Debra K.W. Topham, MS, CNS
As director of knowledge bank, Debra Topham's role
is to build successful bridges between those that speak "technology"
and those that don't. Ms. Topham contributes to the documentation of product
usage and efficacy; label claims and promotional platforms; sensory evaluation;
and bench-marking of competitive products. She reviews scientific and
medical literature on functional foods, excipients, botanicals, and health-related
issues to provide clients an enhanced foundation for substantiated consumer-friendly
communications. Her clear communication style comes from Ms. Topham's
well-seasoned university lecturing and speaking events. Ms. Topham has
presented to the White House Subcommittee's Commission on Dietary Supplement
Labeling and to the Food & Nutrition Board's Panel on Dietary Antioxidants.
Most recently, Ms. Topham was the Manager for all product labeling and regulations for 2,000 products launched by Fresh&Easy Neighborhood Markets in less than 2 years. She adapted the Tesco / Micros software program from UK to USA regulatory compliance and developed the USA training program for 200 suppliers in 8 months. This allows all private label products to be managed from co-packer to artwork through customer inquiries with speed and due diligence in mind. Additionally, the software allows real-time ingredient searches within 10 minutes of all private-label retail products that might be implicated in recalls or withdrawals.
Ms. Topham serves as project manager for human clinical research studies,
scientific symposia, and nutrition conferences, especially on botanicals,
plant concentrates, and human nutrition. Ms. Topham participates in more
than 20 human clinical trials at multiple sites in 5 countries of the
world. The Botanical Education Workshops, the Photochemical Conference:
Today's Knowledge--Tomorrow's Products, and the Nagano (Japan) Scientific
Symposium on Sports Science are representative of the technical conferences
Ms. Topham coordinates. Among her many publications, she edited two internationally
known books, Phytochemicals:
A New Health Paradigm and Phytochemicals
as Bioactive Agents by Technomic
Publishing Inc. (now CRC
Press).
knowledge bank's director is a classically trained food and nutrition
professional with the solid experience of a corporate research scientist
and home economist. Ms. Topham was granted the Certified Nutrition Specialist
(CNS) title for her advanced degrees and significant contributions to
the fields of food and nutrition. She is a professional member of the
Institute of Food Technologists and Phi Upsilon Omicron.
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Mary Jacob, PhD, RD
Senior Research Scientist, Dr. Mary M. Jacob, R.D., contributes
40 years of research wisdom and experience to knowledge bank. Her work
on the effects of race and climate on basal metabolism, mineral metabolism,
and body composition changes in health and disease spans several continents.
Her professional development and education crosses India, England, Australia
and the United States.
Dr. Jacob has focused technical investigations into protein/amino acid
metabolism and nutritional status assessment in pregnancy and malnourished
children. Intensive research and education allows knowledge bank's Dr.
Jacob to translate and adapt medical jargon for successful audience comprehension.
She interprets the benefits and limitations of dietary supplements and
their components into rational explanations for industry customers and
consumer groups.
As a frequent presenter at the International Congress of Nutrition, the
American Pediatric Society and the Annual Experimental Biology meetings,
Dr. Jacob discusses her research findings on body composition changes
in aging and disease as well as the implications of trace mineral alterations
in animal tissues for human nutrition. These are published as peer reviewed
articles in professional journals. She is a professional member of American
Society of Nutritional Science, American College of Nutrition, American
Dietetic Association, Gerontological Society of America, American Association
for the Advancement of Science, and The New York Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Jacob is a mentor to health researchers and dietitians alike and contributes
to the local American Heart Association chapter as a professional advisor.
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