CA25129 - NutriSENSE: A European Network on Bioactives for Personalized Nutrition and Gut Health (NutriSENSE)

NutriSENSE is driven by the conviction that personalised nutrition can address Europe’s pressing health and sustainability challenges. Current research on diet, bioactives, and the microbiome is fragmented, limiting reproducibility and translation into policy and innovation. NutriSENSE will overcome these barriers by creating an inclusive, interdisciplinary network that establishes Europe as a leader in personalised nutrition. Its mission is to provide the scientific and societal foundation for health-effective, sustainable, and accessible personalised strategies, contributing to healthier aging and a reduced burden of diet-related non-communicable diseases.

Anchored in the COST mission, NutriSENSE will harmonise methodologies, build interoperable databases, and apply AI tools to generate actionable recommendations. By engaging scientists, policymakers, industry, NGOs, and citizens, it will ensure that knowledge leads to tangible societal benefits. 

Inclusiveness is central. A Membership Expansion Team will foster broad participation, with the goal of engaging at least 40 COST countries by the end of the first grant period. Special emphasis will be placed on Inclusiveness Target Countries (ITCs), ensuring access to funding, infrastructures, and leadership roles. Gender equity will be promoted through a Gender Balance Coordinator and Action Plan, while Young Researchers and Innovators (YRIs) will gain visibility through a dedicated Think Tank, mentoring schemes, and leadership opportunities. Policy relevance is strong, with contributions to the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork Strategy, EU4Health, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. By its conclusion, NutriSENSE will deliver harmonised guidelines, AI models, databases, and toolkits, leaving a durable, inclusive network that continues beyond the Action’s lifetime.