Graduate School

Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences

School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism

NUTRIM aims to contribute to health maintenance and personalised medicine by unraveling lifestyle and disease-induced derangements in metabolism and by developing targeted nutritional, exercise and drug interventions.

This is facilitated by a state of the art research infrastructure and close interaction between scientists, clinicians, master and PhD students.

Fast facts

€18m annual budget
Annually 500+ publications in Science Citation indexed journals
390 researchers, including 256 PhD students, and 63 support staff
Fundamental, clinical and applied research
Led by Prof. Daisy Jonkers

NUTRIM in a NUTSHELL

NUTRIM research focuses on chronic diseases, including diabetes, COPD, inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease and renal disease, and contributes to improving cancer care. Biomedical research is directly linked to clinical trials and research focusing on behavioural interventions and health promotion. A primary goal is to accelerate the translation of science to patient and population.

NUTRIM Research Divisions

Obesity, Diabetes & Cardiovascular Health

Our research goals in Division I are to create a better mechanistic understanding of the etiology of obesity, type 2 diabetes and CVD, which all affect global health.

Division 1 Case Studies
More about Divison I

Liver & Digestive Health

Central disorders that are investigated in NUTRIM Division II include inflammatory bowel disease, liver failure, irritable bowel syndrome, cancer cachexia, cholestasis and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Division 2 Case Studies
More about Division II

Respiratory & Age-related Health

Research in Division III aims to understand the onset of disease related to age and lifestyle and to identify people with an enhanced risk for disease and (re-)hospitalisation.

Division 3 Case Studies
More about Division III

PhD Education

NUTRIM offers a PhD training programme for students who aspire a broad understanding of human nutrition, metabolism and toxicology, next to outstanding research capabilities. NUTRIM researchers also teach in several master’s programmes, such as ‘Biomedical Sciences’, ‘Physician Clinical Scientist’ and ‘Health Food Innovation Management’.

Learn more about NUTRIM PhD opportunities

Download the NUTRIM Brochure

Publications

Research outputs from all three NUTRIM divisions.

View the list of recent publications

Promotions

Doctoral theses in all three NUTRIM divisions listed by publication year.

View the latest promotions

Case studies

Scientific and societal impact - projects, best practices and stories

View the list of NUTRIM case studies

Events

No upcoming events

News

Study brings lifestyle disease liver fattening into focus
Wednesday, July 27, 2022

An unhealthy lifestyle can have disastrous consequences for the liver. Fatty liver disease can develop, a chronic liver condition that can lead to liver failure or even liver cancer. Fatty liver also contributes to the development and worsening of diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

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Food is family
Wednesday, August 4, 2021

What she eats matters less to her than who her tablemates are. Ronit Shiri-Sverdlov, professor of Inflammation and Metabolic Health, is happiest when eating at home with her family. The chef is whoever feels like cooking, the food is whatever they happen to have on hand.

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ZonMW funds three Team Science projects
Wednesday, June 16, 2021
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New method for human fermentation
Monday, June 14, 2021 Read more
Insects a protein-dense food source for muscle increase
Wednesday, June 2, 2021 Read more
Long-term research on the effects of lifestyle on the biological clock
Thursday, March 25, 2021
Scientists from the Netherlands and Canada, led by Professor Patrick Schrauwen of Maastricht University, are to investigate whether lifestyle changes can help to restore the 24-hour rhythm of people at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
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Obesity and COVID-19: a dangerous duo
Wednesday, March 24, 2021
People with obesity are more likely to contract a severe case of COVID-19, and more likely to die from it. Gijs Goossens, associate professor of Human Biology, is studying whether drugs that lower blood pressure can reduce the risks.
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Prevention is the key to healthy lungs
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Research program to fundamentally improve the early detection, prevention and treatment of lung disease.
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Egon Willighagen’s efforts to promote Open Science awarded at National Open Science Festival
Thursday, February 11, 2021
The Open Initiatives Trophies give recognition to teams or individuals who have made efforts to promote Open Science with their peers and in their local communities in the Netherlands. Egon Willighagen – assistant professor at NUTRIM – received a trophy and 250 euros as one of the runner ups.
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Ongoing corona crisis has a long-term impact on the lifestyle of children
Wednesday, February 10, 2021
The gap between children who live healthy and unhealthy increases only due to the corona crisis.
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Obesity and COVID-19: a dangerous duo

Older people are hit hardest by the coronavirus, but by far the second most prevalent group is people with obesity. They are more likely to contract a severe case of COVID-19, and more likely to die from it. Gijs Goossens, associate professor of Human Biology, is studying whether drugs that lower blood pressure can reduce the risks. “Obesity is a major risk factor, so I would like to see the media emphasise not only the prevention of infection, but also the importance of a healthy lifestyle when people are working from home or are in quarantine.”