"With the full membership of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee now in place, Lorillard looks forward to working with the committee and contributing to its scientific review of menthol and other topics. Lorillard remains confident that a serious examination [image-nocss] of menthol science will show that the best available science does not support an assertion that menthol impacts public health.
"Dr. Heck has more than 30 years of professional experience in research and a strong record of peer-reviewed articles and studies. We are honored that he will serve as the representative of the tobacco manufacturing industry on the committee, and we are confident his expertise will contribute to a fair hearing that is grounded in good science that advances public policy."
Heck's most recent manuscript, a comprehensive review of the use of menthol as a cigarette flavoring, was published in the January 2010 issue of Food and Chemical Toxicology.
Heck earned his doctorate in pharmacology and toxicology from the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center in Houston. He has served as Principal Scientist at Lorillard since 2003.
Heck is a diplomate to the American Board of Toxicology and a member of the Society of Toxicology. He has served and continues to serve on numerous professional committees, including the Safety Evaluation Coordinating Committee of the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association (FEMA) of the United States and the Cigarettes Ingredients Scientific Panel.
Heck also peer reviews manuscripts for many prominent publications, including Toxicological Sciences and Food and Chemical Toxicology, and also serves on the editorial board of Inhalation Toxicology and Beitr age zur Tabakforschung International.
Lorillard Inc., Greensboro, N.C., is the third-largest manufacturer of cigarettes in the United States. Newport, Lorillard's flagship menthol-flavored premium cigarette brand, is the top-selling menthol and second-largest-selling cigarette in the United States. In addition to Newport, the Lorillard product line has five additional brand families marketed under the Kent, True, Maverick, Old Gold and Max brand names.
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