Infectious Diseases Specialist, Associate Professor
Dr. A.H.E. (Anna) Roukens, MD, PhD
Area(s) of expertise:
Infectious Diseases
Infectious Diseases
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Introduction
At the LUMC, I combine clinical work with research, which allows me to identify the unmet needs of patients and translate these to the laboratory and back. I am the head of HIV-care at the LUMC and collaborate with Infectious Diseases specialists outside the LUMC to improve HIV-care in the Netherlands. Training (bio)medical students, internal medicine residents, fellows Infectious Diseases, nurse practitioners and graduate students is a daily activity which gives me enormous work pleasure.
In my scientific career, I have always focused on improving vaccine equity and vaccine responses, which is why I was invited as a member of the scientific advisory group on vaccines of the EMA. I have been the Chief Editor of the Dutch journal of Infectious Diseases for several years. A platform of high-quality publications in the fields of clinical Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Public Health, and giving an opportunity for young clinicians and researchers to publish scientific papers.
In my scientific career, I have always focused on improving vaccine equity and vaccine responses, which is why I was invited as a member of the scientific advisory group on vaccines of the EMA. I have been the Chief Editor of the Dutch journal of Infectious Diseases for several years. A platform of high-quality publications in the fields of clinical Infectious Diseases, Microbiology and Public Health, and giving an opportunity for young clinicians and researchers to publish scientific papers.
Scientific research
Within the Leiden University Center for Infectious Diseases, I lead research focused on optimising vaccine delivery. Under my guidance, fractional dosing regimens for COVID-19 vaccines have been tested, with potential to spare millions of doses for pandemic preparedness and global access. Following our research, WHO now recommends fractional dosing during yellow fever outbreaks. My group also studies novel vaccine delivery strategies, devices and dosing schedules for individuals with impaired immunity, including elderly and immunocompromised patients such as those with HIV or organ transplants, as well as vaccine response development in the lymph node. Together with LU-CID immunologists, I work to better understand vaccine-induced immunity to design alternative delivery strategies for diverse populations. Recently, I started a collaboration with RIVM and VU to study the effects of PFAS on the immune system.
I have received funding from ZonMw, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dioraphte, SAL, LUF Bontius and ISTM.
I have received funding from ZonMw, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Dioraphte, SAL, LUF Bontius and ISTM.
