{"id":44124,"date":"2025-05-02T09:01:10","date_gmt":"2025-05-02T07:01:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/?post_type=news&p=44124"},"modified":"2025-05-05T10:07:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-05T08:07:08","slug":"boosting-iron-with-snack-bars","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.uni.lu\/en\/news\/boosting-iron-with-snack-bars\/","title":{"rendered":"Boosting iron with snack bars"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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As iron deficiency affects many people globally, University of Luxembourg researchers worked on potential solution \u2013 an iron-rich healthy snack bar that does not only taste good but can also help maintain healthy iron levels with regular consumption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The startup by University researchers  \u2018The Iron Bar<\/a>\u2019 was created by a doctoral researcher Dominika Repcikova and a postdoctoral researcher Mila Marinova. \u201cFor years, I struggled with recurring iron deficiency anaemia, caught in a cycle of diagnosis and medication – only for the issue to return months later,\u201d shares Dominika. \u201cI knew I wouldn\u2019t be able to get my daily iron from diet alone, and I craved for a daily iron boost other than pills, which gave me terrible side effects. One day, I had a simple thought: what if I could regularly eat a snack bar packed with iron to help maintain my levels naturally? I realised such a product didn\u2019t exist, so I created it. That\u2019s when The Iron Bar was born.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The co-founders of The Iron Bar believe that boosting iron intake should be a simple, delicious, and accessible part of daily routine. The primary target audience for this fortified nutrition bar are women. \u201cIt\u2019s 2025, yet iron deficiency continues to affect millions of women around the world – despite the fact that much of it can be managed with adequate daily iron intake,\u201d continues Dominika. \u201cIt is a delicious alternative to traditional over-the-counter iron pills. The Iron Bar aims to transform iron supplementation into an enjoyable and trendy lifestyle choice for women, making iron deficiency prevention easy, effective, and appealing.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is not easy to combine research and entrepreneurship so both scientists stress the importance of the right support system. \u201cThe environment at the University of Luxembourg, including my colleagues, has been incredibly encouraging and enthusiastic about what we\u2019re doing,\u201d shares Mila. \u201cThat collective support makes all the difference. Innovation rarely emerges from a single source or perspective – it thrives on the integration of diverse, complementary ideas and approaches. It requires interdisciplinarity, and that\u2019s something the University of Luxembourg truly excels at. The University does a great job of fostering and nurturing innovation by promoting both international and interdisciplinary collaborations, supporting excellence in research and teaching, and embracing diversity. These, in my view, are the essential ingredients for creating innovative solutions that drive social, cultural, and economic development\u2014not just in Luxembourg, but far beyond.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This year, the Iron Bar took second place in the Eurostart Venture Awards by the Belgian-Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce in Great Britain. \u201cMy background as a researcher has been instrumental in shaping the business,\u201d adds Dominika.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\n \u201f<\/span>\n My doctoral training at the University of Luxembourg equipped me with invaluable transferable skills such as project management, problem-solving, time management, adaptability, people management, and even navigating the legal aspects of health claims. These skills have been crucial in the entrepreneurial journey, from product development to business operations.\u201d\n<\/blockquote>\n
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Dominika REPCIKOVA<\/p>\n\n\n

Doctoral researcher<\/p>\n\n

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The researchers believe that it is important for the University to equip students with both academic and non-academic skills, preparing them for professional success in various business environments. \u201cWhat I greatly appreciate about the University of Luxembourg is its great potential in creating universally well-versed professionals proficient not only in their respective academic disciplines, but also in a broad range of non-academic skills and expertise, making them a valuable addition to any business, be it their own or one they wish to work for after their academic journey,\u201d sums up Dominika.  \u201cThe University\u2019s Incubator and Entrepreneurship Programme<\/a> prepared us for the transition from a research project to a business operation. The University of Luxembourg offers academics a fantastic preparation for professional success.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n

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\nMeet the founders of the Iron Bar<\/h2>\n
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    \nDominika REPCIKOVA<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Doctoral researcher<\/p>\n\n

    \n \n \n View profile<\/span>\n <\/span>\n <\/use><\/svg> <\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div><\/section>\n\n\n
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    \nFind out more about<\/h2>\n\n
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    • \n \n \n \n The Incubator and Entrepreneurship Programme <\/span>\n <\/use><\/svg> <\/span>\n <\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n <\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":341,"featured_media":44125,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"featured_image_focal_point":[],"show_featured_caption":false,"ulux_newsletter_groups":"","uluxPostTitle":"","uluxPrePostTitle":"","_trash_the_other_posts":false,"_price":"","_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_header":"","_tribe_default_ticket_provider":"","_tribe_ticket_capacity":"0","_ticket_start_date":"","_ticket_end_date":"","_tribe_ticket_show_description":"","_tribe_ticket_show_not_going":false,"_tribe_ticket_use_global_stock":"","_tribe_ticket_global_stock_level":"","_global_stock_mode":"","_global_stock_cap":"","_tribe_rsvp_for_event":"","_tribe_ticket_going_count":"","_tribe_ticket_not_going_count":"","_tribe_tickets_list":"[]","_tribe_ticket_has_attendee_info_fields":false},"news-category":[14],"news-topic":[26],"organisation":[154,245],"authorship":[341],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nBoosting iron with snack bars - University of Luxembourg<\/title>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n