Ingrid van der Pluijm

Ingrid van der Pluijm is an Associate Professor at the Department of Molecular Genetics at Erasmus University Medical Center. She obtained her PhD from Erasmus University Medical Center, where her research focused on the molecular mechanisms of Cockayne Syndrome, specifically linking impaired DNA repair to aging processes using mouse models.

Following her doctoral work, Ingrid transitioned into industry, serving as Project Manager and later Director of Research at DNage B.V. and Pharming N.V., where she led multiple research programs on aging-related diseases such as neurodegeneration, osteoporosis, and cardiovascular health. She played a key role in preclinical studies aimed at treating premature aging in Cockayne Syndrome patients.

In her academic career, Ingrid focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related cardiovascular diseases, with a particular emphasis on DNA repair and the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its role in disease progression. Her research integrates genetic, proteomic, and molecular techniques to investigate the transitions that occur from healthy to diseased states in the aorta. Notably, she has contributed to understanding mitochondrial dysfunction, TGF-β signaling, senescence, phenotypic switching of smooth muscle cells, and alterations in the ECM during cardiovascular aging. Her ongoing research aims to identify therapeutic or dietary interventions that could delay or prevent these age-related changes, with a special focus on single-cell sequencing and 3D vascular models that mimic ECM remodeling in age-related diseases.

Ingrid is strongly committed to bridge clinical and fundamental research to address cardiovascular diseases, particularly aneurysms. She aims to improve the healthspan of aging individuals through translational research and is focused on developing novel approaches to treat cardiovascular aging by targeting the ECM and other molecular pathways. 

Contact: Department of Vascular Surgery & Molecular Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center

Postal address: Dr. Molewaterplein 40, 3015 GD Rotterdam

Phone: +31 (0)10 7043724

E-mail: i.vanderpluijm@erasmusmc.nl

Early Stage Researchers Committee 

Anna Slotboom

Anna Slotboom is a PhD student in the Molecular Cartilage Biology group led by Prof. Dr. Tim Welting, located at the Laboratory for Experimental Orthopedics as part of the department of Orthopedic Surgery of Maastricht University. Her research focuses on elucidating the pathobiology of knee osteoarthritis (OA), which involves chondrocyte phenotyping by fluorescence-activated cell sorting and synovial fluid endotyping using high-throughput phenotypic reporter screening assays.

Affiliation: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Maastricht University

Postal address: Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht (room H4.338)

Phone: +31(0)433881304

E-mail: anna.slotboom@maastrichtuniversity.nl

Suzanne Willems

Suzanne Willems is a PhD student in the Experimental Pulmonology and Inflammation Research (EXPIRE) group at the department of Pathology and Medical Biology in the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). Her research focuses on interactions between monocytes/macrophages and the altered lung microenvironment in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). By using novel 3D human derived culture models, she aims to identify factors that drive the behavior of profibrotic macrophages and uncover new therapeutic targets to treat IPF.

Affiliation: Department of Pathology & Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)

Postal address: Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen (room Z2.17)

E-mail: s.h.willems@umcg.nl

Melle de Jonge

Melle is a PhD student in the Osteoarthritis (OA) research group, within the Biomedical Data Science Department (BDS) led by Prof. Dr. Ingrid Meulenbelt, located at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). His research focuses on the etiopathology of osteoarthritis, with a particular emphasis on identifying and functionally characterising genetic risk factors through CRISPR interference and activation (CRISPRia) screening in hiPSC-derived chondrocytes.

Affiliation: Department of Biomedical Data Science, Molecular Epidemiology (MolEpi) unit.

Postal address: Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC Leiden (room S5-06)

Phone: +31 643563308

Email. m.de_Jonge@lumc.nl

Giorgia Mazzini

Giorgia is a PhD student in the Osteoarthritis (OA) research group, within the Biomedical Data Science Department (BDS) led by Prof. Dr. Ingrid Meulenbelt, located at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). Her research focuses on the large-scale, high-quality ‘off the shelf’ creation of engineered large-scale cartilage implants starting from stable human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), aiming at regenerative treatment technologies for OA patients.

Affiliation: Department of Biomedical Data Science, Molecular Epidemiology (MolEpi) unit

Postal address: Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC LEIDEN (room S5-08)

Phone: (+39) 3460287218

E-mail: g.mazzini@lumc.nl