Using crop genetics to understand the importance of dietary resistant starches for maintaining healthy glucose homeostasis
Lead Research Organisation:
Imperial College London
Department Name: Dept of Medicine
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes is a major and increasing problem worldwide and is particularly prevalent among the aging population. Over 2.5 million individuals in the UK are affected, costing the NHS around £10 billion per year (almost 10% of its budget). The risk of diabetes is thought to increase with age because of poor control of blood glucose levels. This in turn is due to a progressive decline in the capacity of cells in the pancreas (beta-cells) to secrete insulin, the hormone that controls glucose levels. The decline in beta-cell function can be accelerated by a poor diet and lifestyle, thus increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
There is much evidence that diets rich in a type of carbohydrate called resistant starch have a positive impact on controlling of blood glucose levels, and hence reduce susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. Resistant starch, as the name suggests, is not completely digested in upper parts of the digestive tract, and so is fermented by bacteria in the colon. The products of fermentation, known as short-chain fatty acids, are thought to improve beta-cell function and thus insulin secretion. There are a variety of fruits and vegetables that contain various amounts of resistant starch, but UK diets are generally low in resistant starch. Thus there is great potential to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the long term by promoting the widespread consumption of resistant starch. However, very little is known about why particular types of starch are resistant to digestion and whether resistant starches from different food sources differ in their capacity to improve beta-cell function. Plugging these gaps in our knowledge will help the development of strategies to increase the amount of resistant consumed in the UK diet, thus helping to reduce the rates of onset of type 2 diabetes.
Our aim is to study systematically which features of starch structure are important in making it resistant to digestion and in allowing it to improve beta cell function. As well as studying resistant starch itself, we will study the influence of the type of food in which the starch is contained, and the way in which the food is cooked prior to consumption. Our study will focus on peas, as they are a range of naturally occurring variants or mutants known to contain different types of resistant starch. These seeds, and starch extracted from them, will be digested in an artificial gut, allowing us to assess which features of the starch and the food are important for maximum fermentation in the colon. In parallel, selected types of peas will be fed to human volunteers to determine the digestibility of the starch in vivo, together with a full spectrum of short and medium term physiological responses relevant to beta-cell function and control of blood glucose levels to be monitored.
We will also study the best way to process/prepare the peas, as some resistant starch can behave differently, so that they can be used in a wide range of foods.
This project will provide new insights into the relationship between resistant starch and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. Importantly it will also inform crop breeders about which genes in crop plants are associated with types of starch that provide the best protection against type 2 diabetes. This will immediately allow the directed breeding of peas that provide maximal protection against this disease. It will also increase the flexibility of peas by investigating the use of pea flour in commonly consumed foods.
There is much evidence that diets rich in a type of carbohydrate called resistant starch have a positive impact on controlling of blood glucose levels, and hence reduce susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. Resistant starch, as the name suggests, is not completely digested in upper parts of the digestive tract, and so is fermented by bacteria in the colon. The products of fermentation, known as short-chain fatty acids, are thought to improve beta-cell function and thus insulin secretion. There are a variety of fruits and vegetables that contain various amounts of resistant starch, but UK diets are generally low in resistant starch. Thus there is great potential to reduce the incidence of type 2 diabetes in the long term by promoting the widespread consumption of resistant starch. However, very little is known about why particular types of starch are resistant to digestion and whether resistant starches from different food sources differ in their capacity to improve beta-cell function. Plugging these gaps in our knowledge will help the development of strategies to increase the amount of resistant consumed in the UK diet, thus helping to reduce the rates of onset of type 2 diabetes.
