Andreu Palou Oliver

Professor Andreu Palou Oliver is a distinguished academic at the University of the Balearic Islands (UIB), where he has served as Professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology since 1988. He directs the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (LBNB) at UIB, a position he has held since 1995, and was Principal Investigator of the Nutrigenomics, Biomarkers and Risk Assessment (NuBE) group until 2021. Throughout his career, he has held numerous leadership positions at UIB including Secretary of the Faculty of Sciences, Director of multiple departments, Dean of the Faculty of Sciences, and Vice-Rector for both Teaching Staff and Planning and Research.

Professor Palou's research spans the intersecting fields of Nutrition and Molecular Biology, with particular focus on the role of leptin in breast milk as a hormone and nutrient during lactation. His groundbreaking work has demonstrated that leptin present in breast milk but not in formula substitutes protects against obesity development and associated complications. This discovery has led to significant scientific recognition, patents, and the establishment of Alimentómica SL, the first technology-based company of the UIB.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a consistent focus on nutritional biomarkers, metabolic programming, and personalized nutrition approaches. His work frequently examines the molecular mechanisms underlying obesity, with particular attention to early-life nutritional interventions and their long-term health consequences. His research methodology combines molecular biology techniques with nutritional science to identify biomarkers and understand the genetic and epigenetic factors influencing metabolic health.

Professor Palou's scientific achievements have been recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the International Hippocrates Award for Medical Research on Human Nutrition (2007), the Scientific/Professional Career Award from SEEDO (2011), the VII National Award for Food and Health from the University of Navarra (2011), the XXIII DuPont Science Prize (2013), and the Danone Institute Foundation Scientific Career Award (2019).

As an educator and mentor, Professor Palou has directed 39 doctoral theses and has been Principal Investigator for approximately 70 R&D projects in competitive calls from public and private entities, in addition to 58 contracts with companies. His leadership extends to European research consortia, where he coordinated the BIOCLAIMS project funded by the EU's 7th Framework Programme with 6 million euros (2010-2015), and participated in other significant projects including I.FAMILY, DIABAT, and PREVENTOMICS.

Professor Palou leads the Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Nutrition and Biotechnology (LBNB), which has been instrumental in translating basic science discoveries into practical applications. His research group has made significant contributions to understanding the molecular basis of nutrition, with particular emphasis on obesity prevention mechanisms, biomarker discovery, and the development of personalized nutrition strategies that can be implemented through digital health tools and dietary interventions.