Get to know the team behind Clasado Biosciences. In our Meet the Team series, we find out more about the people behind the business, what they find most intriguing about gut health and microbiome science, and what motivates them to succeed. Read on to discover more.
Name
Dr Aleksandra Maruszak
Role
Senior R&D and IP Manager
When did you join Clasado Biosciences?
March 2017
What first attracted you to work at Clasado?
The first thing for me was the cutting-edge science behind Bimuno®, a prebiotic with great consumer reviews and the momentum to grow significantly. Initially, I focused on research only within the gut-brain axis area, but gradually expanded my expertise to other Bimuno applications and took on managing our Intellectual Property portfolio.
Another great advantage to Clasado is a very open-minded management team, with experts in their respective fields. The close-knit synergy between team members means you can learn from their extremely valuable experience. These interactions wouldn’t necessarily be possible in a much larger organisation, and it gives us all fantastic focus and drive.
What does an ‘average day’ look like in your role?
There’s no such thing as an average day at Clasado R&D and I enjoy that. My role is very dynamic as there is a large research and IP portfolio to manage, maintain and develop. We are committed to innovation and our collection includes almost 100 scientific publications, with more to come.
My day-to-day role involves designing studies and research projects, identifying suitable partners, liaising with investigators and Contract Research Organisations, as well as analysing research reports for novelty and differentiation points from competitors.
I am also involved in showcasing our research to partners or healthcare professionals (HCPs) and occasionally assisting with consumer communications. This, importantly, keeps me connected with the translation of our research to normal life – and puts consumers needs and understanding in the spotlight. This helps as a constant reminder of why we do what we do – it’s all to create better gut health around the globe, for everyone.
In my role, I am also involved in the ILSI Prebiotic Taskforce, which brings together experts from industry and academia to explore the potential of prebiotics in bringing health benefits.
In-between all these activities, I like to stay on top of the latest research and take part in conferences, sharing expertise from our own unique perspective at Clasado. I enjoy blue-sky thinking sessions, where we have a chance to show our innovation and vision in bringing new research ideas to the table.
What excites you the most about microbiome science and gut health?
It is such a rapidly evolving field – almost every day we learn something new. The gut microbiome has been moving into the spotlight in recent years and it appears to be key – not only to our digestion – but to our overall health. That is why what we eat is so important, as our diet is the major determinant of which gut microbes flourish, and which don’t.
I’m really fascinated by how much context plays a role in what microbes do for us. As I mentioned, diet is key, and research has shown that the same microbes, given different food, do completely different things.
In other words, it’s not only important who is there down in the gut, but what they are given to eat. This concept ties in nicely with a tool I’m very excited about, metabolomics, which helps us better understand what the microbes produce and how we can benefit from that. I’m extremely proud that our research contributes to the fast-developing field of gut health driven by the ‘biotics’ – prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics and postbiotics.
What is your specific field of interest within microbiome science and how would you describe your previous experience?
I earned my MSc in Biotechnology from University of Life Sciences, Warsaw, Poland. I then developed a very solid background in food technology, enzymology, microbiology and biochemistry.
Back then, I was more interested in neuroscience, and I received my PhD in Genetics at the Mossakowski Medical Research Centre PAS, which was followed by a postdoctoral research project at King’s College London. There, among other activities, I analysed how some nutrients and our lifestyle affect fate of new neurons. At that point, I became fascinated with the role of nutrition and exercise for health.
At Clasado, I continue investigating how we can see tangible changes to our gut health and overall wellbeing by introducing Bimuno to the diet.
Which particular studies or research projects have captured your attention?
We have a vast research portfolio to draw on, with nearly 100 published papers – so there is plenty to choose from. However, one of my favourite pieces comes from another ingredient manufacturer, presenting data on how Bimuno outperformed another very well-researched ingredient. It confirmed that structures present in Bimuno, some of which are present in human milk, make it an excellent prebiotic for different age groups.
In your own words, what sets Bimuno apart in the ingredients market?
Bimuno contains a proprietary blend of galactooligosaccharides which can’t be found naturally occurring in any food. It is an ingredient backed by a vast scientific portfolio, which can be used at an exceptionally low dose of 1.37g/day. Alongside its fantastic stability through the manufacturing process, this makes it easy to use in different formulations – and a fantastic ingredient choice for product developers.
How do you think the prebiotics category will grow and develop over the next 24 months?
It’s clear that prebiotics are on the up – similar to the trajectory seen by probiotics some years ago. There is a growing consumer understanding of the prebiotic category, and clearly the COVID-19 pandemic greatly contributed to it. The major difference is that consumers are getting much more proactive with matters of health and wellbeing, seeking to learn more and educate themselves.
People are showing increased interest in food supplements to support health from the inside out, so I expect we will see more products with added prebiotics on the market and people consciously purchasing them.
Which food or supplement categories would you like to see make better use of prebiotic fibre?
Bimuno is a versatile ingredient, with excellent solubility and thermal properties so it can be part of a seemingly endless list of products. One group that generally has a low fibre intake is athletes – we already have some data showing that they could benefit from Bimuno. This indicates that in the future, there could be more opportunity to integrate Bimuno into sport health products.
What inspires you at work?
Many different things! I take inspiration from the conferences, research papers, conversations with KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) and HCPs but also from our consumers who ask excellent questions.
Another major source of inspiration is reading patent applications from competitors, to better understand how this space is changing beyond the published science. The nutritional sector – particularly prebiotics and gut health – moves at such a rapid pace, it’s important to keep continually up to date with the latest applications and innovations. After all, innovation is what drives our research ideas.
So far, what achievement are you most proud of at Clasado?
We’ve covered a lot of ground during our studies and development of Bimuno, moving across markets and geographies. I am particularly proud of contributing to our collaboration with Procter & Gamble, leading towards the launch of the Align® Fast Acting Biotic in the United States, which features Bimuno as an ingredient.
In closing, what message would you give to potential customers looking to introduce Bimuno into their new or existing product range?
Bimuno GOS is a distinctive, patent-protected prebiotic that has been tested in more than 100 research studies, demonstrating its efficacy and safety. It’s adding real value to health and nutrition brands by actively meeting the rising demand for gut health products, while also unlocking entirely new categories in prebiotic functional foods.
Anyone interested in a particular application or looking to learn more about what makes Bimuno the go-to choice for new product development, is more than welcome to get in touch to discuss it with our R&D team.
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