Our aim is to study systematically which features of starch structure are important in making it resistant to digestion and in allowing it to improve beta cell function. As well as studying resistant starch itself, we will study the influence of the type of food in which the starch is contained, and the way in which the food is cooked prior to consumption. Our study will focus on peas, as they are a range of naturally occurring variants or mutants known to contain different types of resistant starch. These seeds, and starch extracted from them, will be digested in an artificial gut, allowing us to assess which features of the starch and the food are important for maximum fermentation in the colon. In parallel, selected types of peas will be fed to human volunteers to determine the digestibility of the starch in vivo, together with a full spectrum of short and medium term physiological responses relevant to beta-cell function and control of blood glucose levels to be monitored.
We will also study the best way to process/prepare the peas, as some resistant starch can behave differently, so that they can be used in a wide range of foods.
This project will provide new insights into the relationship between resistant starch and susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. Importantly it will also inform crop breeders about which genes in crop plants are associated with types of starch that provide the best protection against type 2 diabetes. This will immediately allow the directed breeding of peas that provide maximal protection against this disease. It will also increase the flexibility of peas by investigating the use of pea flour in commonly consumed foods.
Technical Summary
Our aim is to develop a systematic basis for increasing the intake of resistant starch in the diet in order to protect the function of insulin-secreting pancreatic beta-cells and improve blood glucose homeostasis in an ageing population. Age related declines in beta-cell function and glucose homeostasis increase susceptibility to type 2 diabetes, the incidence of which has doubled in the UK since 1996. We and others have shown that carbohydrates such as resistant starch that escape digestion in the small intestine lead to improved insulin sensitivity and first phase insulin response. We propose that short chain fatty acids liberated by colonic carbohydrate fermentation causes receptor-mediated improvements in beta-cell function. In this project we will define which starches and food matrices are most effective in protecting beta-cell function and discover the basis of this protection. The results will underpin development of a roadmap for increasing the most effective types of resistant starch in the diet via a concerted approach involving crop breeding and food processing.
Our project utilises a suite of genetically-defined natural mutants of peas, representing two types of resistant starch in a variety of genetic backgrounds. Experiments with static and dynamic digestion models will examine starch digestibility and colonic fermentability in raw and processed materials and purified starch. Selected samples will be physically characterised to establish which starch/matrix features determine digestibility and fermentability, which will be confirmed in human studies. In parallel we will carry out human trials on selected peas to assess effectiveness in beta-cell protection. Volunteers aged 55 - 65 will be used to assess physiological functions related to susceptibility to diabetes including measures of insulin release, gut hormones, colonic microbiota and the microbiota activity.
Our project utilises a suite of genetically-defined natural mutants of peas, representing two types of resistant starch in a variety of genetic backgrounds. Experiments with static and dynamic digestion models will examine starch digestibility and colonic fermentability in raw and processed materials and purified starch. Selected samples will be physically characterised to establish which starch/matrix features determine digestibility and fermentability, which will be confirmed in human studies. In parallel we will carry out human trials on selected peas to assess effectiveness in beta-cell protection. Volunteers aged 55 - 65 will be used to assess physiological functions related to susceptibility to diabetes including measures of insulin release, gut hormones, colonic microbiota and the microbiota activity.
Planned Impact
This project addresses one of UKs major diet-related health challenges. It has huge potential for long term impact on a wide range of stakeholders from consumers to policy makers. In addition to the academic beneficiaries listed, the outputs of the research will impact on the following stakeholder groups:-
Food Industry: The outputs from this project will enable the food industry to develop a new generation of foods targeted at reducing the incidence of type 2 diabetes through improved delivery of functional carbohydrates to the colon. Further research will allow the generic design principles to be incorporated into a wide range of food and beverages. Results from the project will inform efforts to ensure that new resistant-starch foods have consumer acceptability comparable to currently-available foods, making it more convenient for consumers to adopt healthier options. Food with high nutritional impact is a growing sector of the food industry and robust scientific evidence of positive health benefits arising from this and future projects will support health claims and further growth and give the UK food industry a competitive advantage.
Consumers: Individual consumers will have new knowledge regarding the health benefits of certain foods, together with a wider choice of manufactured foods with specific, proven health benefits. Care must be taken with the health communication aspects as consumption of these foods may only be effective as part of a healthy balanced diet. In the long term, the benefits of reducing the prevalence of diabetes will impact on lifelong health and wellbeing of individuals and improve the quality of life into old age.
