TIME magazine has included the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b)’s innovative gut-healing food MDCF-2 in its prestigious list of the Best Inventions of 2025, recognising its groundbreaking contribution to child health and nutrition.
According to an icddr,b press release, the Microbiota-Directed Complementary Food (MDCF-2) was developed as a next-generation nutritional solution capable of restoring intestinal health among malnourished children.
The recognition celebrates its exceptional potential for global social impact. The product is the outcome of long-term joint research between icddr,b and Washington University in St Louis, USA.
Formulated from a nutrient-rich mix of chickpeas, soybeans, peanuts, and green banana flour, the food aims to promote the growth of beneficial gut microbes vital for strengthening immunity, brain development, and healthy physical growth.
Despite decades of interventions, malnutrition remains a persistent global crisis-contributing to nearly half of all deaths among children under 5. The situation has been aggravated by conflicts, forced migration, and climate-induced disasters, leaving millions vulnerable to stunting and wasting.
The release noted that the idea for MDCF-2 emerged from an informal exchange between icddr,b Executive Director Dr Tahmeed Ahmed and Dr Jeffrey Gordon, gut microbiome scientist at Washington University.
While Dr Ahmed has long dedicated his research to tackling child malnutrition, Dr Gordon’s expertise lies in the study of gut microbiota and its links to human metabolism.
Dr Gordon said, “Our research shows that a child’s nutrition and growth depend on the microbial community within the gut.
“We identified key beneficial microbes that process specific food components the body cannot. Clinical trials in Bangladeshi children proved that MDCF-2 helps rebuild the gut microbiome, with effects extending beyond the intestine.”
Dr Tahmeed Ahmed hailed the global recognition as “a powerful source of inspiration,” saying, “It proves that when science and human compassion come together, the world’s most complex health problems can be solved.
“This locally made, affordable innovation can not only save millions of malnourished children but also help them reach their full potential.”
The icddr,b release further mentioned that large-scale trials are currently being conducted in India, Pakistan, Mali, and Tanzania, as researchers aim to validate the product’s effectiveness across diverse populations.
Experts believe that MDCF-2 could reshape global nutrition strategies and play a pivotal role in eradicating childhood malnutrition worldwide- marking a major scientific milestone led by Bangladesh.
