Mars, Incorporated Encourages Young Researchers To Cross Disciplinary Boundaries And Help Address The Challenges Of Aging Research At Nobel Laureate Gathering

-- Nobel Laureate, Prof. Elizabeth Blackburn; Mars Director of Fundamental Health & Nutrition research, Dr. Hagen Schroeter, and 150 of the world's brightest medical researchers take part in key panel discussion on aging and health

LINDAU, Germany, July 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- At the 64th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, Nobel Laureate Prof. Elizabeth Blackburn and Dr. Hagen Schroeter, Director of Fundamental Health & Nutrition Research at Mars, Incorporated, explored how current approaches to aging research could be advanced by strengthening the connections between disciplines, sectors and stakeholders. The panel engaged an audience of 100 of the world's brightest young researchers, and considered how to integrate a broad range of scientific fields more effectively in order to tackle the challenge of healthy aging.

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At the panel discussion, Hagen Schroeter spoke about his experience of convergent research: "Integrating insights from distinct disciplines and across sectors has greatly benefitted Mars, Incorporated's fundamental science programs and opened new pathways to innovation." Hagen Schroeter leads a research program into cocoa flavanols--phytonutrients that have been seen to maintain cardiovascular health. "Bringing together the expertise of a broad group of partners and stakeholders has resulted in a far deeper understanding of flavanols, which may lead to novel applications in the context of healthy aging."

Elizabeth Blackburn, Professor at the University of California, San Francisco, spoke of the potential to go beyond existing scientific and regulatory standards: "A reevaluation of current approaches to integrate individualized life factors could better inform public health policy discussions, and contribute towards the goal of optimizing aging." Elizabeth Blackburn's work on telomeres--a portion of the chromosome linked to aging--earned her the 2009 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine.

Adam Smith, Chief Science Officer of Nobel Media, moderated the event, which also included contributions from Lindau Young Researcher Claudine Gauthier, a postdoctoral fellow from the Max Planck Institute, Leipzig. After participating in the panel discussion, Claudine commented, "Being part of this conversation on aging--one of society's most pressing issues--has been a great opportunity. The panel discussion highlighted that a wider collaborative network and more dialogue with industry and policy makers will be necessary to move science from paper to practice. I hope to be able to apply some of these ideas in my future scientific career."

2014 marks the eighth year of Mars, Incorporated's partnership with the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. Since 2010, Mars has hosted annual panel discussions focussing on interaction with the Lindau young researchers and bringing together perspectives from the full range of scientific disciplines present at Lindau. Each year, Mars also supports young researchers to attend the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings and collaborates with Nature Publishing Group (NPG) to make the dialogue at Lindau accessible to a global scientific audience through NPG's online and print activities.

About Mars, Incorporated

In 1911, Frank C. Mars made the first Mars candies in his Tacoma, Washington kitchen and established Mars' first roots as a confectionery company. In the 1920s, Forrest E. Mars, Sr. joined his father in business and together they launched the MILKY WAY® bar. In 1932, Forrest, Sr. moved to the United Kingdom with a dream of  building a business based on the objective of creating a "mutuality of benefits for all stakeholders"--this objective serves as the foundation of Mars, Incorporated today. Based in McLean, Virginia, Mars has net sales of more than $33 billion, six business segments including Petcare, Chocolate, Wrigley, Food, Drinks, Symbioscience, and more than 75,000 Associates worldwide that are putting its Principles into action to make a difference for people and the planet through its performance.

Mars brands include: Petcare – PEDIGREE®, ROYAL CANIN®, WHISKAS®, BANFIELD® Pet Hospital, CESAR®, SHEBA®, DREAMIES® and NUTRO®; Chocolate – M&M'S®, SNICKERS®, DOVE®, GALAXY®, MARS®, MILKY WAY® and TWIX®; Wrigley – DOUBLEMINT®, EXTRA®, ORBIT® and 5™ chewing gums, SKITTLES® and STARBURST® candies, and ALTOIDS® AND LIFESAVERS® mints; Food – UNCLE BEN'S®, DOLMIO®, EBLY®, MASTERFOODS®, SEEDS OF CHANGE® and ROYCO®; Drinks – ALTERRA COFFEE ROASTERS™, THE BRIGHT TEA COMPANY™, KLIX® and FLAVIA®; Symbioscience – COCOAVIA® and  WISDOM PANEL®.  For more information, please visit www.mars.com. Follow us: facebook.com/mars, twitter.com/marsglobal, youtube.com/mars, linkedin.com/company/mars

About the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings

From June 29 to July 4, 2014, 37 Nobel Laureates and more than 600 young scientists from approximately 80 countries congregate at the 64th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting dedicated to Physiology or Medicine to share their knowledge, establish new contacts and discuss relevant topics such as global health, the latest findings in cancer and HIV research, the challenges in immunology or future research approaches to medicine. The Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings have been bringing together the most esteemed scientists of their times with outstanding young scientists from all over the world annually since 1951. The meetings focus alternately on medicine and physiology, physics, chemistry, and economic sciences. They are organized by the Council for the Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings and the Foundation Lindau Nobel Laureate Meetings. More information: www.lindau-nobel.org