About 35 business executives from companies across the state visited The Hormel Institute Thursday as part of Leadership Minnesota, hosted by the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce.

The Hormel Institute hosted Leadership Minnesota in 2008, but this year’s group was the first to see and tour the $23.4 million expansion of the medical research facility.

Minnesota Ag Commissioner Gene Hugoson also spoke during the visit.

Leadership Minnesota, a program developed by the state chamber, holds five two-day sessions each year and takes members on a tour of the state; the institute was one site on their tour. The objective is for business leaders to learn about the state’s key assets with a goal to strengthen and grow Minnesota business and industry.

“The Hormel Institute is honored to contribute to the strength of the state of Minnesota through our contributions to research and economically because of our growth,” said Dr. Zigang Dong, executive director of the institute.  “Our goal is to continue to make significant contributions on into the future.  We are very thankful for the support we have from our community and our state.”

Visitors were not only versed on the history of the institute — founded in 1942 — but about the new expansion, which was dedicated Oct. 3 and has added 40 new jobs thus far.

Gail Dennison, public relations coordinator for the institute, said the facility has a five-year plan to hire at least 100 staff.

“We are already well on our way,” she said.

Associate director Ann Bode also explained how its researchers discovered and named Omega 3 and 6 acids; have been leaders in the study of obesity and the cancer connection; and researched the preventative cancer benefits of green tea.

“We want to be one of the best in the world,” Bode said. “That’s all there is to it.”

The Hormel Institute also announced Thursday that cancer biology professor Dr. Junxuan Johnny  Lu will be leading a study on a five-year research project to study an Oriental herbal compound which may help prevent prostate cancer.

The herbal compound 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-beta-D-glucose (PGG) is a compound present in some Oriental medicinal herbals.  A number of cell studies indicate the compound may have a strong cancer inhibitory effect.

“If our research proves that indeed PGG is a safe and effective cancer preventive compound in animal models, we will further research to plan for human clinical trials,” said Dr. Lu.  The goal will be to benefit both prostate cancer patients and men’s health in general.

The National Institute’s of Health grant is for $1 million, with an additional $525,000 added to that for supporting the costs associated with the research project.