Bangladesh Innovation Makes TIME’s Best Inventions List
A pioneering nutrition innovation developed through a collaboration between icddr,b (International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh) and Washington University in St. Louis has been named one of TIME’s Best Inventions of 2025 in the Social Impact category. The product—MDCF-2 (Microbiome-Directed Complementary Food)—is designed to restore healthy gut microbiota in undernourished children, marking a significant step toward tackling one of the world’s most persistent health challenges.
Global Undernutrition: A Continuing Crisis
Despite major advances in public health, undernutrition remains a leading cause of child mortality, contributing to nearly half of all deaths among children under five. Wars, climate disasters, and mass displacement have intensified the crisis, leaving millions of children suffering from stunting (low height for age) and wasting (low weight for height).
Inside the Innovation: What Makes MDCF-2 Unique
MDCF-2 is a scientifically developed complementary food that targets and nourishes beneficial gut bacteria essential for healthy growth, immunity, and brain development.
It contains a carefully balanced mix of:
- • Chickpea flour
- • Soybean flour
- • Peanut flour
- • Green banana powder
These locally sourced ingredients were chosen for their ability to promote the growth of key microbes in the gut—microbes that play a vital role in how children absorb and utilize nutrients.
The Collaboration Behind the Breakthrough
This innovation stems from a long-standing partnership between Dr. Tahmeed Ahmed, Executive Director of icddr,b, and Dr. Jeffrey Gordon, Director of the Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology at Washington University.
Dr. Gordon, often regarded as a pioneer in gut microbiome research, said:
“Our decades of research revealed that the gut microbiome plays a central role in how children grow and respond to nutrition. The beneficial bacteria we identified help process dietary components that our bodies can’t handle on their own.”
He added that clinical trials of MDCF-2 in Bangladesh have demonstrated that restoring gut microbial health can positively influence many aspects of postnatal development—well beyond digestion alone.
A Proud Moment for Bangladesh
Dr. Tahmeed Ahmed expressed deep appreciation for the global recognition:
“This acknowledgment from TIME is truly encouraging. It shows how science and compassion can work together to solve one of the most enduring public health challenges. MDCF-2 offers new hope that affordable, locally developed solutions can help millions of undernourished children not just survive—but thrive.”
From Bangladesh to the World
Following successful trials in Bangladesh, major studies are now underway in India, Pakistan, Mali, and Tanzania, signaling the beginning of a new era in child nutrition interventions. Experts believe this approach could reshape how undernutrition is prevented and treated globally.
Recognition of Global Impact
TIME’s 2025 list includes 300 groundbreaking innovations that are transforming how we live, work, and care for one another. MDCF-2’s inclusion underscores the growing importance of microbiome science and Bangladesh’s role in advancing global health research.
Full list: https://time.com/best-
Learn more from Dr. Tahmeed Ahmed’s video explainer on how MDCF supports gut health and child growth: https://youtu.be/srPSgkx8U80
About icddr,b
Founded over 60 years ago, icddr,b is a world-renowned health research institution based in Bangladesh. It works to solve major public health problems through scientific research, innovation, and policy engagement. The organization continues to provide life-saving services in Bangladesh while nurturing the next generation of global health leaders.
