An effective response to chronic inflammatory bowel disease could come from the waters of our oceans, rivers and lakes. Specifically, from algae belonging to these ecosystems.
The project will be coordinated by the center of the Algae4IBD (Algae for Inflammatory Bowel Desease) research within the Horizon 2020 project funded by the European Union coordinated by the Migal Research Institute (Israel), for which 7.5 million euros are expected to be allocated in the next four years.
Started in June 2021 and funded by the European Union, the Algae4IBD research involves 21 international partners and aims at studying and developing functional foods and pharmaceutical products derived from algae compounds, as a treatment for IBD, Inflammatory Bowel Disease.
The Italian biotechnology company Solaris Biotech based in Porto Mantovano (Mantua), is one of the 21 partners involved. Solaris will provide its technical support through the design and construction of the bioreactors necessary for testing on algae.
For the pharmaceutical industry, algae are of considerable interest thanks to their content of polyunsaturated fatty acids with a high physiological value, such as Epa (eicosapentaenoic acid) and Dha (docosahexaenoic acid), for their potential anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, the cultivation of these plants, already used to produce biofuels, is extremely economical, since they only need sun and carbon dioxide. Algae are therefore the new frontier of research on pharmaceuticals and food supplements.
ALGAE4IBD – THE PROJECT
There are currently nearly 7 million people worldwide with IBD and other digestive diseases. IBD, which describes both ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, is a bowel disorder that causes prolonged inflammation, damages the digestive tract, and is associated with a high risk of colorectal cancer. At the moment there is no standardized and universally effective therapeutic protocol; the treatment options are expensive and in the acute phases they are mainly based on cortisone but can only be taken for short periods.
Finding an answer to people suffering from this disease is therefore the priority of the Algae4IBD project.
“For this, specialists from 11 countries were brought together: experts in algae growth and production, gastroenterologists, functional food developers and pharmaceutical SMEs. This multi-specialist and multicultural group will bring the skills needed to develop products that hopefully prevent and cure IBD. People suffering from this disease want a solution and are already very enthusiastic about the perspective that can come from our project”
says Dr Dorit Avni of the MIGAL research institute in Israel, coordinator of the project.
The prevalence of IBD has increased in recent decades, especially in developed countries and affects the younger age groups. Seaweed may be the missing ingredient this consortium hopes to add to functional foods, such as grains and smoothies, to prevent, treat and reduce IBD symptoms.
To find out more, refer to the following video.
