Robert Bandsma

Staff Physician, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

Scientist
Translational Medicine

Dr. Robert Bandsma has been a staff physician at SickKids since 2013. Dr. Bandsma completed his MD and Paediatrics training at the University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands and his Subspecialty Fellowship in the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at SickKids. He completed a PhD in Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Groningen. He is affiliated with the Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi where he worked as a staff physician and has an active research program. He is currently the president of the Commonwealth Association of Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.

Research

Dr. Bandsma’s international research program aims to improve the survival and long-term outcome of ill malnourished children. The research focuses on elucidating the pathways underlying the vulnerability of malnourished children and develop novel interventions improve clinical outcome. He established a clinical research unit in Malawi that has successfully completed numerous observational cohort studies and clinical trials. His group specializes in using innovative machine learning approaches for analyzing complex multi-level datasets. He leads a laboratory group at SickKids that uses pre-clinical model systems to deepen the understanding of molecular pathways affected in malnutrition. 

Education and experience

• 2013–Present: Staff Physician, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, SickKids
• 2011–2013: Staff Physician, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Beatrix Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands
• 2009–2010: Postdoctoral Fellowship, Department of Endocrinology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 2008–2010: Clinical and Research Fellowship, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
• 2003–2005: Pediatric Residency, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Curaçao, Netherlands Antilles, Kingdom of the Netherlands
• 1999–2007: Pediatric Residency, Beatrix Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands (Pediatric residency combined with graduate school)
• 1999–2004: Graduate School, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
• 1999: Elective Internship The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Division of Endocrinology and Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Philadelphia, USA
• 1991–1999: Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, University of Groningen, Groningen, the Netherlands

Achievements

• 2013–2015, North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition Foundation /Nestlé Nutrition Research Young Investigator Development Award. Role: Principal Applicant, North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Lower Gwynedd Township, PA, USA (Research Award, Pediatric Gastroenterology)  
  Award for promising junior scientists in the field of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology or nutrition. 
  Total Amount: $150,000 USD 
• 2010–2012: Banting and Best Diabetes Center Fellowship Award. Role: Postdoctoral Fellow Banting and Best Diabetes Center, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 
  Local competitive award for support of postdoctoral fellows in the field of diabetes. 
  Total Amount: $50.000 CAD (Declined) 
• 2010–2012: Canadian Diabetes Association Fellowship Award. Role: Postdoctoral Fellow, Canadian Diabetes Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Research Award,  Diabetes) National award for support of postdoctoral fellows in the field of diabetes. 
  Total Amount: $80,000 CAD (Declined)
• 2010–2012, Canadian Institute for Health Research Post Doctoral Fellowship Award. Role: Postdoctoral Fellow Canadian Institute for Health Research, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (Research Award, Health Research) 
  Prestigious national award for clinical and non-clinical postdoctoral applicants. Ranking 3 out of 31 awarded fellowships of a total of 329 applicants. Duration of funding 2 years, 4 months.  
  Total Amount: $100,000 CAD 
• 2007: Nutricia Research Foundation International Postdoctoral Fellowship Award. Role: Postdoctoral Fellow  Nutricia, Zoetermeer, the Netherlands (Research Award, Nutrition) 
  National award for support of postdoctoral fellows in the field of nutrition. 
  Total Amount: €25,000 
• 1999–2005: Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development MD/PhD Training Award. Role: Postdoctoral Fellow Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development, Utrecht, the Netherlands (Research Award, Health) 
  Prestigious national award to support talented medical students to pursue a PhD. 
  Total Amount: €65,000 

1. Ling C, Versloot CJ, Arvidsson Kvissberg ME, Hu G, Swain N, Horcas-Nieto JM, Miraglia E, Thind MK, Farooqui A, Gerding A, van Eunen K, Koster MH, Kloosterhuis NJ, Chi L, ChenMi Y, Langelaar-Makkinje M, Bourdon C, Swann J, Smit M, de Bruin A, Youssef SA, Feenstra M, van Dijk TH, Thedieck K, Jonker JW, Kim PK, Bakker BM, Bandsma RHJ. Rebalancing of mitochondrial homeostasis through an NAD+-SIRT1 pathway preserves intestinal barrier function in severe malnutrition. EBioMedicine. 2023; 96:104809. SRA.
2. Wen B, Farooqui A, Bourdon C, Tarafdar N, Ngari M, Chimwezi E, Thitiri J, Mwalekwa L, Walson JL, Voskuijl W, Berkley JA, Bandsma RHJ. Intestinal disturbances associated with mortality of children with complicated severe malnutrition. Commun Med (Lond). 2023; 29;3(1). SRA.
3. Wen B, Njunge J, Bourdon C, Gonzales GB, Gichuki BM, Lee D, Ngari M, Chimwezi E, Thitiri J, Mwalekwa L, Voskuijl W, Berkley JA, Bandsma RHJ. Systemic inflammation and metabolic disturbances underlie inpatient mortality among ill children with severe malnutrition. Sci Adv. 2022; 8(7):eabj6779. SRA.
4. Hu G, Ling C, Chi L, Thind MK, Furse S, Koulman A, Swann JR, Lee D, Calon MM, Bourdon C, Versloot CJ, Bakker BM, Gonzales GB, Kim PK, Bandsma RHJ. The role of the tryptophan-NAD + pathway in a mouse model of severe malnutrition induced liver dysfunction. Nat Commun. 2022 Dec 8;13(1):7576. SRA.

See a full list of Robert Bandsma's publications

Funding

• 2024–2026: The role of organelle homeostasis in wasting and stunting. Principal Investigator. Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. $634,000 USD.
• 2024–2026: Reduced caloric feeds in the early management of ill severely malnourished children. Principal Investigator. Eleanor Crook Foundation. $200,000 USD.
• 2024–2026: Reduced caloric feeds in the early management of ill severely malnourished childrenPrincipal Investigator. Children Investment Fund Foundation. $200,000 USD.
• 2022–2026: Reduced caloric feeds in the early management of ill severely malnourished children. Principal Investigator. Canadian Institute for Health Research, Project Grant. Collaborators: Jessie Hulst.