Explorers of the phytogenic universe
Did you know that there are more than 28.000 plants that show medicinal effects? Today’s medicine just knows a small amount of this helpful plant-based ingredients. A new research center in Austria wants to change this.
Scientists estimate that more than 28.000 plants show medicinal effects. For example, guava and daisy extracts can lower blood sugar levels in humans. But it is also a fact, that today’s medicine only knows a small fraction of the bioactive plant-based ingredients. “This fact we want to change”, said Julian Weghuber, leader of the new Josef-Ressel-Center (JRC) for Phytogenic Drug Research at the opening ceremony.
In the new research center at the University of Applied Sciences Upper Austria in Wels these active substances are studied for the prevention and therapeutic accompaniment of human diseases of civilization and for the improvement of animal health and performance.
JRC for Phytogenic Drug Research
The JRC for Phytogenic Drug Research is dedicated to research and analysis of phytogenics to improve human and animal health. Thus, the JRC has two research priorities:
- Research on animal feed, with a focus on anti-inflammatory and performance-enhancing properties
- Research on functional foods and dietary supplements for the prevention and treatment of diabetes and obesity
Project partnership
The scientists of the JRC cooperate with academic partners and innovative corporations. Delacon is also one of the corporate project partners of the JRC.
“Plant-based ingredients are broadly researched at the JRC to create important fundamentals that will facilitate our product development”, says Andreas Mueller, Head of Research & Development at Delacon.
“Everyone benefits from this cooperation project – because we try to do things that are needed”, states Weghuber. “Because animal feed with anti-inflammatory and performance-enhancing properties is becoming increasingly important globally.”
What are Josef-Ressel-Centers (JRC)?
- Embedded in universities of applied sciences
- Duration of 5 years
- Application-oriented on high level
- Compact research groups (3-10 people)
- Financed by public purse and corporations
- Flexible and relatively little organizational effort
Christoph Hartinger
From driving instructor over journalist to public relations and communications specialist. Christoph is interested in the phenomena of communication from a professional, scientific and private perspective already for decades – his hardest project so far: Understanding the differences between male and female communication. Considering himself as a lifelong learner with many interests like music, sports and science. Since October 2020, he is following a new career path outside Delacon.
