dsm-firmenich Awards 2026 Nutrition Research Grant for Healthy Longevity Studies in Asia Pacific

dsm-firmenich has awarded the second round of its Nutrition Research Grant to five projects focused on healthy longevity in the Asia Pacific region. Each project will receive EUR 50,000. This initiative follows its first round in 2024, which centered on 'Health from the Gut across the Human Lifespan.' The current year’s theme is 'Age Slower, Age Better - Nutrition Solutions for Healthy Longevity.'

The company highlighted the urgency of addressing healthy aging in a region where one in four individuals is projected to be over 60 by 2050. Tina Low, Senior Vice President of dsm-firmenich, stated that the gap between lifespan and healthspan is concerning, as many people may spend the last decade of their lives in poor health.

Advancing healthy longevity requires robust public-private partnerships, according to Low, a principle reflected in their Asia-for-Asia Nutrition Research Grant Program.

Anneleen Spooren, Senior Vice President of Innovation, cited the DO-HEALTH study, which indicates that nutritional interventions can significantly slow biological aging. The study found that a combination of algal omega-3, vitamin D, and exercise can reduce biological aging by up to 3.8 months over three years.

A record number of grant applications were received from 13 countries in the region. The five recipients of the 2026 dsm-firmenich Nutrition Research Grant are:

- Dr. David Barry, 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, Murdoch University, Australia: Synergistic Effects of Polyphenol- and Omega-3–Rich Dietary Patterns on Mitochondrial Health and Biological Aging: Translational Insights from the AU-ARROW Cohort.

- Dr. Jiyun Ahn, 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, University of Otago, New Zealand: Omega-3 Supplementation to Support Lean Mass, Body Composition, and Healthy Longevity in Perimenopausal Women: A Randomized Control Trial.

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

The grants were presented at the 'Age Slower, Age Better: Advancing Healthy Longevity Across Asia Pacific' symposium, organized in collaboration with A*STAR Institute for Human Development and Potential and attended by over 180 delegates from academia and industry.