International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics

The International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics (ISAPP) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the science behind probiotics and prebiotics. ISAPP participates in science-based written and oral communications and responds to emerging scientific issues regarding probiotics and prebiotics. The primary means through which ISAPP accomplishes its goals are annual meetings and follow up publications from that meeting.

In addition, ISAPP collaborates with a number of related organizations (such as the American Gastroenterological Association, World Gastroenterology Organisation, National Academies of Sciences, International Life Sciences Institute of Europe and ILSI-North America, Harvard Division of Nutrition, Food Chemicals Codex and the New York Academy of Sciences) on common goals, such as sponsorship of meetings, preparation of probiotic and prebiotic usage guidelines, or preparation of position papers.

The business of ISAPP is conducted by a Board of Directors, currently composed of 10 globally recognized, academic scientists. In addition, an Executive Director and a representative from the ISAPP Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) are non-voting members of the board. Its source of revenue is from companies whose membership dues earn them a seat on the IAC.

All ISAPP activities are focused on science, not promotion of specific products. Industry scientists are invited to contribute their scientific ideas and participate in conferences, but no group or commercial entity directs ISAPP.

ISAPP was created in 2000 by a group of professional scientists at a Fermented Foods and Health Meeting in New York. This group recognized the lack of an organization that brought together the multidisciplinary scientists from fields such as microbiology, medicine, nutrition, food science, immunology, biochemistry and nutrition, who are conducting research on probiotics and prebiotics. ISAPP was established as a 501(c)3 organization in August 2002. As of spring of 2011, ISAPP has held eight meetings, alternating between locations in North America and Europe. Over 30 papers have been published under the auspices of ISAPP, in numerous peer reviewed journals. The ISAPP organization also prepared guidelines for probiotic and prebiotic scientific standards.

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