Programme to Promote Internal Research

What's FRI?

The Programme to Promote Internal Research (FRI) at INSA-UB is a competitive call for research projects that foster collaboration among researchers from different groups at the Nutrition and Food Safety Research Institute (INSA-UB), and stimulate the creation of original and innovative projects. One requirement is that the projects must be carried out by researchers from at least two INSA-UB research groups, with significant participation of both groups.

The aim of the Programme is also to contribute to the research curriculum of the Institute's researchers, to help them to gain the corresponding accreditation and continue with their research careers.

Last Call


Full information about the latest call for applications can be found on the website of the Research Office at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences.

Projects Awarded


FRI 2020

Modality A:
Can nut consumption influence sleep and well-being? From the evidence to the scientific evidence: The WellNut Study

  • Ma. Fernanda Zerón Rugerio (Precision Nutrition and Chrononutrition)
  • Oriol Comas Basté (Bioactive Amines and Polyamines in Foods)

Modality B:
Impact of maternal supplementation with extra virgin olive oil on the development of the intestinal immune system of the infant

  • Anna Vallverdú Queralt (Natural Antioxidants: Polyphenols)
  • Ma. José Rodríguez Lagunas (Autoimmunity, Immunonutrition and Tolerance)

FRI 2019

Modality A:
"Cocoa and orange polyphenols in intense physical exercise in rat: from intestinal dysbiosis to metabolic effects."

  • Malén Massot Cladera (Autoimmunity and Tolerance research group)
  • Miriam Martínez Huélamo (Naturals Antioxidants: Polyphenols)

Modality B:
"Maternal vertical transmission of oleocanthal and oleacein from extra virgin olive oil and evaluation of their immunomodulatory effect on the microbiotestinal microbiota"

  • Anna Vallverdú Queralt (Naturals Antioxidants: Polyphenols)
  • Ma. José Rodríguez Lagunas (Autoimmunity and Tolerance research group)

FRI 2017

"Characterization of oil organic residues in archeologic materials to study their trade and consumption in Antiquity"

  • Julen Bustamante (LIBIFOOD-Lipids and bioactive compounds in the food chain research group)
  • Alessandra Pecci (Natural Antioxidants: Polyphenols research group)

"Valorization of vegetable oils refining by-products: effect on epithelial barrier function to identify critical parameters and establish strategies to incorporate them into feed"

  • Raquel Martín (Intestinal Transport and the Barrier Function of the Epithelia research group)
  • Alba Tres (LIBIFOOD-Lipids and bioactive compounds in the food chain research group)

FRI 2016

"New strategies for treatment of histamine intolerance due to diamine oxidase (DAO) enzyme deficiency" to

  • Maria Luz Latorre Moratalla (Bioactive Amines and Polyamines in Foods research group)
  • Joana Relat Pardo (Eicosanox research group)

FRI 2015

"Immunomodulatory effect and maternal transmission of Lactobacillus salivarius CECT5713: a probiotic strain isolated from human milk" to

  • Alba Tres Oliver (Nutritional Quality and Lipid Technology research group, currently Lipids: Characterization, Stability and Authenticity)
  • Mª José Rodríguez Laguna (Autoimmunity and Tolerance research group

"Study of the mechanisms involved in affecting intestinal barrier after human astrovirus infection" to

  • Lluïsa Miró Martí (Digestive Physiology and Nutritional Adaptations research group)
  • Cristina Fuentes Pardo (Grup Virus Entèrics)

FRI 2014

"A diet rich in cocoa and antiinflamatory activity in rat adipose tissue" to

  • Sandra Saldaña Ruiz (Autoimmunity and Tolerance research group)
  • Mar García Aloy (Biomarkers and Nutritional and Food Metabolomics research group)

FRI 2013

"Acylglycerol fingerprinting of olive oli for fraud prevention" to

  • Alba Tres Oliver (Nutritional Quality and Lipid Technology research group, currently Lipids: Characterization, Stability and Authenticity)
  • Stefania Vichi (Wine, Flavour and Quality Factors of Food and Drinks research group)

"The Food Metabolome Biomarker: new strategy for evaluate the intake of dietary bioactive compounds, foods and dietary paterns" to

  • Mireia Urpí Sardà (Biomarkers and Nutritional and Food Metabolomics research group)

FRI 2012

"Bioavailability and tissue distribution of pentacyclic triterpenic compounds with therapeutic interest from olea europaea" to

  • Estela Gimenez (Bioanalysis research group), in collaboration with the Nutritional Physiology and Pathophysiology research group

"Study of the effects of red grape extract on neuronal injury caused by 6-hydorxydopamine using the zebrafish embryo model" to

  • Ester Piqué Benages (Toxicology research group)
  • Alexander Medina-Remón (Natural Antioxidants: Polyphenols research group)

FRI 2011

"Role of nonstructural protein of nsP1a/4 in intestinal pathogenicity induced by human astrovirus infection" to

  • Susana Guix Arnau (Enteric Virus research group)
  • Anna Pérez Bosque (Digestive Physiology and Nutritional Adaptations research group)

"Protective role of β-galactomannans on intestinal epithelial barrier function disrupted by Salmonella enterica serotype enteriditis" to

  • Raquel Martín Venegas (Intestinal Transport and Epithelial Barrier Function research group), in collaboration with the Nutritional and Technological Quality of Lipids group, currently Lipids: Characterization, Stability and Authenticity)

Publications:
Type I Interferon Response Is Delayed in Human Astrovirus Infections. Guix S, Pérez-Bosque A, Miró L, Moretó M, Bosch A, Pintó RM. PLoS One (2015) 10(4):e0123087. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123087.

Loss of intestinal epithelial barrier function in Salmonella Enteritidis infection. Martin-Venegas R, Brufau MT, Ferrer R. Recent Advances in Pharmaceutical Sciences IV. Muñoz-Torrero D, Vázquez-Carrera M, Estelrich J, Eds. Research Singpost Ed., p. 73-84. Kerala (India) ISBN: 978-81-308-0554-2.

Beta-galactomannans protect epithelial barrier function disruption induced bySalmonella Enteritidis in human intestinal Caco-2 cells. Brufau MT, Guardiola F, Bou R, Vila B, Marques AM, Ferrer R, Martin-Venegas R. Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, 2013, 72 (OCE1): E51.

Salmosan® protects intestinal epithelial barrier function disrupted by Salmonella Enteritidis. Brufau MT, Guardiola F, Bou R, Ferrer R, Martin‑Venegas R. 19th European Symposium on Poultry Nutrition, Potsdam (Germany); 2013 August.