Dr Bernard Gesch
Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford; and Director of the UK research charity Natural Justice
Dr Bernard Gesch came to work with FAB Research in his roles as a Senior Research Scientist at the University Lab of Physiology, Oxford, andĀ Founder of the research charity Natural Justice, which he set up to investigate causes of criminal antisocial behaviour.
Bernard is internationally renowned for his pioneering research into the links between diet and antisocial and criminal behaviour.
In the late eighties he established a successful programme combining nutrition and social approaches to offending which Courts used as an alternative to imposing custodial sentences on persistent juvenile offenders.
With the co-operation of the Home Office, Bernard and colleagues went on to conduct a carefully controlled clinical trial, supported by the charity Natural Justice, to test empirically if better nutrition could significantly improve the behaviour of maximum-security prisoners. It did! The publication of their work attracted in excess of 200 positive press articles worldwide.
Bernard went on to collaborate internationally to replicate these findings, and working with eminent colleagues from several institutions, including the Medical Research Council, the Institute of Psychiatry, the US National Institute of Health, the Dutch Ministry of Justice and the Scottish Prison Service.
Publications
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Tammam et al 2012 - Availability of junk food should be reducedĀ
Crime and Punishment: Cause for a re-think? From the Prison Service Journal - Issue 182 - March 2009
Eves & Gesch 2003. Food provision and the nutritional implications of food choices made by young adult males, in a young offenders' institution.
Gesch et al 2002. Influence of supplementary vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids on the antisocial behaviour of young adult prisoners. Randomised, placebo-controlled trial.
Media Links:
See: 21 April 2014 - BBC News - Did removing lead from petrol spark a decline in crime?
FAB Research interview with Bernard Gesch at 'Sugar, Fat and the Public Health Crisis - London - 12 March 2013' on www.youtube.com/FABResearchĀ
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