Ireland’s only food trials clinic
Atlantia Food Clinical Trials is a long-established Cork business carrying out food trials since its inception in 2012.
Founded by team of researchers in APC Microbiome Ireland in UCC, the research quickly grew into a standalone business and is currently the only food clinical trial company in the country.
In 2015 the company began to expand and by December 2017 had relocated to its current location in Blackpool Retail Park.
All trials carried out by the company are based on food, food extracts or beverages, with no pharmaceuticals used in any of its studies.
Recruitment & Marketing Manager Cian O’Mahoney has been working with Atlantia Food Clinical Trials for since 2018.
“I began working in Atlantia just over a year ago and have been amazed at how much it has grown, even over that short space of time. It is such a busy and vibrant place to work in. It never feels like I’m going to work,” says Cian.
“The best thing about working here is definitely the Atlantia team. We all work so well together and are always there to help one another. We are closer to a family than a work force, which is evident to anyone that visits us I think.
“I think I speak for all the team when I say we are all so passionate about the work that we do. The studies that we run carry the potential to benefiting health for everyone, worldwide, it’s hard to not have a passion for this kind of work.”
Atlantia, which operates to ICH GCP standards, owns and operates its own clinics and all trials are personally overseen by its team of experts.
The company offers a personalised end-to-end service in the clinical space and has garnered a global client base of some of the world’s largest food and ingredient companies.
Cian explains: “All participants that take part in our studies are reimbursed for their time. Each visit to our clinic offers a free health check too, this can include checking your BMI, blood pressure and free blood tests.
“Other studies provide benefits such as free diet plans, x-rays or MRIs, depending on the condition and health area we are working in. By taking part in these studies, each participant is paving the way for innovative health products,” he says.
Atlantia is currently recruiting participants for seven upcoming studies.
Cian explains that these studies are based on a variety of health areas and populations, from investigating if a hop extract can slow down the onset of Osteopenia in post-menopausal women, to a probiotic that could potentially help those suffering from Type 2 Diabetes.
“We do our best for our customers because we want them to enjoy their experience with us. Clinical trials are unknown territory to most, and we realise that it can be quite daunting to begin a study, especially if it is your first visit to our clinic.
“Our goal is to help all participants feel comfortable and to make it clear exactly what the study involves.”
He continues: “We pride ourselves in ensuring all participants have an enjoyable time while with us. Once you take part in a study you will likely want to take part in more. The majority of our participants come back for a subsequent study.”
Further stamping the impact they have had since their inception, this year Atlantia Food Clinical Trials launched a second clinic in Chicago, Illinois and there are also plans in place to open new clinics further afield in the future.
“This year saw a major development with the opening of our new Chicago clinic, opened by the Taoiseach himself, Leo Varadkar. We have plans to open clinics in both South America and Asia going forwards but for now, our main focus is growing the Chicago clinic, with the aim of 22 workers by the end of 2020,” Cian concludes.