NUTRIM Self Assessment Report 2009
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University: Maastricht University Institute: NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism Director: Prof. Annemie Schols School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University Maastricht University Medical Centre Director: Prof. Annemie Schols Preamble for NUTRIM research lines External Review 2009-2014 External Peer Review 2015, Self-assessment report 1 University: Maastricht University Institute: NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism Director: Prof. Annemie Schols External Peer Review 2015, Self-assessment report 2 University: Maastricht University Institute: NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism Director: Prof. Annemie Schols TABLE OF CONTENTS PREAMBLE 5 1. General introduction 5 2. Objectives and research area 6 2.1 Vision, mission, and objectives 6 2.2 Research area and programmes 7 2.3 Recent developments within the research community 8 3. Organisation and Management 11 3.1 Formal structure and organisation of the Graduate School 11 3.2 Management and Resources 11 3.3 NUTRIM Research staff 12 3.4 NUTRIM Funding 13 4. PhD Programme 15 4.1 Graduation rate 15 4.2 Career prospects for alumni 17 4.3 NUTRIM Graduate Programme 18 4.4 NUTRIM Overall Talent Policy 18 5. Research Results 18 5.1 Research Quality 18 5.2 Relevance to Society 20 6. Research Integrity 20 7. SWOT analysis, and strategy for the future 21 8. Future strategy 23 Appendices 24 Appendix 1: Overview of large collaborative research projects (national and international) 25 Appendix 2: Structured international collaborations of NUTRIM 27 Appendix 3: Summary of external review (2006-2008) and of midterm review (2009-2011) 29 Appendix 4: Overview of education activities 31 Appendix 5: Supervision and monitoring of PhD Students 32 RESEARCH LINES 37 Research Line 1: The Metabolic Syndrome 38 1. Objectives and Research Area 38 2. Resources and Facilities 40 3. Research Quality 42 4. Relevance to Society 46 5. Viability 47 6. Reflection and future strategy 49 Appendix 1: Research staff at research unit level 50 Appendix 2: Curricula 56 External Peer Review 2015, Self-assessment report 3 University: Maastricht University Institute: NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism Director: Prof. Annemie Schols Research line 2 Gut liver homeostasis 76 1. Objectives and Research Area 76 2. Resources and Facilities 78 3. Research Quality 80 4. Relevance to Society 82 5. Viability 85 6. Reflection and future strategy 87 Appendix 1: Research staff at research unit level 89 Appendix 2: Curricula 94 Research line 3: Chronic Inflammatory Disease and Wasting 104 1. Objectives and Research Area 104 2. Resources and Facilities 107 3. Research Quality 108 4. Relevance to Society 112 5. Viability 114 6. Reflection and future strategy 115 Appendix 1: Research staff at research unit level 117 Appendix 2: Curricula 121 Research line 4: Gene-environment interactions 142 1. Objectives and Research Area 142 2. Resources and Facilities 143 3. Research Quality 145 4. Relevance to Society 147 5. Viability 149 6. Reflection and future strategy 151 Appendix 1: Research staff at research unit level 153 Appendix 2: Curricula 156 External Peer Review 2015, Self-assessment report 4 University: Maastricht University Institute: NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism Director: Prof. Annemie Schols Preamble 1. General introduction NUTRIM is a graduate school within Maastricht University Medical Centre+ (MUMC+) and member of the national graduate school VLAG. Maastricht University was founded in 1976 and is the youngest university of the Netherlands. Maastricht University (UM), the most international university in the Netherlands, is characterized by its multidisciplinary and thematic approach to research and learning. Maastricht University is the best performing young university in Europe (under 50 years old). In the third edition of the QS ‘Top 50 Under 50’ ranking (2014), Maastricht University climbed from 7th place to 6th . In the Times Higher Education 100 under 50 ranking, UM has maintained a sixth place for 3 consecutive years (2013, 2014 and 2015). The Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) is the largest faculty of Maastricht University. The FHML officially exists as of January 1st 2007 after a merger of the former faculties of Health Sciences and Medicine. The main reasons for this merger were a new vision of health and health care, and the creation of an excellent partner for strategic educational and research alliances. In 2008 the FHML merged with the Academic Hospital into the Maastricht University Medical Centre, the Maastricht UMC+. It is a centre for