Severe infections remain the leading cause of death in patients with advanced chronic liver disease, a challenge I believe is fundamentally rooted in altered pharmacokinetics and drug efficacy. My core research ambition is to optimize drug use in liver disease patients through targeted drug therapy and de-implementation of low-value interventions, thereby reducing overall mortality, and healthcare costs, and increasing health-related quality of life.
My scientific trajectory began with doctoral research on antibiotic pharmacokinetics in liver and renal cyst infections, during which I developed a compartmental model that predicts drug concentrations in hepatic cyst fluid. Subsequent work identified novel regimens for recurrent cyst infection. I led a Delphi consensus that standardized international management of liver cyst infection, forging collaborations that now underpin my multicenter trials. This and other work has been recognized with three competitive grants totaling over €1.5 million.
In July 2025, I was awarded a prestigious ZonMw grant (Open Round 14, ALBUMINUS study) for a national randomized controlled trial evaluating the safety and cost-effectiveness of reducing human albumin use during large-volume paracentesis in cirrhotic patients. This trial exemplifies my broader agenda of challenging costly standard-care practices that offer minimal patient benefit.
Leadership and mentorship are integral to my academic identity. I co-supervise(d) several PhD candidates, have mentored over 25 medical students into scientific careers, and serve as Junior Editor/acting Associated Editor of the United European Gastroenterology Journal (UEG Journal). I co-chair the Dutch Portal Hypertension Working Group (DPHWG, NVH), and take seat in both the NVMDL hepatology committee, and the Education Committee of the European Reference Network for Rare Liver Disease (ERN RARE LIVER), providing platforms for disseminating evidence-based practice.
In the future I aim to consolidate pharmacokinetic modelling, pragmatic randomised trials, and value-based care for patients with liver disease into a cohesive research program. The immediate objective is creating an algorithm that individualizes drug dosing for patients with advanced chronic liver disease based on residual liver function and real-time drug exposure.
