About the Centre
The Centre for Food & Genomic Medicine (CFGM) is a research cluster established to tackle the twin epidemics of diabetes and obesity, often known as 'diabesity'. The Centre was established in early 2007 via a strategic investment from the State Government of Western Australia, through the then Department of Industry and Resources, and is a Centre of the Western Australian Institute for Medical Research (WAIMR).
The CFGM is a unique blend of world-class, WA based scientific, clinical, agricultural and food technology researchers who have joined forces to address this complex, multifaceted problem from various complementary angles. The Centre's goals are to open the door to new diagnostic and prognostic tests for 'diabesity', identify novel potential therapeutic targets for 'diabesity', as well as developing scientifically proven alternative food ingredients that are healthy, novel, effective and affordable.
With our commercial partners from a diverse mix of food technologies we hope to translate our research findings into enhanced population health outcomes by increasing public awareness and understanding of lupin attributed health benefits as well as increase the availability of Centre-developed lupin enriched foods. Further, we hope to work with industry to develop novel biomarkers into clinically useful tools.
Significant outcomes from the first 3.5 years:
- The creation of new lupin-enriched foods including 'healthy' snack foods, pasta, bread, Tempe and breakfast bars.
- Successful commercialisation of CFGM developed lupin enriched bread locally (Bodhi's Bakehouse) and Tempe products nationally (Indonesia, with promising leads in India and Thailand pending)
- Discovery in clinical trials of the positive health and medical benefits of CFGM lupin-enriched foods on hunger, blood glucose/insulin control, blood pressure and bone density
- Identification and characterisation of new genes linked to obesity and the regulation of body metabolism
- Identification of novel biomarkers of 'diabesity' and preliminary validation in selected clinical cohorts of affected patients
- Identification of lupin genes and proteins associated with positive health and medical benefits attributable to consuming lupin-enriched foods
- Isolation of novel proteins in lupin/wheat flour baked products with potential attributes related to health benefits of consuming lupin-enriched foods
- Successful leveraging of CFGM related developments to acquire significant additional national funding opportunities
