Specialization
Focus of research
Cece C. Kooper (1995) is a postdoctoral researcher in cognitive neuroscience at the Emma Children’s Hospital of Amsterdam UMC. Her educational background is interdisciplinary, encompassing Natural and Social Sciences with a major in Brain and Cognition (BSc), and Brain and Cognitive Sciences with a specialization in Cognitive Neuroscience (MScRes). At the Emma Children’s Hospital, she has worked at the departments of Neonatology and General Pediatrics. Cece is expected to obtain her PhD in 2025 for her research on the impact of traumatic brain injury in children.
Cece C. Kooper is active in the field of clinical neuroscience and a member of the Emma Neuroscience Group, which investigates the impact of disease and treatment on the brain of children and young adults, and how this impact translates into daily life functioning.
PErsonalizing PRognosis for Children with Traumatic Brain Injury (PEPR study)
This research project aims to develop personalized prognoses for children with traumatic brain injury (TBI), focusing on neurodevelopmental outcomes six months post-injury. For this research project, we established the PEPR consortium which includes active collaborations with Erasmus MC, OLVG, Spaarne Gasthuis Hospital, and St. Antonius Hospital. This consortium aims to advance prediction and understanding of neurodevelopmental outcome after TBI, to ultimately improve care and outcomes for children with TBI. More accurate neurodevelopmental outcome prediction is essential for early detection of children at risk of adverse outcome. The project involves a biopsychosocial framework to identify possible predictors of recovery, including demographics, premorbid functioning, clinical characteristics and multimodal imaging (i.e., structural and functional MRI, including DTI, resting-state fMRI, and MR spectroscopy, one month post-injury). To develop prognostic models, the project explores the added value of machine learning. These models will integrate multimodal data to aim towards more individualized prediction of recovery outcomes. In addition to improving the prognosis, the project aims to enhance the understanding of the impact of TBI through assessments of brain functioning (i.e., resting-state EEG derived quantitative biomarkers), neurocognitive functioning (i.e., using the in-house developed ‘Emma Toolbox for Neurocognitive Functioning’ to investigate neurocognitive outcome clusters and neurocognitive network organization), motor functioning, behavioral functioning and academic performance.
Database for Controls in Neuroscientific Studies (D-CNS study)
This research project is aimed at collecting a large database of control participants for neuroscientific studies in the Emma Children’s Hospital. The assessments used in this project cover neurocognitive functioning (i.e., using the in-house developed ‘Emma Toolbox for Neurocognitive Functioning’), advanced analysis of neurocognitive test performance (i.e., neurocognitive networks), brain function (i.e., resting-state EEG derived quantitative biomarkers), behavioral functioning and academic performance. Data collection is facilitated through the “Emma Brain Bus” our mobile laboratory designed for data acquisition in front of the participants home or school. Studies investigating children with autism spectrum disorder, GRIN2B-related neurodevelopmental disorders, traumatic brain injury, congenital heart disease, admitted to the intensive care, and children conceived post hysterosalpingography with iodinated contrast, have utilized this control database. These studies have resulted in active collaborations with the N=You Neurodevelopmental Precision Center as well as the departments of Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Endocrinology, Pediatric Cardiology and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Exercise on Prescription
This new research line will focus on evaluating and implementing physical interventions for pediatric populations with neurocognitive impairments. Physical activity plays a critical role in supporting neurocognitive development, offering both short- and long-term benefits for the brain. Short-term physical activity directly enhances cerebral blood flow and upregulates neurotransmitters that facilitate neurocognitive processes, whereas long-term physical activity elevates levels of neurotropic factors (e.g., brain-derived neurotropic factor and nerve growth factor), which are known to boost neural blood vessel formation and neurogenesis. These effects are especially relevant for children with neurocognitive impairments, as such impairments pose significant threats to their overall development and prospects. Unfortunately, neurocognitive impairments are very challenging to treat effectively, highlighting the urgent need for innovative and evidence-based approaches. Together with prof. dr. Jaap Oosterlaan and dr. Marsh Königs, we will conduct randomized controlled trials to assess the effectiveness of physical interventions on neurocognitive functioning in clinical pediatric populations. This work will target children at high risk of neurocognitive impairments due to their underlying disease or impact of medical treatments, with the ultimate goal of improving neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Valorization
Cece C. Kooper is involved in Concussion Management for all players at AFC Ajax, offering support and conducting screenings to assist the sports physician in evaluating players and guiding towards responsible return to play.