Who We Are

Our Leadership

Director

Dr. G. Harvey Anderson
Director, Program in Food Safety, Nutrition and Regulatory Affairs

Dr. G. Harvey Anderson is professor of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. He is also executive director of the University of Toronto Centre for Child Nutrition & Health. He has served as associate dean at the School of Graduate Studies, dean and associate dean of research in the Faculty of Medicine, chair for the Department of Nutritional Sciences, and as an elected member of the Governing Council. He is an advocate for university, industry, and government partnerships that lead to food and nutrition solutions. He is an internationally acclaimed expert in the role of proteins and carbohydrates in nutritional support and in the regulation of metabolism and feeding behaviour in children and adults

 

 

Manager

Ms. Ashleigh Wiggins
Manager, Program in Food Safety, Nutrition and Regulatory Affairs

Ms. Ashleigh Wiggins completed her BSc in Biomedical Toxicology from the University of Guelph in 2011, and MSc in Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto under the supervision of Dr. Lilian Thompson in 2013. Her MSc thesis research focused on diet and cancer, more specifically plant based omega-3 fatty acids in the complementary treatment of breast cancers in vitro. Ashleigh joined the PFSNRA in 2014 in the manager role, and is currently also a Science Program Associate for the North American branch of the International Life Sciences Institute, coordinating their Canadian initiatives. 

 

 

Department Chair

Dr. Mary R. L'Abbé
Chair, Department of Nutritional Sciences

Dr. Mary R. L'Abbé  is Department of Nutritional Sciences’ Earle W. McHenry professor and chair. She has research expertise aimed at improving nutrition communication to consumers, a nutritional policy as it relates to population health, chronic disease prevention, and the nutritional quality of the Canadian food supply. Her vast experience in government leadership and regulatory affairs, in the area of assessing population health impacts of food and nutrition policies and preparing national or international recommendations and guidelines, is critical to the PFSNRA's success.

Partners

The strength of the PFSNRA relies on its great partnerships with other organizations and universities across North America.

University Partners:

To ensure the highest quality science and research are available to address food safety and nutrition issues, the PFSNRA has partnerships and collaborations with many Universities and leading scientists across North America. Some include:

 

International Life Sciences Institute:

The International Life Sciences Institue (ILSI) North American branch has partnered with the PFSNRA since 2012, and currently the PFSNRA Manager acts as a part-time Science Program Manager for ILSI North America. Through this partnership, ILSI North America has developed a Canadian Advisory Committee (CAC) composed of academic, government and industry members. 

The Canadian Advisory Committee was created to enhance and increase communication and collaboration between ILSI North America programs and scientists in Canada.

Specific Goals  include, but not be limited to the following:

  1. Identify opportunities for public/private research partnerships.
  2. Facilitate networking opportunities between government, industry and academic scientists on current nutrition, food safety, food and water security, and risk assessment issues within Canada and across North America, such as the ILSI Annual and Mid-Year meetings.
  3. Facilitate outreach and communication opportunities within Canadian scientific forums for research results from both ILSI North America and potential partnership programs (Example: Canadian Nutrition Society meeting and Food for Health workshop).
  4. Ensure a Canadian focus is considered in the development of new project initiatives and/or project designs within ILSI North America committees. This can be achieved through active participation in the annual emerging issues process and service on scientific committees.
  5. Aid in the identification of Canadian scientific expertise for research projects, workshops, professional meeting sessions, advisory groups, etc. This can be achieved through program planning for the annual and mid-year meetings, and by service on technical committees.

For more information about ILSI North America, please visit their website 

 

Other Organizations:

The PFSNRA has many current and previous partnerships with various organizations including:

Donors

The PFSNRA is sustained through kind donations from organizations and companies committed to the mission, goals and objectives of the PFSNRA. Other support for the PFSNRA comes from the University of Toronto, Department of Nutritional Sciences. 

The PFSNRA currently has 15 active donors including:

  • Abbott Laboratories Ltd
  • Campbell Company of Canada
  • Canada Bread Company, Ltd
  • Canadian Sugar Institute
  • Cargill, Inc
  • Coca-Cola Ltd
  • Dairy Farmers of Canada
  • Danone Inc
  • Dare Foods Ltd
  • General Mills Canada Corporation
  • Ingredion Canada Incorporated
  • Mead Johnson Nutrition (Canada) Co
  • Nestlé Canada Inc
  • PepsiCo Canada ULC
  • Pulse Canada
  • Unilever Canada
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