Danone, Yakult announce 5th year of research grants for probiotic and gut health

This is the fifth consecutive year that young scientists receive grants from the Global Probiotics Council (GPC) – set up by the two firms – in order to encourage research into the healthy bacteria.

The council, which was set up in 2004 by Groupe Danaone and Yakult Honsha, said the grants are designed to stimulate innovative research and advance probiotics and gastrointestinal microbiota, support young investigators, and attract new researchers in the United States into the field of probiotics and gut microbiota.

"This scientific field has experienced a true revolution in the past few years and we are committed to push it forward,”​ said Jean-Philippe Paré, executive vice president of Danone R&D.

“Based on the results of the past four cycles, we are confident that these grants will lead to scientific advancements that continue to add to the body of literature, and help uncover critical mechanisms by which probiotics promote health,”​ added Yoshihiro Kawabata, director deputy president of Yakult Honsha HONSHA CO., LTD.

The closing date for applications is February 15, 2012, and more information can be found here: www.probioticsresearch.com.

GPC​

The Global Probiotics Council, which was set up in 2004, said its grants are designed to stimulate innovative research, support young investigators, and attract new researchers in the United States into the field of probiotics and gut microbiota.

The GPC has three main goals:

* Raise awareness of probiotics and their health benefits through science-based education and dissemination of information to health care professionals and the public

* Communicate with government bodies, and other relevant interest groups

* Build relationships with leading researchers and research institutions and supporting collaboration research in te area of probiotics and intestinal microbiota.