ARLA FOOD FOR HEALTH 4 th ANNUAL CALL FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST 7 th July 2017 Cntent 1 Intrductin 2 Tpics fr EOI in the 4 th call 3 The applicatin prcess and imprtant dates 4 Guideline fr EOIs Deadline fr submissin f Expressins f Interest: Friday, 27 th Octber 2017 1. Intrductin The Arla Fd fr Health (AFH) Centre is pleased t launch the 4 th call fr Expressins f Interest, EOI, fr research prjects t be funded in 2018. AFH is a lng-term strategic public-private c-peratin between Arla Fds, Aarhus University, the University f Cpenhagen and cnnected research affiliates wrldwide. The Centre aims t stimulate wrld class scientific research n dairy, dairy ingredients & health in areas f strategic imprtance t partner Universities and Arla, linking research t value creatin. All partners in the Centre seek t better understand the rle f dairy fds in healthy, sustainable eating patterns. In particular, AFH is interested in prmting advanced research methdlgies related t the milk value chain i.e., identificatin/characterizatin f active milk cmpnents, islatin and scaling up f these, in vitr and in viv dcumentatin f health effects. Validatin f these effects in high quality human interventin studies (RCTs r Prspective Observatinal Studies) are f special interest as is the delivery f evidence-based benefit claims fr the develpment f new prducts. Within this furth call, the verall theme is: dairy thrugh life. Milk, and dairyderived ingredients, cntain a variety f imprtant nutrients including prtein, calcium, ptassium, phsphrus and idine, as well as vitamins B2 and B12. Despite its beneficial effects, there is a clear need t unlck knwledge abut key pathways fr the absrptin f milk nutrients as the human bdy changes frm childhd t the elderly years taking als int cnsideratin dairy as a whle fd r as part f a diet, with a special fcus n the fd matrix n health utcmes and mechanisms f actin. Mre details f the tpics and type f applicatins sught are prvided belw. 2. Tpics fr EOI in the 4 th call The verall theme fr this furth call is dairy thrugh life and we welcme applicatins with a fcus n:
Page 2 Call fr Expressins f Interest Dairy thrugh life Childhd (2 10 years): Bne mass attained during early childhd and adlescence is thught t be the mst imprtant mdifiable risk factr fr future bne health. During childhd, muscles as wells as bnes cntinue t grw and develp, and it is imprtant that children have the right nutrients t build strng and healthy bnes, and t lay the fundatins fr lifelng bne health. (i) (ii) Studies shwing the interrelatin between dairy cnsumptin and verall grwth in children preferably via mechanistic and/r human interventin studies. Optimal amunt f prtein (e.g., verall Nitrgen-input v. utput) is f special interest. Related studies n synergistic effects f dairy with ther fd cmpnents and vitamins (e.g., vitamin D) n bne mass, calcium uptake/balance and mineralisatin mechanisms. Dairy thrugh life Adlescence (11 18 years): During adlescence requirements fr prtein and ther nutrients, including calcium, are increased. The reasn fr the increased calcium need is that adlescents will experience rapid grwth as bnes begin t grw in length and strengthen. It is estimated fr example, that almst 90% f a persn s bne strength will have been achieved by the age f 18. Diet and lifestyle chices are the largest risks fr lss - and ptential gain - f health and quality f life wrldwide. In this cntext, hw can we best leverage the unique nutritinal prperties f dairy prducts and ingredients in a healthy diet? (iii) (iv) The effect f dietary patterns, dairy v. flexitarian and/r vegetarian diets, n metablic health and musculskeletal develpment Synergistic effects f dairy with ther fd cmpnents and vitamins (e.g., vitamin D) n bne mass, calcium uptake/balance and mineralisatin mechanisms. Dairy thrugh life Adults (19+ years): Fllwing the mid thirties it is nrmal fr a persn s bdy t slwly begin t lse bne and muscle mass. Bne lss can eventually cntribute twards making bnes mre brittle and easily fractured. Fr wmen, there is a marked increase in bne lss arund the time f the menpause. Adults, hwever, cnsume less fluid milk ver time. (v) Human studies t shw pssible synergistic effects f dairy with ther fd cmpnents and vitamins (e.g., vitamin D) t best prtect against the nset f bne lss in pst-menpausal wmen, as measured by key musculskeletal indicatrs (e.g., bne density/strength, mbility imprvement, etc.)
