ACN Reports on Link Between Gut Microbiome and Autism

Justin Craig Rowlands is a senior toxicologist with Underwriters Laboratories Ventures in Northbrook, Illinois. In addition, Craig Rowlands serves as a diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology as well as a fellow with the American College of Nutrition (ACN). 

The ACN recently reported on two new studies in Canada and the US that looked at the link between gut bacteria and autism. Most autism research is based on genetics, but researchers are expanding their scope since the disorder is 200 times more common now than it was 50 years ago. These recent studies found a clear link between nutrition and incidences of autism, which provides hope for the possibility of new therapeutic interventions. 

The studies found that the short-chain fatty acids that are created as a byproduct of gut bacteria fermenting our foods inside of our bodies can affect everything from immune function to genetic expression. These processes appear to be altered in people with autism and similar conditions. 

When we eat unprocessed vegetable and root foods, our gut bacteria produce butyrate, which can improve mitochondrial function when cells are under stress. Alternately, when we eat highly processed carbohydrates and sugars, the bacteria produce propionate, a chemical that is shown to affect behavior as well as metabolism and immune function. 

Probiotic foods like yogurt and kombucha can help support the healthy balance of bacterial culture in the body. Antibiotics, on the other hand, should be used sparingly as they can greatly disrupt the microbial communities in the gut, especially early in life. Overall, a healthy, well-balanced diet may be beneficial for more than just weight control and a healthy body--it may have far-reaching implications for mood, mental health, behavior, and especially conditions like autism.

American Board of Toxicology - New Certification Exam

Justin Craig Rowlands serves as a senior scientist with Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Supply Chain & Sustainability. Complementing his role at UL, Craig Rowlands belongs to the American Board of Toxicology, which recently announced a change to its certification exam. 

In 2017, candidates pursuing certification from the American Board of Toxicology will take a new test. Rather than the traditional two-day, three-part certification exam, candidates will take a 200-question, single-day exam. The exam format will include two separate three-hour sessions with a break in between.

On the new exam, each question has only four choices instead of five, and the exam will draw from the tasks and domains of the Practice Analysis from 2016. The domains of the exam are: 
- Design, Execute, and Interpret Toxicology Studies (31 percent of the exam)
- Descriptive Toxicology: Environmental, Clinical, Non‐clinical, and Forensic Investigations (13 percent)
- Mechanistic Toxicology (9 percent)
- Risk Assessment (38 percent)
- Applied Toxicology: Public, Environmental, and Occupational Health (9 percent).

People Who Eat Whole Grains Live Longer

Justin Craig Rowlands is a senior scientist with Underwriters Laboratories Supply Chain & Sustainability. Additionally, Craig Rowlands formerly served as staff fellow at the US Food and Drug Administration's Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN).

According to recent research published in Advances in Nutrition, the journal of the American Society of Nutrition, people who eat whole grains rather than refined grains tend to live longer.

Many food manufacturers have marketed whole grain products as healthier alternatives in foods such as bread, breakfast cereal, and rice. Because whole grains still contain the germ and endosperm that are lost in the refining process, they have increased levels of dietary fiber, as well as other key nutrients and minerals. 

Nutritional researchers, who published their work in November 2016, compared the relationship between the type of grains consumed in a person’s diet and correlated that data with the mortality rate in these individuals, pulling data from 20 different cohort studies. After examining the data, researchers concluded that data strongly support the assertion that diets that incorporate mostly whole grains over refined grains are associated with longer lifespans.

Society of Toxicology Celebrates 55th Annual Conference in Louisiana

 


In May of 2016, Justin Craig Rowlands began working as a senior scientist for the Underwriters Laboratories Supply Chain and Sustainability in Northbrook, Illinois. Justin Craig Rowlands belongs to several affiliated organizations, including the Society of Toxicology (SOT).

Founded in 1961, the SOT consists of scientists who work in government, academia, and industries around the globe. With more than 7,800 members in 60 countries, the SOT strives to make a healthier world by increasing knowledge and elevating the impact of toxicology.

To help its members connect, the SOT sponsors an annual meeting and exposition. The largest gathering of toxicologists in the world, the SOT annual "ToxExpo" attracts approximately 6,500 toxicologists and 350 exhibitors.

The 2016 event, which took place March 13th through 17th in New Orleans, featured lectures, presentations, and professional training opportunities. Social events included breakfasts, awards presentations, and a 5K run/walk. The 2017 event is scheduled for March 12th through 16th in Baltimore, Maryland.

Justin Craig Rowlands, PhD, DABT - Biosketch & Resume

BIOSKETCH

Dr. Craig Rowlands is a Senior Scientist for Innovation at Underwriters laboratories, Supply Chain & Sustainability. He is an industry leader with expert knowledge in scientifically sound product safety assessments towards enhancing sustainability and reducing environmental, health & safety risks. He has successful record ensuring organizations achieve their sustainability performance goals through collaborating, partnering and impacting internal R&D programs, government agencies, regulatory authorities, technical- and trade-associations, non-governmental organizations, and universities. Dr. Rowlands has published over 80 articles and book chapters and edited several reports in toxicology and risk assessment. He has served as President of the Molecular and Systems Biology Specialty Section of the Society of Toxicology (SOT), Chair of the SOT Continuing Education Committee,  and Co-Chair for the American Chemistry Council's Computational Profiling Work Group of the Health, Products and Science Policy Committee. He served on international expert committees including the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) projects on Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) and Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs). He has served on the Board of Trustees of the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI), Co-Chair of the ILSI-HESI project Framework for Intelligent Non-Animal Methods for Safety Assessment and serves as co-chair of the SOT, Current Concepts in Toxicology Committee. He is on the editorial board of the Journal of Biochemical and Molecular Toxicology and has been awarded the Carl C. Smith award for meritorious research from the SSOT Mechanisms Specialty Section, and the 2012 Michigan Green Chemistry Governor’s Award. Dr. Rowlands is an adjunct Professor of Toxicology at Michigan State University, Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology and a Fellow of the American College of Nutrition.s an adjunct Professor of Toxicology at Michigan State University.

