Two Canadians Win Prestigious Prize for Nutrition and Health Research 2007 Elie Metchnikoff Prize Awarded for work developing probiotics

MOSCOW – Two Canadian scientists have been awarded the 2007 Elie Metchnikoff Prize for Nutrition and Health, recognizing their breakthrough developments in probiotic research. The award celebrates the 100th anniversary of Nobel Laureate Metchnikoff’s work linking beneficial bacteria with long life – work that the Canadians have continued.

Drs. Gregor Reid and Andrew Bruce of Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Ontario, received the award today at the International Dairy Federation Conference in Moscow.

The two were cited as having made outstanding discoveries in how lactic acid bacteria and probiotics enhance human nutrition, health and longevity.

Reid and Bruce’s breakthrough work has shown that orally administered beneficial Lactobacillus bacteria can help to maintain and restore vaginal health. An estimated one billion women worldwide suffer from vaginal and bladder infections, and studies have shown that the lactobacilli discovered by the two scientists can prevent and improve treatment of these conditions.

In addition, Reid and Bruce’s studies have resulted in the application of bacteria to children and adults infected with HIV in Africa. Early results show that the probiotic yogurt they have developed helps resolve diarrhea and boosts immune status. “By adults living two or three years longer due to these health improvements, fewer children go into orphanages,” says His Excellency Ombeni Sefue, Canadian High Commissioner for the United Republic of Tanzania. “To families in Tanzania this really is a miracle.”

The probiotics research has led to the creation of the Canadian Research and Development Centre for Probiotics at Lawson. The Centre has trained of over 40 students in the past five years and collaborates on projects in Brazil, Nigeria, Tanzania, Holland, Sweden, USA, New Zealand, UK, Poland and across Canada.


“We need to regard bacteria as part of us, instead of constantly trying to wipe them all out,” says Reid, who was recently appointed President of the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics. “If our work helps a fraction of the women who suffer, often in silence, from vaginal and bladder infections – and if we help a fraction of the men, women and children with HIV/AIDS whose daily challenge is to stay alive and active – then we will have the ultimate reward for our research.”

The award – one of three categories of the Metchnikoff Prize – was awarded at the Moscow Bolshoy Theatre and comes with a medal, plaque and cheque for 15,000 Euros.

About Drs. Reid and Bruce

Dr. Gregor Reid is a scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute in London, Ontario as well as Professor of Immunology and Microbiology at Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry at The University of Western Ontario. Dr. Andrew Bruce is a scientist at Lawson and is also the former Head of Urology at University of Toronto and McGill and Queens Universities.

About the Metchnikoff Prize
By launching this prize, The International Dairy Foundation, together with its partner organizations, Institut Pasteur and the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP), pay tribute to Nobel prize winner Prof. Elie Metchnikoff and his founding contribution to a very dynamic and rapidly expanding branch of the dairy
industry, namely fermented milks and probiotics for improving nutrition and health worldwide. His famous book titled “The Prolongation of Life” appeared on the international scene almost one hundred years ago. For more information: http://emetchnikoff.fil-idf-pr.com

About Lawson Health Research Institute
Lawson Health Research Institute is the research institute of London Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph's Health Care, London. It is one of the largest hospital-based research institutes in Canada and is dedicated to helping people live healthier lives by advancing knowledge of how to prevent, diagnose and treat disease.


For more information, please contact:

Andrew Kaszowski, Communications Consultant
Lawson Health Research Institute
519-646-6100 ext. 65516
andrew.kaszowski@sjhc.london.on.ca
www.lhrionhealth.ca