Call fr Expressins f Interest Page 3 (vi) Randmised Cntrl Trials (RCTs) aimed at demnstrating the mechanisms f fermented dairy (e.g., ygurt) n end pints f imprtance fr the risk f type 2 diabetes (T2D). Dairy thrugh life Elderly (65+ years): As we age, fd texture and ther sensry prperties (e.g., taste) play a significant rle in the type f fd we cnsume and relative amunts ingested. In additin, the bdy s ability t absrb sme nutrients becmes less efficient, s it can be harder t get all the necessary nutrients fr gd health. Please ensure that all apprpriate fields in the Expressin f Interest are included. (vii) (viii) Human interventin studies t elucidate the physilgical mechanisms that explain ptential differences and effects f prteins with different characteristics (e.g., native, hydrlysed, heat-treated, particulates, etc.) and frm different matrices/surces (e.g., dairy v. plants) in relatin t musculskeletal, r gastrintestinal health (e.g., intestinal inflammatin and blating) in elderly individuals; The interplay f prteins (milk v. plants), calcium (milk v. Ca-citrate) and vitamin D absrptin in maintaining bne health (e.g., bne density/strength and muscle strength) in elderly individuals. 3. The applicatin prcess and imprtant dates Applicatin AFH fllws a ne-stage applicatin prcess based n submissin f expressins f interest (EOI). Prject activities in EOIs culd cmprise prf f cncept studies r additinal activities t nging prjects, where these specifically address the tpics f interest f this call. Interactins within and between Centre members and (inter)natinal partners are welcmed and encuraged. Submissin The submissin deadline fr nline EOIs is 27 th Octber 2017 at 17:00 CET Expressins f Interest must be submitted via email t anmr@arlafds.cm fllwing all instructins detailed at: https://www.arla.cm/cmpany/arla-fd-frhealth/active-call/submit-an-expressin-f-interest/ If yu are experiencing any technical prblems r yur query is nt answered in the infrmatin prvided in the website, please cntact anmr@arlafds.cm. An infrmatin sessin n Arla s business and health strategy will take place n 2 nd Octber 2017. Meeting details will be sent t all parties registering interest t attend Please read carefully the Guideline fr Expressins f Interest befre cmpleting an applicatin frm.
Page 4 Review prcess Call fr Expressins f Interest EOIs will be reviewed, in first instance, by external science advisrs and ranked accrding t science quality The AFH Steering Cmmittee (SC) cnducts an internal review t assess: (i) strategic fit (Arla and University perspective), (ii) business relevance (Arla perspective) and (iii) the science quality as ranked by external science advisrs. Prjects with a high science quality rating but lw business relevance, r lw strategic fit, will nt be selected AFH SC apprves final selectin f prjects t be funded fr the call The Head f AFH cmmunicates decisin t principal investigatrs (PIs) fr selected prjects, including any requirement fr amendments t EOI. The Expressin f Interest shuld nt exceed 5 A4 pages (excl. CVs) and must be written in English Imprtant dates Key timelines fr the AFH 4 th Call fr Expressins f Interest: 07/07/2017 Launch f 4 th Call fr EOI 27/10/2017 Last date t submit EOI 15/12/2017 Decisin n funding 31/01/2018 Final prject apprval and cntractual 4. Guideline fr Expressins f Interest The Expressin f Interest shuld nt exceed 5 A4 pages, is t be written in English and shuld include the fllwing elements (in this rder): Prject title - As cncise as pssible. Add prject acrnym Research area: which f the tpics f interest the prject relates t The prject's main bjective (max 3 lines) Prject summary (max 20 lines). Prject duratin - Expected start and end
Call fr Expressins f Interest Page 5 Estimate f the prject's ttal budget: attach a cmpleted budget template t the EI (template available n website) Applicant(s)/PI s: Name and cntact details f the Principal Investigatr (mail, phne, address) Name (s) and address f the prject manager - title, name, address, phne and e-mail Bank details and accunting cntact: Banks - name and registratin and accunt number Accunting Cntact - name, address, phne, e-mail Prject descriptin (max 1 page): The hyptheses fr the prject and a brief descriptin f the relevant statef-the-art - Cncise and brken dwn int sub-gals. Prject cntent - Cncise descriptin f the prject cntent, milestnes, and requirements fr equipment and research facilities. Freseen Prject Outcme, including: Why is it relevant fr the dairy industry? Shrt descriptin f the innvative aspects, scientific and cmmercial perspectives (include: what news wuld the prpsed research add t existing knwledge; what difference the prject culd make t peple s health?) Hw far the prject utcmes can be used directly fr initiatives that beneficially affect the target grup s health; hw culd this be achieved? Assessment f the risk f prject failure Summary f Experiments and Wrk Packages (max 1 page, preferably less) Cntributin t educatin - shrt descriptin f the prject's educatinal cntributins Plans fr publicatin Descriptin f the main CVs in appendix (nt included in the 5 pages): attach an appendix with names and CVs, rle in prject and man mnths cmmitted t the prject during the lifetime f the prject: A 2-page CV f the main applicant/pi (incl. prject management experience) A 1-page CV frm leading c-applicant(s) frm (ther) participating institutins/cmpanies A maximum f 5 CVs shuld be prvided Cmmitment frm all participants in the prject.