Eating

Understanding gut function and malfunction

How the gut responds to what we eat

Understanding the normal gut microflora will lead to the development of improved probiotics. Knowing the controlling factors for cell proliferation in the gut wall will help us understand the development of GI tract cancers. By studying the gut immune system we can understand and control the triggers for allergic reactions to food, and may develop novel delivery methods for oral drugs and vaccines.

How food borne pathogens interact with the human body

Understanding how Salmonella and Campylobacter survive and grow in the GI tract and inside host cells can open new routes to the prevention and treatment of food borne disease – for example, identifying new targets for antimicrobial drugs and vaccines.

IFR has developed model gut systems to simulate digestion in the stomach, small intestine and colon. These will provide a greater understanding of how the GI tract interacts with food structures to deliver macro- and micro-nutrients, and help us to deliver our vision for health promotion via the diet.