Evidence-Based Clinical Nutrition Practice

Dr. Christophe Matthys serves as Professor of Human Nutrition at KU Leuven and Scientific Coordinator of the Clinical Nutrition Unit at University Hospitals Leuven. His academic credentials include a bio-science engineer degree and Ph.D. in Medical Sciences from Ghent University. His career path includes positions at Massey University New Zealand, ILSI Europe, and various research roles before joining KU Leuven in 2011. His research focuses on translational aspects of primary and secondary nutritional care, with particular emphasis on metabolic imbalance and nutrition as adjuvant therapy. He has authored over 100 peer-reviewed articles, co-authored 3 books, and contributed to 9 book chapters. His teaching responsibilities span 14 courses, reaching approximately 1,200 students annually in both Dutch and English. As a member of various international scientific and governmental working groups on nutrition, he contributes significantly to nutrition policy and research development

Dr. Ann Mertens serves as an Associate Professor and Endocrinologist at KU Leuven and the Department of Endocrinology at University Hospitals Leuven. After graduating from KU Leuven in 1995, she specialized in internal medicine and endocrinology until 2003, later obtaining her Ph.D. from the same institution. Her clinical expertise focuses on treating complex metabolic disorders, including lipid disorders, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, with particular emphasis on bariatric surgery patients. In her academic role, she contributes to medical education at KU Leuven's Faculty of Medicine while also serving as a supervisor and mentor for trainees in internal medicine and endocrinology. Her research has contributed to understanding cardiovascular complications in metabolic disorders, and she has published extensively on topics related to metabolic health and endocrine disorders

Dr. Tim Vanuytsel serves as Associate Professor at KU Leuven and clinical gastroenterologist at University Hospitals Leuven. As medical lead of the Leuven Intestinal Failure and Transplantation unit (LIFT), he oversees Belgium's primary center for intestinal failure treatment and transplantation. His clinical and research work focuses on understanding and treating functional gastrointestinal disorders and chronic intestinal failure, with particular emphasis on clinical nutrition. His expertise spans both clinical practice and academic research, contributing to the advancement of gastroenterological treatment methods and nutritional interventions for patients with severe intestinal conditions

Prof. Renée Blaauw is a prominent figure in therapeutic nutrition at Stellenbosch University's Division of Human Nutrition in South Africa. Her expertise spans critical care nutrition, hospital malnutrition, and gastrointestinal disease management. As a registered dietitian with the Health Professions Council of South Africa, she has held several leadership positions, including Past Chairperson of the Professional Board for Dietetics in South Africa and Past President of SASPEN, where she currently serves as Scientific Secretary. Her contributions to the field include membership in the Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition (GLIM) working group, where she works to advance the evidence base for adult hospital malnutrition in South Africa. Beyond research, Blaauw is deeply committed to education, embracing a teaching philosophy focused on stimulating interest and empowering others. Her dedication to mentoring and teaching excellence in dietetics has made her an influential figure in nutritional sciences education. She completed the Scholarship of Educational Leadership course in 2020, further enhancing her educational leadership capabilities.

Dr. Laurene Boateng is a distinguished nutrition scientist and educator who has significantly shaped dietetics education and practice in Ghana. As a senior lecturer at the University of Ghana's Department of Nutrition and Dietetics since 2010, she has pioneered several initiatives including organizing the first Nutrition Care Process workshop in 2013. Her research focuses on infant nutrition, particularly using Moringa oleifera leaf powder to improve infant nutritional status, which has garnered significant attention in the field. Beyond her academic role, she serves as placement coordinator for student dietetic placements and is a member of the Technical Advisory Committee on Nutrition at Ghana's Food and Drugs Authority. Her teaching portfolio includes dietetics practice and medical nutrition therapy courses. Boateng's commitment to advancing nutrition education extends to leading the development of the Clinical Nutrition MOOC at the University of Ghana. As one of Ghana's senior dietetics professionals, she has been instrumental in developing the profession, which now counts approximately 100 practitioners. Her work bridges academic research with practical application, particularly in addressing Ghana's nutrition challenges, including infant stunting and the rising prevalence of chronic diseases. A mother of three and active community member, she maintains that "Everyone deserves to know and understand how nutrition affects their health," a philosophy that guides her professional endeavors

Dr. Prosper Chopera is a prominent nutrition scientist and senior lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe with over 15 years of experience in public health nutrition. Her expertise spans micronutrients, health, food security, and food fortification. After completing her BSc in Nutrition Science at the University of Zimbabwe, she earned both her MSc and PhD in Nutrition from Wageningen University, The Netherlands, along with a postgraduate certificate in Clinical Nutrition from Catholic University Leuven, Belgium. Her research has made significant contributions to understanding nutrition challenges in Zimbabwe, particularly through studies on food label comprehension, COVID-19's impact on nutrition, and traditional food consumption patterns. As Project Lead at the Zvitambo Institute for Maternal and Child Health, she has supervised numerous projects in Public Health Nutrition, Clinical Nutrition and Dietetics, and Nutrition Education. Her work has been widely published in prestigious journals, with notable research on zinc deficiency, climate change impacts on nutrition, and dietary patterns in Zimbabwe. She combines academic research with humanitarian work to improve the quality of life for vulnerable populations.

Dr. Maryse Umugwaneza is a prominent nutrition scientist and lecturer at the University of Rwanda's College of Medicine and Health Sciences, where she specializes in maternal and child nutrition. She completed her PhD in 2017, focusing on developing food-based dietary guidelines for Rwandan children aged 6 to 23 months. Her research has made significant contributions to understanding nutritional challenges in Rwanda, particularly in infant and young child feeding practices. Recently, she led important research examining factors affecting nutritional status among children in Rwanda's Western and Southern Provinces. Her expertise spans nutrition and dietetics, medicine, maternal and child nutrition, and consumption sociology. As a lecturer, she teaches both undergraduate and postgraduate students while supervising community and clinical-oriented research. Her work has been instrumental in developing evidence-based interventions to improve nutritional outcomes in Rwanda, including research on integrated nutrition programs. Through her academic work and research, she continues to contribute significantly to advancing nutrition science and public health in Rwanda.