Amsterdam Public Health

Specialization

Focus of research

I am University Research Chair professor at Amsterdam UMC (location VUmc) in Amsterdam. In my research I take a true translational approach from science to society by combining my scientific expertise in human movement science and epidemiology resulting in innovative studies in real-world situations. My research focuses on determinants and health consequences of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behaviour (SB) in youth, with a strong interest in underlying mechanisms and innovations in risk factor research. I am acknowledged for my innovations in methodology (e.g. mediation analyses, participatory action methods with children). Recently I developed novel analytical methods of accelerometer data providing detailed, unique information on SB and PA patterns.

I chair the section ‘Child & Adolescent Public health Research and Innovation’ within Amsterdam UMC (location VUmc). I am vice-chair of the Academic Collaborative Center ´Child & Adolescent Public Health´, a fruitful collaboration between VU University Medical Center and eight Municipal Health Services in North-Holland and Flevoland aiming to improve evidence-based Child Health Care practice.

Between 2016-2019 I served as one of the two programme directors of the research program Health Behaviours and Chronic Diseases of the Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, an alliance between AMC and VU/VUmc. Additionally, I was elected and served as President of the International Society for Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity (ISBNPA) for 2019-2021.