Dr Jonathan Tammam

BSc MSc PhD RD RNutr FHEA

Director Centre for Nutrition and Health, and Programme Lead in Nutrition

Department of Sport, Health Sciences and Social Work

Role

I joined OBU in 2019 as both Programme (Academic) Lead and Director of the Centre for Nutrition and Health. I am actively involved in education, applied research, and commercial consultancy. I hold a Doctorate in intermediary metabolism, a Masters with distinction in nutrition and dietetics, and a Bachelors in Applied Biology. Professionally, I am a Registered Nutritionist with the Association for Nutrition and a Registered Dietitian with the Health and Care Professions Council. I am a member of the Nutrition Society and British Dietetics Association. Moreover, I hold Fellowships with the Higher Education Academy and Institute of Food Brain and Behaviour.

Areas of expertise

  • Randomised Controlled Trials
  • Nutrition intervention
  • Public Health Nutrition
  • Quantitative Research
  • Prison food
  • Adolescent diet
  • Dietetics

Teaching and supervision

Courses

Modules taught

I am Module Leader for 'Nutrition Research Project', a final year module where students have the opportunity to immerse themselves in a genuine research project under the supervision of an experienced academic. 

I also contribute to the teaching in 1st year, 2nd year, and MSc modules, and supervise both BSc and MSc research projects.

Programme Lead for Nutrition:

  • Oversee the strategy, development, and operations of the BSc, MSc, and PhD Nutrition programmes.
  • Manager to multidisciplinary team of academic staff.

Other experience: 

  • External examiner for the MSc in Public Health Nutrition at Liverpool John Moores University.
  • Mentor for the Council of Deans Leadership programme

Supervision

I am on the supervisory team to two PhD students:

  • Matt Poulter who is investigating Diet, Nutrition, and Health in UK prisons. 
  • Francesca Tabacchi who is investigating malnutrition in obese cancer patients. 

I am available for proposals to supervise further PhD students either externaly- or self-funded. 

 

Research Students

Name Thesis title Completed
Matt Poulter Diet, Nutrition, and Health in UK prisons Active
Francesca Tabacchi Nutritional support in cancer patients during treatment. Active

Research

My research interest focus on the nutritional needs of prisoners and adolescents, groups often ignored within a public health context.  I have led randomised controlled trials within prison and school settings, exploring the effect of supplementary nutrition on behaviour. Subsequent to that I have investigated the provision and choice of prison food and how it compares with recommended dietary guidance.  I also have a research interest in how TV food advertising is misaligned with healthy eating guidance.  Additionally I am interested in the gender disparity within the Nutrition and Dietetics profession, and malnutrition screening and assessment in clinical dietetics.  I currently co-supervise a research assistant investigating malnutrition screening in obese cancer patients.  

Research grants and awards

Co-applicant Research Excellence Awards (2021 and 2022) funded project investigating the assessment of malnutrition in overweight and obese cancer patients. 

Centres and institutes

Projects as Principal Investigator, or Lead Academic if project is led by another Institution

  • KTP with the Institute for Food, Brain and Behaviour (29/01/2024 - 28/09/2026), funded by: Technology Strategy Board (Innovate UK), funding amount received by Brookes: £309,913

Projects as Co-investigator

  • Formulation and validation of Reducose as a functional food ingredient to reduce risk of diabetes(01/09/2023 - 28/02/2026), funded by: Technology Strategy Board (Innovate UK), funding amount received by Brookes: £169,024, funded by: Technology Strategy Board (Innovate UK)

Publications

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Professional information

Memberships of professional bodies

  • Registered Nutritionist with Association for Nutrition
  • Registered Dietitian with Health and Care Professions Council
  • Member Nutrition Society
  • Member British Dietetics Association
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Academy
  • Fellow of the Institute of Food Brain and Behaviour
  • Alumnus of the European Nutrition Leadership Platform Advanced Programme

Conferences

I have presented research at national and international conferences.

Further details

Other publicity

  • All Party Parliamentary Group invited speaker
  • Radio interview and press conference contributions