The Future

In late 2014/early 2015 the Rowett Institute will move to a state-of-the art new building on the Foresterhill health campus.

The new Rowett Institute will be a glass-fronted building spread over five floors covering a total of more than 10,000 square metres (107,639 sq ft) and will be equipped with state-of the-art laboratory facilities and write-up areas.

A key aspect of the facility will be its specialist Human Nutrition Unit which will enable volunteers who take part in dietary trials and studies to do so in modern and comfortable surroundings, yet at the same time provide a facility set up to undertake scientifically rigorous studies.

The new Institute will retain key elements of the Institute's long history with some of the best-known features of the Bucksburn site incorporated into the new design such as

• Three stained glass windows from the Reid Library depicting research at the Rowett throughout the years - these will be incorporated into the entrance at the front of the new building
• Two windows from Strathcona House titled 'Health and Plenty'
• Nobel prize objects which will be presented in a display case in the atrium of the new building
• Portraits including those of former directors which will hang in the seminar room
• Other items ranging from bowls (ashets), to oil paintings, busts, clock and brass plaques

Facilities at the new Institute will include:

• Two and a half floors of fully equipped laboratories
• Large open atrium
• Write-up spaces facing into the atrium
• A link to the University's Institute of Medical Sciences on the lower ground floor
• A Seminar room with glass frontage which opens up into a gathering space
• A standalone cycle store, changing and drying facility for all Foresterhill staff to use

The Rowett building will also incorporate a Human Nutrition Unit with:

• Eight bedrooms for volunteers who may need to stay overnight or for longer term studies
• Modern dining area with glass frontage
• Sitting room

Full4Health Study

The Full4Health project brings together 19 of Europe's best academic and industry labs to enable a multidisciplinary approach to studying the mechanisms of hunger and satiety and food choice, and how these change across the life course.

• Full4Health

NeuroFAST Study

With both clinical and experimental expertise of thirteen partners across Europe this EU funded project NeuroFAST aims to investigate the common neurobiology involved in eating behavior, addiction and stress.

• NeuroFAST

Satin Study

SATIN - SATiety INnovation is a five year, EU funded project which aims to develop new food products using the latest processing innovation techniques. Exploiting better understanding of the biological processes in the stomach and the brain that underpin what makes us feel “full”, the project will evaluate whether this approach is a viable weight management tool.

• SATIN

Nutrition is at the heart of some of today's major global challenges. These include the problems of obesity, ageing and food security. Tackling these issues requires multidisciplinary as well as cross-disciplinary approaches. Being part of the University of Aberdeen has given the Rowett Institute a new platform to address these contemporary and complex problems. Through access to the broader expertise and skill base of the University of Aberdeen the Institute is now better positioned to continue helping Government address its policy issues, while at the same time provide research support towards the economic development of the vital food and drink industry sector.

The priority research issues for the Institute include:

• Maximising lifelong health and well-being through diet
• Improving energy balance and metabolic health through diet
• Improving and maintaining gut health though diet
• Development of healthy and sustainable diets
• Overcoming the behavioural and socioeconomic barriers to better diets