Decoding the Taste Puzzle: Toward Better Understanding of Taste Profiling: Our study highlights the potential of personalized diets based on taste preferences, though current data limitations on taste profiles impede accurate predictions. Through a survey and tasting trial, we found ingredient data to be a more reliable predictor of meal taste than survey data, with sweetness as the most predictable taste and bitterness the least. Team: Chao Zhang (TU/e), Floor Rikken (WUR), Parvannah Parvin (WUR), Sanne Boesman (UMCU)

 

DINO GAME: Digitally Nudging Outdoor Play, Game AI for Mental Health: Play is crucial for children's development, fostering social, physical, and communication skills essential for confidence, pro-social behavior, and learning. The DINO GAME project uses AI in a multiplayer, location-based game to support social development and physical activity, particularly for children with limited peer interaction due to chronic illness or the effects of COVID-19, with an invitation for collaboration on further research in this area. Team: Thomas Jalving (UU), Heidi Lesscher (UU), Sanne Nijhof (UMCU), Alexander Klippel (WUR), Remco Veltkamp (UU). 

 

PERsonalized FLAVORful dining experience for people with smell disorder: This study explores how smell loss affects food enjoyment, intake, and diet quality, with a goal of recommending enjoyable, healthy diets for those with smell disorders. Results from 84 participants showed a high intake of fat, salt, and umami flavors but limited meal enjoyment, suggesting the need for further research on taste profiles and enjoyment to enhance dietary recommendations. Team: Parvannah Parvin (WUR), Desiree Lucassen (WUR), Sanne Boesveldt (WUR), Floor Rikken (WUR)

 

Happy Again! Social Support App: This app aims to aid individuals coping with grief by providing a home-based tool that leverages social support and personalized features, addressing the gap in current grief apps that lack comprehensive features and social support integration. Research suggests that social support significantly reduces depression and anxiety, highlighting the app’s potential for broader mental health applications beyond grief recovery. Team: Sanne Schoenmakers (TU/e), Mieke Ronckers (TU/e), Manic Djelantik (UMCU), Paul Boelen (UU), Matthias Brinkhuis (UU), Wijnand IJsselsteijn (TU/e), Will Hurst (WUR). 

 

HOBO: Hormonal Disbalances Impacting Body Composition in Women Living with Obesity

This study addresses the challenges in assessing body composition in women with obesity, where hormonal fluctuations and physiological variations complicate accurate measurement. By exploring practical, radiation-free alternatives like Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA), the research aims to improve body composition assessment methods despite the limitations in current techniques. Team: Agnes Berendsen, (WUR), Rebecca Schipper (WUR) Lara Schepers (WUR), Min Wan (TU/e), Zhangue Wei (TU/e), Janneke van Meel (UMCU), Oscar Franco (UMCU), Marilyne Menassa (UMCU), Arianne van Bon (Rijnstate Hospital)

 

One Size Does Not Fit All: A Scoping Review on Study Population Diversity in Studies Assessing the Validity of Consumer Wearables for Measuring Vital Signs: This scoping review investigates the representation of diverse user characteristics, such as sex, BMI, and skin tone, in studies evaluating the validity of consumer wearables for monitoring vital signs, highlighting gaps that may hinder the generalizability of wearable sensor performance. By identifying these gaps, the review provides recommendations to ensure more inclusive and accurate validation in future studies. Team: Rebecca Schipper (WUR), Fatime Oumar (University of Twente), Meyke Roosink (University of Twente), Laura Winkens (WUR), Arlene John (University of Twente), Annemieke Witteveen (University of Twente), Eric Hazebroek (WUR), Agnes Berendsen (WUR)

 

Title: Wonder & Grow Healthy: A Dual-Approach to Support Picky Eating Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: This project aims to address picky eating in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through an interactive, game-based platform that promotes sensory-based, healthy eating habits, while providing parents with tools and community support. The research, including a narrative review and parent focus groups, identifies effective strategies like positive reinforcement and highlights the need for future research to focus on early selective eating and personalized, adaptable interventions.Team: Parvannah Parvin (WUR), Emlia Barakova (TU/e), Sanne Boesveldt (WUR), Malou Lasschuijt (WUR), Berbe Peas (UMCU), Bibi Huskens (SeysCentra), Floor Rikken (WUR) 

 

Title: Power 4 Parents - A Strategy to Empower Parents in the First Year After Delivery Towards Improved Diet Quality

This project focuses on improving diet quality in the first year postpartum, a critical period for maternal recovery and long-term health outcomes. By empowering parents with strategies to enhance their dietary habits, the initiative aims to improve maternal health and positively influence children's food preferences and nutrition. Team: Annemarie Wagemakers (WUR), Edith Feskens (WUR), Elske Brouwer-Brolsma (WUR), Renske van Lonkhuijzen (WUR), Anneloes van Baar (UU), Indre Kalinauskaite (UMCU), Yuan Lu (TU/e), Madelon Meijer – Hoogeveen (UMCU)

 

Title: Bending the Rules of the System – How Do Frontline Professionals Succeed?

This study explores how frontline professionals help people in vulnerable positions navigate the complex social welfare system by flexibly interpreting or bending the rules. Through interviews and a co-creation workshop, the research identifies facilitators and barriers to rule-bending, aiming to develop strategies to promote and expand these practices for better outcomes in socioeconomic security and health. Team: Carlijn Kamphuis (UU), Jantien van Berkel (UU), Sanne Verra (UU), Maikel Waardenburg (UU), Maartje Poelman (WUR), Marielle Jambroes (UMCU).

 

Title: OmU@Home: Pilot Study – Early Detection and Prevention of Acute ED Revisits

This pilot study focuses on detecting early health deterioration and preventing acute emergency department (ED) revisits among older adults (70+) through home monitoring. Team: Nienke Bleijenberg (UMCU), Elke Huntink (UMCU), Berfin Duman (UMCU), Robert van den Broek (UMCU), Bea van der Krogt (UMCU), Annette Beetsma (UMCU), Marieke Minderhoud (UMCU)