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Producers of dietary supplements have historically lacked scientific rigour when advertising the health benefits of their products. Researchers at Cardiff University have addressed this problem in relation to omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). They identified a family of enzymes (aggrecanases) as key players in the onset of arthritis, knowledge subsequently used to identify a specific subset of omega-3-PUFAs with beneficial activity in a canine arthritis model. This led to novel patents and product development in both the pet food and human dietary supplement markets. These include the patented use of omega-3 PUFAs in Hills'® Prescription Diet® range and the development and marketing of Seven Seas' `JointCare' products.
University of Southampton research into the anti-inflammatory effects of omega-3 fatty acids and the mechanisms by which they act has delivered benefits for the treatment of cardiovascular disease, improving clinical practice, lowering mortality rates and reducing healthcare costs. The findings of a novel mechanism of action by which omega-3 reduces cardiovascular events and mortality have contributed to UK government guidelines on nutrition, have been cited in European atherosclerosis guidelines, and have been patented and licensed in several countries, resulting in new research income. They have also received significant media exposure and formed the basis of a number of educational events for health professionals.
Rabies is an infectious disease that kills at least 55,000 people annually, primarily in Asia and Africa, with infected dogs being the major source of infection in humans. In a recent rabies epidemic on the Indonesian island of Bali, between Dec 2008 and June 2011, over 130 human deaths occurred, because the actions of the local authorities were not sufficient to control the outbreak. Research undertaken at the University of Glasgow was instrumental in the development of an island-wide canine vaccination strategy between 2010 and 2013. These campaigns controlled the spread of rabies in dogs (villages reporting new cases) and reduced the incidence of human deaths by over 90% compared with the incidence before mass canine vaccination started, in late 2010. As of July 2013, Bali had gone 11 months without a human case of rabies. The research also contributed to advocacy, policy formulation and development of computer-based tools to support rabies control both within Bali and other developing countries.