Linette Willemsen

Associate Professor, Pharmacology, Utrecht University  

Mucosal Immunology and Pharma & Nutrition

My research focusses on the mechanisms by which specific dietary components such as fermentable fibers, bacterial fermentation products or n-3 long chain poly-unsaturated fatty acids reduce the risk of developing non-communicable immune disorders such as food allergy or asthma. These components improve mucosal and/or systemic immune function as we showed in vivo, and in human in vitro co-culture models studying the crosstalk between structural (epithelial cells) and immune cells. Recently we developed a sequential series of co-culture models mimicking the allergic sensitization cascade, in which we studied the immunomodulatory effects of human milk oligosaccharides on allergen induced type 2 activation. By creating awareness for the beneficial effects of dietary components on immune health, I hope this will lead to their future use as adjunct therapy to support pharma.