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FutureFoodS
Call2 - Pre-Proposal
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Blanca Hernández-Ledesma
Spain
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)
Research Institute
microalgae, alternative food sources, bioactive compounds, health benefits
Topic 1: Domestic food practices for enhancing sustainable and healthy diets
I am the lead of the Alternative Proteins Development and Innovation Group (INNOVAPROT) at the Food Science Research Institute (CIAL, CSIC_UAM). We are currently focusing on the extraction, characterization, and evaluation of the bioactivity of compounds derived from microalgae, laying the groundwork for their use as ingredients in functional foods and nutraceuticals. We are mainly experts in proteins and lipids, and we evaluate their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antidiabetic, anti-obesity, and microbiota-modulating effects through chemical assays, cell cultures, and animal models. We are interested in participating in a project that leverages our area of research, experience, and infrastructure to contribute to microalgae becoming an alternative food source for healthy diets.
The Institute of Food Science Research (CIAL, CSIC-UAM) is is a joint research institute created and managed by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) – Spain's largest public research body, and the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM) – one of Spain's top universities. CIAL is a leading European center that has significantly advanced food science by bridging the gap between fundamental research and practical, health-focused, and sustainable applications. Its most prominent contributions lie in:
- Linking diet, gut health, and personalized nutrition.
- Promoting the circular economy through by-product valorization.
- Advocating for and developing innovative, non-thermal food processing technologies.
Noteworthy Strengths and Impact:
- Multidisciplinary Approach: CIAL's teams include chemists, biologists, nutritionists, veterinarians, engineers, and technologists, allowing them to tackle food challenges from farm to fork.
- Strong Translational Focus: While excelling in basic science, they actively engage in technology transfer to the private sector. They collaborate extensively with food companies (from SMEs to multinationals) to innovate and solve industrial problems.
- Excellent Infrastructure: They house advanced analytical platforms (omics technologies, gastrointestinal digestion simulator, pilot plants for food processing) that are crucial for cutting-edge research.
- Training and Dissemination: As part of the UAM, they train the next generation of scientists (PhD students, postdocs) and actively communicate science to the public.
- Linking diet, gut health, and personalized nutrition.
- Promoting the circular economy through by-product valorization.
- Advocating for and developing innovative, non-thermal food processing technologies.
Noteworthy Strengths and Impact:
- Multidisciplinary Approach: CIAL's teams include chemists, biologists, nutritionists, veterinarians, engineers, and technologists, allowing them to tackle food challenges from farm to fork.
- Strong Translational Focus: While excelling in basic science, they actively engage in technology transfer to the private sector. They collaborate extensively with food companies (from SMEs to multinationals) to innovate and solve industrial problems.
- Excellent Infrastructure: They house advanced analytical platforms (omics technologies, gastrointestinal digestion simulator, pilot plants for food processing) that are crucial for cutting-edge research.
- Training and Dissemination: As part of the UAM, they train the next generation of scientists (PhD students, postdocs) and actively communicate science to the public.