I'm Dr Dipl.-Ing. Jan-Luca Stampf – a pharmacologist with a doctorate and a strong background in chemistry and materials technology. From the very beginning, I was fascinated not only by science itself, but by the fundamental question of how we can actually harness the immense potential of active ingredients for people's health. What matters is how we turn scientific findings into effective therapies that are accessible to everyone.
Background
Doctor of Natural Sciences (PhD), neuropharmacology, molecular signal transduction (Medical University of Vienna, Austria)
Master of Engineering, chemistry and materials technology (TU Wien & University of Vienna, Austria)
Master of Science, drug research, development and control (Universitat de Barcelona, Spain)
Bachelor of Science, chemistry (University of Vienna, Austria)
What drives me
When you swallow a vitamin C tablet – does it actually reach your cells?
Many people take food supplements every day and wonder why they don't feel any improvement. This is often because many of the valuable ingredients are broken down in the stomach before they can even take effect.
So how can we ensure that natural substances work exactly where they are needed? And how can new technologies – such as liposomes – be used in a way that is not only safe for people, but also genuinely useful?
These questions occupy me every single day – whether in the lab, in research or in everyday life.
My career
My journey began with a degree in chemistry at the University of Vienna. Even while working on my bachelor's thesis on innovative materials in 3D printing, I knew that I wanted to develop technologies that help people.
For my master's in drug research, I moved to the University of Barcelona – a formative time in which I first came into contact with liposomes. These tiny "protective capsules" can encase active ingredients and protect them from being destroyed by stomach acid. As a result, up to 90% of the nutrients actually reach their target cells – compared with just 10–20% with conventional tablets.
The liposome revolution: why this technology changes everything
During my research, I kept coming across a technology that fascinated me immediately: liposomes. These tiny, spherical vesicles made of the body's natural fats are a real revolution in nutrient absorption.
Imagine this: your valuable vitamins and minerals are wrapped in a protective coat and transported safely through your body to exactly where they are needed. This matters because many conventional food supplements simply don't deliver what they promise. A large proportion of the active ingredients they contain is often not properly absorbed; instead, it is broken down in the digestive tract.
Liposomes solve this problem elegantly: they encase the nutrients and protect them from being broken down by stomach acid and digestive enzymes. This allows the valuable ingredients to reach the cells intact, where they can take full effect.
Practical experience that counts
But for me, science is much more than just theory in the lab. I always look for a direct connection to practice, for dialogue with experts from a wide range of fields and for work on concrete solutions that really help people. That is the only way research can come alive.
That is why, alongside my academic training, I have repeatedly worked in interdisciplinary teams, whether at Boehringer Ingelheim, NIVEA or on international projects in the health and safety sector – including projects with NATO and in cooperation with government institutions.
These experiences have shown me what matters most to me in all of this: science should serve people and not just exist in academic journals.
That is why I have been working as a scientific adviser and formulation specialist for several years. In this role, I advise research institutions and companies on formulations, dosages, routes of administration and the mechanisms of action of active ingredients and excipients. This work has shown me how crucial it is to combine pharmacological expertise with practical feasibility, building bridges between theory and therapy.
My work at Melinava
I am convinced that when people understand why a particular nutrient is important or how an active ingredient works in the body, real health literacy develops.
In my work at Melinava, I act as precisely that bridge between the lab and everyday use. Here I contribute my knowledge to the development of high-quality supplements, with a focus on bioavailability, stability and a composition that truly benefits the body.
Health is not something abstract. It begins in our everyday lives – with every bite, every drop, every conscious decision.
