Specialization
Alzheimer, neurological diseases, biomarkers and proteomics in plasma, CSF, cellular models, familial Alzheimer, astrocytes, microglia, clinical trials, statistical modeling.
Together a genetics colleague, I initiated and share principal investigatorship of the DemenTree biobank, a family resource for studying the genetic and biological mechanisms that lead to dementia (currently >1000 participants).
I am the site-principal investigator in the Netherland of the world-wide DIAN (Dominantly inherited Alzheimer Disease network) Observational cohort study, a study to understand the natural history of familial Alzheimer disease.
Further I am co-chair of the CORAL community for collaboration and meta-analysis of proteomics studies in the context of biomarker development for brain diseases and aging.
Focus of research
My team works on understanding how Alzheimer evolves and the development of plasma and CSF biomarkers that can track the disease from the earliest stages and in cellular models. Tools and methods that we develop for tracking disease factors and treatment responses contribute to the ultimate goal of advancing treatments to prevent the onset of Alzheimer disease dementia.
Broadly the research activities are operationalized in 3 related research lines:
A) mapping the phenotypic effects of Alzheimer genetic mutations (PSEN1/APP) and other risk variants and mutations (e.g., TREM2, SORL1) to understand how the disease evolves.
B) developing staging, predictive, and treatment response biomarkers for clinical trials through innovative statistical, proteomics and translational research methods, in particular to capture the neuroinflammation (astrocyte/microglia) response in Alzheimer.
C) innovative expert laboratory for biomarker and proteomics screen in cellular models and tissue, as well as the translation to plasma and CSF measurements.