Katan Martijn

Prof. Martijn Katan is a Visiting Professor of Nutrition at the Department of Health Sciences, VU University Amsterdam. He has held academic roles including Professor at the Institute of Health Sciences (VU) and at Wageningen University, alongside leadership roles in food science research. His work bridges nutrition science and public health advocacy, with a focus on cardiovascular disease, obesity, and climate policy. He has authored influential studies on trans fats, coffee’s cholesterol effects, and Mendelian randomization methods.

Education: PhD in Biochemistry from the University of Amsterdam (1976).
Research Interests: Diet-heart disease links, climate-energy transitions, and food system sustainability. He critiques carbon capture technologies and advocates for evidence-based public health policies.
Awards: Over 40 honors, including the 2019 Oeuvreprijs for Nutrition Sciences and multiple international recognitions for his contributions to lipid research and public health advocacy.

Grants & Impact: Led the Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences’ Nutrition and Health program. His research influenced industry practices, such as eliminating cholesterol-raising substances in coffee and trans fats in foods. Collaborated with Unilever and Nestlé to reformulate products.

Public Engagement: Columnist in NRC since 2009, addressing climate, nutrition, and science communication. Authored books like Voedingsmythes and contributed to educational materials for Dutch schools.