Specialization
Non-hodgkin Lymphoma, Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia, Clinical Trials, Immunology, Auto-immune Hemolytic Anemia, MGUS, Cold Agglutinin Disease
Focus of research
My work as a clinical haematologist and investigator is focused on immunohematology, in particular related to the rare conditions - Waldenstrom Macroglobulinaemia (WM) and IgM related disorders, as well as related autoimmune phenomena with a focus on auto-immune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) and cold agglutinin disease (CAD).
I aim to raise the level of care of patients with these conditions at a national and international level by initiating and leading clinical trials and guidelines.
My reseach focuses on adapting novel pathophysiological, therapeutical and diagnostic concepts from more common B-cell and plasmacell malignancies to WM and IgM related disorders as well as AIHA and CAD.
By nature of my interest in rare diseases, I maintain a strong international network for collaboration, as well as an interest in orphan drugs and their appropriate use. I organized quick and monitored access in an innovative fashion (ODAP, collaboration with prof. Hollak) for a new complement inhibitor (sutimlimab) for cold agglutinin disease and initiated 2 international clinical trials in Cold Agglutinin Disease (HOVON 169, zanubrutinib) and WM (HOVON 178, epcoritamab) respectively.
In a collaboration with Sanquin, I work on the national DRAIHA consortium study (prof. de Haas), as well as monoclonal IgM characterization (T. Rispens).