Dannon Announces New Investments in Human Gut Microbiome Research at White House Convening of Microbiome Stakeholders

WASHINGTON, May 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Dannon Company today announced that it will continue to support research to further advance our understanding of the gut microbiome and its role in overall health and well-being by providing the American Gastroenterological Association (AGA) with a new $20,000 Gut Microbiome in Health Award. The Dannon Company is also doubling its investment in the gut microbiome and probiotics research fellowship opportunities to $50,000. The new commitments were announced as part of Dannon's participation in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) National Microbiome Initiative announced today.

"The impact of the gut microbiome on human health and well-being is far-reaching – from our immune systems to the benefits of probiotics and to the absorption of nutrients from food, and beyond – which is why investments to better understand this unique ecosystem are so critical," said Miguel Freitas, PhD, Dannon vice president of health affairs. "The Dannon Company has a long legacy of supporting education and innovative research around nutrition and health, and we're pleased to build on that with these new microbiome related awards."

Dannon has partnered with the AGA to introduce the first-ever AGA–Dannon Gut Microbiome in Health Award, which will become part of the robust AGA Research Foundation research awards program. Dannon will award a $20,000 educational grant to an investigator selected by the AGA who has contributed significant advances in this promising area of research. The recipient of the award will be announced in the fall of 2016.  

In addition, the pre-existing grant that was originally launched in 2012 as the Yogurt and Probiotics Dannon Fellowship Grant will continue to support the next generation of scientists and the evolution of yogurt and probiotics. Based on the importance of and increasing interest in the human microbiome, Dannon is expanding the scope of the fellowship to include research projects on the human gut microbiome and doubling its investment from $25,000 per year to $50,000 per year to support two Gut Microbiome, Yogurt and Probiotics Dannon Fellowship Grants. Two winning applicants will be selected for a $25,000 scholarship, payable to the winners' educational institutions for tuition, research related projects or, as otherwise allocated at Dannon's discretion, to enhance his or her academic path in gut microbiome research. Applications will be accepted in fall 2016 for the 2016-2017 school year.

"The gut microbiota represents a crucial interface between the world in which we live, the food we eat and our overall health. The more we can learn about the human microbiome, the more we can leverage it to help people better manage everything from digestion to mood," noted Emeran Mayer, MD, professor and director of the Oppenheimer Center for Neurobiology of Stress and Resilience at UCLA and a member of the Dannon Probiotics Board.

About The Dannon Company
Headquartered in White Plains, New York, Dannon makes yogurt in Minster, OH, Fort Worth, TX, West Jordan, UT, and Portland, OR, and offers more than 200 different flavors, styles and sizes of cultured refrigerated and frozen dairy products to serve the diverse needs of its retail and foodservice customers. Dannon brings health through food to as many people as possible via its wide offering of delicious and nutritious fresh and frozen yogurts. Dannon is committed to encouraging Americans to eat one yogurt every day with a convenient, popular and nutrient dense food as a simple step that can help Americans achieve healthy dietary patterns.

Dannon is a subsidiary of Danone, and Danone is the top-selling brand of yogurt worldwide, sold under the names Dannon and Danone. For more information, visit dannon.com.

About the AGA Institute
The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, AGA has grown to more than 16,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization.www.gastro.org. 

About the AGA Research Foundation
The AGA Research Foundation, formerly known as the Foundation for Digestive Health and Nutrition, is the cornerstone of AGA's effort to expand digestive disease research funding. Since 1984, the AGA, through its foundations, has provided more than $47 million in research grants to more than 870 scientists. The AGA Research Foundation serves as a bridge to the future of research in gastroenterology and hepatology by providing critical funding to advance the careers of young researchers between the end of training and the establishment of credentials that earn National Institutes of Health grants. Learn more about the AGA Research Foundation or make a contribution at www.gastro.org/foundation.

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