ALEXANDRIA, Va.—The Global Probiotics Council (GPC), a committee formed by Groupe DANONE and Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd., announced two recipients of its 4th annual Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research (YIGPRO).
Eric Martens, PhD, assistant professor in the department of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Michigan Medical School, and Suzanne Noble, MD, PhD, assistant professor in the departments of Medicine and of Microbiology and Immunology at the University of California, San Francisco, each received a $50,000 over one year to advance research focusing on the role of probiotics and gastrointestinal microbiota in health and wellness.
"Four years ago, we created the Young Investigator Grant for Probiotics Research to stimulate innovative research relevant to the field of gastrointestinal microbiota and to support young investigators in the United States," said Yoshihiro Kawabata, Director Deputy President, Yakult Honsha Co. Ltd. "The response we have received each year is proof of escalating interest in the research fields of probiotics and the gastrointestinal microbiota."
Jean-Philippe Pare, Executive Vice President Danone R&D, added: "There is clearly growing excitement in the area of probiotics and microbiota research. We hope these grants will help to uncover additional beneficial probiotics and will identify critical mechanisms by which they are promoting health."
