PROTEIN Project: Personalized Nutrition and Physical Activity in Europe

Overall objective

The overall objective of the PROTEIN research project is to promote healthy lifestyles in order to improve the general state of health of the European population, using the latest technologies to offer advanced personalization tools for nutrition and physical activity plans.

Why do we need the protein investigation project?

Unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity can lead to serious chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, cancer, and others. Promoting healthy eating and physical activity is a priority for EU countries as a way to prevent and reduce the impact of chronic diseases.

Individuals face many complex barriers to healthy behaviours. New advances in information and communications technologies (ICT) offer the possibility to create personalized tools and support systems to increase healthy eating and physical activity at the population level.

There are many organizations across Europe working to promote healthy living, preventing chronic diseases, and developing the latest information and communications technologies to improve population health. PROTEIN brings all these groups together to leverage their expertise and resources, while working towards a shared goal.

Our goals

Apply the latest information and communications technologies to the field of health promotion and chronic disease prevention.

Personalize healthy eating and physical activity advice based on scientific evidence in the area of nutrition, physical activity, and chronic disease prevention and management.

Generate customized nutrition and physical activity plans for end users, with special attention to individuals at risk for chronic diseases.

Create and engage a community of public members, businesses, and governments in the prevention of chronic diseases through healthy eating and physical activity strategies.

How are we going to achieve them?

We will engage communications technology leaders, health experts, and end users to develop tools, such as virtual games and mobile applications which can facilitate healthy eating and physical activity behaviours.

We will use the latest science on nutrition, physical activity, and behaviour change to tailor support and tools for end users, while addressing their own individual barriers to healthy behaviours.

We will leverage the potential of Big Data to understand dietary and physical activity patterns in real-world environments, so we can segment fully defined profiles and assign specific and effective personalized health plans.

We will use online communications channels, in person-events, and outreach events to engage experts, recruit research participants, and the general public.

For whom is the protein project?

• Citizens of the European Union. The general public, including youth and seniors, who are motivated to improve their health through healthy eating and physical activity.
• People with specific nutritional needs. Individuals living with chronic diseases who are under medical or nutritionist supervision.
• Healthcare professionals. Clinicians who provide care for individuals living with chronic diseases or people who special nutrition and physical activity care plans.
• Distributors and food suppliers. Business leaders in the food retail and restaurant industry who want to offer personalized experiences and services to their clients.
• Interdisciplinary researchers. Scientists in areas of nutrition, physical activity, chronic disease, social sciences, and Information and Communications Technologies (ICT).

Decision makers: Individuals who are working on nutrition, physical activity and chronic disease policies across Europe.

Protein consortium members

The PROTEIN consortium includes a group of diverse organizations from research, industry, and healthcare sectors who share an interest in utilizing the latest technology available to prevent chronic diseases through the promotion of healthy eating and physical activity.

1. ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS CERTH Greece
2. INTRASOFT INTERNATIONAL SA Luxembourg
3. ARTICA TELEMEDICINA S.L. Spain
4. OCADO GROUP PLC United Kingdom
5. SPORT LISBOA E BENFICA – FUTEBOL SAD Portugal
6. DATAWIZARD SRL Italy
7. PLUX - WIRELESS BIOSIGNALS S.A. Portugal
8. AGRIFOOD CAPITAL BV Netherlands
9. BIOSENSE INSTITUTE – RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES IN BIOSYSTEMS Serbia
10. ARISTOTELIO PANEPISTIMIO THESSALONIKIS Greece
11. VRIJE UNIVERSITEIT BRUSSEL Belgium
12. University of Surrey
13. Alexander Technological Educational Institute of Thessaloniki (ATEITH) Greece
14. CHARITE – UNIVERSITAETSMEDIZIN BERLIN Germany
15. FACULDADE DE MOTRICIDADE HUMANA Portugal
16. KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN Belgium
17. EASO OBESITY ASSOCIATION COMPANY LIMITED BY GUARANTEE Ireland
18. POLO EUROPEO DELLA CONOSCENZA - IC BOSCO CHIESANUOVA VR Italy
19. FLUVIALE - SOCIETA A RESPONSABILITA LIMITATA Italy

How does the protein project work?

Expert knowledge

Collection of real life and scientific evidence that will inform the PROTEIN ecosystem in terms of user needs, preferences, and personalized goals.

Data extraction

Analysis of data collected through deep mobile and intelligent devices and deep learning techniques that will inform personalized plans, metrics, and outcomes.

icon-user-profiles

User profiles

Creation of end user profiles leveraging artificial intelligence algorithms that will provide individualized health advice through the PROTEIN Game Suite.

LOGO-SIMBOLO-PROTEIN

Project governance

Executive Board

CERTH

• Petros Daras (PROJECT COORDINATOR)
• Kosmas Dimitropoulos (TECHNICAL MANAGER)
• Lazaros Gymnopoulos(QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RISK MANAGER)

BIOS

• Boris Brkić (PILOT DEPLOYMENT MANAGER)

ARTICA

• José María Botana (COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER)

OCADO

• Duncan Russell (DISSEMINATION, EXPLOITATION AND INNOVATION MANAGER)

VUB

• Eugenio Mantovani (ETHICAL AND LEGAL MANAGER)
• Audrey Van Scharen (DATA PROTECTION OFFICER)

Management Support Team

CERTH

• Petros Daras (PROJECT COORDINATOR)
• Lazaros Gymnopoulos (QUALITY ASSURANCE AND RISK MANAGER)

EAB

• Marian Blanco - Head of the Section for attention to pupils with specific support needs in the Castilla and Leon Board, Spanish Ministry of Education
• Solveig Sigurdardottir - Member of the EASO Patient Council
• Jurgita Vaitiekuniene - Director of the Panevezys District Education Center
• Maria Vasiloglou - Representative of the European Federation of the Associations of Dietitians (EFAD)