US/Ireland Functional Foods Conference: Dietary Optimization of Gut Function and the Microbiota

FIRST ANNOUNCEMENT

Introduction

Functional foods are identified as one of the central pillars for the future development of the food industry internationally. In a recent foresight exercise undertaken by Teagasc, research in functional foods is seen as a priority to support the ambitions of Irish industry to compete in this market segment. In connection with this aim, Teagasc, University College Cork and the USDA have combined to organize US/Ireland Functional Foods Conference 2009, to bring together leading scientists whose research is important for the realisation of these ambitions.

Theme of the Conference

This conference will focus on the science of gut function and response to diet and will address gut hormones and incretin release, gut microbiota for optimal gut function, diet and immune function and biomarkers for enhanced health through diet. While the health effects are broad, they will naturally be those that are diet-related and that connect to gut responses that are linked to such conditions as obesity and the metabolic syndrome. The conference will focus on the sciences that the food industry will need to develop functional foods and bioactives with validated health claims.

International Scientific Committee:

Dr. Joe Urban, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, MD, USA
Prof. Allen Levine, University of Minnesota and the Minnesota Obesity Center, St. Paul, MN, USA
Prof. Tiina Mattila-Sandholm, VALIO, Finland
Prof. Terez Shea-Donohue, University of Maryland – Baltimore, MD, USA
Dr. Catherine Stanton, Teagasc, Ireland
Prof. Eamonn Quigley, University College Cork, Ireland
Prof. Graham Dockray, University of Liverpool, UK

Major Themes to be addressed

1. Gut Signalling/Gut Hormones
2. Gut Microbiota
3. Mechanisms and Biomarkers
4. Ingredient Technology
5. Regulation/Consumer Acceptance

For information on the Scientific Program contact:

Dr. Catherine Stanton, Teagasc, Moorepark Food Research Centre, Fermoy, Ireland
Email: catherine.stanton@teagasc.ie

For information on registration, accommodation etc, contact:

Terri Cullinane, Conference Partners
Email: terri@conferencepartners.ie

Or visit http://www.corkff2010.com/index.html