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Klinta Luīze Sprūdža

DC5
MedUniGraz

I value the project’s interdisciplinarity, linking clinical investigation with food-bioactives research. I believe regional products are powerful resources for health promotion and am eager to champion their evidence-based use.

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

Supervisor: Professor Sandra Holasek

Co-Supervisors: Prof. Nikoletta Fotaki (UBath), Dr. Olaf Kelber (Steigerwald)

Secondments This project is carried out in strong collaboration with the institutions listed below:

  • Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath (UBath), United Kingdom
  • Natural Products & Food Research and Analysis – Pharmaceutical Technology (NatuRAPT), University of Antwerp, Belgium
  • Steigerwald Arzneimittelwerk, Darmstadt, Germany
Project description

The scientific objective is to evaluate the effects of a six-week supplementation with blueberry- or olive-derived bioactives on selected biomarkers of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. The 36-month programme is structured in three phases. The first year will comprise a human pilot study, including sample collection, biosampling, and anthropometric measurements. The second year will focus on analysing key biomarkers of systemic inflammation and oxidative stress in a Central-European population, alongside complementary cell-culture experiments. The third year will be devoted to finalising the thesis, preparing manuscripts for open-access publication, and undertaking secondments and workshops in line with the EU BioTransform project (HORIZON-MSCA-2024-DN-01).  The project seeks to make findings openly accessible, enhance international visibility, and promote knowledge exchange across academia, industry, and healthcare. Publications will provide scientific quality assurance, invite international peer feedback, and support knowledge transfer within the scientific community and the biotechnology sector.

Professional background

I completed my Medical Doctor degree at Riga Stradins University, demonstrating sustained academic performance and the capacity to manage a demanding, long-term curriculum. I spent an Erasmus+ year at the Medical University of Innsbruck, where I deepened my academic training and broadened my research experience. I have collaborated with several academic institutions in Latvia and Austria, conducting independent analyses of clinical trial data and contributing to peer-reviewed publications. Throughout my studies, I also supported fellow medical students, helping them excel and paying forward the mentorship I received. Sharing knowledge and practical skills has been both meaningful and deeply rewarding.