SHORT BIOGRAPHY

 

Dr Katharine (Kathy) Martyn is a Principal Lecturer at the University of Brighton, and Co‑Editor‑in‑Chief of BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. Her work focuses on nutrition, nursing and medical education, sustainability, and community-engaged knowledge exchange. Her work integrates academic leadership, applied research, widening participation, and cross-sector partnerships that strengthen the links between health, nutrition, education, and public service.

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Dr Martyn is widely recognised for her ability to build strong partnerships that link academia, health services, local government, and community organisations. Her knowledge exchange portfolio includes active collaborations with:

• NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition & Health

• Association for Nutrition (AfN)

• British Association for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (BAPEN)

• East Sussex County Council

• Wealden Food Partnership Council

 

Through these roles, she contributes to regional and national initiatives in public health nutrition, food insecurity, sustainable food policy, and the development of professional standards. Her work with local authorities and community networks enhances the visibility and impact of nutrition research and supports evidence-led practice across schools, healthcare settings, and voluntary-sector organisations.

As a collaborator and director within the NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition & Health, Dr Martyn contributes to applied research, policy engagement, and knowledge exchange initiatives. She leads community-based nutrition interventions, including MTKi. She also supports the IANE, GNOME and Summer School initiatives to drive forward the agenda for sustainable food system transformation and evidence‑informed practice across health and social care, including primary and community care, local authority and charitable organisations.

Her expertise spans nutrition education for health professionals, widening participation, and higher apprenticeship development. She works closely with East Sussex County Council, the Wealden Food Partnership Council, and national organisations including AfN and BAPEN to promote equitable access to nutrition knowledge, early recognition of under- and overnutrition in at-risk population groups and improve local population health.

 

Dr Martyn leads teaching and curriculum innovation across undergraduate, postgraduate, and higher apprenticeship programmes in health, medicine and nursing. She contributes to interprofessional education through sustained collaboration with Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) and the wider health faculty.

 

Her pedagogical focus includes:

• Evidence-based nutrition education for nurses, doctors and allied health professionals

• Sustainability in healthcare and food systems

• Student-centred learning and authentic assessment

• Supporting access, participation, and success for diverse learners

• Supervision of MSc dissertations, research projects, and PhD students

She is committed to developing the next generation of healthcare professionals equipped to understand the social, environmental, and nutritional determinants of health.

Dr Martyn’s research interests include:

• Nutrition in clinical care and community settings

• Sustainable food systems and planetary health

• Health inequalities and widening participation

• Educational innovation in nurse and medical education

She is engaged in submitting bids for grant funding for small to large-scale research projects and is committed to developing effective PPIE methodologies, with clear implementation and impact pathways. She supervises doctoral candidates and early-career researchers working across public health nutrition, clinical practice, and health education.

Dr Martyn’s work reflects a commitment to bridging academia, practice, and policy, strengthening NNEdPro’s mission to advance nutrition and health worldwide.