Interview with Simone Albrecht, PhD

Demand for improved formula baby food

CCC research Simone Albrecht is one of the first graduates within the Carbohydrate Competence Center (CCC) work programmes. Albrecht, born German, graduated at Wageningen University on her research "Gastroin-testinal-active oligosaccharides from human milk and functional foods". She studied the structural changes of functional oligosaccharides during their passage through the gastrointestinal tract with focus on infant nutrition and breast milk. Albrecht was able to demonstrate the importance of certain oligosaccharide structures during their gastrointestinal passage.

"Essential to understand because functional oligosaccharides are essential ingredients in baby food," Albrecht says. "And enteral nutrition effects morphological and functional changes and setting a balanced microbiotica. In this indigestible oligosaccharides play an important role. Knowledge of the gastrointestinal fate of these oligosaccharides is essential in order to explain their biological activity. "

A significant Study

Not surprising therefore that the dairy industry have great interest in the research that Albrecht within CCC has completed. On the authority of company FrieslandCampina, it was aimed at finding improved formulations of baby milk on the basis of ingredients of breast milk. A significant study. "The study was initially very broad," says the Wageningen researcher. "Only at a later stage we decided to focus on the function of oligosaccharides in human milk and infant formula."

Albrecht worked for her thesis in CCC with the Hanze University for Applied Sciences in Groningen and TNO Healthy Living. The cooperation with company FrieslandCampina was really getting used to. Albrecht: "That was really an experience, indeed. Companies are very application oriented, would prefer immediate results, while researchers always keep their doubts whether any further research is necessary. The rhythm of these two worlds is quite different. An interesting experience.'

Dublin

Albrecht has found temporary shelter at the Laboratory of Food Chemistry of Wageningen University, within the carbohydrate biochemistry group of her co-promotor Henk Schols. In March she takes her knowledge on carbohydrates to Dublin, Ireland. There she accepted a position at the National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training (NIBRT). The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training is a world-class institute providing training and research solutions for the bioprocessing industry in state-of-the-art facilities. Albrecht: "In Dublin I will be focusing more on Biopharma. A new function that closely matches my experience I have gained from research in CCC where demand-driven and applied research is the guide to find innovative solutions. "

The thesis of Simone Albrecht, Gastrointestinal active oligosaccharides from human milk and functional foods, is published by Ponsen & Looijen, Ede. It is available online at Thesis of Simone Albrecht.