Dr Paul Blatchford awarded Emerging Researcher Grant
Dr Paul Blatchford awarded Emerging Researcher
Grant
Dr Paul Blatchford has been awarded an
Emerging Researcher Grant by the Health Research Council of
New Zealand (HRC) to examine how bacteria and microorganisms
in the gut may be improved using enteral nutrition and
curcumin, a bright yellow naturally occurring plant
compound.
Dr Blatchford’s two-year project, in
collaboration with Gastroenterologist Professor Andrew Day
of the University of Otago and Christchurch Hospital, is
titled “Improving gut microbiota in Inflammatory Bowel
Disease (IBD) patients using enteral nutrition and
curcumin”.
“Gut microbiota is the name given to the
microbial population living in our intestine. With this research we’re looking at how a
nutritional intervention might help people with Crohn’s
disease.”
The main objective of this study is to use
advanced laboratory gut models to investigate the potential
of different combinations of enteral formula and curcumin
for correcting the gut microbiota of Crohn’s disease
patients and ultimately helping alleviate the symptoms of
IBD.
Dr Blatchford is part of Plant & Food Research’s
Food Nutrition & Health Group and while only graduating with
a PhD last year, possesses over 10 years’ professional
experience in several related fields including Medical
microbiology; Quality control; Drug discovery; Development
and microbial ecology. They study the impact of food on
human health – glycaemic impact, metabolic health, nutrient
bioavailability, immunity, and the biochemical signalling
taking place between the gastrointestinal tract and the
nervous system (gut-brain axis) involving intestinal
microbiota which are thought to play an important role in
healthy brain function.
Plant and Food Research’s
science evaluates the health and wellness efficacy and
benefits of plant- and sea-based foods and derived
compounds, to support existing products and prototype
functional foods and ingredients.. More>>
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