FAB Research Projects
Food and Behaviour Research (FAB) works in close partnership with a wide range of collaborators across many different fields.
Central to our mission is the promotion, support, and conduct of high-quality scientific research into the links between nutrition behaviour, learning, and mood.
Here, you can explore FAB’s current projects, along with opportunities from our wider network of collaborators who are seeking participants for their studies.
If you would like FAB’s support, please use the submission form provided on this page to get in touch.
If you aren't already on our E-Alert list please sign up HERE so that you stay informed of future research projects & opportunities.
Organisations within our network looking for participants
Submit your request to Collaborate with Food and Behaviour Research
Research Projects
Other Studies You Can Get Involved In
Find details of other studies in our network seeking participants.
Can Prebiotic Fibre Improve Stress, Mood, and Anxiety?
A 12-week Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Randomised Controlled Trial
Researchers are currently looking for 160 individuals
aged 18-50 who live in the
Greater London area to join a 12-week double-blind, placebo-controlled randomised controlled trial with oversight from the University of Reading.
Key Study Information
Are you?
- Aged 18-50
- Based in Greater London
- Open to taking either a daily a powdered prebiotic fibre blend (or placebo)
- See exclusion criteria further below
What’s the aim of the research?
- To investigate the effects of a prebiotic fibre blend over 12 weeks, compared to placebo, on:
- Perceived stress levels
- Mood
- Cognition
- Inflammation
- Sleep
- Gut microbiome
What does taking part actually look like?
- Taking a 10g daily sachet of a powdered prebiotic blend or placebo (maltodextrin) for 12 weeks
You will visit our Central London clinic for the Baseline and Final Study Visit. These visits take around 2.5 hours. During the visit, you will complete:
- Health surveys
- Simple computer tasks
- A finger-prick blood test
- Measurements including weight, height, waist and blood pressure
- You will also be provided with a stool collection kit to take home, which will need to be sent back within 48-hours (via post).
- You will be given a break halfway and a snack.
Recruitment Period
October 2025 - December 2026
Other information
The study has independent oversight from Chief Investigator Prof Piril Hepsomali based at Reading University - she is also the co-lead of the Nutrition Society’s Special Interest Group (SIG) into Nutritional Psychiatry.
This study is funded by Myota Limited.
How to get involved?
If you would like to get involved please sign up HERE.
If you have any questions or are based in Greater London and can support recruitment please email: [email protected].
Note: FAB has long-acted as a research and educational hub to connect people over a shared interest and passion for the field of nutrition, behaviour, brain & mental health. As an independent charity, FAB does not endorse specific nutritional products but does support the expansion of research in a range of allied areas - from an array of individuals, organisations and research institutions.
Exclusion criteria - to be eligible for participation in the study, participants must not meet any of the following criteria:
- Current smoker
- Having food allergies and/or intolerances
- Current diagnosis of Type 1 or 2 diabetes or cardiovascular disease or psychiatric or neurological conditions (e.g. schizophrenia, depression, dementia) including eating disorders
- Receiving medications that lower cholesterol, blood pressure, blood glucose levels, or improve insulin sensitivity
- Receiving antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications or treatments
- Receiving hormonal birth control
- Perimenopause or menopause
- Pregnancy, lactation, or an intent to become pregnant during the course of the study
- Continuous antibiotic use for > 3 days within 1 month prior to enrolment
- Continuous use of weight-loss drug for > 1 month before screening
- Major change in dietary intake in past month (e.g. excluding whole food groups)
- Currently consuming daily prebiotic or probiotic supplements
- Prior use (< 6 months) of any blood glucose or cholesterol lowering medication
- Any significant GI condition affecting GI absorption including (but not limited to) inflammatory bowel disease, weight loss surgery, irritable bowel disease.
- End stage renal disease
- Active cancer, or treatment for any cancer, in last 3 years
Are You Carrying Out Research?
FAB Research has long served as an interdisciplinary hub for researchers exploring the vital links between nutrition and behaviour.
Our aim is to help researchers, students, clinicians and health care professionals carry out meaningful, impactful work in nutritional and behavioural science - and we’d be delighted to support you in advancing this important field.
Our work spans diverse fields including psychology, psychiatry, neuroscience, neurodevelopment, medicine, pharmacology, immunology, genetics, biochemistry, dietetics, public health, and even criminal justice.
If you are conducting research in these areas and would like your work featured on this page - or shared with our growing email community - please complete the form below with your project details. While we cannot guarantee inclusion of all submissions, we review submissions when we can.
If you are currently developing a research idea, FAB’s experience in designing and conducting studies means we may also be able to collaborate directly - so please indicate this if this is what you are looking for.
Our team has a strong track record of partnerships across academia, healthcare, and industry, and we are always keen to explore opportunities that align with our mission.
Whether through co-designing projects, collaborating on academic papers, advising on methodology, or helping to amplify recruitment efforts or research findings, FAB is committed to supporting high-quality research that can make a real difference to policy, practice, and public understanding.
Please complete this form to apply.
Tell Us About Your Research Project / Initiative
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