Neuroscience
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Our goal is to connect, facilitate, and optimize all aspects of top research, education and patient care by creating an active research community within the LUMC.
Vision and mission
Researchers in NEUROSCIENCE perform high-quality competitive research in the field of neuroscience concentrating on brain, spine, peripheral nerve and muscle diseases (1) to better understand the underlying pathogenesis and clinical course of a wide range of disorders of the nervous system that affect both nerves and muscles in the central and peripheral nervous system, (2) to identify novel targets for developing improved treatments for the disorders, and (3) to develop methodology that enables assessment of relevant disease parameters.
…Researchers in NEUROSCIENCE perform high-quality competitive research in the field of neuroscience concentrating on brain, spine, peripheral nerve and muscle diseases (1) to better understand the underlying pathogenesis and clinical course of a wide range of disorders of the nervous system that affect both nerves and muscles in the central and peripheral nervous system, (2) to identify novel targets for developing improved treatments for the disorders, and (3) to develop methodology that enables assessment of relevant disease parameters.
To this end, NEUROSCIENCE has three strategic aims:
- Find new treatment targets and apply novel treatment approaches
- Develop specific tools to treat disease
- Disseminate knowledge and train new talent
Collaboration is key
Our cutting-edge patient care, research, teaching, and training by laboratory and clinical research in NEUROSCIENCE is curiosity- and clinic-driven. To reach our goals, we involve Bachelor and Master students, PhD students and Postdocs as potential drivers of innovation and technicians and other support staff as guardians of quality and continuity of our work. The principal investigators of NEUROSCIENCE, who lead basic and clinical research together with diagnostic groups, are committed to fostering a collaborative, open culture to ensure good conduct, exchange of ideas, training and career management. Whenever feasible we reach out to peers and the general public within the LUMC and outside our organization, both at the national and international level, to maximize development and impact of our programs.
“Overlap and collaboration between the research themes is a key factor for success.”
About us
Prof. Jan Verschuuren, MD, PhD, neurologist, head of the Department of Neurology, and chair of the NEUROSCIENCE research theme. His main research focus is on neuromuscular diseases, especially muscle disorders (Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy) and autoimmune disorders of the neuromuscular synapse (myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome). Ongoing studies include clinical studies on disease course, epidemiology, role of fatigue and clinical trials, as well as basic research in collaboration with the Neuroimmunology research team focusing on the development of a targeted therapy using human monoclonal antibodies or antisense oligonucleotides, antibody repertoire and muscle-on-a-chip studies.
…Prof. Jan Verschuuren, MD, PhD, neurologist, head of the Department of Neurology, and chair of the NEUROSCIENCE research theme. His main research focus is on neuromuscular diseases, especially muscle disorders (Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy) and autoimmune disorders of the neuromuscular synapse (myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome). Ongoing studies include clinical studies on disease course, epidemiology, role of fatigue and clinical trials, as well as basic research in collaboration with the Neuroimmunology research team focusing on the development of a targeted therapy using human monoclonal antibodies or antisense oligonucleotides, antibody repertoire and muscle-on-a-chip studies.
Prof. Arn M.J.M. van den Maagdenberg, PhD, neurogeneticist and neuroscientist is full professor at the Departments Human Genetics and Neurology. The main focus of his basic research is to perform “translational research” on primary headache disorders, foremost migraine and cluster headache, as well as on comorbid disorders, including various types of epilepsy. He has generated and characterized transgenic many mouse models for various monogenic disorders, based on gene mutations he had identified in patients. Additional research is on genome-wide association, -omics, and induced pluripotentstem cell & organ-on-chip studies to dissect disease pathways and mechanisms to monogenic and complex paroxysmal brain disorders and identify treatment for patients.
A.M.J.M.van_den_Maagdenberg@lumc.nl
Hermien Kan, PhD, MR researcher, is associate professor at the Department of Radiology and vice-director of the LUMC C.J. Gorter MRI Center. Her main research focus is on developing and applying quantitative magnetic resonance techniques in neuromuscular disease that include muscular dystrophies, such as Duchenne, Becker, Limb Girlde and Facioscapulohumeral dystrophy, but also Pompe disease and Myasthenia Gravis. Ongoing clinical studies include natural history studies in BMD, DMD and LGMD, brain involvement in DMD, BMD and Pompe disease. Ongoing technical development focusses on new imaging techniques to study pathophysiology and clinical implementation of quantitative MRI.
Sub-themes
Neuroscience has 5 subthemes, each under the guidance of three Ambassadors (one from clinical, one from basic science and one from technical research). (1) Brain Function & Behavior (BFB), (2) Neurodegenerative Diseases and Chronic Pain (NDCP), (3) Paroxysmal & Neurovascular Disorders (PANE), (4) Neuro-Oncology (NO), (5) Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).