‘Evolution’ often optimises one trait at the cost of another. This project will reveal how such trade-offs affect industrial fermentations, investigating the role of the enzymes involved in growth, acidification, and flavour and texture development in dairy production.

Relatively few people know that a healthy lifestyle is crucial to human performance, limiting overweight and cardiometabolic diseases. This project will establish (cause-effect) relationships between blood-glucose homeostasis, the underlying physiology and effects on mental and physical performance and well-being.

Does reduced exposure to sweetness induce a lower preference for sweet items, reduce sugar and energy intake and, perhaps, also body weight? Proving if this is true, or not, is the goal of the Sweet tooth project.

How do structural and textural food properties and food expectations affect oral processing behaviour, dynamic sensory perception and liking, in consumer groups with different ages, ethnicities and eating capabilities? This is the focus of the Smooth bite for all project.

Androgen deprivation, a common prostate cancer therapy, often leads to fatigue and weakness. This project is investigating whether combining resistance-type exercise with, or without, protein supplementation can help prevent and/or reduce these effects. 

Mitochondria, the  powerhouses of the cell, are crucial to all human body function. This project is delivering biomarkers for mitochondrial function and insight into how novel food components affect mitochondrial metabolism and muscle health in the elderly.