Dr Bernard Gesch

Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford; and Director of the UK research charity Natural Justice

Dr Bernard Gesch is a Senior Research Scientist at the University Lab of Physiology, Oxford, and Founder of the research charity Natural Justice, which he set up to investigate causes of criminal antisocial behaviour.

Bernard is internationally known for his pioneering research into the links between diet and antisocial and criminal behaviour. In the late eighties he established a successful programme combining nutrition and social approaches to offending which Courts used as an alternative to imposing custodial sentences on persistent juvenile offenders.

With the co-operation of the Home Office, Bernard and colleagues went on to conduct a carefully controlled clinical trial, supported by the charity Natural Justice, to test empirically if better nutrition could significantly improve the behaviour of maximum-security prisoners. It did! The publication of their work attracted in excess of 200 positive press articles worldwide.

Bernard now collaborates internationally to replicate these findings, and is honoured to work with eminent colleagues from several institutions, including the Medical Research Council, the Institute of Psychiatry, the US National Institute of Health, the Dutch Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Prison Service.

Crime and Punishment: Cause for a re-think? From the Prison Service Journal - Issue 182 - March 2009

Eves & Gesch 2003. Food provision and the nutritional implications of food choices made by young adult males, in a young offenders' institution.

Gesch et al 2002. Influence of supplementary vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids on the antisocial behaviour of young adult prisoners. Randomised, placebo-controlled trial.

Recent Media Links:

German National TV – 18 Feb 2010