ILSI 2022 Annual Meeting Session 4: Improving the credibility and integrity of nutrition research

Dr. Douwina Bosscher, Research and Development Director Global Edible Oils Solutions (GEOS), Europe, Cargill, Belgium

Douwina Bosscher is R&D Director in Cargill Global Edible Oils Solutions, and member of the GEOS Europe business Leadership team based in Schiphol (The Netherlands). She is also Board Member of Cargill R&D Centre Europe, based in Brussels (Belgium). She leads a team of R&D Professionals across Europe with locations in Botlek, Schiphol, Izegem, Vilvoorde and Hamburg; with critical capabilities in product and process development, analytical chemistry, intellectual assets management and Technical services. She is a Lecturer in Nutrition and functional foods at the University of Antwerp since 2004. Since 2020 she is Chairwoman of ILSI Europe.

Trouble in science and science in trouble – Dr. Hannelore Daniel, Technical University of Munich, Germany

Abstract: Although the life- and biomedical science has in the Covid-pandemic demonstrated exceptional performance, skills, power and speed in both, diagnostic and therapeutic dimensions, there is an erosion process in science that started decades ago but gains momentum now. It has been recognized that there is a significant reproducibility crisis that affects in essence all areas of the life and social sciences with estimated 60 to 80% of all published studies classified as not reproducible. Surveys amongst scientists revealed that this problem emerged (of course) on ground of the extremely competitive environment and the pressure to publish that also fostered the significant contribution of scientific fraud (1). Integrity of science has thus become an issue and many organisations have integrated science integrity measures into their education programs.

To overcome some of the causes that limit reproducibility of science and to prevent faked data entering the papers, some publishers have installed artificial intelligence (AI)-based pre-screening of manuscripts into the submission process. AI may in the future also be an integrated part of the later review process because the enormous number of papers brings human comprehension to its limits - even if you are an expert in the field. And scientists believe that science is self-correcting but “to an alarming degree, it is not” (2). Whether AI-based assessment and review processes overcome the current quality crises, needs to be seen. Whether the inclusion of AI techniques in the entire science and publication process also can prevent the “bubble phenomenon” that science develops in analogy to other areas of our life needs also be tested. Interdisciplinary approaches, requested almost like a mantra, can be found, yet the disciplinarity – as important as it is – promotes the development of “science bubbles”, also evident by the growing number of highly specialised journals. These developments are also mirrored in the public perception and increasing mistrust in science as surveys conducted by the EU commission and national science monitoring organsiation´s reveal (3).

Although there is strong public belief that science delivers innovations, the question arises of whether the enormous scientific output is indeed reflecting true creativity with high innovation momentum. From an analysis of citation networks, it has been concluded that the annual publication rate over decades follows an exponential whereas that of novel ideas follows a linear development with low slope (4). We are thus facing a “creativity crises” and that needs to be tackled by major revisions in current science frameworks.

References

1. Monya Baker. 1,500 scientists lift the lid on reproducibility. 2016. Nature 533, 452–454
2. Fostering Integrity in Research. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2017. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.
3. Santo Fortunato et al. Science of science. Science 2;359(6379):eaao0185.doi: 10.1126/science.aao0185
4. Bernd Blöbaum (Editor). Trust in Science and the Science of Trust. In “Trust and Communication in a Digitized World. Models and Concepts of Trust Research” 2016. DOI:10.1007/978-3-319-28059-2_8

Hannelore Daniel held the position of a Chair of Physiology of Human Nutrition at the Technical University of Munich (TUM), Germany. Her main research interests are control mechanisms in mammalian metabolism. Hannelore Daniel is a nutrition expert by training and worked in Germany, UK and USA. She is a member of the German National Academy of Sciences and an advisor for national and international funding agencies, ministeries and research centers. Hannelore Daniel has published around 460 scientific papers, reviews and textbook chapters and has provided around 500 oral presentations as invited speaker. She received numerous scientific awards including the "Pro meritis-Award" as the most prestigious science award in the state of Bavaria.

Best practices for nutrition trials in humans – Dr. Connie Weaver, San Diego State University, USA

Abstract: Nutrition policies rely on a rigorous evidence base. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) are the gold standard for development of evidence-based recommendations. This presentation will summarize the efforts of the American Society of Nutrition and The Federation of European Nutrition Societies to develop and implement best practices for designing, conducting, and reporting nutrition RCTs.

