Prof. dr. Roel Vermeulen has been appointed Distinguished University Professor at Utrecht University as of 15 July. His focus in this role will be on the theme of planetary and preventive health.
In addition to his position at Utrecht University, Roel Vermeulen leads the Planetary Health Research Group at the Julius Center of UMC Utrecht, is scientific director of the i4PH of the EWUU Alliance, and of the Data and Knowledge Hub Healthy Urban Living (DKH-GSL), an independent and open platform of public and private organizations working together on healthy living.
How do the environment and climate affect our health and can the negative effects they have on our health be prevented? These are key questions of the planetary and preventive health theme. This topic draws together several areas of expertise: the relationship between human and animal health, the effect of air and chemical pollution on both human and planetary health and the development of sustainable and healthy food systems for the future.
Concerns about our health and the health of our planet are more pressing than ever according to Vermeulen. “The systems we rely on for our health, such as climate, nature, food and habitat, are increasingly out of balance. This has serious implications for human and planetary health and can lead to an increase in health inequities. Resolving these challenges requires collaboration between researchers and non-scientific groups, for example governments, businesses, citizens’ and advocacy groups. I am very much looking forward to working with such diverse teams to address the various opportunities and challenges in the necessary transitions.”
The biggest challenge here, according to Vermeulen, is to turn ideas – which are often agreed upon – into practical solutions and make them sustainable. “To achieve this, we need to think carefully about what social change we want, and identify what knowledge we lack to make this change happen. This must then be translated into what this means for different groups in society.”
Vermeulen will work on this theme in his role as Scientific Director of the Institute 4 Preventive Health (i4PH) of the EWUU Alliance of the universities of TU Eindhoven, Wageningen (WUR), Utrecht and UMC Utrecht, and his role within the Utrecht Life Sciences community for planetary health. This 0,4 FTE appointment is for a duration of five years. He will continue to work at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), an interfaculty research institute of the Utrecht faculties of Veterinary Medicine, Medicine and Science, for the other 0.6 FTE of his appointment
Roel Vermeulen is Professor of Environmental Epidemiology and Exposome Science at the IRAS. He studies how, and particularly in which combinations, non-genetic factors affect our health – this is also known as the exposome. Nutrition, exercise and exposure to air pollution are of significant importance in the development of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer. Vermeulen coordinates large-scale (inter)national projects and collaborations to systematically map the exposome, together with his team at IRAS. In doing so, he also collaborates with researchers from various institutions and disciplines, companies, social organizations and residents.
In 2002 Utrecht University began establishing a select group of researchers whom have exemplified excellence in their field, and appointment them as Distinguished University Professors. A Distinguished University Professor has specific connective and interdisciplinary qualities, guarantees innovative education and research and is able to work on these topics in complete freedom. Furthermore, a Distinguished University Professor plays a profiling role in the academic and social debate.
