Human Nutrition and Health

Our mission is to improve human health through better nutrition. We have a broad expertise and outstanding facilities for academic education and research in Human Nutrition and Health.
About us
By bringing together the complementary expertise of five chair groups, our Division Human Nutrition and Health is ideally positioned to advance a genuinely multidisciplinary approach to nutrition research at cellular, individual, and population levels. This united structure enables the groups to operate with greater efficiency, coherence, and strategic strength within an increasingly competitive global academic landscape. One of our distinctive features is its ability to address the full causal chain: from the determinants of food choice and dietary assessment, through detailed quantification and characterisation of health and disease using state-of-the-art methods, to the investigation of underlying molecular mechanisms.
Looking for volunteers
Our division is specialised in scientific research in the field of human nutrition and health. You can make a major contribution towards this goal by participating in our nutritional research. In doing so, you'll also help people in the future and often receive remuneration. Participation in nutritional research is entirely without obligations. You will receive detailed information in advance and can stop at any time.
(Media) contact
Looking for a media contact from the Human Nutrition and Health division?
Our chair groups
Global Nutrition
The Global Nutrition Group of Edith Feskens focuses on nutritional needs and interventions to improve health across the life span and across the globe. We concentrate research and training on nutrients, dietary patterns, and food systems with both a physiological and environmental focus.

Nutrition and Disease
The Nutrition and Disease Group of Ellen Kampman focuses on cardiometabolic diseases, cancer, obesity treatment and women’s diseases. Our societal mission is to decrease the risk of (chronic) disease and improve the health of those with a disease through better nutrition. Our scientific mission is to conduct interdisciplinary human observational and experimental research on nutrition in disease aetiology, during treatment and for prognosis.

Nutritional Biology
The Nutritional Biology group of Renger Witkamp aims to unravel the interplay between nutrition and human biology to improve health. We aim to maintain or improve people’s physical and cognitive performance during ageing, acute or chronic disease, and rehabilitation. Our focus is on the (patho)physiology of the musculoskeletal system, the brain, and the gastro-intestinal tract.

Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics
The mission of the Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics Group and Chair Lydia Afman is to contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of action of dietary nutrients and their impact on human health and metabolism. Particular attention is given to the role of dietary lipids and fiber.

Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour Group
Understanding how sensory properties influence food choice, intake and health. Sensory science functions as a bridge between consumer, food, eating behaviour, health and well-being. The main research challenge of the Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour group is to better understand eating behaviour from a sensory, physiological and psychological perspective.


Global Nutrition
The Global Nutrition Group of Edith Feskens focuses on nutritional needs and interventions to improve health across the life span and across the globe. We concentrate research and training on nutrients, dietary patterns, and food systems with both a physiological and environmental focus.

Nutrition and Disease
The Nutrition and Disease Group of Ellen Kampman focuses on cardiometabolic diseases, cancer, obesity treatment and women’s diseases. Our societal mission is to decrease the risk of (chronic) disease and improve the health of those with a disease through better nutrition. Our scientific mission is to conduct interdisciplinary human observational and experimental research on nutrition in disease aetiology, during treatment and for prognosis.

Nutritional Biology
The Nutritional Biology group of Renger Witkamp aims to unravel the interplay between nutrition and human biology to improve health. We aim to maintain or improve people’s physical and cognitive performance during ageing, acute or chronic disease, and rehabilitation. Our focus is on the (patho)physiology of the musculoskeletal system, the brain, and the gastro-intestinal tract.

Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics
The mission of the Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics Group and Chair Lydia Afman is to contribute to a better understanding of the molecular mechanism of action of dietary nutrients and their impact on human health and metabolism. Particular attention is given to the role of dietary lipids and fiber.

Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour Group
Understanding how sensory properties influence food choice, intake and health. Sensory science functions as a bridge between consumer, food, eating behaviour, health and well-being. The main research challenge of the Sensory Science and Eating Behaviour group is to better understand eating behaviour from a sensory, physiological and psychological perspective.
News (2)
Media contacts per expertise
The Division of Human Nutrition and Health is located at buildings 124 (Helix) and 115 (Impulse).
- General: G (Guido) Camps PhD
- Smell and taste: dr. S (Sanne) Boesveldt
- Health effects of processed foods, dietary behaviour: prof.dr. CG (Ciaran) Forde
- Nutrients and supplements: prof.dr. RF (Renger) Witkamp
- Malnutrition: dr.ir. EF (Elise) Talsma
- Nutrition, Metabolism and Genomics: effect of food in the body: prof.dr.ir. LA (Lydia) Afman
- Satiety and (regulation of) food intake: dr.ir. M (Monica) Mars
- Nutrition and Intestinal Health: prof.dr. BJM (Ben) Witteman MD
- Nutrition and diabetes, sugar, carbohydrates: prof.dr.ir. EJM (Edith) Feskens
- Nutrition and sustainability: S (Sander) Biesbroek PhD
- Nutrition and cardiovascular disease, salt, omega 3 fatty acids: prof.dr. JM (Marianne) Geleijnse
- Nutrition and brain health/cognitive aging: dr. YPY (Yannick) Vermeiren
- Nutrition and cancer: prof.dr.ir. E (Ellen) Kampman
- Nutrition and obesity: prof.dr. EJ (Eric) Hazebroek
- Nutrition and elderly, aging: dr.ir. P (Pol) Grootswagers
- Nutrition and sports: dr. MR (Marco) Mensink
- Nutrition policy: prof.dr. JM (Marianne) Geleijnse
Press
For press related questions, please contact:
MSE (Marleen) den Hartog
Marketing communications advisor
Contact
Postal address
Wageningen University & Research
Division of Human Nutrition and Health (Bode 62)
P.O. Box 176700 AA Wageningen
The Netherlands
Secretariat
E-mail: office.hn@wur.nl





