Since September 2023, the INFORM Hub has awarded over £422,000 across twelve Flexible Mobility Awards, Business Interaction Vouchers, and Feasibility Study projects. This investment, combined with over £328,000 contributed by project partners, has resulted in a total research investment exceeding £750,000.
2023 Awards:
- Examination of the link between the gut microbiome, Neurocognitive and Affective mechanisms in Host Sleep (MINAHS) Study (Feasibility Study)
Project Partners: Professor Adele Costabile – University of Roehampton (PI), Dr Piril Hepsomali – University of Reading (Co-I), veMico Ltd (Industry Partner).
Project Aims: This project aims to screen VMK-GOS-LB, VMK223, and in a combined manner, to select a gut health targeting formulation that has the potential to improve sleep, based on the expression levels of genes involved in circadian rhythm and gut barrier function. More Info…
- Assessment of WellBiomeprebiotic to improve gut health using mGut, a novel microbiome-nutrition analysis tool. (Feasibility Study)
Project Partners: Dr Anthony Buckley- University of Leeds (PI), Optibiotix Health PLC (Industry Partner).
Project Aims: This study addresses new collaboration between industry and academia in functional foods through understanding the microbiome impact to improve WellBiome and support technology pull-through from academia to support industry in developing new health-supporting products. More Info…
- Combined effects of programmed exercise and brown seaweed extract consumption on exercise capacity, cardiometabolic and gut health, and psychological predictors of exercise adherence (Feasibility Study)
Project Partners: Dr Steven Trangmar- Leeds Beckett University (PI), Professor Adele Costabile – University of Roehampton (Co-I), Dr Adam Bruton – Brunel University London (Co-I), BioAtlantis Ltd (Industry Partner)
Project Aims: This project will explore the combined effects of a novel blend of Ascophyllum nodosum extract supplementation, concurrent with an aerobic exercise programme, on exercise capacity, cardiometabolic and gut health, and psychological predictors of exercise adherence.
2024 Awards:
- Can probiotics enhance perimenopausal well-being? A pilot trial investigating the anti-inflammatory, GABA-ergic, and estrobolomic effects of brevis LB01 on perimenopausal symptoms and wellness (BIV)
Project Partners: Dr Andrea Monteagudo-Mera – University of Reading (PI), Epigenetics Ltd
Project Aims: This project aims to contribute valuable insights into probiotic interventions for women experiencing perimenopausal symptoms. Sharing the project’s findings through the INFORM Hub aims to promote collaboration and knowledge dissemination within the scientific community, ultimately improving healthcare outcomes for women during this critical life stage.
- Investigating the effects of prebiotic supplementation on gut permeability and inflammation, cardiometabolic health, and mood and well-being (BIV)
Project Partners: Dr Oliver Gibson – Brunel University London (PI), Professor Adele Costabile – University of Roehampton (Co-I), Dr Adam Bruton – Brunel University London (Co-I), BENEO (Industry Partner)
Project Aim: This project aims to determine whether enhanced gut health attenuates the post-exercise inflammatory response and provides mechanistic insight into gut health’s role in mitigating bacterial endotoxin translocation. It will provide mechanistic insight via the exercise-heat challenge model, understanding how to attenuate negative responses to exercise in the heat.
- Probiotics Optimising Women’s Exercise and Recovery (POWER)
Project Partners: Dr Steve Marshall – Northumbria University (PI), Symprove Ltd (Industry Partner)
Project Aims: POWER will initiate and grow a novel collaboration focused on the impact of functional food on the female microbiome. It aims to investigate its role in improving sports performance and recovery from exertion in female athletes, and better understand its potential for alleviating gut-related menstrual cycle symptoms.
- Investigating the effects of GOS on inflammation by targeting gut microbiota and barrier function (BIV)
Project Partners: Professor Nathalie Juge – Quadram Institute Bioscience (PI), Clasado Ltd (Industry Partner)
Project Aim: Data generated by this project will be used to support the development of larger translational grants on the role of specific GOS on inflammation and their large-scale production. This project aims to spark wider collaboration between Clasado Biosciences and QIB, exploring prebiotics for human health, including through human clinical trials.
- Exploring the effects of prebiotics for mental strain and physiological markers of stress in healthy, mildly stressed adults (Feasibility Study)
Project Partners: Dr Daniel Lamport – University of Reading (PI), Clasado Ltd (Industry Partner)
Project Aim: The primary aim of the research is to investigate whether 42 days of daily prebiotic consumption is associated with changes in psychological stress in a sample of mildly stressed healthy adults. Stress will be assessed with a validated questionnaire shown to be sensitive to nutritional interventions in previous studies.
- Weighing evidence for microbiome targeting functional foods as interventions for preventing respiratory tract viral infections and recovery post infection. (FMA Impact Report)
Project Partners: Dr Niharika Duggal – University of Birmingham (PI), Professor Philip Calder – University of Southampton, Dr Jorge Gutierrez-Merino – University of Surrey, Professor Glenn Gibson – University of Reading, Dr Rahul Mahida – University of Birmingham, Cultech Ltd, Yakult UK, Dr Nick Swart, Dr Rachael Hunter – University College London
Project Aim: The project aims to effectively contribute towards knowledge translation, ranging from publishing the impact documents through academic journals, communications with media, networks [ Food4Years] to raise public health awareness and engagement with policy makers and government agencies (e.g. through APPGs) to maximise the impact.
- Parkinson’s Disease: From the Gut to the Brain (FMA Impact Report)
Project Partners: Dr Shane Gordon – (NICHE) Ulster University (PI), Dr Catherine Hughes – (NICHE) Ulster University, Professor Helene McNulty – (NICHE) Ulster University, Dr Michelle Clements – (NICHE) Ulster University, Dr Fiona Lithander – University of Auckland, Richelle Flanagan – NutritionWise Ireland, Professor Kieran Tuohy – University of Leeds, ABCV Nutrition Ltd
Project Aim: Aims to consolidate existing evidence on the benefits of gut-modulating products, demonstrating their potential in addressing gastrointestinal and mental health symptoms, ultimately improving the quality of life in PwPD. Produce a clear and accessible document for stakeholders in the Parkinson’s Disease community to be able to engage with findings.
2025 Awards
- The role of the Gut Microbiome in Cognition and Dementia Risk (FMA Impact Report)
Project Partners: Dr Harry Jarrett – Heights (PI), Dr Catherine Hughes – (NICHE) Ulster University, Dr Filippos Papadopoulos – Health Economist, Dr Ryan McNally – King’s College London, Ms Sophie Medlin – City Dieticians, Ms Lisa Holton – Heights
Project Aim: Dementia, impacting 982,000 in the UK, often stems from preventable factors. Ageing and menopause reduce gut microbiome diversity, linked to cognitive decline and heightened female dementia risk (partially via oestrogen). This project will systematically review existing evidence on gut-modulating products, demonstrating their cognitive benefits and potential to mitigate dementia risk, especially for women, while highlighting NHS cost savings.
- Independent UK Probiotic Guide (FMA Award)
Project Aim: Supporting this project will enable INFORM to fundamentally reshape the UK’s prebiotic and probiotic market. The creation of accessible educational tools, including guides and apps, for both consumers and medical practitioners, will drive industry research towards scientifically supported health claims. This will empower consumer choices and bring much-needed clarity to the market.
This is a unique opportunity for INFORM to play a globally recognised, pivotal role. The resources will transform the prebiotic and probiotic landscape by educating consumers, industry, and healthcare providers, increasing demand for well-researched products. Concurrently, it will provide policymakers and government bodies with access to peer-reviewed information on market products. Beyond simply reshaping the market, this initiative holds significant potential to improve the health of the nation.
More info & access the guide….