The importance of clinical research: An interview with BioActor’s in-house scientists
Interview
In the world of clinical research and scientific exploration, BioActor stands out as a leading company dedicated to the development of health ingredients. At the forefront of BioActor’s research and development (R&D) efforts are Sanne Ahles and Maria Imperatrice, two certified clinical research scientists who play vital roles in the BioActor’s R&D initiatives. In this interview, Sanne and Maria provide insights into their responsibilities, experiences, and the challenges they face in their pursuit of scientific advancement.
Could you introduce yourself and your role within BioActor?
Sanne: My name is Sanne Ahles and I am a clinical research scientist at BioActor. In addition, I am a PhD candidate at the Department of Nutrition and Movement Sciences at Maastricht University. I obtained my master’s degree in biomedical sciences after my internship at BioActor, after which I started working as a researcher.
Within BioActor, I am responsible for the research regarding our product Brainberry®, mainly focused on cognitive performance and vascular function. Over the years, I have designed, performed, analyzed, and reported various clinical studies, as well as written a systematic literature review.
Maria: My name is Maria Imperatrice and I also work as a clinical research scientist at BioActor. My research focus is Healthy Ageing and I’m currently performing two studies, Actiful2 and FEMMED, on two of our ingredients (Actiful® and Bonolive®) to evaluate their effect on exercise performance and postmenopausal symptoms, respectively.
I obtained my Bachelor Degree in Biology and my Master in Human Nutrition at the University “Federico II Di Napoli” in Italy, and my second master’s degree in Human Movement Sciences, with a specialisation in Sport and Nutrition, at Maastricht University.
At BioActor, we highly value clinical research because it plays a crucial role in providing evidence-based ingredients. What does clinical research entail and what do you like about it?
Sanne: Clinical research entails many different processes. This includes idea formation and initial literature searches, finding collaborations, obtaining ethics approval, practical work, data analyses, writing reports and papers, and communicating our results at national and international conferences.
Maria: A very interesting part for us is the ideation of the study. At BioActor we highly value innovation, which is why before starting a new clinical trial, we sit in brainstorming sessions with the R&D, marketing and sales teams to try to find white spaces in the current knowledge that can be of interest for the common public and different health domains. Once we find an interesting and never explored topic, the investigation can start.
Could you briefly take us through the process of a clinical trial?
Sanne: First, we initiate the idea formation process by brainstorming ideas that are relevant to customer questions or explore new areas of interest. Next, we perform literature searches to look for relevant papers, available data, and discover white space; topics that have not yet been researched.
Then we reach out to a collaborator, usually a professor at a University, to work with on developing a protocol for ethics review.
Maria: Once we obtain ethics approval, we dive into the practical phase of the clinical trial. This involves engaging with participants through visits where we collect data. This includes not only traditional data that we can extrapolate by collecting blood samples, but also performing tests to evaluate outcomes like reaction time, exercise capacity and mental flexibility.
It’s an interactive and rewarding experience that brings our research to life and allows us to better understand how our ingredients contribute to improving human health and develop evidence-based solutions. Afterwards, we analyze the data, draw conclusions, and share our findings through peer-reviewed publications. It’s a cool journey from start to finish!
Which of the above do you enjoy the most as a scientist?
Sanne: I enjoy collaborating with other companies or academic institutes! It’s such an incredible opportunity for us to broaden our knowledge and take our research to the next level. The energy and creativity that come from working with diverse teams is truly great.
Maria: The practical side of our work is always interesting! Collecting data means we get to perform visits with participants, and trust me, it’s never boring when you’re involved in a human study. The hands-on experience and the constant interaction with people make it such an exciting and fulfilling part of our job.
What is the biggest challenge in designing a study?
Sanne: In my opinion, the biggest challenge in designing a study is obtaining ethics approval, which is a rigorous and time-consuming process. We meticulously prepare documents explaining our research goals, methodology, and participant recruitment.
The ethical committee thoroughly reviews these documents, granting final approval for each aspect of our research.
Maria: I agree! Obtaining ethics approval is a significant challenge. However, this process is crucial for upholding ethical standards and protecting participant rights.
It also adds credibility to our research, fostering trust and allowing our findings to have a greater impact. Despite the challenges, navigating the ethics approval process is vital for conducting valuable and ethically sound research.
What is the best part of working at BioActor as a scientist?
Sanne & Maria: Being a scientist at BioActor is truly rewarding due to the chance to collaborate with a dynamic and passionate team of international colleagues. Within BioActor, we also see other aspects of the company besides R&D.
Our weekly company meetings allow us to really understand the bigger picture of the company and understand what each department entails. Consequently, we explore different facets of the company and gain valuable insights beyond our specific research and development focus.
BioActor: Using clinical science as the key to innovative ingredients
Sanne Ahles and Maria Imperatrice exemplify the passion and dedication that drive BioActor’s pursuit of finding new health effects of ingredients and advancing scientific innovation. From ideation to practical implementation, data analysis, and knowledge dissemination; they are pushing the boundaries of scientific knowledge and embracing the multidisciplinary nature of their work. Sanne and Maria contribute to BioActor’s mission of creating innovative and impactful solutions for a healthier life.