Pharmaceutical Industry: The generic principles involved in this research are expected to stimulate further research to improve the targeted delivery of carbohydrates, polymers and other therapeutic and health promoting compounds to the colon.
National Health Service and Government: The number of individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the UK has roughly doubled since 1996 to about 2.6 million, with over 70% of cases being over the age of 55. Older diabetes patients often develop complications including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputations leading to disability and premature mortality. The direct cost to the NHS and other health care providers for treating type 2 diabetes and related conditions is around £10 billion per year (approx. 10% of the NHS budget). The total cost of diabetes to the nation including direct care, loss of working days due to sickness and loss of productivity is estimated to be £23.7 billion. Any reduction in the prevalence of diabetes would have a huge impact through fewer hospital admissions, fewer surgical interventions and fewer prescriptions, hence lower health costs. The basic knowledge generated from this project and further research targeted at foods which would naturally deliver fermentable starch to the colon, will also help Government agencies to develop dietary advice for individuals at risk from developing diabetes in later life.
To maximise impact, we will assemble an Advisory Panel composed of various stakeholders including academics beneficiaries, end users and industry (see Pathways to Impact). The panel will meet three times during the project to review progress and advise on future directions, application and exploitation. In addition, two further open meetings will be held at the end of the project to consult with a broader group of stakeholders.
Food Industry: The outputs from this project will enable the food industry to develop a new generation of foods targeted at reducing the incidence of type 2 diabetes through improved delivery of functional carbohydrates to the colon. Further research will allow the generic design principles to be incorporated into a wide range of food and beverages. Results from the project will inform efforts to ensure that new resistant-starch foods have consumer acceptability comparable to currently-available foods, making it more convenient for consumers to adopt healthier options. Food with high nutritional impact is a growing sector of the food industry and robust scientific evidence of positive health benefits arising from this and future projects will support health claims and further growth and give the UK food industry a competitive advantage.
Consumers: Individual consumers will have new knowledge regarding the health benefits of certain foods, together with a wider choice of manufactured foods with specific, proven health benefits. Care must be taken with the health communication aspects as consumption of these foods may only be effective as part of a healthy balanced diet. In the long term, the benefits of reducing the prevalence of diabetes will impact on lifelong health and wellbeing of individuals and improve the quality of life into old age.
Pharmaceutical Industry: The generic principles involved in this research are expected to stimulate further research to improve the targeted delivery of carbohydrates, polymers and other therapeutic and health promoting compounds to the colon.
National Health Service and Government: The number of individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in the UK has roughly doubled since 1996 to about 2.6 million, with over 70% of cases being over the age of 55. Older diabetes patients often develop complications including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputations leading to disability and premature mortality. The direct cost to the NHS and other health care providers for treating type 2 diabetes and related conditions is around £10 billion per year (approx. 10% of the NHS budget). The total cost of diabetes to the nation including direct care, loss of working days due to sickness and loss of productivity is estimated to be £23.7 billion. Any reduction in the prevalence of diabetes would have a huge impact through fewer hospital admissions, fewer surgical interventions and fewer prescriptions, hence lower health costs. The basic knowledge generated from this project and further research targeted at foods which would naturally deliver fermentable starch to the colon, will also help Government agencies to develop dietary advice for individuals at risk from developing diabetes in later life.
To maximise impact, we will assemble an Advisory Panel composed of various stakeholders including academics beneficiaries, end users and industry (see Pathways to Impact). The panel will meet three times during the project to review progress and advise on future directions, application and exploitation. In addition, two further open meetings will be held at the end of the project to consult with a broader group of stakeholders.
Publications
Chambers ES
(2015)
Control of appetite and energy intake by SCFA: what are the potential underlying mechanisms?
in The Proceedings of the Nutrition Society
Domoney C.
