Monash University Malaysia and Tata Chemicals forge healthcare research-focused partnership

The importance of gastrointestinal health is a key focus for researchers and innovators, as highlighted by the partnership between Monash University Malaysia and Tata Chemicals Limited.

Both parties formally established the collaboration through a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) that set two research projects that connected both academic excellence and industrial innovation. This alliance is dedicated to conducting impactful research in gut microbiome and gut health, aiming to deliver relevant outcomes.

The alliance is dedicated to conducting impactful research in gut microbiome and gut health, aiming to deliver relevant outcomes. This initiative, originally announced in Malaysia, marks a key milestone in Tata Chemicals’ commitment to science-led innovation for community well-being and sustainable health advancements.

Maintaining optimal gastrointestinal health is crucial for addressing various scientific and health challenges. For instance, one major project seeks to understand the role of postbiotics in alleviating "leaky gut symptoms". A combination of immunological assessment, transcriptomic, and epigenetic profiling will be carried out on the colon epithelial cells to show how postbiotic compounds can influence inflammation at the cellular and genetic levels. This research is significant because it aims to inform future therapeutic applications for gastrointestinal health and chronic diseases, indicating a link between gut health and the prevention or management of long-term health conditions.

Furthermore, the research extends to the elderly population, who commonly experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as bloating, reflux, and indigestion. Evaluating the effectiveness of Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) supplementation to promote beneficial gut bacteria in older adults underscores the commitment to community health and addressing nutritional deficiencies. By improving gut health in the elderly, the initiative indirectly contributes to their well-being and potentially their longevity.

Image caption- Left to right- Professor Faisal Rafiq Mahamd Adikan Vice President (Research  Development) at Monash University Malaysia and Dr Richard Lobo Head of Innovation, Tata Chemicals