ProDigest Innovates with ‘Robot Guts’ to Tackle Obesity

ProDigest, a Belgium-based research firm founded in 2008, is pioneering the use of advanced technology known as “robot guts” to address the global obesity epidemic. The company collaborates with businesses worldwide to simulate human gastrointestinal environments, allowing for effective product testing and research aimed at understanding human variability in weight management.

The firm’s approach incorporates cutting-edge analytical methods to evaluate different microbiome compositions and their potential outcomes. According to Massimo Marzorati, PhD and CEO of ProDigest, this technology enables researchers to assess metabolite production and infer how microbial actions within the colon might influence satiety and weight regulation. “What could be the potential effect in terms of satiety, weight management and impact on obesity at the very end,” Marzorati explained.

Understanding the Role of Prebiotics

One area of growing interest in weight management involves the use of prebiotics, which selectively nourish beneficial gut bacteria. These prebiotics can lead to the production of metabolites like short-chain fatty acids, which may affect hormones related to appetite and inflammation. Clarifying the structure-function relationship of prebiotics is essential for identifying which candidates warrant further investigation.

Dr. Bart Roucourt, PhD and director of business development at ProDigest, noted, “Our Colon-on-a-plate technology coupled with our biobank is an ideal tool to study such structure-function relationships.” He emphasized the variability in individual responses to prebiotics, stating that the same prebiotic may not yield uniform results across different people. ProDigest’s innovative approach allows for an in-depth understanding of how varying microbiota can influence the effectiveness of prebiotic interventions.

Advanced Technologies for Research

ProDigest employs its Colon-on-a-plate technology, a high-throughput simulation system that models various donor microbiomes. This system enables researchers to examine how specific interventions affect microbiome composition, metabolism, and interactions with host cells. By utilizing small-volume reactors that can be inoculated with microbial communities from human fecal samples, researchers can conduct experiments involving 20 to 40 subjects simultaneously, enhancing the robustness of their findings.

The standout technology at ProDigest is the Simulator of Human Intestinal Microbial Ecosystem (SHIME), a bench-sized laboratory model of the human gut. Developed by Marzorati over 17 years ago while at Ghent University, SHIME offers a clinically validated model to explore how prebiotics can influence weight management. This model allows for the testing of formulations and doses, providing crucial data on mechanisms of action that could enhance weight management outcomes.

“We have different technology platforms, and each technology platform has its own unique purpose,” Dr. Roucourt explained. He added that the choice of technology is tailored to the specific research question posed by clients, ensuring that the methods employed align with their objectives.

Despite the advancements, ProDigest acknowledges that significant research remains to be conducted concerning inter-individual variability within the microbiome. “It’s a field of research which is very interesting but also in the early phase,” Marzorati remarked, highlighting the complexity of the trillions of bacteria that interact and compete within the human microbiome.

As ProDigest continues to advance its research capabilities, the potential impact on obesity management and overall health remains substantial. By harnessing technology to better understand the microbiome and its influence on metabolic health, the firm is positioned at the forefront of combating one of the world’s most pressing health challenges.