(2017)
Genetic diversity and strategies for seed quality enhancement in pea
Edwards CH
(2015)
Manipulation of starch bioaccessibility in wheat endosperm to regulate starch digestion, postprandial glycemia, insulinemia, and gut hormone responses: a randomized controlled trial in healthy ileostomy participants.
in The American journal of clinical nutrition
Eriksen R
(2018)
Nutrient profiling and adherence to components of the UK national dietary guidelines association with metabolic risk factors for CVD and diabetes: Airwave Health Monitoring Study.
in The British journal of nutrition
Petropoulou K
(2020)
A natural mutation in Pisum sativum L. (pea) alters starch assembly and improves glucose homeostasis in humans.
in Nature food
Petropoulou K
(2016)
Identifying crop variants with high resistant starch content to maintain healthy glucose homeostasis
in Nutrition Bulletin
Description | Here was used the rr pea to assess the impact on glucose metabolism. We have demonstrated that in the rr pea that resistant start increases with digestion. After digestion, chunks of pea material were still visible and light microscopy showed that they did not change in size (approx. 2 mm), although they appear more translucent towards the end of digestion, especially material from RR peas. This would suggest that much of the starch is still trapped inside the cells of the pea tissue. Further measurements using the dynamic gastric model are currently investigating the role of mixing and gastric emptying on the particle size of the 'chunks' and the composition of the digesta emptied from the stomach in order to interpret the in vivo studies. We demonstrate that the changes relate to the lower post prandial glucose and insulin following consumption of rr peas. We are currently collating the fermentation results. The results indicate that the rr peas effects are driven through small intestinal changes. Results know published in Nature Food |
Exploitation Route | The pea rr genotype influences glucose and insulin metabolism through a large number of mechanisms. A number of which are very novel. |
Sectors | Agriculture Food and Drink Healthcare Retail |
Description | We are working with the industrial partners to develop follow on funding from BBSRC to develop the project further. We hope to write a BBSRC follow on fund grant. Analysis of the biological specimens is still ongoing |
First Year Of Impact | 2021 |
Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Education,Healthcare,Retail |
Impact Types | Cultural Societal |
Description | Developing multiscale models of digestion to enable targeted product solutions for nutrition and metabolic health |
Amount | £350,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/P023851/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2017 |
End | 11/2019 |
Description | Starch digestibility of pea flour based ingredients |
Amount | £350,000 (GBP) |
Organisation | Millbo |
Sector | Private |
Country | Italy |
Start | 03/2022 |
End | 09/2023 |
Description | Metabolite and nutrition partnership |
Organisation | Murdoch University |
Country | Australia |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This partnership will develop links around food metabolomics a food strucutures |
Collaborator Contribution | The phenome centre at Murdock Univesity will provide anylitical techniques to understand food strucutre |
Impact | It is too early in the collaberation to have impact |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Quadram Imperial Collaboration |
Organisation | Quadram Institute Bioscience |
Department | Food & Health Programme |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Human cutting edge research |
Collaborator Contribution | They provide the scientific hub for the collaberation |
Impact | Non at the present time |
Start Year | 2018 |
Description | Stable Isotope and Short Chain Fatty Acid Partnership |
Organisation | University of Glasgow |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | This is an academic partnership with Dr Douglas Morrison. He has developed methods using stable isotopes to monitor the metabolic effects on diet. He is also a partner in the SCFA programme |
Collaborator Contribution | He leads the stable isopote analysis |
Impact | There are a number of grants and papers that have come from the partnership |
Start Year | 2010 |
Title | Foodstuffs having improved digestion properties |
Description | Methods to increase the resistant starch content of peas through combined genomics and processing |
IP Reference | GB2014104.0 |
Protection | Patent application published |
Year Protection Granted | 2020 |
Licensed | No |
Impact | The discovery has led to several industrial interactions to further develop the discovery in terms of aiding the development of new food ingredients. This has led to a UKRI super follow on fund application to accelerate exploitation, and specific confidential discussions with individual companies to potentially license the IP towards ingredient development. |
Description | 'Pulse Research Update' at John Innes Centre - PGRO & press visit |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | 'Pulse Research Update' at John Innes Centre - PGRO & press visit |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | 2. Agri-Tech East, Powering Pea Productivity, Peterborough, April 2019. Title of presentation: ''Dietary resistant starch from peas for healthy glucose homeostasis; the potential of rr peas'' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Spoke to industry memebers about the BBSRC funded work on peas |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | 2016 Celebration of Peas, Beans and Legumes at The Cut Science Cafe in Halesworth, Suffolk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Science Café is a series of regular meetings held at The Cut in Halesworth, Suffolk to explore and discuss the latest ideas in Science and Technology in an informal atmosphere. Talk was given by Claire Domoney and Mike Ambrose, titled '2016 Celebration of Peas, Beans and Legumes' with debate/discussion after. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | BBSRC DRINC Club meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other academic audiences (collaborators, peers etc.) |
