PartnershipPreventionTherapeutic Nutrition and Food Network launched

Expanding populations and rapid urbanisation are leading to global challenges on resources, food, energy, and waste. As the incidence of chronic health conditions such as obesity and type 2 diabetes continues to rise in the Western world, focusing on the changes in our lifestyles and what we eat is of paramount importance. In many other areas of the world, under-nutrition and food shortages remains a major challenge and there are currently limited solutions to these problems.

Imperial College has launched a new Network of Excellence in Nutrition & Food with the aim of bringing together researchers from different Faculties with multi-disciplinary expertise, to focus on the major health problems associated with diet. Professor Gary Frost, Chair in Nutrition and Dietetics at Imperial College, and part of the NIHR Imperial BRC Metabolic Medicine & Endocrinology Theme, is head of the new network.

Many different research groups at Imperial make a substantial contribution to this broad area, including, for example, cancer epidemiology and prevention (Informatics & Biobanking Theme) and microbiota research (Surgery & Cancer; Gut Health BRC Themes). There are also a number of engineering projects that involve a nutritional component.

The Nutrition & Food Network will play an important role in nutritional discovery research and will facilitate innovative collaborative opportunities. The Network will also work extensively with industry and support the development of group leaders in food and nutrition research.