Development and application of an index for substantiating health benefits of omega-3 enriched foods. A cost-effective means of substantiating health claims for omega-3 (w3) rich functional foods is needed to fully exploit growing consumer demand for these products. In a two-stage approach, cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits of w3 will be assessed in human dietary trials; improvements of health status in response to graded doses of w3 supplements will be correlated with docosahexaenoi ....Development and application of an index for substantiating health benefits of omega-3 enriched foods. A cost-effective means of substantiating health claims for omega-3 (w3) rich functional foods is needed to fully exploit growing consumer demand for these products. In a two-stage approach, cardiovascular and anti-inflammatory benefits of w3 will be assessed in human dietary trials; improvements of health status in response to graded doses of w3 supplements will be correlated with docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) levels in erythrocytes (DHA Index). Simple bioavailability trials can then be used to determine the intakes of foods required to attain the DHA Index, thus confirming their potential to deliver specified health benefits. Initial trials will support health claims for w3 rich fresh pork and processed pork products.Read moreRead less
Evaluation of High-Power Ultrasound as an Innovative Tool for Sanitation, Colour/Flavour Extraction and Fermentation Enhancement in Wine Making. The multibillion-dollar wine industry forms a significant part of the Australian economy especially in regional areas. The application of high power ultrasound (HPU) to the cleaning and disinfection of wine barrels as well as for the enhancement of wine through improved fermentation and extraction of flavours and colours from grapes will have significan ....Evaluation of High-Power Ultrasound as an Innovative Tool for Sanitation, Colour/Flavour Extraction and Fermentation Enhancement in Wine Making. The multibillion-dollar wine industry forms a significant part of the Australian economy especially in regional areas. The application of high power ultrasound (HPU) to the cleaning and disinfection of wine barrels as well as for the enhancement of wine through improved fermentation and extraction of flavours and colours from grapes will have significant benefits to this industry. It is essential that Australia also capitalise on the benefits that this technology can provide in improved processing and products, lower costs, reduction in environmental pollution, water re-use and replacement of "dirty" energy. In this way the impact on this industry will help cement Australia's position in the world wine market long into the future.Read moreRead less
Development of novel omega-3 enriched poultry products. New Health recommendations and changes to the Food Standards Code encourage greater dietary intake of omega-3 (w-3) fatty acids. Our core research on modifying fatty acid composition of poultry tissues and preliminary studies with our industry partner's proprietary fishmeal product (PorcOmega) have indicated the feasibility of producing novel meat products and eggs with high w-3 contents, which would qualify to carry a new nutrition label. ....Development of novel omega-3 enriched poultry products. New Health recommendations and changes to the Food Standards Code encourage greater dietary intake of omega-3 (w-3) fatty acids. Our core research on modifying fatty acid composition of poultry tissues and preliminary studies with our industry partner's proprietary fishmeal product (PorcOmega) have indicated the feasibility of producing novel meat products and eggs with high w-3 contents, which would qualify to carry a new nutrition label. We now propose, in collaboration with our industry partner, to assess the viability of producing such products by conducting poultry feeding trials with PorcOmega on a commercial scale and evaluating both the levels of w-3 enrichement of chicken breast, thigh and sausages, shelf-life and consumer acceptability (sensory evaluation) of these products. We expect to establish feeding strategies for adoption by commercial producers of premium poultry and eggs for local or export markets.Read moreRead less
Identification Of The Conformation Dependant Targets Of Autoimmune Disease Linked Variation In Human Regulatory T Cells
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,001,815.00
Summary
Specialised immune cells called regulatory T cells act as the policemen of the immune system, preventing the immune system attacking itself, but still fighting infections. If these cells do not work properly, autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes or IBD can arise, because of immune attack on normal body tissue by mistake. In order to explain how this goes wrong we need to carefully identify all of the gene interactions in these cells including interactions over long distances in the DNA.
