Since 2018, I have been working at the Princess Máxima Center doing research on supportive care, specifically nutrition. My PhD research focused on smell and taste changes in children undergoing chemotherapy and it’s consequences for dietary intake, eating behavior, and quality of life. This research is now continuing in pediatric cancer survivors and we are also working on tools to help deal with changes in smell and taste.
After my doctoral research, I started as a postdoc and project coordinator of the FITco study.
In the FITco study, we follow 500 children with cancer or a craniopharyngeoma and measure their body composition, dietary intake, and physical activity at several moments during and after treatment. In addition, we study to what extent any changes in these affect treatment-related side effects (toxicity), quality of life and survival. In a subgroup of children, we are also investigating the microbiome. The information gathered from this project will help us identify nutritional/exercise interventions to support children with cancer. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce side-effects, improve survival rates, and enhance the quality of life for children with cancer.
Smell and taste changes in children with cancer
Dietary advice for changes in smell and taste