Gert Folkerts (1959) started his career in Pharmacology at the Utrecht University in 1981. The main topic is use-inspired fundamental immunopharmacological research on chronic inflammatory diseases with respect to the gastrointestinal and respiratory system. Validated In Vitro and In Vivo models are used for translational research and valorization of new drug entities and food concepts.

Gert Folkerts spent some time at the University of Edmonton (Canada), the Wellcome Research Institute in Beckenham (UK) and Janssen Research Foundation in Beerse (Belgium). Since 1981 he has been employed by the Utrecht University starting at the Medical Faculty, followed by the Veterinary Faculty and since 1989 by the Faculty of Pharmacy. In 2003, he received the senior qualification education and became professor at the division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Science of the Beta Faculty.  He has been editor of the European Journal of Pharmacology and CEO of the contract research company Curax BV. He was involved in the organization of the Figon Medicine days and the yearly workshop of the Netherlands Respiratory Society and is a member of the Scientific Advice Committee of the Dutch Lung Fund and the Carbohydrate Competence Centre (Carbokinetics). He is Vice-chair of the consortium "Stop Spreading Bad Bugs", an Horizon ITN received in 2022.

Gert Folkert is in the Elseviers top 2% of the most influential researchers glabally in all scientific disciplines 2022. https://elsevier.digitalcommonsdata/datasets/btchxktzyw/4

H-Factor = 54. High citation/impact factor publications are:

1: Wang L, Cai Y, Garssen, J, Henricks, PAJ, Folkerts G, Braber S. The bidirectional gut-lung axis in COPD. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2023;207(9):1145-1160.

2: Van Daal MT, Folkerts G, Garssen J, Braber S. Pharmacological modulation of Immune responses by Nutritional Components. Pharmacol Rev. 2021; 73(4):198-232. 

3: Mortaz E, Tabarsi M, Varahram M, Folkerts G, Adcock IM. The immune response and immunopathology of COVID 19. Front Immunol. 2020; 11, 2037. 

4: Bezemer GF, Sagar S, van Bergenhenegouwen J, Georgiou NA, Garssen J, Kraneveld AD, Folkerts G. Dual role of Toll-like receptors in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Pharmacol Rev. 2012;64(2):337-58. 
  
5: Weathington NM, van Houwelingen AH, Noerager BD, Jackson PL, Kraneveld AD, Galin FS, Folkerts G, Nijkamp FP, Blalock JE. A novel peptide CXCR ligand derived from extracellular matrix degradation during airway inflammation. Nat Med. 2006;12(3):317-23.
 
6: Ricciardolo FL, Sterk PJ, Gaston B, Folkerts G. Nitric oxide in health and disease of the respiratory system. Physiol Rev. 2004;84(3):731-65.

7: Folkerts G, Busse WW, Nijkamp FP, Sorkness R, Gern JR. Virus-induced airway hyperresponsiveness and asthma. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1998;157:1708-20.