Course
Energy metabolism and body composition in nutrition and health research
Advanced course / Masterclass on Energy metabolism and body composition in nutrition and health research
Background
Changes in energy balance result in weight gain or loss and changes in body composition. And disturbances in energy metabolism like mitochondrial dysfunction and metabolic inflexibility are linked to metabolic health and chronic diseases. Both diet and physical activity, but also ageing, can affect energy metabolism, energy balance and body composition.
The course will provide a solid scientific background on aspects of energy metabolism and health at the physiological level, with – this time- particular attention for ageing. Furthermore, an overview of state-of-the-art in vivo methods to measure body composition and energy metabolism will be given.
Target group
The course is aimed at research professionals (PhD level) who are at the start of their career in nutritional or health sciences, or other scientists who want to become familiar with the field of Energy metabolism and Body composition in nutrition and health research. Participants should have a background in biology, medicine, food/nutritional science, or other life sciences and should have basic knowledge of human biology, physiology and nutrition.
Course aim
- To provide a solid scientific background on aspects of energy metabolism and Health at the physiological level, with particular attention for ageing
- To provide an overview of state-of-the-art in vivo methods to measure body composition and energy metabolism, with some practical experience with analysis of body composition data
- To provide the opportunity to shortly present own research(plans) in a masterclass
Approach: we aim to organize a short, intensive course at an advanced level, which provides the participants with up-to-date information about state-of the art methodology and current issues in Energy Metabolism and Body composition research. Only limited practical experience is included in the programme.
Course design
The course consists of a series of lectures, interspersed with short presentations of recent studies performed at Wageningen University & Research. As part of the programme the opportunity will be provided to discuss participant’s own research (plans). The focus of this year's course is on ageing, with as keynote speaker prof. John Speakman and Dr Guy Plasqui. Participants are encouraged to apply for a short oral presentation or a pitch. An abstract should be send to Dr. Marco Mensink before 1 February 2018. Six abstracts will be selected and included as part of the programme.
Programme topics
Amongst others the following topics will be covered:
- Energy metabolism, mitochondrial function and health
- Energy balance and physical activity
- Methods to assess energy expenditure (e.g. Double Labeled Water (DLW), accelerometry) and body composition (e.g. kinantropometry and imaging)
- Ageing, body composition and energy expenditure
- Caloric restriction and ageing
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Organisation
Course coordinators
- Dr Marco Mensink, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands
- Dr Arie Nieuwenhuizen, Human and Animal Physiology, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands
Keynote speakers
- Prof. John Speakman, Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, United Kingdom & Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
- Dr Guy Plasqui, Department of Human Biology and Movement Sciences, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands
Prof. John Speakman is one of the world's leading expert in the study of animal energy expenditure. His work has provided unique insights into the factors that affect and limit free-living energy demands, shifting the emphasis from intake to expenditure, with broad implications for biogeography, climate change, conservation biology, nutritional ecology and human evolution. His research spans molecular biology, biochemistry, physiology, neuro-endocrinology, whole animal physiology, ecology and behaviour, to mathematics and evolution. His work has challenged long held beliefs in the fields of ecophysiology, ageing and obesity research, providing important novel insights into all these areas. He has played a significant role in the development of methods (notably isotope-based techniques) for quantifying free-living energy expenditure.
Dr Guy Plasqui has a masters degree in nutrition from the University of Leuven, Belgium. In 2005, he received his PhD at Maastricht University for his thesis: 'Daily physical activity, energy expenditure and physical fitness:assessment and implications'. From 2004-2006 he worked as lecturer at the University of Wollongong, Australia after which he returned to Maastricht in 2006 and was appointed assistant professor. His current research is embedded in NUTRIM, School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism and is focussed on physical activity and energy metabolism in chronic diseases. He manages all indirect calorimetry and body composition facilities at the Metabolic Research Unit Maastricht, including 5 respiration chambers (room calorimeters). He also applies stable isotope techniques for measuring energy expenditure and bocy composition under daily life conditions and accelerometers to monitor daily physical activity. These unique facilities allow for in depth phenotyping of human energy and substrate metabolism in a wide variety of healthy and diseased populations.
Other faculty
- Dr Klaske van Norren, Division of Human Nutrition, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands
- Prof. Walter Gerrits, Animal Nutrition, Wageningen University & Research, The Netherlands
- Prof. Jaap Keijer, Division of Human and Animal Physiology
Date & duration
The course will be held 3 days, from 5-7 March 2018.
Study load
The study load of this course is 1.0 ECTS credits.
Language
The course language will be English.
Contact information
Information concerning the course contents can be obtained from Dr Marco Mensink, e-mail marco.mensink@wur.nl.
For organisational matters please contact:
Mrs. Cornelia van Bree-Evers
Email:cornelia.vanbree-evers@wur.nl
Location & accommodation
The course venue is Wageningen International Congress Centre (WICC). The town of Wageningen is 5 km from Ede-Wageningen railway station, with transport options being taxi or bus. Ede-Wageningen railway station is about one and a half hours from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. For train schedules visit: www.ns.nl.
A number of hotel rooms have been blocked at Wageningen International Congress Centre. Accommodation costs are € 75, - (single room; bed & breakfast) per night. Participants have to book their own room by sending an e-mail to: info@wicc.nl. Please book your room before 23 Januay 2018 and mention booking code EMBC18.
Registration & course fee
To register please complete the electronic reply form.
The final registration date is 5 February 2018.
Applicants will be informed of acceptance of their registration before 2 February 2018. They will receive instructions for payment and further course details.
Course fee includes printed materials, coffee/tea during breaks, lunches and the course dinner but does not cover accommodation. The course fee depends on the participant's affiliation:
| VLAG/WU PhD candidates | € 200 |
| PhD candidates | € 400 |
| University Staff / Non-Profit organisations | € 600 |
| Industry / For-Profit | € 1200 |
Cancellations policy
- No charge until 5 February 2018
- 25% of the course fee paid or due till 26 February 2018
- No refund after 26 February 2018
Substitutions for participants may be made at any time until the start of the course.