Afsaneh Koochek

Afsaneh Koochek serves as Associate Professor at Uppsala University's Department of Food Studies, Nutrition and Dietetics within the Faculty of Medicine. With international experience spanning clinical dietetics, research, and academic leadership roles including positions at Nestlé and Qatar University, she maintains active research collaborations across Europe.

Education:

• M.Sc. in Food Nutrition and Dietetics, Uppsala University
• Ph.D. in General Medicine, Karolinska Institute (dissertation: risk factors for cardiovascular disease among elderly immigrants)

Her research pioneers nutritional-exercise interventions for aging populations, focusing on appetite regulation, sarcopenia, and dietary acculturation. Recent work examines biomarkers of aging through the INSPIRE-T study and develops culturally-sensitive dietary assessment tools like 'Mat i Sverige'.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals dominant themes in geriatric nutrition (87% of articles), with strong emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches combining exercise physiology, epidemiology, and qualitative methods. Key subfields include appetite-physical activity interactions in elderly (35% of articles), dietary interventions for chronic conditions (28%), and methodological innovations in nutritional assessment (23%).

Research Leadership:

• Project coordinator for multicenter VIVE2 study on mobility-limited older adults
• Scientific advisor for dietary assessment instrument development
• Principal investigator in juvenile arthritis dietary intervention trials

Her clinical background informs translational research bridging academic findings with practical applications in community settings, particularly regarding immigrant nutrition and elderly care.