Abuk, our first Little Hero
Addressing Chronic Malnutrition
Little Heroes™ Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods
Gene Smart is developing a new approach to define and address chronic malnutrition that utilizes the latest understanding between diet, genetics and health. We are developing Little Heroes, a new type of highly enriched Ready to Use Therapeutic Food designed to address the crisis of malnutrition among infants and children in Africa by providing critical nutrietns to promote development of healthy immune systems, brains and physical growth.
Malnutrition is Not Hunger
Hunger is caused by lack of food. In contrast, malnutrition occurs when the diet does not provide adequate nutrients for the body to develop and function normally. Malnutrition can be caused by lack of food, but more commonly, it is caused by lack of critical nutrients in available food, especially in the staple diets of many African countries which consist of refined maize flour or other grain sources that typically contain 90%+ carbohydrates and very little fat, protein, or micronutrients necessary to develop strong immune systems, healthy brains, and physical growth.
Through Dr. Chilton's scientific leadership, we are utilizing the latest science, including our advanced understanding of fatty acids, inflammation & immunity, and gene based nutrition to develop a new type of Little Heroes ready to use therapeutic food to treat and prevent chronic malnutrition. The ready to use therapeutic food will provide critical nutrients proven to help develop healthy immune systems, brain function, and physical growth for two targets during the key human growth period from pre-natal until age 5, when human immune systems, brains and bodies are developing:
- Infants and children under the age of 5
- Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers
Our step-wise approach
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A new paradigm for defining malnutrition: Utilize a new approach to define malnutrition through biometric measures (vs. just physical measurements) in order to guide customized solutions to address the underlying needs of malnutrition with maximum impact and minimum cost
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Prove efficacy: Validate Little Heroes ready-to-use therapeutic foods for malnourished children & infants and pregnant & breastfeeding mothers through clinical research
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Take a regional approach: Evaluate market needs within regions, as well as current and potential food/nutrition sources. Refine and optimize products based on regional needs
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Launch: Bring these important products to chronically malnourished infants, children, and pregnant & breastfeeding mothers throughout Africa through partners including Relief Organizations and NGOs
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Expand forms: Develop new products and packaging formats to optimize the reach and impact of the nutrients and allowing product customization based on regional ingredients
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Enable local African businesses: Enable creation of new local African businesses to grow the ingredients, and produce & distribute these and other products within individual communities by providing access to resources, equipment and training
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Work holistically: Foster self-sustaining communities through systems to increase the quantity, nutritional quality, and variety of foods in order to provide appropriate nutrition for healthy development
