A journey towards a career in Nutrition

Dr Frank Thies

I developed a strong interest in physiology and biochemistry in my teenage years,

and decided to study animal physiology for my bachelor degree at the University of Burgundy, France. I had the chance to be taught by enthusiastic lecturers during my honours’ years, which triggered my interest in developing a career in research in nutritional physiology. After a Master’s degree in animal physiology and nutrition, I undertook a PhD in nutritional physiology within a CNRS research unit at the University of Burgundy, studying how lipid content of high density lipoproteins can influence steroidogenesis, and identifying novel pathways for polyunsaturated fatty acids uptake by cerebral tissues during development. This was, at that time, one of the only two research units focusing on Nutrition research funded by the French national research agency. The project was challenging but very exciting, using a wide variety of techniques and a substantial amount of method development, including micro syntheses of radiolabelled lipids. I obtained my PhD in November 1991 and, after a few months teaching undergraduate students at the University of Burgundy, I left France to carry out postdoctoral research at the National Institute of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, USA, to assess the impact of ethanol exposure on brain phospholipid metabolism during development. The research I conducted was mostly fundamental, using cellular and animal models, and I was keen to expand my experience and expertise to work with humans. When my contract with NIH ended, I joined the French federation of digestive cancerology for a few months, to gain experience in clinical trials.

At that point, I reached a crossroads in my career, having been offered almost simultaneously three different jobs: another position at the National Institute of Health, a research position for a large multinational company, and a research Fellow position at the University of Oxford. I chose Oxford and joined Prof Philip Calder’s group in June 1995 (which moved to Southampton a couple of years later). This gave me the opportunity to work in human nutrition, develop and carry out intervention trials, to apply and share my expertise in lipid biochemistry while learning about immunity and immune function and relevant techniques such as flow cytometry and histochemistry. There were great opportunities to work independently and develop original ideas, and fostering collaborations was also encouraged. I was also able to expand my teaching experience by providing tutorials to undergraduate students. The projects I was responsible for related to the impact of dietary unsaturated fatty acids on inflammation and immune function, particularly focussing on elderly people (in Oxford), and the effects of polyunsaturated fatty acids on atherosclerotic plaque stability and inflammation in patients with carotid stenosis (in Southampton). This was a very exciting and fruitful period. The work generated highly cited publications in high impact scientific journals, and strengthened my interest in focusing on nutritional aspects of cardiovascular disease.

 In 2001, I was offered a lectureship position within the former Department of Medicine and Therapeutics at the University of Aberdeen, where my first task was to rejuvenate and develop a Masters programme in Human Nutrition. Having teaching responsibilities while carrying out research activities is sometimes difficult and challenging, but I embraced both enthusiastically. Aberdeen has a long tradition in Nutrition research, both at the University and at the Rowett Institute which was independent at that time. I had the great pleasure to interact over the years with and learn from internationally renowned experts in various fields of nutrition (malnutrition and public health nutrition, sports nutrition and micronutrients, to cite a few areas), and involve them in our postgraduate teaching, providing a unique experience to our students. Working within the medical School and having Aberdeen Royal Infirmary on campus facilitated collaborations with clinician colleagues, particularly vascular surgeons, stroke consultant and clinical biochemists, which allowed me to secure significant external funding to carry out human dietary intervention studies assessing the effects of different dietary components (particularly n-3 PUFAs, whole grains, lycopene and vitamin D) on cardiovascular risk markers in healthy individuals and patients, while carrying out mechanistic work using in vitro models.

In 2007, I took on a  joint appointment between the University of Aberdeen and the Rowett Research Institute, having a laboratory and staff in both institutions and conducting parallel research activities until the full merger of both Institutions and the relocation in 2017 of the Rowett in a brand new building with state of the art facilities on the Foresterhill campus of the University of Aberdeen. In 2016 and 2022, changes in the managerial structure and organisation of the Rowett Institute gave me the opportunity to take on more strategic leadership roles, firstly to lead the Metabolic Health Theme, and then as Deputy Director and Education Lead at the Rowett Institute.  As Theme Lead, I had the managerial responsibility of eleven Principal investigators working in the field of metabolic health, providing strategic guidance and support on research activities, as well as the teaching provision and related administrative requirements.  As Deputy Director and Education Lead, I am involved in the strategic sustainable development of the Rowett Institute activities, bringing new exciting challenges.

From 2007 onwards, I became also very active in the Nutrition Society, first as a member and Chair of the Scottish Section Committee, then by joining the Board of Trustee and chairing the Science committee between 2018 and 2021. The Nutrition Society is a vibrant learned Society, which, through a variety of activities, aims to the scientific study of nutrition and related evidence-based research. My term as Trustee was particularly exciting and highly rewarding, supporting and overseeing the Society’s activities, to help define its strategic direction and also develop and promote evidence-based nutritional sciences. I recently joined the EFSA Panel on Nutrition, Novel foods and Food Allergens, as well as its working group on health claims, providing independent scientific advice to risk assessors, which has given me a wider understanding about regulatory science and factors influencing policy.

The creation of the Academy of nutrition Sciences is a great achievement. It represents a new step forward in support of nutritional sciences, bringing together the expertise of the four founding members, and a collective voice for evidence-based nutrition and better nutritional education and practice.