Catherine Stanton

Catherine Stanton is a Research Professor at University College Cork (UCC) and a Principal Investigator at APC Microbiome Ireland, with a joint appointment as Adjunct Professor in the College of Medicine and Health, Department of Psychiatry. She is also a Principal Research Officer at Teagasc Moorepark, reflecting her dual academic and research leadership roles in food, nutrition, and microbiome science.

Her educational background includes a BSc (2.1H) and MSc in Nutrition/Food Chemistry from UCC, a PhD in Biochemistry from Bournemouth University, UK, and a DSc from the National University of Ireland.

Her research focuses on the nutritional and health impacts of functional foods, particularly probiotics and bioactive metabolites. Key areas include:

• Nutritional aspects of dairy and functional foods
• Probiotic cultures and their health benefits
• Infant gut microbiota and dietary influences
• Bioactive lipids (e.g., CLAs, SCFAs, n-3 FAs)
• Bioactive peptides and microbial metabolite production

Her recent publications reflect a strong emphasis on gut-brain axis interactions, microbial production of neuroactive compounds like GABA, and the metabolic effects of gut bacteria on host lipid profiles. This work bridges food science, microbiology, and human health, particularly in early-life nutrition and chronic disease prevention.

She has received significant recognition through awards such as:

• ELIE METCHKOFF 2010 Award (jointly with Paul Ross, Colin Hill, Gerald Fitzgerald)
• APC Scientist of the Year 2011
• UCC Research COMMERCIALISATION Award (2012)

Catherine has secured substantial research funding from SFI, EU FP7, DAFF, DAFM, and EI, leading projects like COMBINE, FIBEBIOTICS, CFMATTERS, and TODDLERFOOD. She actively mentors researchers and contributes to major international expert groups including FAO/WHO, IDF, and Agropolis Foundation. Her work is integral to the APC Microbiome Ireland and Food Health Ireland research centres, where she leads research on microbial metabolites and functional food development.

She is affiliated with key research platforms including:

• APC Microbiome Ireland – Microbial Metabolites Core
• Food Health Ireland
• Teagasc Moorepark