News
Content index
San Adrián (Navarre), 11 June 2026. The NeurOmics CERVERA Network of Excellence held its first face-to-face meeting at CNTA’s facilities in Calahorra, where partners shared the progress achieved during the first six months of the project, which focuses on investigating how nutrition may influence cognitive health.
In recent years, a growing body of research has suggested that certain bioactive compounds and food ingredients may be associated with functions such as memory, attention and the response to stress. However, clearly demonstrating these effects and translating them into specific food products remains a major challenge for the food industry.
To address this challenge, the NeurOmics Network brings together several technology centres that will work in a coordinated way following a stepwise approach.
NeurOmics has been designed as an integrated pathway that links knowledge generation and the development of new ingredients with their scientific validation and subsequent route to market. The project combines functional screening, advanced microbiota–gut–brain axis models, functional food design and precision nutrition, supported by multi-omics digital platforms and a demonstration platform that enables these advances to be translated into practical solutions for both industry and consumers.
This approach makes it possible to progress step by step, from an initial scientific observation to a more comprehensive evaluation. This is essential for improving our understanding of the role of nutrition in cognitive health and reducing uncertainty in the development of new products.
“The challenge is not only to identify compounds with potential, but also to demonstrate their effects with a sufficient level of scientific evidence. At NeurOmics, we are integrating different scientific tools—from laboratory studies to validation in more advanced models—to generate robust data that support the efficient development of ingredients, nutraceuticals and foods with scientifically proven health benefits,” says Inés Echeverría Goñi, Network Coordinator and Head of Strategic Projects at CNTA.
The Network brings together expertise in biological analysis, advanced research technologies, experimental validation and technological development, with the aim of generating reliable data that can support future applications in the food industry.
NeurOmics is a CERVERA Network of Excellence dedicated to advancing knowledge of, and improving the assessment of, the impact of ingredients, nutraceuticals and foods on cognitive health. The project combines different scientific approaches to investigate how these may influence functions such as memory, attention and stress management, while rigorously evaluating their effects.
The Network is coordinated by CNTA and brings together AZTI, AINIA, ANFACO-CYTMA, Eurecat and ASINCAR. The project will run from 2026 to 2029 and is funded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI), under the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, through the CERVERA Networks of Excellence programme.