Pharmako Biotechnologies, a sister company of Gencor (Irvin, CA), has been granted an Innovation Connections grant worth over $100,000 to investigate the efficacy and bioavailability of its curcumin extract known as HydroCurc.
 
Over the next 12 months, researchers at Western Sydney University’s NICM Health Research Institute (NICM) will independently investigate HydroCurc and its potential to reduce inflammation in the brain. They will study if the ingredient crosses the blood-brain barrier and shows anti-inflammatory activity to support brain health and enhance neurodegenerative processes in the brain.
 
Project investigator and NICM Postdoctoral Research Fellow Mitchell Low said, “managing chronic inflammation is a promising therapeutic approach in many age-related health conditions. Curcumin, from turmeric, is a well-known natural anti-inflammatory. However, it is not well absorbed into our bodies because it does not fully dissolve in water. Pharmako Biotechnologies developed a curcumin product, HydroCurc, that disperses well in water and is absorbed much better by our bodies than current forms of curcumin.”
 
Low continued, “the main aim of this study is to determine if the new form of curcumin passes the blood-brain barrier where its anti-inflammatory activity may have beneficial effects on common aging health conditions.”
 
The Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs Programme, the Innovation Connections grant, forms part of the National Innovation and Science Agenda. Designed to encourage innovation and collaboration between Australian businesses and the research sector. Innovation Connections assists small and medium businesses in establishing their research needs through grants and enables these companies to fast-track additional research and development.
 
“This is a huge breakthrough for Pharmako and HydroCurc. This study would be one of the very first high-quality studies focused on how curcumin could positively affect brain health,” said Eric Meppem, co-founder at Pharmako Biotechnologies. “We are thrilled about this project with NICM and are eager to see the results.”