Multiscale Network Neuroscience (MULTINET)
In the multiscale network neuroscience (MULTINET) team we strive to improve glioma patient outcomes by understanding and manipulating personalized multiscale network data. We embrace complexity and acknowledge that each of the concepts in our vision have multiple realizations. We therefore measure these concepts in different populations and use different methodologies and approaches. The main focus of our research is on primary brain tumor patients, specifically glioma patients.
Linda Douw
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Ultimately, we aim to (better) predict and treat clinical outcomes of individual patients.
To do so, we study and manipulate the brain from the micro to the macroscale, using network theory as a unifying framework to understand the brain from cells to circuits to networks. We study cellular and molecular features by investigating (resected or post-mortem) brain tissue of glioma patients in the laboratory, performing cell culture and fluorescent immunohistochemistry. We are expanding our mesoscale circuit investigations. We also look at brain structure, function, and graph theoretical network properties, using macroscale data acquired with techniques such as MRI, MEG, and EEG, in both patients as well as healthy populations. Importantly, instead of analyzing each modality separately, we strive to integrate information across these different modalities, for example by applying a multilayer network approach to obtain an integrated picture of the brain (network).
In embracing the complexity of brain tumors and their bidirectional relationship with the brain, our collaborations are essential to achieve our goals. We work closely together with clinical departments such as Neurosurgery, Neurology, Medical Psychology, Radiotherapy and Oncology, as well as more methodological departments such as Radiology and Nuclear Medicine. We strongly believe that interdisciplinary work is necessary to meaningfully improve glioma patients’ lives.
Group members
Lucas Baudouin
Marike van Lingen
Lucas Breedt
Mona Zimmermann
Maxine Gorter (co-supervised with Martin Klein and Philip De Witt Hamer)
Marieke Blom (co-supervised with Martin Klein)
Eva Koderman (co-supervised with Philip De Witt Hamer)
Rachel Smith
Iza Oostra
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Key publications
Zimmermann MLM, Breedt LC, Centeno EGZ, Reijneveld JC, Santos FAN, Stam CJ, van Lingen MR, Schoonheim MM, Hillebrand A, Douw L (2024). The relationship between pathological brain activity and functional network connectivity in glioma patients.Journal of Neuro-Oncology 166:523–533. (preprint,code on github)
Röttgering JG, Varkevisser T, Gorter M, Belgers V, De Witt Hamer PC, Reijneveld JC, Klein M, Blanken TS, Douw L (2024).Symptom networks in glioma patients: understanding the multidimensionality of symptoms and quality of life. Journal of Cancer Survivorship 18:1032–1041. (preprint,code on github)
Maas DA & Douw L (2023).Multiscale network neuroscience in neuro-oncology: how tumors, brain networks and behavior connect across scales. Neuro-Oncology Practice 10(6):506–517.
Breedt LC, Santos FAN, Hillebrand A, Reneman L, van Rootselaar AF, Schoonheim MM, Stam CJ, Ticheler A, Tijms BM, Veltman DJ, Vriend C, Wagenmakers MJ, van Wingen GA, Geurts JJG, Schrantee A, Douw L (2023).Multimodal multilayer network centrality relates to executive functioning. Network Neuroscience, doi 10.1162/netn_a_00284. (preprint,code & data on github)
Numan T, Breedt LC, Maciel B de APC, Kulik SD, Derks J, Schoonheim MM, Klein M, de Witt Hamer PC, Miller JJ, Gerstner ER, Stufflebeam SM, Hillebrand A, Stam CJ, Geurts JJG, Reijneveld JC, Douw L (2022).Regional healthy brain activity, glioma occurrence and symptomatology. Brain 145(10):3645-3665. (preprint,code & data on github)
Contact information
Keywords
Network neuroscience | glioma | neuroimaging | cognition | brain tumor | oligodendrocytes