Australian Catholic University researchers are partnering with Nestlé Health Science on a start-up incubator to advance innovation in nutrition.
ACU was the only Australian university selected for the program, alongside Tufts University in Boston and the University of California Davis.
Professor Leonidas Karagounis, a leading researcher in human nutrition science and metabolism at ACU's Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, conceived and established the incubator program, which he will now lead from the university's Melbourne Campus.
Professor Karagounis has more than two decades experience investigating the effect of nutrition and lifestyle across the human lifespan. He said the incubator would be a game changer for the next generation of leaders in health science in Australia.
"This strategic partnership with Nestlé Health Science is a fantastic opportunity that will help drive innovation in nutrition and health research into real-world impact," Professor Karagounis said.
"By bringing together researchers and startup companies on campus, we're creating a space where innovative ideas in food and nutrition can scale up into practical solutions that improve community health and wellbeing through the translation of nutrition research."
Vice President Innovation & Strategy at Nestlé Health Science, Hans Manning, said the partnership would provide mentorship, internships, professional development, and scientific advisory support.
"We want to encourage new solutions in health science through working directly with individuals who have brilliant ideas and could use professional guidance to develop them," Mr Manning said.
"Strategic partnerships with universities like ACU allow us to work with entrepreneurs to help them bring products to the market in areas including women's health and healthy longevity."
