Danisco sponsors professorship in healthy dietary fibres by DKK 10 million

The professorship and the related research activities will concentrate on developing new techniques for producing complex carbohydrates – better known as dietary fibres.

Carbohydrates constitute a substantial part of our diet and are of great importance to the intestinal flora. A healthy and well-functioning intestinal flora is vital to our overall wellbeing and health. Intestinal balance is key to avoiding lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.

With the new research it will be possible to develop new solutions for producing highly specific complex carbohydrates, and it will improve our understanding of how carbohydrates influence our health. Moreover, the research collaboration will ensure a stronger platform for producing foods with health-promoting benefits.

’We are very happy that through this professorship we are strengthening and enhancing our collaboration with the LMC. As research into health-promoting food, or Health & Nutrition, is central to Danisco, we have high expectations of our sponsorship. With this partnership, Danisco is taking a leading global position in this field,’ says Leif Kjærgaard, CTO at Danisco A/S.

Jørn Dalgaard Mikkelsen, who has vast experience in industry-relevant and basic fundamental research in this area, has been appointed for the professorship in the field of bioprocess technology at the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering.
 
’Research at DTU Chemical Engineering covers product design, process design and production in the areas of chemistry, biotechnology, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and energy. With this new professorship, our research into food will be significantly strengthened,’ says Prof. Kim Dam-Johansen, head of the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering.

’And we are looking forward to this strengthening which will ensure further research progress and consolidation in the field, something that will also benefit the LMC,’ adds Prof. Anne Meyer, head of Biotechnology at the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, DTU.

’We are very pleased with this new professorship, which not only strengthens the bridge between corporate and public research institutions but also promotes inter-university collaboration. Strengthening this collaboration could contribute to giving Denmark a leading position in food-related research,’ say Per Holten-Andersen, Dean at University of Copenhagen, Life Sciences, and Knut Conradsen, Pro Rector, DTU, in a joint statement.

For further information, please contact:

Prof. Kim Dam-Johansen, head of Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, DTU
Tel.:  +45 4525 2845

Carl Johan Corneliussen, Media Relations Manager, Danisco A/S
Tel. + 45 3266 2926, mobile: +45 2615 212 

About DTU

With 7,000 students, 4,500 employees and annual revenue of DKK 3.1 billion, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) is one of Northern Europe’s largest research and educational institutions within the technical and natural sciences.
DTU participates in national and international partnerships with other universities, companies, authorities and institutions. At DTU, research goes hand in hand with education, innovation and advisory functions for government authorities.

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