Lizl Veldsman Wins Top ASPEN Award for Groundbreaking ICU Nutrition Study

Lizl Veldsman Wins Top ASPEN Award for Groundbreaking ICU Nutrition Study

(IN BRIEF) South African clinical dietitian Lizl Veldsman has won the 2025 Harry M. Vars Award from ASPEN for her innovative ICU study supported by Fresenius Kabi. The study examined the impact of intravenous protein and in-bed cycling on muscle mass preservation in ICU patients during their first week of critical illness. This recognition spotlights her as a leader in clinical nutrition research and a standout alumna of the JUMPstart mentorship program.

(PRESS RELEASE) BAD HOMBURG, 15-Apr-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — Lizl Veldsman, a clinical dietitian from Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town and early-career researcher at Stellenbosch University, has been honored with the Harry M. Vars Award by the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ASPEN). The award recognizes outstanding early-career research in clinical nutrition, and Veldsman emerged as the top finalist among five researchers globally.

Her award-winning study, supported by Fresenius Kabi through a €250,000 research grant, investigates a dual approach to prevent muscle loss in critically ill patients. The project, titled “The Effect of Combined Intravenous Bolus Amino Acid Supplementation and Mobilization on Skeletal Muscle Mass During the First Week of ICU Stay: A Randomized Controlled Trial,” explores how combining additional intravenous protein with daily in-bed cycling might reduce muscle deterioration in ICU patients compared to standard care.

The results have the potential to transform post-ICU recovery by improving long-term outcomes and quality of life for critically ill individuals.

The award was presented at ASPEN’s 50th anniversary celebration in the U.S., where Veldsman stood alongside ASPEN President Prof. Ajar K. Jain and mentor Prof. Renée Blaauw, both of Stellenbosch University. The achievement marks another milestone in Veldsman’s journey through the JUMPstart Clinical Nutrition Program, a global mentorship initiative launched by Fresenius Kabi in 2018 to support rising talent in nutrition research.

Currently in its fourth wave, JUMPstart has welcomed 79 participants from 33 countries. It continues to foster international collaboration in advancing evidence-based approaches in clinical nutrition, particularly within critical care and abdominal surgery.

Congratulations to Lizl Veldsman for her remarkable contribution to the field of nutrition science and for helping reshape the future of ICU patient care.

About the JUMPstart Clinical Nutrition program

Launched in 2018, the JUMPstart Clinical Nutrition program is a mentorship initiative for early-career clinicians and researchers specializing in nutrition within critical care and abdominal surgery. The program is currently in its fourth wave and has welcomed 79 participants from 33 countries across six continents, making JUMPstart a key initiative in advancing clinical nutrition research globally. Participants benefit from the guidance of a Scientific Committee composed of seasoned professionals in clinical nutrition research.

Beyond completing the program, our JUMPstarters become integral members of an active and engaged network, fostering connections, and sharing knowledge to elevate the field of clinical nutrition.

Learn more about the program and the 20 participants of the current fourth wave: JUMPstart Clinical Nutrition program

Media Contact:

​​​​​Tel: +49 6172 686 0
email: communication@fresenius-kabi.com

SOURCE: Fresenius SE & Co. KGaA