Gut Research Opens Door to Good Health

March 14, 2009: 05:30 AM EST

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) has put together a team of 12 researchers to probe the relationship between a healthy gut and overall health. Named the Gut Function Initiative (GFI), the program aims to find ways to increase the amount of beneficial bacteria in the human intestinal tract and reduce the number of bad bacteria. The research has potential to shape the development of a range of pre- and probiotics and functional foods targeted at conditions such as obesity, heart disease, cancer, and inflammatory bowel disease. The project, which may run for 30-40 years, will be based at a new germ-free gnotobiotic facility in which scientists can experiment on mice rather than in test tubes. Building on previous work done at the UNL’s Institute for Agriculture and Natural Resources (IANR), the GFI has received funding from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Joanna Cosgrove, "UNL researchers embark on a long-term mission to improve overall health by unraveling the nuances of the gut.", Nutraceuticals World, March 14, 2009, © Nutraceuticals World

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