Betty van Esch is Senior Scientist at the division of Pharmacology at UIPS, Faculty of Science, Utrecht University. She has received her PhD degree on her research on “Cow’s milk Allergy; Avoidance versus tolerance: new concepts for allergy management” in 2011. She has conducted a project on the immune-modulatory capacities of specific probiotics within BIOASTER (2013-2016), a Foundation for Scientific Cooperation sponsored project (under the laws of FRANCE). Shehas a scientific collaboration with Friesland Campina on allergen-specific oral tolerance induction. As co-promotor she supervised projects on the anti-inflammatory role of short-chain fatty acids in cardiovascular disease (China Scholarship Council), Nutrition-based approaches to support oral immunotherapy for Food allergy (joined STW project IRAS/UMCU) and the health benefits of non/low temperature processed (raw) milk (collaboration Gert Hols, Nutricia Research). Current projects include, immunomodulation of Kefir (collaboration Ton Baars, Research Institute of Organic Agriculture (FiBL), Frick, Switzerland), eosinophilic esophagitis (NWO subsidized joined project Arjan Bredenoord, AMC, Amsterdam) and the psycho-social drivers of antimicrobial usage and effects on milk-associated health properties (joined project Prof. Dr. Ronette Gehring, Veterinary harmacotherapeutics and Pharmacy). Next to her research, she teaches in the Bachelor and Master program of Pharmacy. She is an elected member of the EAACI Immuno-pharmacology taskforce, DEC consult and reviewer for Frontiers in Immunology.

RESEARCH VISION

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. 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

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