Staff Profile

Dr Pramod Gopal
Science Group Leader, Nutrition & Health
Food Innovation

More information about our Food Innovation research

Dr Pramod Gopal

Qualifications

BSc (Hons), Biochemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, India
MSc (Hons), Biochemistry, Punjab Agricultural University, India
PhD, Biochemistry, University of Otago, New Zealand

Research Interests & Activities

Human gastrointestinal microbiota and its role in health and disease, investigation of food-microbiota and health interactions, analysis of metagenome and metabolome to elucidate mechanisms and pathways by which changes in microbiome may impact health outcomes. probiotics and prebiotics science, technology, development of plant based functional ingredients and foods for ‘gastrointestinal and immune health' benefits, microbial biochemistry and physiology, carbohydrates and their role in human health and nutrition especially human milk oligosaccharides, clinical nutrition especially pediatrics and elderly, design execution and interpretation of human dietary intervention/clinical trials.

Honours & Awards

Named as top 10 Agri Innovators of New Zealand by Primary Magazine (2013)
Appointed to the FAO/WHO international experts panel for evaluation of health and nutritional properties of probiotics.
Past Member of Scientific Advisory Committee of International Probiotic Association
Past Member of Industry Advisory Board of International Scientific Association of Probiotics and Prebiotics
New Zealand Trade Development Board Award for development and launch of new quality product in export market.
Eco Lab food award in category of Cultured/ Fermented Food.

Key Publications

Hindmarsh, JP., Prasad, J., Gopal, P., & Singh, H. (2015). NMR measurement of bacteria death kinetics during heat stress. LWT - Food Science and Technology. 60(2), 876-880
Dalziel J, Mohan V, Peters J, Anderson R, Gopal P and Roy N (2015) An in vitro model to determine functionality of probiotics on gastrointestinal motility. Food Func 6:257-264
Tannock G, Taylor C, Lawley B, Loach D, Gould M, McLellan A, Black M, McNoe L, Dekker J, Gopal P, Collett M (2014) Altered transcription of murine genes induced in the small bowel by administration of probiotic strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001. Appl. Environ Microbiol 80: 2851-2859.
Dalziel J, Spencer N, Dunstan K, Haggarty N, Gopal P and Roy N (2014) An in vitro large intestine rat model to determine the effects of  casomorphine-5 on propagating contractions. Food and Function 5:2768-74.
Prasad J, Sazawal S, Dhingra U, and Gopal PK (2013.) Detection of viable B.lactis HN019 (DR10TM) in stool of children during symbiotic dietary intervention trial. International Dairy Journal 30: 64-67.
Waller PA, Gopal PK, Leyer GJ, Ouwenhand AC, Reifer C, Stewart ME and Miller LE (2011). Dose dependent effect of B.lactis HN019 on whole gut transit time and functional gastrointestinal symptoms in adults. Scan J Gastroenterology 46: 1057-1064.
Prasad J, McJarrow P and Gopal PK. (2003). Heat and osmotic stress responses of probiotic Lb. rhamnosus HN001 (DR20) in relation to viability after drying. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 69:917-925
Gill HS, Rutherfurd KJ, Cross ML, and Gopal PK (2001). Enhancement of immunity in the elderly by dietary supplementation with probiotics Bif lactis HN019. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 74: 833-839.
Gill HS, Rutherfurd KJ, Cross ML, and Gopal PK (2001). Dietary probiotics supplementation to enhance cellular immunity in the elderly British Journal of Biomedical Science 57:94-96
Gill HS, Rutherfurd KJ, Prasad J, Gopal PK.(2000) Enhancement of natural and acquired immunity by L. rhamnosus HN001 L. acidophilus HN017 and B. lactis HN019. Br J Nutr. 83:167-176.