My research is focused around the development of in vivo magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy for oncological applications. Embedded as a biophysicist within a clinical department at the Radboudumc, and working at the Hahn Institute for magnetic resonance imaging in Essen, I am able to recognize and develop new MR methodology at the technological forefront and at the same time translate these innovations towards relevant clinical applications.

Our work ranges from the development of new RF coil technology and imaging pulse sequences at 7 Tesla, to the exploration of new in vivo biomarkers for cancer aggressiveness attainable at this ultra-high field strength, down to larger patient studies in clinical practice validating multi-parametric MRI for prostate cancer management, in single institution and multi center setting.

Currently our focus also includes visualization of metastases in lymph nodes of different malignancies (including prostate cancer). To this end we use ultrasmall superparamagnetic particles of ironoxide (USPIO nanoparticles) as a contrast agent to differentiate between healthy and suspicious lymph nodes. The ultra-high magnetic field is very sensitive to the presence of these nanoparticles, and allows MRI at an unprecedented isotropic spatial resolution to evaluate the smallest lymph nodes. Knowledge in MR spectroscopy broadens my expertise towards spectroscopic applications in the brain.

I am convinced that implementation of new technology in clinical research works best when directed from an understanding of the mechanisms of the disease at hand. Therefore our research is performed in multidisciplinary teams with both clinical and more preclinically oriented specialists.