Anil D. Kulkarni, MSc, PhD professor of surgery, Medical School
	An International Centre of ImmunonUTrition Excellence in UTHSCH
Two universities, half way around the world, will collaborate on a project in the very near future thanks to Anil D. Kulkarni, BSc, MSc, PhD, professor of surgery at The University of Texas Medical School at Houston.  The new partners will investigate nutritional immunomodoulations in models for wound healing and aging that can lead to the development of Functional Foods (FF) for use in health and disease.  Kulkarni, who has conducted prior work in nutritional immunology, functional foods and wound healing, found the University of Auckland (UOA) in New Zealand to be one of the best research facilities for natural products and nutrients, therefore a majority of the experiments will be conducted at the UOA laboratories.  Fruits and plants can be extracted from their natural state at UOA and the University has the technology to screen the fruit extracts for protection for oxidative stress, immune support, mental state and performance.  Kulkarni’s original research was inspired by a NASA research grant and the realization that there is limited capacity for space mission load and nutritional projects on flight missions. Development of functional foods for health maintenance during space flight missions would be a novel area for his research. On a trip to New Zealand, Kulkarni assessed the facilities of the partnering university and attended an Australian nutrition conference in Auckland.  At this time, he and his UOA counterpart, Gil Hardy, PhD, created their project’s outline: propose screening protocols, analysis different methods of data, and develop a timeline.  In addition, they decided to run experiments on both pharmaceutical and animal specimens.  At the conference, Kulkarni also met Professors Archer, Kruger and Skinner, faculty from Massey University in Auckland and major players in functional foods area, where they discussed the possibility of future joint collaborations with both universities.  Kulkarni’s new project received a 2007 International Programs Award and will focus on experiments aimed to develop nutritional countermeasure to maintain and restore immune system functions in subjects and population at risk.  Work in the lab will consist of studying the effects of nutritional substrates isolated from natural sources such as fruits and plants to heal deficiencies or injuries in variety of situations, including stress and wound healing. The goal is to create a unique model in order to screen nutraceuticals and functional food for wound healing effects, trauma, immune dysfunction, oxidative stress and musculoskeletal wasting.      Kulkarni hopes that the collaboration between The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston and The University of Auckland jointly with Massey University will interest both students and faculty to form an international exchange program.  Kulkarni is convinced that anyone who visits UOA and Auckland will appreciate the breath-taking surroundings.
Dr. Anil Kulkarni and Dr. Gil Hardy December 2007
School of Medical & Health Science Building University of Auckland, New Zealand
Prof. Marlena Kruger (MU), Prof. Gil Hardy (UOA), Prof. Anil Kulkarni (UT-H), Dr. Margot Skinner (HORT Research), Prof. Richer Archer (MU) Faculty from University of Auckland and Massey University
Massey University Auckland, New Zealand
University Hospital, University of Auckland
University of Auckland, campus view