Results and Impact | 120 people had feed back on the project Strengthened relationship with partners |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
URL | http://www.bbsrc.ac.uk/drinc |
Description | BRIT Pact symposium of Arthritus |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was a formal information giving lecture with a question and answer session |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | British Dietetics Association Obesity Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Spoke to expert dietitian about hte potential role of the gut microbiota in dietetic practice |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bda-obesity-group-annual-conference-2020-tickets-69660236643# |
Description | British Nutrition Foundation Annual Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presented an update on personalised nutrition to stimulate debated |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.nutrition.org.uk/training-and-events/conference-recordings/#:~:text=The%20British%20Nutr... |
Description | CBC Wellness Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Lunchtime Webinar for Cambridge Bioscience Campus and affiliates as part of their Wellness Webinars Food Structure, appetite and energy intake: can you have your cake and eat it |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | CLA (Country Land and Business Association Limited) meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Discussion that could influence policy makes |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | CRESTAR project meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Workshop on pea genetics to develop a way forward |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Campdens Scientific and Technical Com |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Presentation |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Celebrating 50 years of John Innes research in Norwich at The Cut Science Cafe in Halesworth, Suffolk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Celebrating 50 years of John Innes research in Norwich at The Cut Science Cafe in Halesworth, Suffolk |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Clinical Mixer |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 50 people listened to a short talk on the role of carbohydrate on health |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | DEFRA gene editing working group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Attended meeting with DEFRA Genetic Resources team for a policy roundtable on gene-editing in plants |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | DRINC Dissemination meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | At the workshop where I presented the results of the BBSRC project and colleagues gave comments on the way forward |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://bbsrc.ukri.org/innovation/sharing-challenges/drinc/ |
Description | DRINC update meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Report back to the DRINC panel on progress of the project on pease |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Debate at Food Matters Live |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The debate stimulate lots of dicsussion There has been a number of enquirers form industry interested in SCFA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.foodmatterslive.com/ |
Description | Defra visit to JIC |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | A chance to talk through the project in the hope on raising awareness of the project |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Exhibition at the Norfolk Farming Conference 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Exhibition at the Norfolk Farming Conference 2017, JIC Conference Centre, Norwich, Norfolk, UK |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Exhibition at the Norwich Science Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Pea TimeVine display at the Norwich Science Festival. Part of the '50 years of John Innes Centre Research in Norwich' display at the Norwich Forum. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | FENS conference Dublon |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Spoke to an audance of over 100 one food and the gut covering aspects from many of my awards |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.fens2019.org/ |
Description | Food Matters Live: On manipulating food structure to reduce energy intake and prolong digestion |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Presentation to 100 of the general public. The talk raised lost of questions |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.foodmatterslive.com/ |
Description | Food digestion meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 400 scientist attended a two day meeting. I present the impact of fermentable carbohydrate on appetite regulation. Good audience feed back |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Food hackathon |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | 50 small to medium size enterprises will take part in a Hackaton aimed at finding a way forward and translation around legume foods and health |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019,2020 |
URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/95859/food-hack-2020-translating-nutritional-research-into-product... |
