24 June 2019
High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge announces $22.4M investment for health research
The High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge has today announced a $22.4 million research investment funding for
four successful Priority Research Programmes; which are all science and business collaborations, and will each receive
research investment over the next five years as part of the second phase of the Challenge.
During phase 1 of the Challenge (2014-2019), the research teams and their industry partners were focused on the
development of new methodologies and biomarkers intended to show the health benefits of foods in targeted areas, such as
Type 2 Diabetes and Functional Gut Disorders (FGDs).
The focus for phase 2 (2019-2024) will be on human clinical studies of food and beverage (F) interventions in New Zealand, Singapore and China. This approach will build new partnerships between Chinese and New
Zealand researchers and agencies.
High-Value Nutrition National Science Challenge Director, Joanne Todd, says that this new investment builds on the
excellent research outcomes from phase 1 of the Challenge. “The new funded programmes are exciting and innovative while
also reflecting the Challenge’s aim to continue to establish New Zealand as an international leader in understanding
food-for-health relationships and develop food that helps people to stay healthy and well,” she says.
From studies conducted both in New Zealand and also in market in China, the research team expects that this new HVN
priority research programme funding will enable the research teams to continue to assist Māori and non-Māori food and
beverage entities. It will also make a significant contribution to a range of large and SME companies in New Zealand’s F sector, whose focus is export into Asia of high-value foods. The four funded priority research programmes are
summarised below:
Digestive Health Programme
Principal Investigator - Professor Nicole Roy, AgResearch
Collaborating Organisations: Malaghan Institute of Medical Research, Plant & Food Research, the University of Auckland, University of Otago, Massey University, Edible Research Ltd
Research Investment: $6.5 million over 5 years
Focused on improving gut function and comfort, phase 2 of the programme will expand on the research from phase 1 which
focused on understanding the linkages between diet, gastrointestinal symptoms and disorders, metabolism, physiology and
microbial populations (the microbiome) to better predict food-health gastrointestinal relationships. The programme will
undertake a series of clinical trials to prove product benefits on digestive health, in particular on gut comfort.
Infant Health Programme
Principal Investigator - Associate Professor Clare Wall, The University of Auckland
Collaborating Organisations: AgResearch, Plant and Food Research, Massey University, Malaghan Institute for Medical
Research
Research Investment: $4.4 million over 5 years
Phase 1 of the research focused on the feasibility of evaluating the impact of complementary foods given during weaning
on the development of infants, with the aim of improved immunity and a reduced number of infections in early life.
Phase 2 of the programme will use the learnings from the feasibility study to conduct complimentary feeding trials of
prebiotic foods in infants. The trials will investigate how specific prebiotic components of weaning foods impact on the
development of the gut microbiota and how this links to immune health and wellbeing in infants.
The planned Randomised Controlled Clinical Trials will be conducted in New Zealand and Asia through 2019-2024.
Immune Health Programme Principal Investigator: Dr Olivier Gasser, Malaghan Institute of Medical Research
Collaborating Organisations: Cawthron Institute, AgResearch Ltd,
Research Investment $5m over five years
This programme uses a systems immunology approach to drive clinical outcomes. In phase 2 this programme will conduct
clinical studies to assess the ability of selected New Zealand-produced foods to protect Chinese customers from the
harmful effects of air pollution. Chronic exposure to airborne pollutants is a big threat to the Chinese population and
it not only impacts lung health, but has been more recently associated with metabolic disease as well. The planned
studies will investigate the impact of selected foods on pollution associated systemic inflammation and metabolic
co-morbidity. The programme will also develop a unique immunological analysis platform that will underpin the other
health programmes.
Metabolic Health Programme
Principal Investigator: Professor Sally Poppitt, The University of Auckland
Collaborating Organisations: AgResearch, Plant and Food Research, University of Otago/Capital and Coast DHB
Research Investment: $6.5 million over 5 years
Identifying early predictive markers of type 2 diabetes has been the first step in developing new opportunities for food
and beverage (F) companies. F interventions will continue as a central focus of phase 2 of the HVN program through 2019-2024; extending studies
conducted in Chinese individuals resident in New Zealand through international collaborations with research teams in
China. A desire for high value foods, identified by HVN Consumer Insights in Chinese consumers as ‘balanced, light
tasting, with high quality ingredients’ as part of a ‘desire to take control’ of their diet and their health, leads this
priority research programme in metabolic health.
ends