Enzymatic synthesis, microencapsulation and biological evaluation of a new class of omega-3 derived functional food ingredients. Inflammatory mediated diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and Alzheimer's disease are major causes of death in Australia. Rates of these diseases are rising over time, partly due to poor diet including low consumption levels of healthy omega-3 fatty acids from fish. This project aims to develop healthy food ingredients from natu ....Enzymatic synthesis, microencapsulation and biological evaluation of a new class of omega-3 derived functional food ingredients. Inflammatory mediated diseases such as cardiovascular disease, type-2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and Alzheimer's disease are major causes of death in Australia. Rates of these diseases are rising over time, partly due to poor diet including low consumption levels of healthy omega-3 fatty acids from fish. This project aims to develop healthy food ingredients from naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acid derivatives that are more stable to oxidation and more biologically active than fish derived omega-3 fatty acids. The development of these omega-3 derivatives as functional food ingredients could provide an additional strategy for helping to prevent the rapid increase in inflammatory mediated diseases in the Australian population.Read moreRead less
Probiotic Prawn Oral Immunotherapy (ProPIT) For Treatment Of Prawn Allergy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,865,369.00
Summary
A ‘curative’ food allergy treatment is needed to prevent deaths and improve care. We recently showed that probiotic peanut oral immunotherapy (PPOIT) was highly effective for treating peanut allergy. 82% of PPOIT treated children gained tolerance compared to 4% of the placebo group. We will now test the combined probiotic-food OIT approach for treating prawn allergy. If successful, we will have identified the first treatment for prawn allergy and a platform treatment for other food allergies.
Evaluation of peanuts as a source of bioactive nutrients for enhancement of endothelial function and cognitive performance. Functional foods represent one of the fastest growing food markets in the world, particularly foods which can offset adverse health conditions. The Partner Organisation, Peanut Company of Australia (PCA), is committed to developing peanut varieties, such as the high oleic peanut, that are nutritionally superior to the traditional varieties. By investing in research PCA aims ....Evaluation of peanuts as a source of bioactive nutrients for enhancement of endothelial function and cognitive performance. Functional foods represent one of the fastest growing food markets in the world, particularly foods which can offset adverse health conditions. The Partner Organisation, Peanut Company of Australia (PCA), is committed to developing peanut varieties, such as the high oleic peanut, that are nutritionally superior to the traditional varieties. By investing in research PCA aims to substantiate the nutritional benefits of these products and position itself in functional foods. Scientific evaluation of the health benefits that can be derived from consuming foods will enhance the national food industry through the growth of domestic and international licensing and export markets, and provide new employment opportunities in both rural and manufacturing sectors.Read moreRead less
Maximising the value of Australia’s sheepmeat industry with smart photonics. This project aims to investigate new photonics technologies to measure meat quality in lamb and mutton. It expects to develop new knowledge in the areas of fibre optics and 3D printing for use by the red meat and livestock industries. Expected outcomes of this project include development of a new technology to rapidly identify premium meat during meat processing. This should provide significant benefits for Australia’s ....Maximising the value of Australia’s sheepmeat industry with smart photonics. This project aims to investigate new photonics technologies to measure meat quality in lamb and mutton. It expects to develop new knowledge in the areas of fibre optics and 3D printing for use by the red meat and livestock industries. Expected outcomes of this project include development of a new technology to rapidly identify premium meat during meat processing. This should provide significant benefits for Australia’s red meat industry, helping to establish Australia as a leading supplier of high-quality meat to domestic and international markets.Read moreRead less
Defining The Role Of A Novel Transcriptional Enhancer Element In Regulation Of Prox1 Expression And Endothelial Cell Identity.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$706,909.00
Summary
The precise spatial and temporal control of gene expression is regulated by non-coding regions of the genome termed enhancers. Enhancers are crucial to program cell identity and have established roles in development and disease. We have identified a novel enhancer that we hypothesise controls the identity of valve endothelial cells by regulating expression of a master programmer of lymphatic endothelial cell identity, PROX1. Here we will investigate the role of this enhancer during development.
Understanding How GATA2 Controls Lymphatic Vessel Valve Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$697,942.00
Summary
Mutations in the GATA2 gene cause human lymphoedema as a result of the crucial role that GATA2 plays in controlling the expression of genes important for building functional lymphatic vessels. Here we aim to gain a complete picture of the cellular and molecular events that are controlled by GATA2 in lymphatic vessels and in particular, in lymphatic vessel valves.