LONDON — Probiotics research pioneer Gregor Reid will hold the first research chair in Human Microbiology and Probiotics at the Lawson Health Research Institute thanks to a $7-million donation from international yogurt maker Danone Group.
Professor Reid, who teaches at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry in addition to being a Lawson scientist, has been studying probiotics for more than 25 years and has become a leading advocate for the role of so-called good bacteria in human health.
Bernard Hours, co-chief operating officer of Danone made the announcement. “At Danone, we believe that economic and social progress go hand in hand,” he says. “This investment will support groundbreaking research to help people around the world achieve health and a greater quality of life.”
As the inaugural chair, Professor Reid will lead a team of scientists to develop probiotic and prebiotic-based formulations in vitro and in human studies and collaborate with researchers and industry personnel to convert research into product development.