Nestle Partners with Imperial College to Research Nutrition

Nestle Research and Imperial College London are combining forces in a new research and innovation partnership that aims to break new ground in metabolic health and nutrition, the Swiss company announced Thursday.

Initially focusing on learning how bacterial microbiomes in human digestive systems influence physical and mental health, Nestle said the partnership will explore on the “gut-brain axis,” or how the digestive system and brain communicate with one another. They will also look at the role of nutrition in issues like diabetes and obesity.

“Diet and nutrition underpin many of the current issues our world faces – from rising obesity and diabetes levels, to how to maintain our mental and physical health into old age,” said professor Gary Frost, chair of Imperial College London’s dietetics and nutrition department. “This collaboration will enable Imperial to carry out world-leading nutrition research that may help address some of these critical issues.”

Nestle said it plans on investing 10 million Swiss Francs in the partnership over the next five years. The company and the institution signed a “Memorandum of Understanding,” in which the two parties agreed to work together in pre-clinical and clinical research.