The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), with support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), Innovate UK and the Medical Research Council (MRC), have launched six innovation hubs as part of a new Diet and Health Open Innovation Research Club (OIRC), representing an investment of almost £15 million. The OIRC will help address critical shared barriers to innovation across the food and drink sector.
Poor diet has a huge impact on public health. As recently highlighted in the government food strategy, The OIRC hubs will bring together world-class leaders from academia, industry and wider stakeholders to address the challenge of producing and encouraging the uptake of healthier, more nutritious food products in the UK.
As part of this initiative, the University of Reading will lead the INFORM Hub – A multidisciplinary innovation hub examining the potential for functional foods to improve human health via their impacts on gut microbes.
Primarily, the INFORM hub aims to improve recovery from exercise, mental stress or physical illness by consuming prebiotics, probiotics and plant stanols.
INFORM will bring together academic experts in the gut microbiome, mental health, sports and exercise, bone health, metabolism and clinical conditions promoting, providing funding opportunities for collaboration with members of the food, healthcare and sports industries.
Visit our website to learn more about us and our current funding opportunities. Don’t forget to sign up to become an INFORM Hub member and be the first to hear our latest news and funding availability.