RÉSUMÉ

SUMMARY
An industry leader with expert knowledge in scientifically sound product safety assessments towards enhancing sustainability and reducing environmental, health & safety risks. Provide technical expertise, strategies and management to identify issues, navigate obstacles and deliver solutions. Experienced in collaborating, partnering and impacting internal R&D programs, government agencies, regulatory authorities, technical and trade associations, NGO’s, and universities to achieve corporate goals and improve business sustainability performance. Diplomate of the American Board of Toxicology, Fellow of the American College of Nutrition.

Specialties: Sustainability, Sustainability Strategy, Environment, Health & Safety, Value Chain, Product Stewardship, Green Chemistry, Safety, Risk Assessment, Toxicology, Alternative Testing, Regulations
       
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
2016-Present: Senior Scientist, Innovation,  Underwriters laboratories, Supply Chain & Sustainability, Northbrook, IL

• Provide expert advice on best practices and approaches to ensure business R&D decision makers have the information to screen and eliminate materials, components and products that are not safe to humans and the environment and sustainable in the global marketplace.

2005-2016:   Senior Scientist and Research Leader, The Dow Chemical Company, Toxicology, Environmental Research & Consulting (TERC), Midland, MI

• Developed Dow’s basic model for toxicology assessments in early R&D that utilizes predictive toxicity methods to advance sustainable molecules for commercialization.  
• Strategy leader for the creation of Dow’s Next Generation Safety Center, which is central to delivering on Dow’s 2025 sustainability goals.
• Established a research program on environmental chemicals that utilizes a model of close collaboration with leading academic experts to study the basic biology and mechanisms of action in animals and humans.  The program has successfully re-established Dow scientists as leading experts in the field and has demonstrated the value of genetic models and molecular and systems biology approaches to address uncertainty in risk assessments and human sensitivity.
• Established a network of scientific collaborations with external organizations, notably trade associations, scientific institutes and academic investigators, to drive science-based policies that support business and corporate strategic objectives.
• Enabled the regulatory compliance of new substances and products through delivery of the appropriate safety assessment data.

2003-2005: Staff Fellow, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition(CFSAN), Office of Nutritional Products, Labeling and Dietary Supplements, Division of Nutrition Programs                 and Labeling

• Advised FDA management on scientific matters and regulatory options relative to health claims for foods, food ingredients and supplement ingredients
• Represented FDA at consumer and stakeholder meetings and scientific conferences
• Co-developed FDA Evidence-based Ranking System for Health Claims. Efforts recognized by Individual Award for Quality Performance, 2004
• Received Individual Award for Quality Performance (2004) for successfully defending scientific opinion on a health claim that included leading an FDA Food Advisory Committee meeting

• Received CFSAN Team Award (2004) for contributions to the Consumer Health Information and Interim Evidence-based Ranking System Implementation Team
• Received CFSAN Team Award (2005) for contributions to the development and implementation of dietary supplement regulatory initiatives.

2001-2003: Senior Scientist, Regulatory Affairs Consulting, Burdock Group, Vero Beach, FL

• Developed risk assessments and efficacy assessments of traditional, novel and biotechnology derived food, food ingredients and supplement ingredients
• Managed GRAS determinations for food ingredients
• Provided regulatory and compliance advice and assistance
• Represented clients at regulatory agency meetings
• Published articles and presented seminars on food ingredient regulatory issues

1997-2001: Assistant Professor, Pharmacology & Toxicology, Univ. of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; Director,       Biotechnology Laboratory, USDA-ARS-Human Nutrition Research Center, Little Rock, AR.

• Led NIH funded and USDA funded research programs investigating the impact of diet and nutrition on chemical toxicity and disease development
• Supervised & mentored lab personnel
• Lectured in graduate level courses
• Published articles, presented at international scientific meetings, represented center at USDA meetings

1995-1997: Postdoctoral Scientist, Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology Laboratory, University of California,   Berkeley, CA.

• Initiated and assisted in the development of in vitro cell biology methods to study mammalian toxicity and endocrine disruptive effects of natural and synthetic chemicals.
• Published articles and presented at international scientific meetings

1993-1995: Postdoctoral Fellow, Center for Biotechnology, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

• Developed novel methodology to study molecular biology of nuclear receptors.
• Mentored graduate student
• Published articles and presented at international scientific meetings

1989-1993: Predoctoral Fellow, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College         Station, TX.

• Characterized the mechanisms of action of endocrine disrupting chemicals. 
• Earned Ph.D. in toxicology
• Awarded Carl C. Smith graduate student award for meritorious research, presented by the mechanisms specialty section, Society of Toxicology, 1993
• Awarded George T. Edds award for outstanding scholastic and research abilities in the field of toxicology, presented by the College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, 1993

EDUCATION

• Postdoctoral Fellow, Molecular Endocrinology, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
• Doctor of Philosophy, Toxicology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX.
• Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX

​PUBLICATIONS
Author/Co-author of 80+ publications, 5 book chapters, 73 presentation abstracts, and 1 patent.
Publications on ResearchGate