Food Proteins and Peptides

Professor Navam Hettiarachchy's research program focuses on an integrated approach to protein chemistry, bioactives, peptides (anti-cancer, anti-Alzheimer's, anti-diabetic/obesity & satiety), nutraceuticals, functional foods, and food safety. She also works in adding value to industry co-products using novel technologies to obtain antimicrobials, antioxidants, and functional ingredients, and in new food product development and food safety. She serves as a resource person related to her area of expertise and is the co-founder of Nutraceutical Innovations, LLC. She is internationally renowned for her research program on protein, bioactives, cereals and legumes. Professor Maurice Marshall's research focuses on the analysis of food constituents including biogenic amines, antioxidants, pesticide residues, food enzymes, and unique browning inhibitors from insects, mussels, and crustaceans. He also works on thehydrolysis of waste seafood protein for bioactive peptide generation and their action as antioxidants and as antidiabetic, anticancer, and high-blood-pressure regulators. Professor Kenji Sato's current research interest focuses on bioactive peptides, especially metabolic fate of these peptides. His lab continues research on food-derived peptides to demonstrate their absorption, metabolic fate, and efficacy and elucidate their molecular mechanisms of action. Dr. Arvind Kannan is currently working as a postdoctoral fellow at the food science department at the University of Arkansas and is involved in studies on bioactive proteins and peptides including mechanisms. He also serves as a scientist at Nutraceutical Innovations, LLC. that focuses on fermentation of rice bran to generate bioactives for value-added functional and nutraceutical uses.