Specialization
Health scientist perspective; researching the dynamics of genetic reproductive technologies
Focus of research
Ivy van Dijke (health scientist) is a PhD student for the Amsterdam Research Institute for Reproduction and Development (AR&D). She is working in both Amsterdam Medical Center (AMC) for the Reproductive Medicine department and VU University Medical Center (VUmc) at the department for Community Genetics. The title of the research project is “The widening scope of reproductive genetic technologies: responsible innovation and assisting individuals’ decision-making”. She will be researching the following technologies: Preconception carrier screening (PCS), Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), Non-invasive or cell-free DNA (cfDNA) prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) and Germline genome modification using CRISPR-Cas technology in the future. The research focusses on the dynamics between these technologies; how do the developments in one technique influence the choices for the other techniques so they are interrelated. The purpose of the tests / techniques is to ensure that parents are able to make well- informed decisions about a pregnancy. In addition, the outcome of a test can also prepare prospective parents for the future. She will also investigate their influence on couples decision-making and how they should be governed. These four techniques are much discussed in among other the media. Reproduction is a sensitive subject with many medical ethical dilemmas; How are constraints seen by society in implementing the above techniques and who makes the choices on which conditions are being tested: are that parents, the doctor or the government? And now it's about conditions, but how far do we go on selecting for features like intelligence or sports talent?
Co- promotors: Dr. P. Lakeman, clinical geneticist, AMC and Dr. L. Henneman, senior researcher, health scientist, VUMC
Promotors: Prof. S. Repping, professor of reproductive medicine, AMC and Prof. M.C. Cornel, professor of community genetics and public health genomics, VUMC