Lallemand Health Solutions to Advance Healthy Aging Research with Université Laval

Lallemand Health Solutions has entered into a collaborative research project to develop a new generation of biotics with research teams from Université Laval. The initiative aims to support cardiometabolic and neurocognitive health across the lifespan by advancing safe, scientifically validated nutritional solutions grounded in translational science.

The project involves researchers from the Research Centers of the Institut Universitaire de Cardiologie et de Pneumologie de Québec (IUCPQ)-Université Laval and of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval and the Institut sur la Nutrition et les Aliments Fonctionnels (INAF) of Université Laval.

As the global population ages, the risk of cardiometabolic and cognitive disorders continues to rise, creating a need to develop strategies that address the underlying biological mechanisms of aging.

“Our approach relies on an integrated translational strategy that combines human data, predictive preclinical models, and in‑depth mechanistic analyses,” said Stéphane Bronner, PhD, translational research director at the Rosell Institute of Microbiome and Probiotics, Lallemand Health Solutions’ main research center. “The objective is to generate product candidates that are ready for clinical validation. This collaboration builds on our fully integrated innovation pipeline, from early discovery through preclinical validation.”

Lallemand Health Solutions will contribute its portfolio of more than 40 proprietary probiotic strains and its expertise in probiotic development, while Université Laval Research Centers provide access to a unique biobank derived from human cohorts and state-of-the-art research platforms and core facilities.

“With this project, our goals are to identify and characterize beneficial bacterial strains and consortia, to demonstrate their efficacy on cardiometabolic, cognitive, and inflammatory markers associated with aging, and ultimately to develop one or more candidates ready for human clinical validation,” said André Marette, PhD, professor of medicine and researcher at the IUCPQ and INAF at Université Laval.

Initial screening and prioritization of strains will be conducted using in silico analyses and existing datasets, followed by high‑throughput functional screening in preclinical models to identify signatures associated with longevity, metabolic health, and neurocognitive function. Promising candidates will then be evaluated in an in vivo model of accelerated aging, incorporating comprehensive cardiometabolic, intestinal, and neurocognitive phenotyping to support preclinical validation.

The project also includes an investigation of the biological mechanisms underlying the observed effects. These analyses will explore changes in gut microbiota composition and function, short‑chain fatty acids and bile acid metabolism, chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, nitric oxide signaling, the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway, and neuroendocrine mechanisms involved in aging.