Specialization
My areas of expertise are:
- Liquid biopsy biomarker discovery and validation
- Reproducibility of blood-based biomarker assays
- Pre-analytical variables in blood collection and plasma processing
- Detection and characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs), including EV-RNA biomarkers
- Flow cytometry-based detection of nanoparticles
- Translation of biomarker technologies into clinical practice
- Oncology, cardiovascular disease and endometriosis
Focus of research
Background
The clinical application of liquid biopsies (i.e. biomarkers in body fluids) is challenged by variability introduced during sample collection and processing.
My research focuses on improving the reliability and clinical applicability of liquid biopsy–based diagnostics, with a particular emphasis on understanding and controlling sources of variability in blood-derived biomarkers.
Goal of my research
- To improve the reproducibility and reliability of blood-based biomarkers by identifying and controlling pre-analytical variability
- To advance the use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as biomarkers for disease detection, monitoring, and treatment selection
- To develop reproducible liquid biopsy workflows and technologies for translation into clinical practice, ensuring real-world applicability and impact
Ultimately, my research aims to improve patient outcomes by enabling earlier disease detection and more precise and effective treatment strategies.
Profile and team
I obtained my industrial PhD in Barcelona and was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) in 2022. In 2025, I received a VENI grant from NWO and I was co-applicant on a funded NWO Perspectief programme: Secret-omics.
My research is embedded within the Amsterdam Vesicle Center (AVC) in Amsterdam UMC, where I lead three research projects and contribute to the supervision and mentoring of students and researchers. In addition, I am co-founder of the start-up company EVcount, where I currently serve as Chief Board Strategy Officer. I served as Chair for the Amsterdam UMC Postdoc Network from 2022-2025.
I have received multiple awards for my research, including prizes for oral and poster presentations at leading international conferences.