Dipl Eng, MSc, PhD
Senior Research Fellow
- About
-
- Email Address
- m.neacsu@abdn.ac.uk
- Telephone Number
- +44 (0)1224 438760
- Office Address
Gut Health Theme, Rowett Institute,
School of Medicine, Medical Sciences & Nutrition
University of Aberdeen
Foresterhill,
Aberdeen, Scotland,
AB25 2ZD UK
- School/Department
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition
Biography
Madi studied biochemical engineering (1995-2000) at the University Babes-Bolyai, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, followed by a MSc in bio-catalysis (2000-2001) from same University and a PhD in Natural Products Chemistry and Biotechnology (2001-2006). After the PhD years spent with prestigious fellowships in several European Universities(Finland, Belgium, Spain), she specialised on functional food development in both academia and industry. Madi has contributed to the compilation of dossiers for successful ESFA-approved health claims. She received funding from the Scottish Government (2012-2016) to investigate the potential for sustainable and healthy high-protein ingredients. This work was followed by another Governmental funding (2016-2022) programme focussing on developing technologies for designing specialised functional foods exploring the potential of high protein crops such as hemp and buckwheat for T2D prevention/maintenance. Her work translates key findings from human studies into bioactive-formulations, functional foods/ingredients using a zero-waste approach, contributing to a circular nutrition and a greener economy. Madi recently has been responsible for product development in a GCRF grant with Malawi (2017-2020) which, has contributed to bring a scientifically proven, patented fair-trade nutraceutical product closer to market. Currently, Madi is leading a five-year Scottish Government funded research programme (2022-2027) on hemp a carbon-neutral, environmentally friendly crop for diet biodiversification in Scotland. Madi’s work involves working across industry and academia for the promotion and understanding of the chemistry and biology underpinning all aspects of food science. She actively participates in knowledge exchange activities, specifically raising public awareness of the importance of consuming plant-based foods, being recently awarded (2020) The Principal Excellence Prize on Public Engagement with Research.
External Memberships
Member of “The Royal Society of Chemistry”
Latest Publications
Persimmon Fiber-Rich Ingredients Promote Anti-Inflammatory Responses and the Growth of Beneficial Anti-Inflammatory Firmicutes Species from the Human Colon
Nutrients, vol. 16, no. 15, 2518Contributions to Journals: ArticlesNutrient Content and Physical Properties of Scottish Hemp Oil and Oil By-products: Data to support the revalorisation of hemp by-products and promote a circular nutrition
2 pagesBooks and Reports: Other ReportsBuckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) Hulls Are a Rich Source of Fermentable Dietary Fibre and Bioactive Phytochemicals: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 24, no. 22, 16310Contributions to Journals: ArticlesHabitual consumption of high-fibre bread fortified with bean hulls increased plasma indole-3-propionic concentration and decreased putrescine and deoxycholic acid faecal concentrations in healthy volunteers
British Journal of Nutrition, vol. 130, no. 9, pp. 1521-1536Contributions to Journals: ArticlesConfidence does not mediate a relationship between owner experience and likelihood of using weight management approaches for native ponies
PloS ONE, vol. 18, no. 10, pp. e0292886Contributions to Journals: Articles
Prizes and Awards
- Principal’s Excellence Award for Public Engagement with Research (2020)
- Mars Award for Polyphenol Research, International Polyphenols Conference
- Research
-
Research Overview
- Identify novel crops, suitable to grow in Scotland, which can provide sustainable sources of nutrients and establishing their nutritional and phytochemical profile. Currently, my work involves crops like: buckwheat, hemp, potato bean (Apios Americana).
- Assess the nutritional and health impact of food crops on humans through running acute and chronic human dietary intervention studies, acquiring crucial information on their key bioactives bioavailability and metabolism.
- Understand the bioavailability, metabolism and bioactivity of dietary bioactives: my research focuses on:
-determination the form and concentration of key dietary metabolites following the consumption of plant based foods.
