The Whistler Center for Carbohydrate Research at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, USA works in partnership with companies to develop improved uses of carbohydrates, particularly in areas of:

    Food functional uses of starches and non-starch polysaccharides (through structure-function studies leading to novel applications, and through chemical or structural modification),

    Carbohydrates and health [structure-function relationships relating to starch digestion characteristics (glycemic response), fiber functionality and colonic benefit, and physiological response through clinical/nutritional group collaborations], 

    Non-food uses (such as for biopolymer substitution, animal feed nutrition, and biofuels),

    Carbohydrate structural analysis.

The Center provides unique, essential, industrially relevant research, analytical services, and educational programs.

The Center provides leadership to carbohydrate-producing and carbohydrate-utilizing industries through 1) design and delivery of solutions to problems, 2) extension of fundamental knowledge on carbohydrate structure-function relationships, including application to human health, targeted for new technology development, and 3) education through short courses and conferences, free to participating companies, which stresses the application of knowledge of fundamental properties and behaviors to the solution of practical problems.

Typical companies involved with the Center are those who want to:

    Utilize the Center's problem-solving skills,

    Extend internal resources,

    Explore new areas of science,

    Progress in an area while focusing corporate resources on other projects,

    Assess emerging technologies through presentations and first look at patentable discoveries 

Benefits of Membership:

    Opportunities for interaction with the WCCR faculty

    Access to special equipment, capabilities, and services

    First opportunity for technology transfer

    Interaction with other industry ingredient and further processing companies

    Participation in Research Focus Group

    Yearly Short Course

    Visits by WCCR faculty members, when desired

    Representatives at the annual WCCR Advisory Board meeting

    Yearly Technical Conference following Board meeting

    Special opportunity for interaction with WCCR graduate students and post-doctoral scientists, and early access for employment

    Attendance at the annual WCCR poster session of research project progress

    Recognition in WCCR Annual Report

    Recognition in other WCCR publications

    Preprints of WCCR research papers prior to publication

    WCCR research progress reports through quarterly updates