The ADELE ecosystem project develops solutions to prevent the development of immune-mediated diseases. Currently, more than every fifth person in developed countries suffers from these diseases. Among the most common immune-mediated diseases are e.g. allergies, atopy, type 1 diabetes, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. These diseases increase globally. The reason is that urbanization has decreased contacts with forests and agricultural environments. Repeated exposure to nature’s microbial diversity has been considered as a key in protecting against these diseases. Particularly important is exposure to a diverse microbial community in forests and agricultural areas.
The ADELE ecosystem project aims at consumer products containing the beneficial nature exposure. These products include a nature-derived, immunomodulatory component which supports the normal development of immune system and protects against immune-mediated diseases. Currently, such products are not available, and therefore the developed technologies can be protected by patents. This will enable the expansion of enterprises in the ADELE ecosystem to the global market with high added value products.
University of Helsinki runs the multidisciplinary ADELE ecosystem jointly with University of Tampere and Tampere University of Technology. Business Finland will finance the project in 2018-2021 for two million euros. In the initial phase, co-project partners are Finlayson Oy, Melli EcoDesign and Biotus Oy. In kind support is offered by Biolan Oy, Delipap Oy, Orion Corporation and Naava Oy. Biolan and Biotus are interested in scaling up the production of immunomodulatory components. Finlayson, Melli EcoDesign and Delipap see great business opportunities in the consumer products sector and Orion in livestock and companion animal product sectors. Experiments in collaboration with Naava aim to a green wall component that protects against allergies and autoimmune diseases in indoor air.
Further information:
Aki Sinkkonen, University of Helsinki, Consortium PI (aki.sinkkonen@helsinki.fi)
Kari Sinivuori, Helsinki Innovation Services, Commercialization (kari.sinivuori@helsinki.fi)
Heikki Hyöty, University of Tampere, Professor in Virology (heikki.hyoty@uta.fi; from Jan. 1st 2019 onwards Tampere University and heikki.hyoty@tuni.fi)
Juho Rajaniemi, Tampere University of Technology, Professor in Urban Planning (juho.rajaniemi@tut.fi; Jan. 1st 2019 onwards Tampere University & juho.rajaniemi@tuni.fi)
Hannamaija Fontell, Biolan Oy (hannamaija.fontell@biolan.fi)
Sanna Karhu, Delipap Oy (sanna.karhu@delipap.fi)
Jukka Kurttila, Finlayson Oy (jukka.kurttila@finlayson.fi)
Marica Jensen, Melli EcoDesign (marica@melliecodesign.com)
Päivi Vuolle, Naava Oy (paivi.vuolle@naava.io)