Frank Wieringa has been appointed endowed professor of OneNutrition, malnutrition and global health in the department of Health Sciences at the Faculty of Science, effective from 1 May 2026.
The chair has been established on behalf of the French research institute Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), an international organisation dedicated to research for sustainable development in the Global South.
International collaboration for global health
At IRD, Wieringa has led the Nutrition Research Group for the past five years. He also serves as co-director of the QualiSud research unit (UMR), a collaborative partnership focusing on food, nutrition and sustainable development. In addition to IRD, the partnership includes University of Montpellier, CIRAD and University of La Réunion.
Local solutions to malnutrition
For more than thirty years, Wieringa has conducted research into different forms of malnutrition, including acute malnutrition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, and chronic undernutrition that can lead to stunted growth in children. His work focuses on developing locally driven nutritional solutions that reflect the needs, culture and available ingredients of individual countries and regions.
A key area of his research is the development of so-called ready-to-use therapeutic foods (RUTFs): specialised nutritional products used in the treatment of children with severe acute malnutrition. Together with researchers in countries including Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and Laos, he has developed locally produced alternatives based on regional ingredients such as soy, fish and rice. These products are often better accepted than existing alternatives and align more closely with local dietary habits.
Healthy nutrition for millions of schoolchildren
Wieringa is also working on innovative nutrition interventions for schoolchildren. In Indonesia and Cambodia, his research group develops healthy snacks and fortified food products designed to improve children's nutritional status.
In addition, he is investigating how rice can be fortified with essential vitamins and minerals for Indonesia’s national school meals programme. Through this initiative, the Indonesian government aims to provide daily meals to approximately 60 million schoolchildren by 2030.
Collaboration with VU Amsterdam
Wieringa works closely with researchers at VU Amsterdam. Two VU PhD candidates are currently involved in research into a new generation of therapeutic foods enriched with rice bran, the nutrient-rich outer layer of the rice grain. Rice bran may help restore the gut microbiome of malnourished children, potentially reducing the risk of relapse after treatment.
“I see this chair as an excellent opportunity to further strengthen the collaboration between IRD and VU Amsterdam. The major challenges in nutrition and global health require international cooperation and knowledge exchange. I look forward to working with colleagues and students to develop sustainable solutions to malnutrition and to further expand the exchange of students and researchers between our institutions.”