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[Topics] Associate Professor Takeshi Zendo and His Research Team Receive the 2025 "STI for SDGs" Award (Encouragement Prize)!
The recipients of the 2025 "STI for SDGs" Award were announced on October 16, 2025. The research initiative "Development and Commercialization of a Safe Oral Care Product Using Nisin, a Bacteriocin Produced by Lactic Acid Bacteria"-led by a team comprising Associate Professor Takeshi Zendo (Kyushu University), TRIFE Inc., and Yasashii Laboratory Inc.-was honored with the Encouragement Prize.
The award ceremony was held on Saturday, October 25, 2025.
"STI for SDGs" Award
The award was established in 2019 with the aim of recognizing outstanding Japan-originated initiatives that address social challenges through Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI). By honoring these efforts, the award seeks to promote their further development and encourage horizontal deployment to regions in Japan and abroad facing similar social issues, thereby contributing to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Award Details
Through industry-academia collaboration, this initiative developed ORALPEACE, an oral care product that is safe to swallow and environmentally friendly, utilizing nisin A--an antimicrobial peptide derived from lactic acid bacteria.
Beyond promoting healthy longevity and reducing the burden on caregiving settings in an aging society, the product also contributes to creating employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in its manufacturing and distribution processes.
As a multifaceted effort to address challenges such as reducing caregiving costs and workload, extending healthy life expectancy, and supporting people with disabilities in an increasingly aging society, this initiative contributes to SDG Goal 3 as well as Goals 6, 8, 9, and 12, without significantly compromising other goals. For these reasons, it was deemed highly deserving of the Encouragement Prize.
Researcher's Comment
Bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria are potent antimicrobial substances that decompose readily, making them safe and environmentally friendly. Leveraging these properties, we have developed oral care products that are safe to ingest. In addition to nisin A used in the products, numerous bacteriocins with excellent characteristics have been discovered, and we aim to utilize them appropriately for various applications.
Related Links
- Announcement of the 2025 "STI for SDGs" Award Recipients (JST Press Release)
- TRIFE Inc. Official Website ORALPEACE
- Yasashii Laboratory Inc. Official Website Neonisin
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