Probiotic research pioneer, Professor Gregor Reid, has been appointed inaugural chair in Human Microbiology and Probiotics at Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Canada, under the grant, but retains his status as an independent scientist.
“This is a huge donation and demonstrates Danone’s commitment to microbial research,” Professor Reid told NutraIngredients-USA.com today. “This is not a PR stunt, it is an exercise in perpetuity and what I see as the start of something very exciting.”
Professor Reid said he would lead an international team of “talented researchers” and industry experts will also be engaged in the project. He has long been a critic of poorly designed studies and products that fail to deliver efficacious benefits or lack clinical backing, so his appointment will be seen as significant for Danone.
The French dairy giant has seen recent attacks on the veracity of its own claims in the form of class actions in the US and pulled three of its digestive and gut health claims from the European Union claims process recently while it waits for clarification about scientific standards.
Yet the depth of Danone’s research goes further than most food companies with functional offerings and there are many industry observers who feel Danone has been copping more flak than it deserves in the area of claims.
Substantial impact
“Danone has a vast international network and we have the opportunity to really broaden probiotic research and the impact they can make in the world,” said Professor Reid, emphasizing that “microbes and health are here to stay”.
While the bulk of Professor Reid’s work has focused on the ability of probiotics to benefit women suffering from health problems such as vaginosis and vaginitis, the new project would be broad in its scope.
Danone’s recent purchase of Numico no doubt would see some of the research performed in the area of infant nutrition.
“The group will investigate new ways to prevent and treat intestinal problems in people of all ages, and examine ways to complement pharmaceutical treatments,” Lawson said.
“In a series of studies, Professor Reid has shown that probiotics augment antibiotic and anti-fungal drug therapy. With increasing drug resistance amongst pathogens, the ability of probiotics to improve treatment could be an important development.”
Wider community
Professor Reid has been involved in work that has seen probiotic production shifted to a Tanzanian community where 350 people have been able to eat probiotic yoghurts every day.
“Part of this project is creating a legacy for Danone and for me and we have the opportunity to further the work that has begun in places like Tanzania and Bangladesh,” he said.
Such promise has drawn the attention of leading figures like Nobel Laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who was present at the ceremony where Danone’s donation was officially handed over to Lawson.
Professor Reid is also director of the Canadian Research and Development Centre for Probiotics at Lawson and professor of microbiology and immunology at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario.
“This is a marvelous human and scientific journey that lies at the very heart of Danone’s corporate mission. And we are proud to make a contribution,” said Sven Thormahlen, executive vice president of Danone Research.