EDUCATION/TRAINING

2011 - Present: Senior scientist at the Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science at the Utrecht University

2008 - Present: Part time position as Senior Scientist at Nutricia Research

2006-2011: PhD research project on cow’s milk allergy. PhD defence 2011 entitled: ‘Cow’s milk Allergy; Avoidance versus tolerance: new concepts for allergy management’

1995-2006: Research technician at the Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science at the Utrecht

1992-1995: Account manager at Omnilabo B.V., Breda, the Netherlands

1986-1992: Research technician at the Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Science at the Utrecht.

 PERSONAL STATEMENT

I have a broad background in immunology and allergy with a longlasting expertise in disease specific models and immune modulation by nutrition, environmental factors and experimental agents. I published >50 papers related to this topic.

RESEARCH VISION

As senior scientist in ImmunoPharmacology, I am conducting translational immunological research. My main interest field is allergen-specific tolerance induction (Immunotherapy), immunomodulation and immune-imprinting using dietary interventions, environmental factors and experimental agents. Nutritional concepts strengthen the immune system via several mechanisms. I have a strong belief that nutritional and pharmaceutical strategies complement each other and can increase their therapeutic value. Proteomics, RNA seq, epigenetics approaches, immunohistochemistry, advanced cell culture, experimental models of inflammation and allergy combining in vivo and in vitro approaches are part of the research strategy.