Welcome to the
Institute of
Food Research
IFR is a world leader in research into harnessing food for health and controlling food-related diseases. Our scientists address the UK’s Grand Challenges of obesity and healthy ageing by defining the relationship between food, diet and health, and they are making a vital contribution to the food security agenda.
We undertake internationally-ranked fundamental, strategic and applied research with high socio-economic impact, making a real difference to quality of life.
How does broccoli stop prostate cancer?
Light has been cast on the interaction between broccoli consumption and reduced prostate cancer risk. Researchers at IFR have found that sulforaphane, a chemical found in broccoli, interacts with cells lacking a gene called PTEN to reduce the chances of prostate cancer developing.
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Our Research Themes
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We aim to understand how the major components of the GI Tract - the bacteria, the epithelial cells lining the gut, and the immune system interact to preserve gut health. This will help explain how and why these interactions go wrong in chronic disorders such as food allergy, inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.
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Some key plant natural products are associated with potential health benefits. Our research extends from their synthesis and accumulation in plants, through their metabolism and excretion in humans, their biological interactions with human tissues and resultant downstream effects upon health. Collaboration with plant scientists and clinically-orientated researchers is a key feature.
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Foodborne bacterial pathogens continue to cause public health and economic concerns in the UK and worldwide. Our research combines mathematical biology with experimental science to answer fundamental questions and to deliver scientifically exciting and applicable outputs aimed at removing pathogens from the food chain and generating savings for the health service.
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To help prevent diet-related conditions such as obesity, diabetes, allergy and some cancers we need to maximise the nutritional benefit of the food we eat. Scientists at IFR are discovering how the structure of food responds to the gut environment and how this in turn affects the digestion of food, release and uptake of nutrients. |
Mission-driven Institutes
IFR is one of six mission-driven Institutes sponsored by the Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC). The Institutes provide critical national capability and expertise in strategically important areas, and are central to delivering BBSRC’s vision and priorities.
IFR research maps closely onto BBSRC’s key strategic research priorities :
- Food Security bioscience for a sustainable supply of sufficient, affordable, nutritious and safe food, adapting to a rapidly changing world
- Basic bioscience underpinning health driving advances for better health across the life course and improved quality of life, reducing the need for medical and social intervention
- Bioenergy and industrial biotechnology biofuels and industrial materials from novel biological sources, reducing dependency on petrochemicals and helping the UK to become a low carbon economy
Other BBSRC mission-driven Institutes
John Innes Centre
The Genome Analysis Centre
Babraham Institute
Institute for Animal Health
Rothamsted Research