The BCPT 2016 prize to Jan Alexander, Norway.

Abstract

Professor Jan Alexander (right) is presented with the BCPT Nordic Prize 2016 by BCPT Editor-in-Chief Kim Brøsen on the occasion of the spring meeting of Norwegian Society of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Oslo, Norway, 30 March 2017. Jan Alexander was born in Norway on 18 July 1948. He graduated as an MD from the University of Oslo in 1973. Two years later, he was appointed a physician at the Norwegian Institute of Occupational Health. After obtaining his PhD in 1983 in the field ‘Metal toxicology and trace elements’, he was later qualified as a Professor in Environmental and Occupational Medicine. The same year, Jan Alexander began his career at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH); first as Director of the Department of Food Safety and Nutrition, then as Director of the Division of Environmental Medicine. In 2009, he became Deputy Director-General for the institute. In parallel, he was Professor in Environmental Medicine at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (2001–2008) and appointed as Professor in Food Toxicology at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science/Norwegian University of Life Sciences in 2008. Food Safety and Nutrition has been Jan Alexander's dominating field of interest. His research has ranged widely, from well-focused penetrating experimental mechanistic studies using in vitro and animal models to human epidemiological studies. As a result of this complementary scientific approach, he has obtained a unique understanding of the field. Jan Alexander has been a strong driving force in establishing and building the research on process-induced carcinogenic contaminants as a new research area in Norway, in collaboration with Nordic colleagues. This research has especially been focusing on heterocyclic amines but also comprises other types of process-induced contaminants. His research has given important contributions to understanding the basic principles for how process-induced contaminants are metabolically activated and/or detoxified, and their role for development of intestinal cancer. Furthermore, he has given valuable input to a number of epidemiological studies linked to food. This research has resulted in new biomarkers, as well as an increased understanding of how process-induced contaminants, persistent organic pollutants, heavy metals and nutrition components may modulate health outcome. These fields of research have involved many colleagues through the years and attracted valuable research funding. Jan Alexander has authored close to 300 publications. The results from the studies (>20) have been used in risk assessments by the Norwegian Scientific Committee for Food Safety (VKM). In addition to establishing high-standard scientific research on food in Norway, Jan Alexander has been an important driving force for the corresponding human risk assessments. He chaired the secretariat establishing VKM in 2004 and has since been a central person for the Committee. Internationally, Jan Alexander is a well-recognised capacity within human risk assessment. He has contributed to or chaired many of the European Food Safety Authority's (EFSA's) risk assessments; prior to EFSA's establishment as member of the EU Scientific Committee on Food; thereafter as a member of EFSA's Panel on Contaminants in the Food Chain (CONTAM) during a period of 10 years, and as vice-chair for the EFSA Scientific Committee. The work in EFSA has resulted in ~100 scientific assessments and papers in the EFSA journal. In addition, he has worked in the panels of other international institutions such as The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) and International Programme on Chemical Safety (IPCS). During 6 years, Jan Alexander chaired the Section on Toxicology of the Norwegian Society of Toxicology. He has, throughout his career, generously shared his knowledge in the field of environmental medicine, research and risk assessment; through lecturing, supervision of Master and PhD students and by being a mentor for younger colleagues. He has evaluated PhDs, scientists, grant applications and research activities at various institutions in Norway and abroad and has numerous times been invited as a speaker at national and international conferences. Jan Alexander has through a lifetime career demonstrated extraordinary commitment, integrity and skills, combined with great wisdom and knowledge. He has contributed strongly to the field of toxicological research as well as to human risk assessment, especially within the area of food safety. These qualities make Jan Alexander a worthy recipient of the 2016 BCPT Nordic Prize in Basic and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology.