The foci of the Rowett’s three research divisions is improving food quality and preventing disease.
Rowett Research Services position themselves to exploit their
research expertise in obesity management, cellular integrity, gut
health and maternal fetal interactions to develop health enhancing
foods with industrial partners.
They have a recently established clinical trial unit with GCP
accreditation to assess the effect of food products / diet regimes
on body mass / weight loss / biomarkers and also looking to engage
with food service companies to develop innovative products.
Background research highlights the Rowett research
interests is indicative of their activity and global recognition in
related technologies.
Core programme activities focus on the nutritional drivers for
obesity, Type II diabetes, CHD, bowel disorders (including colon
cancer and IBS)
- Role of leptin and analogues on weight control systems
- Human intervention trials, sustained weight loss models,
measurement of whole body energy expenditure (including radio
labelled isotopes and whole body calorimetry), role of protein in
satiety
- Omega 3 and other polyunsaturated fatty acids in lipid
metabolism
- Role of conjugated linoleic acids in nutrition related
disorders
- Measurement of antioxidant potential from phytochemical
matrices
- Role of nutrients in cell damage and repair
- Nutrient basis for arterial plaque formation
- Role of micronutrients (se, Zn, Cu and Fe) and related systems
(eg homocysteine) and impact on disease
- Gut immunology and microbiology including in vitro models for
gut health with particular interest in pre and probiotics and the
development and maintenance of gut immune systems
- In vitro models using live inoculant
- Assessment of allergenic response of the gut to nutrients
- Genomic and proteomic facilities to support the research into
the genetic basis for nutrition related disorders
- Key partner in the Intestinal Health Consortium along with
NCIMB, Campden & Chorleywood and University of Dundee
The Rowett has one particular opportunity which can be
highlighted.
Therapeutic Probiotics for gastrointestinal disorders - The
Rowett have identified novel anaerobic gut bacteria that convert
lactic acid to butyrate acid . Lactic acid accumulation has been
associated with gut microbial imbalance, inflammation and disease
as in ulcerative colitis, inflammatory bowel disease and possibly
link to irritable bowel syndrome. and following major bowel
surgery. Butyric acid on the other hand is required to maintain
colonic epithelial cell health and has been shown to reduce risk of
colorectal cancer and reverse colitis. The bacteria have probiotic
potential for either a compromised individual or for prophylactic
use after antibiotic, radio/chemotherapies or surgery.
The technology is based upon the body's ability to engage
natural mechanisms to maintain immune status and which through the
mechanism of action of the selected bacteria address specific
microbial challenges.
The activity of a number of strains have been demonstrated in
vitro and studies are planned to examine the ability to consume
lactate when co-cultured with lactate producing strains. Further
work is planned to correlate the target bacteria with their
deficiencies in UC and IBD patients and to develop therapeutic
products.
In addition to a unique screening library As there are issues
with incorporating anaerobic strains into food products and
protecting them for optimal delivery the Rowett has partners that
can develop novel slow release.
The underpinning science resource, know how and expert
interpretation provides the added value of the technology
proposition and lends itself to finding partners who develop
probiotic food concepts using both in vitro and human volunteer
studies.
Patent filed in UK and relevant strains deposited with NCIMB
Ltd.
Strategic alliances / joint ventures are sought and initial
feasibility study can be undertaken to validate the technology for
specific application.