integrated research and education that covers the entire spectrum of the molecular life sciences, the health sciences (including public health and primary care) and medicine. The ‘+’ added to the name is an expression of this broad and integrated vision. The dean of the faculty is also vice-chair of the board of Maastricht UMC+. Through a combination of biomedical, (clinical) applied, public health and primary care research, concentrated in six graduate schools, the FHML aims to strengthen the research and increase knowledge transfer by incorporation and implementation of the ‘integrated care concept’ within Maastricht UMC+. In the Times Higher Education World University Ranking for clinical, pre-clinical & health 2014-2015, Maastricht Universities’ FHML ranks among the Top 50 in the last three years (49th place in 2012-2013, 43th place in 2013-2014 and 45th place in 2014-2015). In the graduate schools masters’ students, PhD students and researchers work together. In addition to research the schools are responsible for training PhD students and providing masters-level education coordinated by the educational institute. The six research schools are NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, CARIM School for Cardiovascular Diseases, MHeNS School for Mental Health and Neurosciences, GROW School for Oncology and Developmental Biology, CAPHRI School for Public Health and Primary Care and SHE School of Health Professions Education. Figure 1: Academic Profile of Maastricht UMC+ 2015-2020 External Peer Review 2015, Self-assessment report 5 University: Maastricht University Institute: NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism Director: Prof. Annemie Schols One of the most important goals of Maastricht UMC+ is the linkage between successful research themes and academic patient care. Until 2014 this linkage took place within four so called chains for care, education/training and research (ZKO’s), and NUTRIM’s research and educational activities merged with clinical activities into the ZKO ‘Chronic Diseases’. However, in the most recent Maastricht UMC+ strategic planning document for 2015-2020 NUTRIM succeeded to position “metabolism and nutrition” as an “innovation platform” within Maastricht UMC+ making it possible to contribute to the academic position of four established disease oriented profiles (cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer, and neuro intervention) to strengthen the academic profile of the specialty “movement” and to link the disease oriented profiling of Maastricht UMC+ to a focus on “healthy living”. This unique position illustrates the distinct international profile of NUTRIM and also offers a platform to explore not only the origin and metabolic complexity of a particular disease in a systematic way, but simultaneously unravel relationships between apparently distinct (patho)phenotypes. 2. Objectives and research area 2.1 Vision, mission, and objectives Vision: NUTRIM strongly believes in connecting and integrating different disciplines to create truly new scientific insights and innovative health solutions for society. NUTRIM focuses on biomedical research to capitalize on its unique strengths but with a strong link to health promotion. It actively maintains a local, national and international network to contribute to the solution of global health concerns. In our vision an excellent educational infrastructure plus an innovative and challenging research environment are of crucial importance for the academic development of young researchers such that they can develop themselves by acquiring skills and expertise. Mission: NUTRIM promotes translational research into chronic metabolic and inflammatory disorders with a high societal burden that will contribute to personalized lifestyle and medicine approaches. In its PhD programme NUTRIM aims to meet the demand for scientists who are acquainted with novel fundamental research concepts and are equipped to optimize the translation from science to the clinic and to public health. Objectives: The mission is implemented by the following objectives: - To enable and manage an excellent research programme that encompasses the entire spectrum of basic, translational, clinical, and prevention projects providing NUTRIM with a distinct international health sciences profile that optimally fits within the Maastricht UMC+ care vision and organization. - Availability of unique patient cohorts and biobank as well as an internationally distinct, state of the art infrastructure for metabolic phenotyping allowing a network-based approach linking tissue and organ systems within chronic metabolic disorders. - To mentor scientists at different stages of their academic career. - To facilitate the sharing of knowledge and