A Strategic Evolution for BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health: Honouring Our Foundations and Welcoming New Leadership

Author: Gerald Cheruiyot

Reviewer: Matheus Abrantes

The nexus between nutritional science and clinical practice is undergoing unprecedented acceleration. As BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health (BMJ NPH) continues to redefine the integration of lifestyle medicine within global healthcare systems, the journal has reached a pivotal milestone. We are pleased to announce a comprehensive evolution of the journal's Editorial Leadership and Management Board. This intentional transition honours our founding legacy while activating a strategic roadmap towards global leadership by our 10th anniversary in 2028.

Honouring Our Founding Legacy

Institutional excellence is built upon a foundation of academic rigour, ethical integrity, and visionary leadership. As we begin this new chapter, we extend our sincere gratitude to the individuals who transformed an ambitious concept into a globally recognised scientific journal.

Professor Sumantra Ray, Co-Founder of the journal, will continue to provide strategic oversight as Co-Chair of the Management Board along with Kathleen Lyons. We also acknowledge Professor Martin Kohlmeier, who transitions into the role of Emeritus and Consulting Editor. Professor Kohlmeier's steadfast commitment to scientific excellence during the journal's formative years established the rigorous standards that continue to define every BMJ NPH publication.

We fully wish to recognise the contributions of Prof Martin Kohlmeier, who was the first Editor in Chief of BMJ NPH. His commitment to establishing the new journal, his work in its development, and the increase in Impact factor are evident. Under Martin's guidance, BMJ NPH has been recognised for publishing evidence-based work and for its status as a trusted journal. We are delighted that Martin's support for the journal continues through his now Honorary Emeritus position and as Consulting Editor.

— Pauline Douglas, NNEdPro Co-Chair

The New Vanguard: Co-Editors-in-Chief

We are delighted to announce the appointment of our new Co-Editors-in-Chief, marking the beginning of an era defined by collaborative and multidisciplinary leadership. This dual leadership model reflects the evolving complexity of nutrition science, integrating clinical expertise with a global public health perspective.

Dr Kathy Martyn (UK) — RN, RNutr, BSc, BEd, MSc (Nutritional Medicine), PhD

A recognised leader in clinical nutrition and healthcare education, Dr Martyn brings extensive experience in translating research evidence into frontline clinical practice.

Dr Jimmy Louie (Australia) — AdvAPD, BSc, MNutrDiet, PhD

Dr Louie strengthens the journal's global reach, contributing expertise in public health nutrition and metabolic science across diverse healthcare systems.

Commenting on this landmark appointment, Professor Sumantra Ray, representing the collective vision of the journal's founding partners and global academic network, stated:

"On behalf of the NNEdPro Global Institute for Food, Nutrition and Health and its partner initiatives, including the International Academy of Nutrition Educators, I am delighted to welcome the new Co-Editors-in-Chief of our official journal, BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health. We are privileged to appoint two exceptionally high-calibre, clinically qualified nutrition scientists who will build upon the strong foundation established by the inaugural Editor-in-Chief, Dr Martin Kohlmeier. The new Co-Editors-in-Chief bring a renewed commitment to inclusivity in nutrition research and to the democratisation of nutrition knowledge across all sectors of society. I am confident that this transition will propel BMJ NPH to new heights as a global beacon for evidence-informed policy and practice."

Strengthening the Core: Operational and Editorial Synergy

To support this refreshed leadership, we have strengthened both the Management Board and the NNEdPro Virtual Core, the journal's strategic engine, ensuring operational excellence and the highest standards of editorial integrity.

Our multidisciplinary Virtual Core management team includes Professor Pauline Douglas, Dr Celia Laur, Dr Samyyia Ashraf, Matheus Abrantes, Dr Alan Flanagan, Dr Mei Yen Chan, Dr Rajna Golubic and Shane McAuliffe. In addition, Gerald Cheruiyot now leads the journal's digital engagement and social media strategy, amplifying the reach and impact of BMJ NPH across clinical, policy and public audiences.

Mission 2028: Achieving Global Leadership

Under this renewed leadership, BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health will launch a refreshed strategic direction from Spring 2026. The journal’s ambition is clear: to become the leading global journal in nutrition and prevention ahead of our decennial milestone in 2028.

"This transition marks a coming-of-age journal. With a refreshed core and a clear strategic vision, we have two years to achieve world-leading status ahead of our 10th anniversary." 

— Management Board Statement, 2026

To support this accelerated trajectory, we are intensifying our commitment to peer-review excellence. Members of the Virtual Core have committed to undertaking two to four high-level peer reviews annually, ensuring BMJ NPH remains a rapid-response, high-integrity platform for critical advances in nutrition science. All reviewers will continue to receive formal recognition on the BMJ website in acknowledgement of their essential contribution to the scientific record.

The Road Ahead

The next generation of BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health has arrived. Moving forward, the journal will focus on three strategic pillars:

• Implementation Science - advancing an understanding of how nutrition interventions perform at scale in real-world clinical and community settings.

• Global Health Equity - expanding representation of diverse populations, contexts and researchers worldwide.

• The Democratisation of Nutrition Knowledge - ensuring evidence-informed policy and practice are accessible across all regions and sectors.

The two-year sprint to 2028 begins now. We invite our global community of authors, reviewers and readers to join us in shaping the future of evidence-informed global health.