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Univ. Prof. Dr. Sandra Holasek

Deputy head of the Division of Pathophysiology and Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center, head of the Doctoral School for Lifestyle-related-Diseases (LIFEMED)
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MedUniGraz

BioTransform represents a strategically important initiative that integrates excellence in research, education, and capacity building across Europe. It is a privilege to contribute to this distinguished consortium, which addresses the urgent need to train and empower the next generation of scientists for both academia and industry.

Evidence-based nutrition must be recognized not only as a lifestyle factor but as a key determinant in the development, progression, and management of non-communicable diseases. Through structured training, knowledge transfer, and stakeholder engagement, BioTransform supports the translation of scientific evidence into innovation pathways across Europe.

Professional background
  • 2004: Habilitation (PD, venia docendi) in Pathophysiology at the Medical University Graz
  • Since 2008: Head of the Doctoral School 0790DS7 DS LIFEMED
  • Since 2010: 1st Vice Chair of the Division of Pathophysiology and Immunology, Otto Loewi Research Center and head of the Research Unit “Translational Nutrition Research”, associated Professor
  • Since 2025: full professor at the Division of Pathophysiology and Immunology
  • Since 2021: member of the National Nutrition Commission Austria (Nationale Ernährungskommission, NEK)
  • Since 2017: Vice-President of the Austrian Nutrition Society (ANS, ÖGE) and head of the ANS South (ÖGE Süd)

 

Research expertise:

  • With the project (ZMF9153/15650)Energy Sensing and Anorexia Nervosa (ESAN I-III) elected metabolic aspects of chronic energy restriction and overload, in different eating disorders and sports, focusing on leaky gut and pro-atherogenic profiles are investigated. Therein clinical human studies, as well as cell culture experiments contribute to better understanding of immune modulatory effects of plant foods and possible food intolerance symptoms.
  • The impact of free or standardized lifestyle and bio sampling protocols on metabolome recognition accuracy has been studied in different settings of the Biobank Graz. Protocols for standardized eating habits, deep phenotyping combined with different assessment tool of nutrition and body composition have been tested.

 

Teaching and science communication:

  • Professorship for Science Communication und Nutrition Literacy
  • Integrated Curriculum Nutrition Medicine at the Medical University Graz:

 

In order to equip medical students with the necessary knowledge and skills in the field of nutrition, the teaching content is adapted based on the position paper of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN).  “Fundamentals of Nutrition,” “Applied Nutrition and Public Health,” and “Clinical Nutrition” and further location-specific items has been elaborated. The teaching content is assigned to the learning objectives of the preclinical and clinical learning objectives catalog of the Medical University of Graz in consultation with the respective subject coordinators, and any missing learning objectives are added.

Selected publications

  • Mörkl, S; Narrath, M; Schlotmann, D; Sallmutter, MT; Putz, J; Lang, J; Brandstätter, A; Pilz, R; Karl, Lackner, H; Goswami, N; Steuber, B; Tatzer, J; Lackner, S; Holasek, S; Painold, A; Jauk, E; Wenninger, J; Horvath, A; Spicher, N; Barth, A; Butler, MI; Wagner-Skacel, J, 2025. Multi-species probiotic supplement enhances vagal nerve function – results of a randomized controlled trial in patients with depression and healthy controls. Gut Microbes. 2025; 17(1): 2492377  DOI: 10.1080/19490976.2025.2492377

  • Lackner, S; Mahnert, A; Moissl-Eichinger, C; Madl, T; Habisch, H; Meier-Allard, N; Kumpitsch, C; Lahousen, T; Kohlhammer-Dohr, A; Mörkl, S; Strobl, H; Holasek, S, 2024. Interindividual differences in aronia juice tolerability linked to gut microbiome and metabolome changes-secondary analysis of a randomized placebo-controlled parallel intervention trial. Microbiome. 2024; 12(1): 49   DOI: 10.1186/s40168-024-01774-4

  • Lackner, S; Sconocchia, T; Ziegler, T; Passegger, C; Meier-Allard, N; Schwarzenberger, E; Wonisch, W; Lahousen, T; Kohlhammer-Dohr, A; Mörkl, S; Derler, M; Strobl, H; Holasek, SJ, 2022. Immunomodulatory Effects of Aronia Juice Polyphenols-Results of a Randomized Placebo-Controlled Human Intervention Study and Cell Culture Experiments.Antioxidants (Basel). 2022; 11(7): [Open Access] DOI: 10.3390/antiox11071283