Research projects
Current research projects of BioActor
At BioActor, we value the scientific evaluation of our ingredients. For that reason, we perform multiple clinical trials on healthy participants.
Currently, we are performing several clinical trials and we are actively looking for study participants. Click the buttons below for more information if you’re interested to join one of our studies as a participant.
After all, the most important part of our clinical research are the participants!
Our focus
Our focus
Our research focus mainly revolves around two “health engines”, namely, the microbiome and mitochondria.
We like to take deep dives to research these tiny health engines because we believe they are the key to a well-functioning organism and are able to directly influence many aspects of our health and wellbeing.
Our science is translated into health solutions for the healthy ageing and energy and performance nutrition market.
Healthy Ageing
Bioactives to optimize health & wellbeing during any stage of life.
Healthy ageing is a global challenge and an objective of many consumers. The modern consumer is interested in easy-to-use products that fit their lifestyle and promise to improve their health.
With our broad experience, we strive to find the perfect solution for our customers and consumers, aiming to generate unique yet convenient products.
Together with our research partners, we have developed and tested a range of superfruit extracts to boost energy and vitality, reinforce the microbiome composition and immune system, enhance cognitive functions and cardiovascular health.
Healthy ageing portfolio
Download our healthy ageing portfolio, uniquely studied to help consumers improve their health at any stage of their lives.
Energy and performance
Bioactives to unlock the body’s full potential/performance.
The performance nutrition market is rapidly growing, and always more people engage in physical activity, taking a proactive approach to optimizing their performance.
Our next-generation sports nutrition ingredients aim to boost power, endurance and strength, support heavily stressed joints and address emerging markets such as e-sports and gaming.
We work with an experienced team of sports scientists and the top sports performance centres such as Papendal and the Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences of Maastricht University to test our products in scientifically robust studies on athletes and active people.
Active living & Sports portfolio
Download our Active Living & Sports portfolio, find out more about our extract studied to unlock the bodies’ full potential.
Science
Bringing real science to consumers.
The first pillar of our product development strategy is the scientific evaluation of plant-based bio-active molecules. We explore the potential of our extracts and elucidate their underlying mode of action through both clinical and in-vitro studies.
The second driver for innovation is our curiosity; we are truly passionately curious to explore new health areas. Always looking for white space and often the first to clinically study a new health effect. We plan, execute and publish several clinical studies annually, in close collaboration with principal investigators from international research institutes and universities.
All of our clinical research is conducted in compliance with the international guidelines of “Good Clinical Practice”. High-quality peer-reviewed research is an essential part of our value creation strategy.
Latest publication
Download our latest publication and discover how Actiful® supports seniors’ physical fitness and mental well-being.
Workmethod
A literature search is conducted to summarize existing data on the relevant topic. Moreover, connections with established academic researchers are made to collaborate on related projects.
All study-related documents such as the protocol, participant information, and study operating procedures are prepared to ensure compliance with “Good Clinical Practice” guidelines.
The local ethics committee critically reviews all study-related documents to guarantee that the research is conducted responsibly. The study is approved only if safety for the participants is warranted.
Various channels such as flyers, posters, and social media are used to recruit potential participants. After expressing interest, they receive more information and visit the research facilities to participate in a screening. Screening is performed to evaluate the eligibility of the potential participants.
All study procedures with the participants are planned and carried out by our clinical research team at the research facilities. We operate in facilities allowing us to measure several parameters such as cognitive function, exercise performance, blood markers, microbiome composition and physical activity
The collected data is combined and analyzed with statistical software. Following data analysis and reporting of the results, a draft version is submitted to a scientific journal. After peer-review and finalization of the study paper, the study results are published in the specific journal.
Collaborations
Collaborations & Scientific advisors
Over the years, we have established long-term relationships with top clinicians and scientists at several universities and research institutes. Our unrivalled access to scientific expertise and clinical facilities allow us to bring real science to consumers.
Health Holland – Aronia & Cognitive Fitness
BioActor and Maastricht University established a public, private partnership (“PPP”) to study the mechanism behind the positive effects of Aronia melanocarpa on cognition and brain fitness. This PPP received a grant from Health Holland and will have a duration of 3 years. In the context of this PPP, a large clinical study will be carried out in collaboration with Scannexus Center for Brain Imaging. The PPP will be led by Dr Peter Joris under the supervision of Prof. Jogchum Plat.
Health Holland – Inimini Chip Project
Wageningen University has set-up a consortium of leading life science companies with an interest in microbiome research to develop a ‘lab on chip’ whereby gut microbiota and immune cells are superimposed on a small surface. The socalled Inimini Chip holds the promise of enabling high-throughput screening of compounds at different doses for effects on the microbiota composition and activation of immune cells. This PPP will have a duration of 3 years and is led by Dr. Paul Vos of Wageningen University Dept Food and Biobased Research. The industrial partners are represented by Dr. Yala Stevens, CSO of BioActor.
Nestlé – Bonolive® nutritional products
BioActor engaged in collaboration with Nestlé Health Science to develop nutritional products containing BONOLIVE®, a health ingredient based on olive polyphenols, targeting bone health. BONOLIVE® has been shown to stimulate osteoblast – bone producing cell – activity in a 12 months clinical study. Nestlé Health Science, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nestlé, is a health-science company engaged in advancing the role of nutritional therapy to change the course of health for consumers, patients, and our partners in healthcare.
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Scientific advisors
Prof. Ad Masclee
Prof. Ad Masclee is the Head of the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC). He is closely involved in clinical research investigating gut inflammation and gut-liver homeostasis at NUTRIM (School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism).
Prof. Jogchum Plat
Prof. Plat is member of the Physiology of Human Nutrition (PHuN) research group at the Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences’ and professor Physiology of Nutrition at Maastricht University. His research focuses on Congition & Brain Health, as well as on exploring possibilities to modify disease risk by means of nutritional interventions and to understand the mechanisms underlying these effects at a molecular level.
Prof. Koen Venema
Prof. Venema is Professor of Gut Microbiology at the Department of Human Biology / Venlo Campus, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism (Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences Centre for Healthy Eating & food Innovation). His research mainly focuses on studying the effect of probiotics, prebiotics on the gut microbiota composition and activity using sophisticated in vitro models of the gastrointestinal tract (TIM).
Prof. Freddy Troost
Prof. Freddy Troost is a Senior Scientist at the Top Institute for Food and Nutrition and Associate Professor specializing in Food innovation and Health. Additionally, he is the coordinator of the MSc Health Food Innovation Management at Campus Venlo (Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University). Due to his cycling experience as a semi-pro, he has extensive knowledge in sports nutrition, energy and performance.