In this project, new and advanced cell culture models are developed to study the impact of nutrients and food-derived bioactives on human health. Complex intestinal (enzymatic and microbial) digestion models are combined with advanced cell (co)culture models to study bioavailability and bioactivity of nutrients and food-derived bioactives (e.g. polyphenols, peptides, vitamins and rare sugars). The aim is to work under realistic intestinal and metabolic conditions, using appropriate components (metabolites obtained after bioconversion), realistic concentrations, and repeated dosing. Appropriate biomarkers are selected to understand underlying mechanisms linked to chronic diseases (e.g. obesity, cardio-vascular diseases, and cancer).