The role of food and other related ingredients in this medicinal quest will be explored during a daylong conference, "Advances and Challenges: The Blending of Functional Foods and Chinese Medicine," at Cal State Northridge on Tuesday, Jan. 14.

"The conference will be an opportunity for food science and nutrition professionals as well as academics, students and members of the public to learn more about integrating alternative medicine into their fields, or their lives," said Claudia Fajardo-Lira, a professor in CSUN's Department of Family Environmental Sciences and one of the organizers of the event.

The conference will take place from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Marilyn Magaram Center in Sequoia Hall near the center of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St. in Northridge.

The day will include panel discussions on the pros and cons of the use of food in alternative medicine, how traditional Chinese medicine has become part of the mainstream and herbalism and its relationship to diet, dietary supplements and food.

Students also will face off in a culinary competition beginning at 8:30 a.m., with the winners to be announced during a special ceremony at 3:30 p.m.

The conference is sponsored by CSUN's Department of Family Environmental Sciences and the Southern California section of the Institute of Food Technologists.

Registration for the conference is $160, $50 for students and retirees. For more information, call Fajardo-Lira at (818) 677-3021.