Specialization
Antimicrobial stewardship; Antimicrobial drug resistance; Staphylococcus aureus infections.
Focus of research
I am well-suited for this application as a principal investigator given my track record of mentoring four PhD students to successful thesis defenses, my ability to secure research funding and numerous publications as senior author, highlighting my independent research contributions.
My research focuses on infectious diseases and antimicrobial stewardship. With a background in the field of HIV drug resistance, my current research concentrates on optimal antibiotic use for bacterial infections, in order to address the growing global concern of antimicrobial resistance.
I completed my PhD in 2013 at the Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development (AIGHD, UvA-AMC). My thesis examined HIV drug resistance in sub-Saharan African countries, evaluating the effectiveness of treatment programs after antiretroviral therapy rollout. Following my PhD, I held a post-doctoral position at AIGHD until 2017. I provided supervision and guidance to three PhD students who conducted research on the long-term development of HIV drug resistance among both adults and children.
Following my appointment as an internist and infectious diseases specialist at Amsterdam UMC, my research interest expanded to include antimicrobial stewardship. As head of the antimicrobial stewardship program (A-team) at Amsterdam UMC, I have initiated several projects to promote appropriate antimicrobial use and have contributed to the development of enhanced surveillance systems for antibiotic consumption and antimicrobial resistance. I supervised a PhD student who successfully utilized local data to promote guideline adherence and the use of more narrow-spectrum antimicrobial agents. A current PhD student under my mentorship is conducting research on antimicrobial treatment duration and exploring strategies to enhance them within stewardship programs. In the near future, another PhD student will initiate research focused on applying artificial intelligence to strengthen data collection methods for antimicrobial stewardship.
As part of my qualification as a clinical pharmacologist, I have conducted research encompassing appropriate prescribing practices beyond antimicrobial agents, aiming to prevent medication errors and associated harm. In this project I have mentored a PhD student who is currently finalizing her thesis entitled “pharmacotherapeutic stewardship”, examining different strategies to improve appropriate in-hospital prescribing.
Furthermore, I am currently leading a multicenter, randomized-controlled, clinical trial as the principal investigator. This trial, funded by ZonMW, aims to determine the optimal treatment duration for Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia. The trial is actively enrolling participants and will provide key evidence for the management of this common infectious disease that routinely requires bedside consultation by an infectious diseases specialist. This project is being coordinated by two current PhD students, with one of them additionally investigating optimal treatment strategies for infective endocarditis using a regional registry.
In summary, my research aims to advance antimicrobial stewardship and implement evidence-based practices. By doing so, the ultimate goal is to preserve the effectiveness of antimicrobial agents and limit the development of drug resistance. Currently I am mentoring four PhD candidates, with a fifth student starting shortly. I have been invited to present my work at national and international conferences. Additionally, I have contributed to the development of national and international guidelines related to the aforementioned topics.