Sherry Tanumihardjo

Sherry Tanumihardjo manages a progressive research and outreach team at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the Department of Nutritional Sciences. She has almost three decades of experience with vitamin A and carotenoids. Her multidisciplinary research approach is enhanced by her broad educational background in chemistry (B.S.), biochemistry (M.S.) and nutrition (Ph.D.).

She has two main research foci. These include vitamin A assessment methodology and carotenoid bioavailability. These two overlap when investigating provitamin A carotenoids. Tanumihardjo has authored more than 100 research publications, chapters and technical documents and has been an invited speaker nationally and internationally.

Her research group works with animal models to answer various questions on issues related to vitamin A toxicity and deficiency. The team takes these research outcomes and applies them to humans. The team has conducted studies in the U.S., Indonesia, South Africa, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Zambia. She has acted as a consultant to many studies throughout the world to assist with study design and appropriate standardization. She is a strong advocate for the promotion of nutritionally enhanced staple foods, vegetables and fruits to enhance overall health and general well-being. Tanumihardjo is the director of the undergraduate certificate in global health and co-teaches Introduction to Global Health, the one global health class that all declaring students must take.