dsm-firmenich Awards 2026 Nutrition Research Grant to Five Projects Focused on Nutrients and Healthy Aging in Asia Pacific

This year’s grant theme, 'Age Slower, Age Better - Nutrition Solutions for Healthy Longevity,' follows the inaugural round in 2024, which focused on 'Health from the Gut across the Human Lifespan.' According to Tina Low, Senior Vice President APAC at dsm-firmenich, the study of healthy longevity is crucial in a region where populations are aging rapidly, with projections indicating that one in four individuals will be over 60 by 2050. She emphasized the growing concern of a gap between life span and health span, noting that many individuals spend the last decade of their lives in poor health.

Anneleen Spooren, Senior Vice President for Innovation, R&D & Regulatory at dsm-firmenich, highlighted research indicating that nutritional interventions could slow aging. She referenced the DO-HEALTH study, Europe’s largest trial on healthy aging, which showed that a combination of algal omega-3, vitamin D, and regular exercise could reduce biological aging by up to 3.8 months over three years.

This year's grant received applications from 13 countries in the Asia Pacific, reflecting an increased interest in researching how nutrition can influence aging. The selected recipients are:

- Dr. David Barry from the National Ageing Research Institute, Australia: Effect of Postbiotic Supplementation on Inflammation and Physical Function in Pre-Frail Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Trial

- Prof. Hamid Sohrabi from Murdoch University, Australia: Synergistic Effects of Polyphenol- and Omega-3–Rich Dietary Patterns on Mitochondrial Health and Biological Ageing: Translational Insights from the AU-ARROW Cohort

- Dr. Jiyun Ahn from Korea Food Research Institute, Republic of Korea: Healthspan Signals in Muscle: Tissue-Resolved Aging Clocks and Vitamin D Associations in Older Adults

- Prof. Katherine Black from University of Otago, New Zealand: Omega-3 Supplementation to Support Lean Mass, Body Composition, and Healthy Longevity in Perimenopausal Women: A Randomised Control Trial

- Asst. Prof. Vincenzo Sorrentino from National University of Singapore, Singapore: Promoting Cellular Energy Production for Slower Aging Combining Trigonelline and CoQ10

The symposium also provided opportunities for professional networking and recognition among participants, with over 180 attendees from academia and industry contributing to discussions. Notably, experts such as Prof. Johan Eriksson from A*STAR Institute for Human Development and Potential, and Prof. Kim Ji-Yeon from Seoul National University of Science and Technology presented keynote talks.