-ex vivo assessment of plant bioactive metabolites bioactivity at nutritionally relevant concentrations and forms.
-developing methods of synthesis, measuring and isolating of biomolecules from diets and their metabolites from human biological samples.
- Translate key nutritional research findings into specialised food formulations/ingredients and novel foods:
-design of biological active food formulations, and functional foods to prevent or aid metabolic disorders. This can support claims for a range of diverse health promoting products.
-industry engagement to address demand and find solution to reformulate existing foods for better nutritional profile and/or to reduce food and agricultural by products/waste though developing novel foods while contributing to zero-waste processes, a greener economy and a circular nutrition.
Research Areas
Accepting PhDs
I am currently accepting PhDs in Nutrition and Health.
Please get in touch if you would like to discuss your research ideas further.
Research Specialisms
- Nutrition
- Food and Beverage Production
- Food Science
- Food and Beverage Studies
Our research specialisms are based on the Higher Education Classification of Subjects (HECoS) which is HESA open data, published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
Current Research
Hemp: a climate resilient crop for the future of Scottish agriculture (2022-2027) The Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan includes reference to carbon sequestration options for agriculture. Hemp has a great capacity for carbon sequestration, contributing to a greater biodiversity, land recovery and remediation. Therefore, could play a role in the development and expansion of a low carbon, environmentally responsible industry, bringing a new ‘cash-crop’ to Scottish agriculture. Emerging hemp industry has an innovative opportunity being part of the solution to contribute and to give scope for GHG removal activities to the farmers and to increase the agriculture diversity. The research project aims to support hemp as a climate resilient food crop that promotes biodiversity, green economy and therefore climate change by: i) Stimulate the Scottish farming sector to run GHG removal activities; ii) Identify opportunities for the Scottish food and drink sector to promote sustainability and iii) Understand nutrition sufficiency and consumer acceptance of hemp food as part of low carbon footprint diet.
Discover Scotland’s initiative on hemp (cannabiswealth.co.uk)
Could hemp be the next dietary hit? | The Scottish Farmer
Revalorising agricultural and food by-products:
Hemp: Examining the potential for reducing and revalorising waste in the hempseed food chain as part of the circular economy (2021-2024). A project co-funded by the Good Hemp UK - a partnership initiated through an MRC Proximity to Discovery Industry Engagement Fund (P2D) grant - and CONACYT, the Mexican Council for Science & Technology; aimed to revalorise co-products from hemp food industry and deliver novel functional food products.
Fava bean: The UK is the largest producer of broad bean in Europe. This leads to important amounts of by-products such as hulls which are largely discarded. Valorising this material as food represents an opportunity to reduce food waste, to contribute to a circular nutrition. To understand the bean hulls’ nutritional (and health) potential involves assessing the way our body metabolise the nutrients and bioactive molecules after we eat the bean hulls.
Buckfood Project. The current work has a strong focus on developing technologies for designing specialised functional foods exploring the potential of high protein crops (i.e. buckwheat, hemp) for T2D prevention/maintenance. Buckfood human study looks at the potential of buckwheat rich foods in modulation of postprandial glycemia in people living with Type 2 diabetes. Rowett Institute on Twitter: "It's #WorldDiabetesDay today. #Research from @MadalinaNeacsu3 looks at how functional plant food ingredients could ameliorate glucose metabolism and help people living with type 2 diabetes. #leadingideas @SEFARIscot @aberdeenuni https://t.co/AwSiht6kI3" / Twitter
Novel Crops Project. Establish novel or underutilized crops as best candidates for food security and for a healthy sustainable diet. Study the nutritional composition of food crops such as buckwheat, hemp, or potato bean to assess their potential to contribute to future protein demand and agricultural diversification in Scotland. Explore their food and agricultural by-products to be revalorised for food and feed applications. Furthermore to understand these crops potential to contribute to diet biodiversification and meeting the reduction of Green House Gas Emissions in Scotland. Hemp’s role in diet biodiversification and reducing greenhouse gas emissions | SEFARI
Hemp Project | The Rowett Institute | The University of Aberdeen (abdn.ac.uk)
Gut health and heart disease Project: Development of specialised food: Exploring various dietary components and strategies (specific Gastro Intestinal Tract targeted food) to deliver functional foods and ingredients as part of nutritional therapies to tackle atherosclerosis. Functional food and gut microbiota -Dr Madalina Neacsu (panopto.eu); Microbiota-directed food formulation | The Rowett Institute | The University of Aberdeen (abdn.ac.uk)
Knowledge Exchange
Hemp for the future: This is a activity we run in schools across Scotland exploring the hemp crop. Hemp is a carbon-neutral, zero-waste crop used for materials, food, energy and personal care. Research at the Rowett Institute investigates hemp as a source of healthy and sustainable food, showcasing Scottish Government funded work on Scottish grown hemp for food and work with major UK hemp food producers. Furthermore, within this activity are discussed other possibilities hemp brings as an agricultural crop, its multitude of uses, and its potential as climate change champion contributing towards a net-zero society.
