Specialization
Alzheimer's disease, proteinopathy, MRI, PET imaging, Pyschometrics, Translational research, Biofluid-based biomarkers
Focus of research
I have an educational background in neuropsychology and neuroscience and my PhD focused on consolidating findings concerning clinical differences between individuals with Alzheimer’s disease with variations in the neurobiological manifestation of the disease. In my postdoctoral work, I have combined CSF and PET measures of tau to capture the earliest phases of pathology, and investigated the relative merits of neuroimaging modalities to predict clinical progression. I have also focused on integrating cognitive measures with neuroimaging and genetics, and assessed factors related to cognitive and brain resilience. I currently lead a neuroimaging-focused research team at the Alzheimer center in Amsterdam, where I supervise 5 PhD students, one research assistant, and numerous MSc and BSc students.
Current primary research lines:
The BeyeOMARKER study (Principal Investigator).
With BeyeOMARKER, a prospective cohort study, we investigate whether blood biomarkers and advanced retinal imaging can help identify Alzheimer’s disease pathology in people visiting an ophthalmology clinic. By combining blood sampling, eye imaging, cognitive assessments and, in a subgroup, MRI and PET scans, we aim to evaluate more accessible approaches to early detection. Ultimately, we hope to bring Alzheimer’s detection closer to routine clinical practice.
The BEACON study (Principal Investigator)
With BEACON, a prospective cohort study, we aim to validate emerging biomarkers for Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders against neuropathological findings. The study combines PET imaging, fluid biomarkers and clinical assessments with post-mortem brain examination in a unique cohort of people who have requested euthanasia. Our goal is to improve the accuracy of biomarkers and bring us closer to more reliable diagnosis and prognosis for neurodegenerative diseases.
The Multi-Center Tau-PET consortium (Principal Investigator)
I co-lead an international collaboration bringing together data from dozens of cohorts worldwide. By harmonizing and analyzing tau-PET data across tens of thousands of participants, we aim to better understand the prevalence, distribution and clinical relevance of tau pathology. Ultimately, our goal is to improve the interpretation and use of tau-PET in research and clinical practice.