As of March 2025, Professor Max Nieuwdorp has been appointed scientific director of the HELIUS study. Max Nieuwdorp, an internist and former department head at Amsterdam UMC, is actively involved in the care of the diverse Amsterdam population. He specializes in diabetes, metabolic disorders, and the crucial role of the gut microbiome in health and disease. With his extensive experience in scientific research and his dedication to reducing health disparities, Max Nieuwdorp will play a key role in the further development and management of HELIUS.
“Since the start of HELIUS, I have felt connected to this project because, as a physician, I am confronted daily with the existing health inequalities among Amsterdam residents. The HELIUS study has been working for over 14 years to better understand the causes of these disparities, as well as to identify new factors (such as our gut flora) involved in health and disease. The results not only find their way into scientific publications but are also translated into improved and more targeted detection and treatment of these conditions. This is only possible with the help of the thousands of HELIUS participants, for whom I have great appreciation. Together, we make a difference!”