My work involves working across public, industry and academia for promotion and understanding of the chemistry and biology underpinning all aspects of food science. I actively participate in knowledge exchange activities, specifically raising public awareness of the importance of consuming plant-based foods, being recently awarded (2020) The Principal Excellence Prize on Public Engagement with Research.
Taste of Plants Project.This project consists of a novel format knowledge exchange event aimed to communicate SEFARI (Scottish Environment, Food and Agriculture Research Institutes) research to key stakeholders. Taste of Plants Project | The Rowett Institute | The University of Aberdeen (abdn.ac.uk)
If you want to know more about this project you can follow the link: Taste of Plants | SEFARI
A taste of plants recipe book. We have recently been studying how different sources of protein may contribute to healthier diets, could help Scotland be more sustainable (both economically and environmentally) and help reduce its dependence on imported foods and ingredients. Our research has looked at the potential to use our land in different ways.
A Taste of Plants Recipe Book | The Rowett Institute | The University of Aberdeen (abdn.ac.uk)
Collaborations
ERASMUS+ Interinstitutional Agreement between University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca, Romania and The Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, UK.
This grant facilitates the mobility and exchange of postgraduates research students and staff for specific complementary projects and lecturing.
Miguel Hernandez University, Elche Spain and Mitra Sol Spain: development, production and scale up technologies for functional foods and ingredients using food and agricultural by-products.
Pablo Olavide University, Spain Universidad Pablo de Olavide, Seville (upo.es). Assessing the potential of agricultural and food co-products to develop functional ingredients for chronic disease prevention and maintenance.
Funding and Grants
2023-2024: BBSRC Biofortification HUB, Sustainable biofortification solutions for Scottish food production,(PI £49,879.36)
2023-2024: BBSRC Biofortification HUB, Elevating Omega-3 Fatty Acid , Vitamin E and Microelement content of Eggs, supporting Diet, Climate and Biodiversity Targets (lOVEEggs), (co-PI, £44,101.26)
2023-2025: Innovate UK, Biodiversification of nutrients to meet dietary needs of the UK population: prevention and control of Type 2 diabetes and promotion of a healthy gut, (PI , £380,661).
2023-2025: Innovate UK, Transitioning Sustainable Crop Production into Innovative and Affordable Healthy Food Products for Hard-to-Reach communities in the North-East of Scotland, (co-PI, £301,072.)
2023: Research - Scottish Funding Council, Interface - Knowledge Connection to Business, Sustainable solutions for reducing agricultural (farm) hemp waste, (PI, £10,000 (approx.)
2023: Ministerio de Ciencia y Innovacion, Spain, Functional bioactive fractions from, Diospyros kaki industrialization: zero waste applied to the circular economy, (PI, £22,000)
2022-2027: Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme (PI, fully funded, approx. £1.8M): Hemp: a climate resilient crop for the future of Scottish agriculture
2022-2027: Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme (co-PI, fully funded, approx. £1.6M): Supply Chain-Driven Food and Drink Reformulation to achieve Scotland’s Dietary and Climate Targets
2021-2024: CONACyT Mexico and Good Hemp company UK (PI, approx. £120K PhD studentship), The potential of hemp and co-products to diversify the food ingredients and diet composition. The development of foods and functional food ingredients while reducing waste from hemp food production and deliver a circular nutrition.
