News
Prof Orla O’Sullivan awarded funding SFI Frontiers for ‘Fitbiota'
APC PI Prof Orla O’Sullivan has been awarded funding for ‘Fitbiota: Examining the Emergence of a Fit Gut Microbiome in Young Adults and The Potential Impacts on Gut Health’ as part of the SFI Frontiers for the Future Programme.
The human intestinal tract is host to an extensive population of microorganisms (the microbiome) working in concert to play a pivotal role in human health. Almost every aspect of modern lifestyles can impact the microbiome; recently the concept that regular exercise may foster or assist the maintenance of a preferential gut microbiome has gained momentum.
Fitbiota aims to specifically understand the role physical fitness plays in modulating the gut microbiome and investigate if there indeed is a ‘fit’ microbiome profile, and can this be transferred to a host resulting in improved health.
The provision of funding to Teagasc researchers was made as part of a wider announcement by Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Patrick O’Donovan T.D., who announced funding for 28 awards in total, valued at €34 million, to support research across seven Higher Education Institutions.
Speaking at the announcement, Minister O’Donovan said: “These awards support the development of world-class research in areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“The projects and higher education institutions are focusing on will help deliver solutions to some of the major challenges facing society, including in healthcare, the environment and technology.”
The 28 awards are of 4-5 years’ duration and will support 124 research positions including 58 postdoctoral positions, 53 PhD students and 13 research assistants and other positions.
Dr Ruth Freeman, Director of Science for Society at Science Foundation Ireland, said: “The SFI Frontiers for the Future awards provide opportunities for independent investigators to conduct highly-innovative, original research on important questions.”
Full details of the SFI Frontiers for the Future Programme awards are available here.
