The Macular Pigment Research Group (MPRG) is based at Carriganore House, which sits in a beautiful setting of Waterford Institute of Technology’s West Campus in the south east of Ireland. A team of 20 specialists, with multidisciplinary skills, occupy this unique facility. They share a common goal however; they work towards understanding the role of human nutrition for improving eye and brain health. The facility offers dedicated working space for all its researchers and the multidisciplinary team has access to world-class facilities including state-of-the-art vision laboratories, cognitive function testing suites, analytical, microbiological and biotechnological laboratories.
This year, Mr Paudie Coffey TD, Minister of State at the Department of the Environment, officially opened two new state-of-the-art laboratories at the MPRG. The labs will support the group’s ambition to generate viable industry for the south-east by developing more efficient methods of harvesting lutein, a nutrient essential for optimal vision and protection against the world’s leading cause of blindness – age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
[CaptionComponent="1749"]According to Professor John Nolan, principal investigator of MPRG: ‘The global demand for lutein is growing rapidly as people begin to understand the importance of this nutrient for eye health and general wellbeing. With the aid of our new and specialised world-class laboratories, and funding from the European Research Council (ERC), we are investigating efficient ways to generate and obtain lutein from natural sources.
[CaptionComponent="1750"]‘This is important because we are currently dependent on the marigold flower, which is highly seasonal and country dependent. If this project is successful, we will greatly advance science in this area and generate opportunity for major industry in Ireland.’
Professor Nolan went on to discuss the important implications of their recently published studies: ‘Moreover, the recent published data from our clinical trials have been so important, with remarkable outcomes for patients.
‘We know from the internationally renowned AREDS 2 study, supported by the National Eye Institute, that antioxidant supplements, which include the macular carotenoids, help reduce risk of blindness in patients with AMD.
‘Our recently published trials, however, have added further to this knowledge in that they have shown for patients with AMD, optimal response in terms of macular pigment augmentation and enhancement in visual performance is achieved when the three macular carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin and the centrally located carotenoid meso-zeaxanthin, are used in the formulation.’
Coffey said: ‘I want to congratulate Professor John Nolan and his team at the Waterford Institute of Technology. For more than 12 years, the MPRG has been at the cutting edge of eye nutrition research worldwide and the group’s most recent research publications underlines the huge asset the MPRG is for this country, and more specifically, for Waterford.
‘In the past year alone, the Howard Foundation, UK, has committed €1m to support the continuation of research by Professor Nolan and his team. This support shows yet again that Waterford can be at the centre of global research and can compete successfully internationally.’
[CaptionComponent="1751"]Commenting at the launch, Dr Alan Howard, chairman of the trustees of the Howard Foundation, England, said: ‘The Howard Foundation is delighted to support financially the building of the Howard Laboratory at Carriganore House. It will be a great advantage to have the study of macular pigments in one location and it will help maintain the tremendous growth taking place in this important and valuable area of research.’