2020 SEFARI Gateway ROF, Hemp for 45 (co-PI)
2019 SEFARI Gateway ROF, A Taste of Plants (PI, £13,000)
2016-2022 Scottish Government Strategic Research Programme (PI, fully funded, approx. £1M/year)
Novel Crops (Productive and Sustainable Land Management and Rural Economies)
2018 MRC Proximity to Discovery Grant Mobility grant to engage with Industry (PI);
2016-2021 ERASMUS+ Mobility grant (PI);
2017-2020 BBSRC Global Challenges Research Fund (£473,600; co-PI,), Moringa; delivering nutrition and economic value to the people of Malawi;
2015-2018 CAPES Brazil (PI, approx. £100,000, PhD studentship), Developing novel sustainable functional food ingredients;
2014-2015 FHIS grant with industry (PI, approx. £10,000) Formulation of a meat free version of traditional “Scotch pie” and asses its nutritional benefits.
- Teaching
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Teaching Responsibilities
Coordinator on Line Msc Course (RN5503): Development and Coordination of Clinical Nutrition for Disease Prevention (including course design)
Lecturing:
RN5005 - Food Reformulation: Theory & Practice
RN5503 - Clinical Nutrition For Disease Prevention
RN5504 - Nutrition And Health Through The Life Stages
RN5505 - Clinical Nutrition
Non-course Teaching Responsibilities
PhD supervision:
Miss Ashley Ward
Miss Verena Schmidt
Mr Ricardo Sanchez
MSc supervision and BSc supervision
- Publications
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Persimmon Fiber-Rich Ingredients Promote Anti-Inflammatory Responses and the Growth of Beneficial Anti-Inflammatory Firmicutes Species from the Human Colon
Nutrients, vol. 16, no. 15, 2518Contributions to Journals: ArticlesNutrient Content and Physical Properties of Scottish Hemp Oil and Oil By-products: Data to support the revalorisation of hemp by-products and promote a circular nutrition
2 pagesBooks and Reports: Other ReportsBuckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) Hulls Are a Rich Source of Fermentable Dietary Fibre and Bioactive Phytochemicals: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 24, no. 22, 16310Contributions to Journals: ArticlesHabitual consumption of high-fibre bread fortified with bean hulls increased plasma indole-3-propionic concentration and decreased putrescine and deoxycholic acid faecal concentrations in healthy volunteers
British Journal of Nutrition, vol. 130, no. 9, pp. 1521-1536Contributions to Journals: ArticlesConfidence does not mediate a relationship between owner experience and likelihood of using weight management approaches for native ponies
PloS ONE, vol. 18, no. 10, pp. e0292886Contributions to Journals: ArticlesHomemade Nucleic Acid Preservation Buffer Proves Effective in Preserving the Equine Faecal Microbiota over Time at Ambient Temperatures
Animals, vol. 13, no. 19, 3107Contributions to Journals: ArticlesEffect of sampling and storage conditions upon equine fecal microbial community
Chapters in Books, Reports and Conference Proceedings: Conference Proceedings- [ONLINE] DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104308
Green Technologies for Persimmon By-Products Revalorisation as Sustainable Sources of Dietary Fibre and Antioxidants for Functional Beverages Development: Antioxidants
Antioxidants, vol. 12, no. 5, 1085Contributions to Journals: ArticlesBioprocessing of Hempseed (Cannabis sativa L.) Food By-Products Increased Nutrient and Phytochemical In Vitro Bioavailability during Digestion and Microbial Fermentation
Applied Sciences, vol. 13, no. 9, 5781Contributions to Journals: ArticlesExploiting Underutilised crops
Food Science & Technology, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 36-39Contributions to Journals: Articles