Norwegian project links brain science and industry

The project has the sated aim of being a, “​driving force in connecting brain science and industry aiming at creating smart solutions for individuals and society.”​

The Nansen Neuroscience Network has a medical slant and therefore focuses on the pipeline from, “[lab] bench to bedside”​ but there is also provision for nutritional interventions to prevent disease which explains the membership Aker BioMarine and the Norwegian high-dose omega-3 manufacturer, Smartfish.

Smartfish co-founder Janne Sande Mathisen is a board member of the one-year-old network she relayed was named after the Nobel Peace winning neuroscientist and Arctic explorer, Fridtjof Nansen (pictured).

She said both nutra and pharma solutions were important to the partially state-funded project that is topped up with membership fees. Schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s are some of the mental ailments the project is tackling.

“The project wants to challenge academia and industry to do more in preventative nutrition and more in diseases with pharma both in research and product development,” ​Sande Mathisen said.

Smartfish Medical​

A version of Smartfish called Smartfish Medical containing 1100mg of DHA​ (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA​ (eicosapentaenoic acid), along with 10mcg of vitamin D3, 8g of proteins and 200 calories has just been registered by Norwegian authorities and will be available in pharmacies in June, she said.

It will also be sold hospitals and rest homes as a medical food targeting the malnourished elderly.

This category of foods can mean purchasers are reimbursed more than half of the purchase price under state health schemes.

Smartfish Medical has been licensed to Navamedic-owned pharmaceutical company, Vitaflo Scandinavia, which will market and distribute the product in Denmark, Sweden and Finland. Smartfish will look after these duties in its domestic market.