We believe that proof of efficacy is vital to the sustained growth and integrity of the functional food industry.
Building a credible profile for functional foods for the consumer will be an important activity for the Centre. This will be achieved by carrying out high quality scientific research which aims to critically assess the functionality of foods and ingredients and how they may improve health and wellbeing.
Our team of researchers manage strategic and applied projects that explore ideas for new functional food development and establish the evidence of health claims associated with functional foods. A key role of the scientific research program is to foster research that will facilitate commercialisation.

Strategic research which has relevance to value adding to Australia's food production and which has export potential

A selection of research activities:
◊ Short-term investment - usually human clinical trials
◊ Medium-term investment - animal or human experimental studies
◊ Long-term investment - may explore development of future biomarkers of exposure or disease risk

Activity which is not under extensive research activity overseas

Research which may have the potential to spawn a multitude of functional food products across a variety of market segments

Research which has evidence of market intelligence suggesting consumer readiness to adopt or if not, is accompanied by market intelligence component

Human clinical trials to employ biomarkers that have agreed acceptance and validity

Consideration is given to the nature of product development when the research is taken to this stage

Consideration is given to the communication and appropriate messages which will accompany functional food products which stem from this research

Application of new emerging science which requires development in relation to the functional food pipeline.

Consideration of health benefits to the public, specific target groups or market segments