Mira MacLennan, a 2011 M.Sc. graduate from the Department of Human Health and Nutritional Sciences, received first prize in the Nestlé Nutrition Student and Trainee Competition held in conjunction with the Canadian Nutrition Society/Société canadienne de nutrition (CNS/SCN) annual meeting. From 99 student abstracts, eight students were awarded Christine Gagnon Travel Awards of $250 and were invited to compete in the oral presentations, with MacLennan taking top honours.

Her master’s research was supervised by Prof. David Ma. Working with fellow grad student Breanne Anderson, their early work has shown that exposing mice to omega-3 fatty acids ─ even before they’re born ─ decreases the size and number of breast cancer tumors by about 20 per cent in adult mice. This research supports a growing body of data indicating that exposing embryos, babies and toddlers to certain nutrients can influence chronic disease later in life.

The 2011 CNS conference was hosted by the University of Guelph June 3 and 4 and enjoyed a record attendance of more than 520.

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