Katja Polman

Katja Polman is an epidemiologist and Unit Head of Medical Helminthology at the Department of Biomedical Sciences, Institute of Tropical Medicine (ITM) in Antwerp, Belgium. She holds an associate professor position at VU University Amsterdam. Her expertise spans epidemiology of helminth infections, neglected tropical diseases, and co-infections. She leads projects addressing schistosomiasis, malnutrition, and climate change impacts on health. Polman teaches in tropical medicine and global health programs, including modules on vector-borne diseases and neglected tropical diseases.

Education: PhD in schistosomiasis epidemiology from Leiden University.

Research Interests: Parasite epidemiology, helminth (co)infections, disease transmission dynamics, and global health interventions. She focuses on eco-epidemiology of neglected tropical diseases and their interactions with malnutrition and climate change.

Projects: Active collaborations include studies in South Sudan, Senegal, Vietnam, and Guatemala. Recent work addresses fascioliasis in Southeast Asia, HIV syndemic frameworks, and diabetes prevention in DR Congo.

Teaching: Involvement in ITM's MPH programs, tropical medicine postgraduates, and epidemiology courses. Supervises MSc/PhD students in parasitology and global health.