Professor
BRAC James P Grants School of Public Health, BRAC University, Bangladesh
Dr. Nazma Shaheen is one of Bangladesh's leading nutrition scientists, with more than 40 years of distinguished contributions to nutrition research, higher education, food composition science, and evidence-informed nutrition policy. As Professor and former Director of the Institute of Nutrition and Food Science (INFS), University of Dhaka, she has provided strategic academic leadership while mentoring generations of nutrition professionals and strengthening research capacity nationally and internationally.
An internationally recognized expert in food composition, dietary assessment, public health nutrition, food systems, and nutrition policy, Dr. Shaheen led the development and updating of the Food Composition Table for Bangladesh, the country's national reference database for nutrition research, dietary assessment, food labeling, and policymaking. As Bangladesh's National Focal Person for the FAO/INFOODS-supported SAARCFOODS Network, she has played a pivotal role in advancing regional food composition databases and harmonizing international standards.
Dr. Shaheen has successfully led numerous multidisciplinary research and policy initiatives funded by WHO, FAO, UNICEF, GAIN, Resolve to Save Lives, Wageningen University, and other international partners. Her research has generated critical evidence on micronutrient deficiencies, maternal and child nutrition, healthy diets, food systems, processed foods, food labeling, trans fats, sodium reduction, and non-communicable disease prevention. She has also provided technical leadership in developing Bangladesh's Front-of-Pack Labeling (FOPL) strategy, adapting WHO sodium benchmarks and nutrient profile models, and supporting national food safety and nutrition regulations in collaboration with the Bangladesh Food Safety Authority and other government agencies.
Her outstanding scientific contributions have been recognized through several prestigious awards, including the INFOODS Success Story Award (2015) and the AFACI Outstanding Country Award (2024). Through her extensive research, policy engagement, international collaborations, and scientific leadership, Dr. Shaheen has made a lasting impact on nutrition science and continues to shape healthier food systems, evidence-based nutrition policies, and public health in Bangladesh and beyond.