NourishNourishWHO ARE WE
NOURISH is a multidisciplinary research group comprising pharmacists, nutritionists, and molecular biologists at the University of Zagreb’s Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry. Our scientific endeavours focus on developing green methods for the extraction and formulation of nutraceuticals, valorising agricultural waste and exploring the interconnections between sustainable nutrition, climate change and health.
TEAM
GROUP LEADER
Dubravka Vitali Čepo
PhD, MPharm
Full professor, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb
She is a head of Department of Department of Nutrition and Dietetics and teaches several courses focusing mainly on dietary supplements, nutrition therapy, food-drug interactions and environmental health in graduate and postgraduate studies at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry. Her scientific interests primarily revolve around sustainable nutrition and the intersection of environmental issues, climate change, and health. To date, she has led multiple scientific research projects and professional collaborations and has published more than 50 scientific papers in high-ranked scientific journals.
SENIOR RESEARCHER
Kristina Radić
PhD, MPharm
Senior Assistant, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb
She teaches several graduate courses on food chemistry, dietary supplements, nutrition therapy, and food-drug interactions. Her research focuses on the development of sustainable extraction methods for bioactive compounds from food waste, the formulation of nutraceuticals, and the optimization of in vitro models to study the bioavailability of biologically active compounds. To date she has collaborated on multiple scientific research projects and has authored nearly 20 papers published in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
SENIOR RESEARCHER
Emerik Galić
PhD, MSc Molecular Biology
Senior Assistant, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb
He teaches a practical course related to biochemistry and physiology of nutrition. His main scientific interests include the investigation of biological activity of natural compounds and their effects on human health with particular focus on the development of in vitro models for investigations of intestinal bioavailiability. He was a guest researcher abroad on multiple occasions and has co-authored 9 scientific publications in high-impact, peer-reviewed journals.
SENIOR RESEARCHER
Lovorka Vujić
PhD, MMedBiochem
Assistant professor, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb
She teaches graduate course “Nutritional Biochemistry” in the Study of Medicinal Chemistry. Her research primarily focuses on physiological effects of dietary fibres and their application in creating low glycaemic functional foods and next-generation nutraceuticals. To date, she has collaborated on numerous scientific research projects and co-authored 17 papers in prestigious scientific journals.
YOUNG RESEARCHER
Nikolina Golub, M Food Engineering
Research assistant, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb
She is in the process of completing her PhD at the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics. Her research is focused on the valorization of pectins derived from food waste and their application in developing innovative selenium formulations. Her scientific interests include exploring the intersection of nutrition, health, and food science, particularly developing nutraceuticals and creating value-added products from agri-food waste. She has published 7 papers in journals indexed by WoSCC.
YOUNG RESEARCHER
Marina Jurić, MNutr
Research assistant, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb
She is involved in the laboratory work regarding food chemistry and nutrition therapy. Her research activity is focused on the non-thermal extraction techniques of agrifood residues, the development of functional edible gels, and the creation of (nano) delivery systems for bioactive compounds and nutraceuticals. To date, she has published nine scientific papers and is currently undergoing professional training abroad.
YOUNG RESEARCHER
Tea Petković, MNutr
Research assistant, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb
She is starting her PhD studies in Postgraduate Doctoral Study “Pharmaceutical-Biochemical Sciences”. She graduated in Nutrition from the Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb. Her main scientific interests are currently focused on the development and application of sustainable formulation principles for improved stability and intestinal permeability of target nutraceuticals.
TECHNICAL ASSOCIATE
Gordana Blažinić
Technical associate, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb
She is experienced in official food analysis methods and skilled in conducting spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis. Participates in the practical teaching in graduate courses at the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics.
