Contact
Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology (IBE)
Biometry and Evidence-based Public Health
Medical Faculty
Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich (LMU)
Elisabeth-Winterhalter-Weg 6
81377 Munich, Germany
Room:
U044
Phone:
+49 (0) 2180-78214
Email:
melissa.theurich@lmu.de
Networks
- ResearchGate | LinkedIn | ORCID | Website
I am a Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Researcher with a background in Nutrition Science, Public Health, Human Biology and International Development. The focus of my scientific work is on infant and young child nutrition for the prevention of nutritional deficiencies and non-communicable diseases, including women’s reproductive health with an emphasis on breastfeeding. I have worked as an author and scientific editor of WHO/UNICEF global guidelines in the area of infant and young child feeding and have clinical experience as an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC). I am passionate about working at the intersection of science, practice, and policy, conducting relevant research that improves the lives of vulnerable populations. I strive to provide excellent teaching to improve the focus and depth of knowledge in the next generations of public health, nutrition and medical professionals.
Current Research Projects, Grants and Scholarships
- LMUexcellent Junior Researcher Fund, 2025-2026
- Bavarian Gender Equality Grant (BGF), 2024-2025
- Profiling and Understanding Milk Pump Expenses and Disbursements (PUMPED), 2024-2026
- MensaPlus - interventions to support healthy and sustainable diets in university canteens and similar settings, 2023
- Food environments in Africa: Addressing Malnutrition using a Syndemics Approach (FoodSAMSA), 2021-
2025
Areas of interest
- Global international guidelines for nutrition of women, infants and children
- Infant and Young Child Feeding, including in humanitarian settings
- Prevention of undernutrition, especially micronutrient deficiencies
- Prevention of childhood non-communicable diseases, overweight and obesity
- Women’s sexual and reproductive health, especially breastfeeding
- Commercial determinants of health
- Public Health Nutrition
- Food systems
Methodological expertise
- Evidence synthesis (systematic reviews and meta-analyses, narrative reviews)
- Large, multi-centre observational and cohort studies
- Commercial market surveys and analysis
- Global public health guidelines and capacity building in international development
Contributions to WHO and UNICEF Global Guidelines
- Implementation guidance on counseling women to improve breastfeeding practices. (WHO, UNICEF, 2021, online)
- Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative for small, sick and premature babies in neonatal wards. (WHO, UNICEF, 2020, online)
- Country experiences with the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative: Compendium of case studies from around the world. (WHO, UNICEF, 2017, online)
- UNICEF Programming guidance: procurement and use of breastmilk substitutes in humanitarian settings. (WHO, UNICEF, 2017, online)
Degrees, Certifications & Fellowships
- Visiting Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Doctor of Human Biology (Dr. rer. hum. biol.), Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
- Master of Public Health (MPH), Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich
- Bachelor of Science in Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise (BSc) Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
- International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC)
Editorships
- Associate Editor, Journal of Human Lactation (2025-present)
- Associate Editor, BMC Nutrition (2020-2023)
Board and Committee Memberships
- Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM)
- Int. Society for Research in Human Milk & Lactation (ISRHML)
- International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA)
- Berufsverband Still und Laktationsberaterinnen (BDL)
- European Lactation Consultant Association (ELACTA)
- American Society for Nutrition (ASN)
- Berufsverband Ökotrophologie e.V. (VDOE)
Teaching
- Maternal and Child Nutrition (Lecture in the course ‘Public Health Nutrition’ (1-week intensive course in the Master Programmes in Public Health and Epidemiology and the PhD Programme Public Health & Epidemiology, LMU Munich, 2023-2024)
- Breastfeeding Basics (Lecture in the course ‘Breastfeeding and adequate substitutes’ (Massive Open Online Course, Coursera, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, 2023; Course website)
- Expressing and Storing Breastmilk (Lecture in the course ‘Breastfeeding and adequate substitutes’ (Massive Open Online Course, Coursera, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, 2023; Course website)
- Correct Breastmilk Substitute Preparation and Bottle Feeding Practices (Lecture in the course ‘Breastfeeding and adequate substitutes’ (Massive Open Online Course, Coursera, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, 2023; Course website)
- Critical assessment of scientific papers (Seminar in the Course ‘Social Medicine’ for medical students, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 2022)
- Systematic Reviews (Lecture in the course ‚Medical Sociology’ for medical students, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 2022)
- Maternal and Child Nutrition: Public Health Challenges, Programmes and Policies (Lecture for the course ‘Prevention and health promotion’ for medical students, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 2021)
- Behavioral and structural prevention: example of physical activity (Lecture in the course Prevention and Health Promotion for medical students, Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg, 2021)
Academic Textbook
- Nutrition Assessment and Management of Breastfeeding Dyads (Co-Editor, Springer Nature, expected 2026)