Gnosis by Lesaffre sponsors doctorate program investigating interplay of vitamin K2 and heart health

02 Aug 2023 --- Gnosis by Lesaffre is sponsoring an industrial Ph.D. program at Maastricht University, in the Netherlands, with a primary focus on exploring the role of vitamin K2 in cardiovascular health. The company says the initiative aims to shed new light on the potential benefits of vitamin K2 and its impact on heart health.

The research will be conducted under the guidance of Dr. Leon Schurgers – a prominent vitamin K2 researcher and professor of the biochemistry of vascular calcification and the vice-chair of biochemistry at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM) – and Dr. Olav Gåserød, the product development and research and development manager at Gnosis.

Schurgers has an extensive background in the field and has authored over 250 research papers in the international scientific press.

The recipient, Rudolf Bittner, will investigate the relationship between the ingredient and cardiovascular well-being.

“This program is different from the standard ‘academic’ Ph.D., which mostly focuses on academic skills and less on industrial skills. The latter is now recognized as an important asset for young scientists as it increases chances on the job market,” Schurgers explains. “This program allows the candidate to explore research in a pragmatic and applicable way, working in proximity with those offering expertise in research as well as industry.” 

The Gnosis by Lesaffre doctorate program will focus on vitamin K2’s effects on heart health.“It requires dedicated organization and open communication that, in the end, should yield a more robust perspective of the project’s future applications.”

Focus on heart health

The company highlights that industrial Ph.D. programs offer a unique opportunity for students to explore their research in a vocational environment, provides them with transferable skills and can facilitate a smooth transition into professional postdoctoral positions. 

Dr. Gåserød has 25 years of experience in industrial research and product development within biomaterials, formulations and actives and emphasizes the importance of vocational approaches – having previously co-supervised master and Ph.D. students in industrial projects.

The company further notes that the collaboration between academia and industry has proven to be highly effective and the partnerships can drive innovation and advance scientific knowledge in the realm of nutritional solutions. By investing in research, the company says it seeks to enhance its contributions to human health and well-being.

“As the global need for K2 as menaquinone-7 continues to be validated by new research, the field is expanding and requires new researchers in-tune with how findings can be turned into future applications,” says Sophie Legrain-Raspaud, Gnosis’ research and application director. 

“By sponsoring this esteemed Industrial Ph.D program, Gnosis by Lesaffre is expanding its relationship with Maastricht and Dr. Schurgers, cultivating future compelling and groundbreaking research into vitamin K2’s roles in human health.”

Edited by William Bradford Nichols