Dr. Connie Weaver is a Distinguished Research Professor at San Diego State University and a Distinguished Professor Emerita of Nutrition Science at Purdue University and CEO of Weaver and Associates Consulting, LLC. She is an elected member of The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine since 2010. She is a fellow of the American Nutrition Society, the Institute of Food Technology, the American College of Nutrition, and the American Heart Association. She is a member of the FDA Science Advisory Board and the NIH Advisory Committee on Research on Women’s Health. She was founder and director of the Women's Global Health Institute (WGHI) at Purdue University from 2012 to 2019. She was Deputy Director of the National Institutes of Health funded Indiana Clinical and Translational Science Institute from 2008 to 2019. Dr. Weaver is past-president of American Society for Nutritional Sciences. She is on the Board of Trustees of the International Life Sciences Institute, Showalter Biomedical Research Committee, and the Science Advisory Board of Biofortis. Her honors include the Spirit of the Land Grant Award (2013), the Herbert Newby McCoy recipient (2012, this award is the most prestigious research honor given by Purdue University), the Trailblazer Award (2016) by the Institute of Food Technology (IFT) and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND), an award to recognize “exceptional leaders” who have advanced the science at the interface of dietetics and food science, and the David Kritchevsky Lifetime Achievement Award (2017, American Society for Nutrition). Dr. Weaver was appointed to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee for Americans. Dr. Weaver received a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in food science and human nutrition from Oregon State University. She received a PhD in food science and human nutrition from Florida State University and holds minors in chemistry and plant physiology.

Improving the credibility of the science of nutrition – Dr. Philip Calder, Head of Human Development & Health, Professor of Nutritional Immunology, University of Southampton, United Kingdom

Abstract: This presentation will discuss the nature of the evidence base in (human) nutrition and will question whether the hierarchy of evidence adopted for medical decision making should be used for making dietary recommendations and policy. ILSI Europe contributions to identify the best biomarkers will be highlighted as will recent NIH funded activity in trial conduct. A plea for a joined up interdisciplinary approach will be made to enable nutrition science to play its anticipated role in meeting the grand challenges. Finally, the FENS Presidential activity in “Improved Standards in the Science of Nutrition” will be summarised.

Philip Calder is Professor of Nutritional Immunology and Head of School of Human Development and Health at the University of Southampton in the UK. Professor Calder is an internationally recognised researcher on the metabolism and functionality of fatty acids with an emphasis on the roles of omega-3 fatty acids in immunity, inflammation and cardiometabolic disease. He has also conducted recognised research on amino acids, antioxidants, prebiotics, probiotics and natural products. His research addresses both life course and translational considerations and includes research in cell and animal models and in healthy humans and patients. Professor Calder has published over 800 scientific articles (excluding abstracts) and according to Web of Science his work has been cited over 46,000 times. He has a Web of Science h-index of 116, a Google Scholar h-index of 145 (i10 index 541) and has been included in every listing of Highly Cited Researchers. He has received many awards and prizes for his work including ESPEN’s Cuthbertson Lecture (2008), the Normann Medial from the German Society of Fat Science (2009), the Ralph Holman Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Oil Chemists’ Society (2015), the prestigious Danone International Prize for Nutrition (2016), the DSM Lifetime Achievement Prize in Human Nutrition (2017) and the European Lipid Scientist Award (2021). Professor Calder was President of the International Society for the Study of Fatty Acids and Lipids (2009-2012), Chair of the Scientific Committee of the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism (ESPEN) (2012-2016), and President of the Nutrition Society (2016-2019). He is currently President of the Federation of European Nutrition Societies. He was Editor-in-Chief of the British Journal of Nutrition (2006 to 2013) and is currently Associate Editor of Clinical Science, Journal of Nutrition and Nutrition Research. He previously served on many Editorial Boards of journals in the nutrition, lipidology (including BBA Lipids and Lipids) and biochemistry fields. Professor Calder has a long association with ILSI Europe having served on its Scientific Advisory Committee and Board of Directors, as Scientific Co-Chair of one of its Task Forces, as a member (including Chairing) several Expert Groups and as President (2019-2021).