Description | Food of tomorrow Science Museum |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Ran demonstrations of fermentable carbohydrate from a stall at the science museum |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Fructan Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | I gave a lecture and judge the posters. Good feed back at the lecture |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Future Foods Imperial Lates |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Over 4000 people attended the event. We diseminated information about food digestions and new ways to monitor food intake |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/167015/imperial-lates-future-food/ |
Description | Great Exibition Road Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We demonstrated how food is digested as the role of the microbiota. This sparked a lot of questions |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/events/160698/great-exhibition-road-festival-2023/ |
Description | IFST Lecture Sept 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Invited to give a public lecture to IFST (Institute of Food Science & Technology) on food structure, appetite and energy intake |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | ILSI workshop on fermentation and appetite |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | Yes |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The talk sparked likely debate Industrial partners consider the use of inulin propionate ester in there products |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.ilsi.org/Pages/HomePage.aspx |
Description | Imperial College Fringe Festival "Food of Tomorrow" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The fringe was a totally food based activity highlighting Imperial's contribution to the food chain. It highlighted out BBSRC and NIHR work. A large number of people from school children to adults attended each stall |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/be-inspired/festival/fringe/ |
Description | Imperial Lates "Food for Thought" |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | This was a science outreach week focused on food. If gaave feed back from the general public on our research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
URL | https://www.imperial.ac.uk/be-inspired/lates/food-for-thought/ |
Description | Imperial Murdoch Collaberation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | This was a two week research scoping exercise |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Imperial Science Festival - dissemination to general public |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | We had a two stands disseminating information in out work on dietary fibre and dietary assessment |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | http://www.imperial.ac.uk/festival/about/festival-2017/ |
Description | Institute Open Day - Breeders Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Tour of JIC caged pea plot area at Breeders' Day 2016. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Institute Open Day - JIC Open Day 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | JIC Open Day 2017: Pea TimeVine and displays based around the research from the Domoney Lab |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://storify.com/JIC_Comms/open-day-2017 |
Description | LEGATO-EUROLEGUME International Conference - Advances in grain legume cultivation and use |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Attendance at LEGATO-EUROLEGUME International Conference - Advances in grain legume cultivation and use |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Lord de Mauley meeting with JIC director and project leaders visit to JIC |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | This was a chance to talk about our project at high level to influence policy |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Media interest in propionate inulin ester |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Publication of the Gut paper on inulin propionate ester sparked a lot of media interest Global coverage of the results from the Gut publication |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2014,2015 |
URL | http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2868739/Is-powder-secret-making-slim-Supplement-added-brea... |
Description | NFU visit to JIC |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Raise awareness of food structure |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | NIHR Imperial College BRC open day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Over 500 people attended the Imperial College NIHR open day where we demonstrated out work in the NIHR BRC |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://imperialbrc.nihr.ac.uk/2019/09/22/nihr-imperial-research-open-day-friday-15th-november-2019/ |
Description | New Frontiers in Food and Drink |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Lecture stimulate interest in the Imperial Glasgow new molecule for appetite suppression. Lots of interest from the 200 business people business people |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://www.newfrontiersinfoodanddrink.co.uk/ |
Description | Nutrition Society Lecture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | 500 people listen to my talk on the role of short chain fatty acids on health |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
URL | https://www.nutritionsociety.org/events/spring-conference-2021-gut-microbiome-and-health |
Description | Pea genetics and glycaemic control |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | This day was aimed at engaging the industrial partners in the project and getting views on a way forward |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Presentaion to Cambridge metabolic group |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | 50 post doctoral scientist attended the workshop on short chain fatty acids. The talk raised a number of questions and suggestion |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | Presentation to JIC Governing Council: 'Translating Genetic Research In Species Pisum: from MfN to Breeders and Beyond' |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Supporters |
