Blog

Time in the Specialty: I am not a MD, but a staff member (PhD) performing research on histiocytic disorders. However, I am involved in establishing a histiocytosis diagnosis and in my lab we do mutational monitoring of histiocytosis patients on request. I have been actively involved in histiocytosis research since March 2008. To date, I have supervised 4 PhD students who all performed research on various aspects of histiocytic neoplasms; my 5th student will start his 4 year PhD program on histiocytosis coming September.

Mentor in the Field:My mentor is Professor dr. R. Maarten Egeler, now retired pediatric oncologist and past president of the Histiocyte Society (and of SIOP). Maarten has played a pivotal role in establishing myself as a researcher in the histiocytosis field. I would never have left the field of T-cell mediated alloreactivity if I hadn’t met him. He made me realize that myeloid cell biology – particularly in the context of histiocytic neoplasms – is also a very interesting topic for a basic immunologist like I am. Through him, I met many colleagues with whom I have set up interesting research projects or with whom I have worked together in various HS or ECHO committees. He also introduced me in the Nikolas Symposium Steering Committee, which resulted in me being an active member since 2019.

Hobbies outside of the Field: Riding and caring for my horse