Nestlé Health Science and the Australian Catholic University (ACU) are collaborating on a new start-up incubator program designed to accelerate innovation in the nutrition sector. The initiative, first announced last November, will focus on three key areas: women’s health, healthy longevity, and weight management. The program aims to bridge the gap between early-stage nutritional science concepts and their real-world application, providing start-ups with access to both academic research and industry expertise.
The incubator, conceived and established by Professor Leonidas Karagounis of ACU’s Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, will offer start-ups access to university research facilities and mentorship from industry professionals. According to Nestlé Health Science, the collaboration will also create opportunities for student mentorship and involvement in future research projects. The program is one of three university-based partnerships Nestlé Health Science is currently supporting globally, alongside initiatives with Tufts University and the University of California, Davis.
Focus Areas: An Interconnected Approach
Professor Karagounis explained that the selection of women’s health, healthy longevity, and weight management wasn’t arbitrary. “These three areas have been chosen because they are all interlinked,” he said. He elaborated on the connections, noting that metabolic dysfunction stemming from weight management issues can lead to liver and kidney problems, and that chronic inflammation associated with metabolic issues plays a role in cellular aging, muscle weakness, and frailty.
The incubator will specifically address nutritional research related to perimenopausal women, building on ACU’s existing expertise in female athlete nutrition and addressing issues like iron and energy deficits. “In general, women are underrepresented in nutrition research,” Professor Karagounis noted. “Here at ACU, we are leading an active research program on female health in the context of nutrition and physical activity.”
Navigating the GLP-1 Landscape
A significant component of the weight management focus will be exploring innovations that complement the growing use of GLP-1 medications for weight loss. These medications, while effective, can lead to reduced appetite and potentially, undernutrition. The incubator aims to identify nutritional interventions to mitigate these side effects and ensure adequate nutrient intake for individuals using GLP-1 drugs.
“The advent of GLP targeted medications for weight management in individuals with overweight or obesity may result in undernutrition in users due to reductions in appetite and therefore very low food intake,” Professor Karagounis explained. “What we are trying to do is understand how, and identify nutritional interventions that can complement such pharmaceutical interventions.”
The program will also investigate nutritional solutions for individuals seeking weight management options outside of pharmaceutical interventions, exploring the potential of nutraceuticals and lifestyle adjustments. Professor Karagounis acknowledged the stigma sometimes associated with GLP-1 medications, emphasizing the desire to drive innovation in broader weight loss and lifestyle interventions.
Longevity and the Role of Autophagy
The connection between weight management and healthy longevity stems from the impact of interventions like intermittent fasting and caloric restriction on a cellular process called autophagy. Autophagy, described by Professor Karagounis as a process that “exfoliates the cellular ecosystem,” removes damaged cells and promotes cellular health. The incubator will explore whether specific food components can further stimulate autophagy.
Beyond Protein: A Holistic Approach to Muscle Health
While increased protein intake is often recommended to combat muscle loss during weight loss, Professor Karagounis cautioned against relying solely on protein supplementation. He argued that high protein levels can increase satiety but may not necessarily support overall nutrient uptake. The incubator will focus on developing more holistic nutritional strategies to maintain muscle mass and overall health.
“Ingestion of high protein levels alone is not the solution to maintaining muscle mass during weightloss,” he stated. “the effects of high levels of protein intake on appetite suppression and increasing satiety may further amplify the risk of reduced micronutrient and overall nutrient intakes required.”
Precision Nutrition and Metabolic Chambers
To facilitate this research, ACU has established a live human metabolic chamber – the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere – at its Melbourne campus. This facility allows researchers to conduct real-time, continuous assessments of energy expenditure and substrate utilization, enabling the development of personalized nutrition plans based on individual lifestyles.
“We want to develop solutions in precision nutrition based on a person’s lifestyle by performing real-time and continuous free living assessments such as 24h energy expenditure, substrate utilisation in our state-of-the-art human metabolic chamber,” Professor Karagounis said. The incubator program, supported by Nestlé Health Science’s mentorship and scientific advisory support, represents a significant step towards translating nutritional research into practical solutions for improving consumer and patient wellbeing.
Michael Eddie, BEO Nestle Health Science, Oceania, emphasized the company’s commitment to fostering new thinking in healthy longevity and weight management, and guiding emerging innovators. However, it’s important to note that the program is not focused on commercial product creation or direct financial investment in start-ups, but rather on providing expertise and support to accelerate innovation.
