'Science+Innovation' reflects IFR's latest science discoveries, and demonstrates its economic impact

October 2009: 'Science+Innovation' issue 2:09 published

S+I reflects IFR's latest science discoveries, and demonstrates its economic impact

IFR for Business

The Food and Health Network, IFR’s knowledge transfer portal.
www.foodandhealthnetwork.com

IFR Extra, a commercial subsidiary of IFR, providing food science solutions - fast!
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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.

Our Research Themes

Integrated Biology of the
Gastro Intestinal Tract

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.

Plant Natural Products and Health

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.

Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens

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.

Food Structure and Health

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

Latest News

Adults with learning difficulties getting to grips with the science of a healthy diet
February 2010
An innovative project has enabled people with learning difficulties to uncover some of the science behind a healthy diet and to produce resources to share their finding with their peers.
Clostridium difficile bacteriophage endolysin technology
January 2010
Sarum Biosciences Limited and PBL, the UK technology management company, today announced the signing of an exclusive worldwide licence agreement which enables Sarum to develop and exploit therapeutic and diagnostic applications of a bacteriophage endolysin protein for the treatment and detection of Clostridium difficile.
A sticky solution for identifying effective probiotics
November 2009
Scientists have crystallised a protein that may help gut bacteria bind to the gastrointestinal tract. The protein could be used by probiotic producers to identify strains that are likely to be of real benefit to people.
Springer launches new journal of Food Digestion
November 2009
Springer is founding a new journal Food Digestion, dedicated to a quickly growing area of research – food science combined with the physiology of digestion. Dr Peter Wilde of the IFR is one of the editors-in-chief.
Handbook of waste management and co-product recovery in food processing (Volume 2)
November 2009
Prof Keith Waldron, head of the Sustainability of the Food Chain Exploitation Platform at IFR is the editor of a recently published handbook
Public sector and industry unite to attack obesity and heart disease October 2009
The battle against obesity, heart disease and other diet related health problems has received a £4 Million boost with the announcement of seven new research projects. The projects, three of which involve IFR, are taking place in universities and research institutes across the UK, and are part of a partnership between two publicly-funded Research Councils and 15 companies.

more news...

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IFR for Business

Welcome to the
Institute of Food Research

Our Research Themes