04.10.2011

Intestinal research promotes food and pharmaceutical industry innovations

The research work by Dutch FiDiPro Professor Willem M. de Vos and his research team has helped to define the characteristics of a healthy Finnish intestine. Among other things, the realisation of the main objective of the Innovations for Intestinal Health research project will benefit the development of probiotic products. 

“We have to admit to ourselves that our body and its functioning are controlled by microbes.” Each and one of us has many times more microbes than tissue cells in our body. Microbes play an especially important role in the intestine, and we could say that human beings are in fact walking fermentors,” de Vos states.

De Vos is Professor of Microbiology at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. According to the internationally acknowledged researcher, the Finnish intestines are in no way special, but the interest that Finns show in the health of their intestine is. For example, Finns are already using more probiotic products that affect the digestive tract microbiota, than any other country in the world.

This interest is also reflected in research. De Vos describes the research climate in his area of science in Finland as enthusiastic and the research teams as active. It has also been easier than usual to find people willing to provide specimens.

“Finland has a high standard of education, which is visible in the unprejudiced attitudes and interest in experiments. This is a truly innovative country,” de Vos states.

Cooperation brings added value for research

According to de Vos, projects like FiDiPro are ideal for strengthening international cooperation, which is absolutely essential for research in a remote country with a small population.

“A multidisplinary approach helps to raise the standard of research, and internationalisation is vital for Finland.” In addition he would increase the amount of cooperation among research teams.

“Research teams here are very independent, which is good for their own growth and development. Another good thing is the close cooperation within the group. However, increasing cooperation between groups is an important target that needs to be developed in Finland, as it brings added value for the research itself.

The parties involved in the Innovations for Intestinal Health project are the Universities of Helsinki, Turku and Wageningen and a number of Finnish food and pharmaceutical industry companies. The project has developed the basis for biomarkers that define a healthy intestine, as well as a methodological framework based on molecular technology for studying the health of the intestine.

According to de Vos, the cooperation between the universities and business enterprises brings great added value for the research. When the FiDiPro project comes to an end in 2011, the companies involved will continue their innovation work based on the research results. According to de Vos, among the results to be expected are various foodstuffs that affect the health of the intestine. 

De Vos will continue his work on Finnish intestinal microbiota as an Academy of Finland Professor. He says he is happy to stay in Finland, and not only because of the good research climate in his field. “I like living in Helsinki, where you can enjoy urban life and at the same time be close to nature. Also, it’s easy to work together with Finns. They are straightforward and keep their promises.”

Text: Anna Kauppi

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