Goals for AACR
I am deeply committed to AACR’s mission to prevent and cure all cancers through research, education, communication, and collaboration. As a candidate for the Board of Directors, my goal is to strengthen interdisciplinary collaborations, empower early- and mid-career researchers, and foster partnerships between basic and clinical scientists. By uniting researchers across diverse fields, we can accelerate breakthrough discoveries and their translation from bench to bedside. Together, we can drive progress in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment, ensuring that AACR remains a global leader in transforming cancer research and improving patient outcomes.
Research Interests
BRCA1/2-associated breast cancer; invasive lobular breast cancer; ductal carcinoma in situ; genetically engineered mouse models; patient-derived tumor xenograft models; DNA repair; homologous recombination; PARP inhibitors; cancer therapy resistance; tumor-stroma interactions; fibroblast growth factor receptors; cancer prevention and interception.
Current Affiliations
Senior investigator, Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands; professor, Molecular Experimental Oncogenetics and Cancer Therapeutics, Leiden University, Leiden, Netherlands; managing director, The Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Aging research (MCCA), Amsterdam, Netherlands; senior group leader, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Previous Positions
Head (2012-2021), and junior group leader (assistant professor) (2003-2008), Division of Molecular Pathology; group leader (associate professor) and permanent staff member, Division of Molecular Biology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Education
PhD, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands (1999); MSc, Molecular Sciences, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands (1989).
Postdoctoral Training
Postdoctoral fellow, Netherlands Cancer Institute (2002), Amsterdam, Netherlands; senior research associate, Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute (2002), Hinxton, United Kingdom.
Selected AACR Service, Honors, and Awards
Member, AACR Vision 2030 Strategic Planning Committee (2025-present); member, Pezcoller Foundation-AACR International Award for Extraordinary Achievement in Cancer Research Committee (2023-2024); member, AACR Publications Committee (2020-present); conference cochair, AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: The Evolving Landscape of Cancer Modeling (2020); member, AACR-Waun Ki Hong Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cancer Research (2019-2021); member, AACR Distinguished Lectureship in Breast Cancer Research Committee (2018-2020); cochair, Annual Meeting Program Committee (2017-2018); member, editorial board, Cancer Research (2016-2019); chair, AACR Basic Cancer Research Fellowships Scientific Review Committee (2016-2017); member, Annual Meeting Education Committee (2013-2014); member, Breast Cancer Research Foundation-AACR Grants for Translational Cancer Research Committee (2013-2014); member, editorial board, Molecular Cancer Research (2013-present).
Selected Honors, Awards, and Non-AACR Service
Member, editorial board, Cancers (2020-present); member, advisory board, Frame Cancer Therapeutics (2019-present); member, scientific advisory board, CRUK Beatson Institute (2018-present); recipient, Stand Up To Cancer 2018 Laura Ziskin Prize in Translational Research (2018); recipient, Senior Investigator grant (1.25 M€) by the Oncode Institute (2018); member, scientific advisory board, Artios Pharma (2017-2020); scientific director, European Consortium of PDX models (EuroPDX) (2017-present); recipient, Grand Challenge Grant (17.3 M€) by Cancer Research UK (co-PI) (2017); member, scientific advisory board, Newcastle University CRUK Drug Discovery Program (2016-present); vice chair, Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) Basic Science Committee (2016-2018); member, board of directors, European Consortium of PDX models (EuroPDX) (2014-present); recipient, ERC Synergy Grant (14.6 M€) by the European Research Council (co-PI) (2013); recipient, Roadmap Grant (18.1 M€) by NWO to establish a Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Aging research (MCCA) (2012); elected member, European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) (2012); member, editorial board, Cancer Medicine (2012-present); member, editorial board, The Journal of Pathology (2012-present); chair, scientific advisory board, Ludwig Boltzmann Oncology Clusters (2011-2016); member, editorial board, Drug Resistance Updates (2010-present); member, Association for International Cancer Research (AICR) scientific advisory committee (2007-2011); founding member of the European Network of Breast Development and Cancer (ENBDC) (2007-present); recipient, VIDI grant (600 K€) by NWO (2002); recipient, Genomics Fellowship by the Dutch Research Council (NWO) (2002).