Mapping the Uncharted Human Metabolism for Novel Food Bioactives
BioTransform is a multidisciplinary doctoral network (DN) aiming to investigate the role of health promoting constituents found in food products (food bioactives – FB), focusing on their metabolism. Even though the role of the gut microbiome is nowadays considered imperative in health homeostasis and disease prevention, the available information regarding gut microbiome-driven FB biotransformations after food intake remains scarce and highly unexplored even regarding common food products. Thus, the goal of BioTransform is to combine state-of-the-art methods, technologies and approaches in a complementary and integrated way to reveal the role of metabolism in the digestive tract, and the impact of FB and their metabolites (biotransformation products) on health and disease. To this end, human pilot studies, in vitro and in silico metabolism simulation methods, gut microbiome sequencing, metabolite profiling and metabolomics will be employed. The BioTransform objectives will be accomplished through 11 complementary doctoral projects from 9 education and research entities, additionally including the participation of 6 associated partners from the private sector and one from academia.
Our cohort of doctoral candidates (DC) will jointly deliver answers to important pending questions about the role of plant-derived FB and their metabolites in human health, focusing on gut microbiome-driven metabolism. The basic principle is that the metabolites, rather than their precursors – the genuine secondary plant constituents – are the real bioactives circulating in the blood stream and reaching the target organs, contributing significantly to the beneficial health effects of FB. Therefore, the core of BioTransform innovation is to extensively explore the metabolism of FB, to identify their metabolites and finally to evaluate their pharmacological profile. As a proof of concept, the bioactives of two commonly consumed food products applied as standardised supplements – olive products (Olea europaea L.) as a model for southern European (Mediterranean) dietary patterns and European blueberry (bilberry, Vaccinium myrtillus L.) for central and European dietary patterns – will be investigated. Both products have established activities against metabolism-related pathologies, but the active entities and their effects remain largely unknown.
Open positions
BioTransform will recruit 11 enthusiastic, talented and driven doctoral candidates who are highly motivated to become interdisciplinary and competent researchers and professionals in the area of health and food science. The recruitment process for researchers will open in October 2025, including final details on the open positions, eligibility and application process. Meanwhile, you can find initial information for the DC1-11 open positions below.
DC1: Tracking differences in gastrointestinal metabolism of bilberry bioactives between healthy/normal weight and prediabetic individuals through the in vitro gastrointestinal simulation model GIDM-colon
UAntwerp (Antwerp, Belgium)
(applications open 1/12/2025 – 31/1/2026)
DC2: Tracking differences in gastrointestinal metabolism of olive oil biophenols between healthy/normal weight and prediabetic/obese individuals through the in vitro gastrointestinal simulation model GIDM-colon
UAntwerp (Antwerp, Belgium)
(applications open 1/12/2025 – 31/1/2026)
DC3: A blinded placebo-controlled human pilot study for the investigation of the role of bilberry and olive bioactives on oxidative stress parameters and inflammatory markers – Relevance in a South-European population
NKUA (Athens, Greece)
(applications open 1/10/2025 – 30/11/2025)
DC4: Exploration of metabolism pathways of olive biophenols using UPLC-HRMS/MS profiling and metabolomics approaches
NKUA (Athens, Greece)
(applications open 1/10/2025 – 30/11/2025)
DC5: A blinded placebo-controlled human pilot study for the investigation of the role of bilberry and olive bioactives on oxidative stress parameters and inflammatory markers – Relevance in a Central-European population
MedUniGraz (Graz, Austria)
(applications open 1/10/2025 – 30/11/2025)
DC6: Exploration of metabolism pathways and bioactives’ metabolites from bilberries by using UPLC-HRMS approaches
UGraz (Graz, Austria)
(applications open 1/10/2025 – 30/11/2025)
DC7: Impact of bilberry and olive bioactives on gut microbiome
Teagasc, UCC (Cork, Ireland)
(applications open 1/12/2025 – 31/1/2026)
DC8: In vitro microsomal metabolism of dialysates produced in the GIDM-Colon and activity of metabolites
RSU (Riga, Latvia)
(applications open 1/2/2026 – 31/3/2026)
DC9: Exploration of olive and bilberry bioactives bioavalability aspects through advanced in silico techniques
UBath (Bath, UK)
(applications open 1/2/2026 – 31/3/2026)
DC10: Correlation studies between spectrometric, spectroscopic, biochemical, and microbiome sequencing data after intake of bilberry and olive bioactives
ICL (London, UK)
(applications open 1/2/2026 – 31/3/2026)
DC11: Synthesis of potentially bioactive metabolites for chemical structure revision, analytical quantification and bioactivity studies
LIOS (Riga, Latvia)
(applications open 1/12/2025 – 31/1/2026)