Results and Impact | Presentation to JIC Governing Council: 'Translating Genetic Research In Species Pisum: from MfN to Breeders and Beyond' |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Presentation to Norwich Research Park Diet and Health Tea Club |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | Presentation of the food structure research to the Norwich Research Park Diet and Health Tea Club. This group is formed of researchers and clinicians from the Norwich Research Park, to disseminate and communicate developments in diet and health research and to foster collaborations. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Press article - The Pulse Magazine - The Official Journal of the PGRO |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Pulse Magazine - The Official Journal of the PGRO. The John Innes Centre celebrates 50 Years in Norwich in 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Public lecture to Benenden Society, on emerging research on the science of food and hea |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Lecture to general public that sparked debate |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
Description | Public lecture to local members of the University of the Third Age |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Public lecture organised for members of the University of the third age held at Quadram Institute, Norwich to disseminate and inform of the research activities and outputs of the Institute in the area of food structure and health. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Public lecture to the North Norfolk National Trust Society |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | A public lecture to the North Norfolk National Trust society to communicate some of the research activities of the Institute as part of our outreach activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Pulse power |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | The aim was to highlight the role of legumes in human health . |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
URL | https://www.nutritionsociety.org/events/bnf-webinar-pulse-power-ingredients-healthier-and-sustainabl... |
Description | Radio broadcast - BBC Radio Norfolk |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Radio broadcast on BBC Radio Norfolk. JIC Open Day 2017: 'The application of genetic research in pea at JIC to the development of novel foods' - hosted by Thordis Fridriksson |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Rank Prize conference - Designing Food Structure to Control Digestion and Improve Health Impacts |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | 60 young scientist attended a week long workshop to understand the role of food structure. The aim was to develop interest in this area |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | http://www.rankprize.org/index.php/symposia |
Description | Science Museum Cravings Exhibition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Exhibition of work on fermentation at the Science Museum The exhibition has been seen by over 4 million people |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2015 |
URL | http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/visitmuseum/Plan_your_visit/exhibitions/cravings.aspx |
Description | TV Broadcast - BBC Look East |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | TV broadcast on BBC Look East - JIC Open Day 2017: 'The application of genetic research in pea at JIC to its many uses in food and agriculture' |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Transatlantic Sessions on Conservation and Organic Agriculture |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | PPP: Potential and Power of Pea presentation at Transatlantic Sessions on Conservation and Organic Agriculture |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | UN International Year of Pulses at The Cut Science Cafe as part of the Norwich Science Festival |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Norwich Festival is held annually as a celebration of the ground breaking scientific research associated with the city. Talk was given by Claire Domoney, entitled 'UN International Year of Pulses', as part of the Norwich Festival's series of The Cut Science Cafe talks. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Using crop genetics to understand the importance of dietary resistant starches for maintaining healthy glucose homeostasis (CRESTAR) Industrial Stakeholder Meeting |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Using crop genetics to understand the importance of dietary resistant starches for maintaining healthy glucose homeostasis (CRESTAR) Industrial Stakeholder Meeting |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Visit to Norway to talk to opinion makes about Nutrition |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
Results and Impact | Talk to 15 Norwegian opinion leaders about the role of Nutrition in the prevention of non communicable disease highlighting my research |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Wellbeing Lecture on food structure and appetite |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Webinar for the Healthy Eating - Wellbeing activity for all staff on the Norwich Research Park Food Structure, appetite and energy intake: can you have your cake and eat it ? |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
Description | Workshop at DAVOS |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | 120 people attended a science update at DAVOS. My talk was on the double hit of Malnutritiion |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.weforum.org/events/world-economic-forum-annual-meeting-2018 |
Description | iTeams 2022 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Acting as expert / Mentor for NRP iTeams 2022 competition, to engage with students across NRP to develop commercialisation ideas and strategies for the outputs of scientific research projects |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |