Can diet and nutrition influence mental health? New European project aims to find out

By |2026-10-01T12:06:24+01:00September 17th, 2026|

Can diet and nutrition influence mental health? New European project aims to find out

Researchers at the INFANT Research Centre, University College Cork (UCC) have joined a new Horizon Europe-funded research project that will investigate how diet and nutrition are associated with mental health across the life course.

NUTRIMIND (Understanding Mental Health and Nutrition in Europe) brings together 16 universities, research institutes, non-government organisations and industry partners from across Europe to investigate how diet, nutrition and related biological factors such as genetics and the gut microbiome are associated with common mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression and stress.

Over the next four years, the consortium will analyse data from existing European population studies and cohorts, combining dietary, health and biological information to strengthen understanding of the relationship between nutrition and mental health. The project will also involve researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers and members of the public in the co-design of future research, tools and communication activities.

At University College Cork, the project is led by Professor Mairead Kiely, with researchers from the INFANT Research Centre and the Cork Centre for Vitamin D and Nutrition Research contributing expertise in nutrition, maternal and child health, and brain development.

The project builds on INFANT’s long-standing focus on brain health and neurological outcomes, with childhood and adolescence recognised as important stages of life for understanding long-term health and wellbeing. This perspective informed Mairead’s comments during our discussion about why these life stages matter for the project.

Professor Mairead Kiely said:

“INFANT has a long-standing focus on brain development in children. Understanding the drivers of mental health in children and adolescents is an important part of building knowledge to improve lifelong outcomes. Linkages between diet and nutrition throughout early life and mental health outcomes are a new area of exploration. NUTRIMIND brings together expertise from across Europe to identify nutrition-linked risk signatures, such as dietary, quality, nutrient status and microbiome features associated with anxiety, depression and stress trajectories.  Over time, we hope the knowledge generated through the project will help strengthen the evidence in this emerging area of research and build the evidence needed to support future guidance for healthcare professionals, policymakers and individuals.”

The consortium officially launched NUTRIMIND at its kick-off meeting in Wageningen, the Netherlands, in June 2026 and will report in June 2030.

 

 

 

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New research programme exploring probiotics and the developing infant microbiome

By |2026-09-17T11:08:21+01:00September 1st, 2026|

Researchers at University College Cork’s APC Microbiome Ireland and INFANT Research Centre, together with Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH) and Teagasc, have begun a new research programme exploring how probiotics may influence the developing gut microbiome during the early years of life.

The first clinical trial, the SMILE Study, is focused on very early infancy and will investigate two specific probiotic strains and their potential to support the infant gut microbiome and healthy growth.

The first months of life represent an important window for this research. The infant microbiome is highly dynamic during the first year, developing alongside the gut and immune system.

Professor Paul Ross, Director of APC Microbiome Ireland and research lead for the programme, said:

“The first months of life are a critically important period for the development of the gut microbiome. Our research has shown just how dynamic the microbiome is during the first year of life. SMILE gives us an opportunity to understand how specific probiotic interventions may influence that process.”

The collaboration combines APC’s expertise and technologies in microbiome science with INFANT and CUMH’s clinical and newborn health expertise.

Professor Eugene Dempsey, INFANT Clinical Lead for Neonatal Research and Consultant Neonatologist at CUMH, said:

“By bringing together expertise in newborn health and microbiome science, we have an opportunity to investigate these questions directly with families and build a much better understanding of the role probiotics may play at different stages of early development. This is the kind of research that is only possible through strong collaboration between clinical and scientific teams.”

SMILE is the first of three planned clinical trials examining probiotic interventions at different stages of early childhood, creating an opportunity to understand how the microbiome responds at key points in a child’s development.

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