this years class of members. The new class will be inducted at a ceremony on October 12, 2013, at the Academys headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Members of the 2013 class include winners of the Nobel Prize; National Medal of Science; the Lasker Award; the Pulitzer and the Shaw prizes; the Fields Medal; MacArthur and Guggenheim fellowships; the Kennedy Center Honors; and Grammy, Emmy, Academy, and Tony awards.

Dr. Blaser is a world renowned researcher in microbiology and infectious disease. His work over the past three decades has helped transform our understanding of the human microbiome, the bacteria that live on and inside us. In particular, his lab has helped untangle the complex molecular behavior of Helicobacter pylori, a widespread species of bacteria linked to gastritis, peptic ulcers and stomach cancer. In addition to developing the first blood test for H. pylori, his team has recast the microbe in a new light, showing how its depletion in the gut through the use of antibiotics increases the risk of childhood asthma. Dr. Blaser holds 24 U.S. patents relating to his research into bacterial diseases and the microbiome, and has authored over 500 original articles.

Martin Blaser has made invaluable contributions not only to the study of the microbiome and disease, but as an educator and mentor to many fellow scientists, said Dafna Bar-Sagi, PhD, senior vice president and vice dean for Science and chief scientific officer at NYU School of Medicine. Through his leadership and intangible interpersonal qualities as well as his research, he stands out as a model for the scientific community and beyond. His election to the AMACAD is richly deserved."

Dr. Blaser is the principal investigator on five peer reviewed grants, including three from the NIH, and serves as chair of the Advisory Board for Clinical Research at the NIH. Dr. Blaser also leads the Human Microbiome Program at NYU Langone.

Dr. Blaser is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation, the Association of American Physicians, the American Epidemiologic Society, and the American Clinical and Climatological Association, as well as a Governor of the American Academy of Microbiology and a Master of the American College of Physicians. He currently serves as the Chair of the Advisory Board for Clinical Research of the National Institutes of Health, and the Scientific Advisory Board of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Previously he served as president of the Infectious Diseases Society of America and as Chair of the Board of Scientific Counselors of the National Cancer Institute.

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About NYU School of Medicine: NYU School of Medicine is one of the nations preeminent academic institutions dedicated to achieving world class medical educational excellence. For 170 years, NYU School of Medicine has trained thousands of physicians and scientists who have helped to shape the course of medical history and enrich the lives of countless people. An integral part of NYU Langone Medical Center, the School of Medicine at its core is committed to improving the human condition through medical education, scientific research and direct patient care. The School also maintains academic affiliations with area hospitals, including Bellevue Hospital Center, one of the nations finest municipal hospitals where its students, residents and faculty provide the clinical and emergency care to New York Citys diverse population, which enhances the scope and quality of their medical education and training. Additional information about the NYU School of Medicine is available at http://school.med.nyu.edu/.

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American Academy of Arts and Sciences Elects Martin J. Blaser, MD, Professor of Medicine and Microbiology, to 2013 ...

Picking your nose and eating it ‘may be good for your health’

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The secret to strengthening your immune systems ability to fight off illness might be right under your nose-- or rather, in it, according to a University of Saskatchewan researcher. Scott Napper, an associate professor of biochemistry at the University, has suggested that there may be health benefits to that most icky of icky habits: picking our noses and eating it.

Almost all kids have a compulsion to taste the things that come out of their noses, Napper said. He suggested that its possible that nature is pushing humans to adopt the behaviour because it is somehow to our natural advantage. Nasal mucous traps germs and stops them from getting into our lungs, Napper explained, but its possible that if we eat the mucous, exposure to those germs could actually help build immunity. It might teach your immune system about what's it's likely to get exposed to, so it might serve as almost a natural vaccination, if you will, he told CTV Saskatoon.

Its possible, he stated, that by blowing our noses into handkerchiefs or tissues, we might be robbing our bodies of the chance to develop valuable antibodies. Napper said his idea is still very preliminary, but admitted that it's gotten a lot of attention. He now hopes to conduct a study in which some type of molecule could be inserted into peoples noses, with half the participants picking their nose and eating it, and then seeing if the molecule still makes them ill.

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Lions’ select future biochemist Brandon Hepburn in seventh round

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Allen Park - It was suggested to Brandon Hepburn, the linebacker from Florida A&M the Lions took with their final pick Saturday, that he might be wasting his time playing football.

"Yeah," he said, "I get that a lot."

It's not that Hepburn doesn't have a chance to make an NFL roster. He's an overachieving, multi-dimensional athlete who, if nothing else, can make a good living on special teams.

But he can possibly do more for mankind by pursuing his other passion science. Hepburn, who scored 1400 on his SATs, got his degree in biochemistry and during an internship at North Texas University worked on a team that helped find a way to kill certain cancer cells in rats using copper-loaded nano particles.

"We haven't cured cancer, yet," he said, chuckling. "But we were able to do a lot of great work."

He hopes one day to own his own biochemical company and lead research against deadly diseases.

"But football is my No. 1 dream," he said. "I've always wanted to be in the position I am in now, to live out my dream of playing professional football. At the end of the day, you can't play forever. I hope after a long career I can go into that other aspects of my life."

Position: Inside linebacker

School: Florida A&M

Height/weight: 6-2, 240

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Lions' select future biochemist Brandon Hepburn in seventh round