Merlijn V. D. B.
- Country
- The Netherlands
- Department
- Children Rheumatology
Research Overview
Data & Insights
Has run more than one trial at 3 of 37 partner sites.
Specializations
Paediatric Autoimmune Arthritis
Focused on the pathogenesis and treatment of inflammatory joint disease in children, including early‑onset rheumatoid arthritis and related seropositive conditions.
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- ACPA positive arthralgia
- Juvenile psoriatic arthritis
- Enthesitis‑related arthritis
- Systemic onset JIA
Clinical work integrates disease activity monitoring and biologic therapy optimization for young patients.
Systemic Autoimmune and Vasculitis Disorders
Investigation of multi‑organ autoimmune diseases that frequently present in the paediatric population, such as ANCA‑associated vasculitis and systemic lupus erythematosus.
- ANCA vasculitis
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Mixed connective tissue disease
- Autoimmune haemolytic anaemia
- Immune thrombocytopenia
Research emphasizes targeted immunomodulation and long‑term organ protection.
Paediatric Connective Tissue Diseases
Study of inherited and acquired disorders affecting skin, vasculature, and musculoskeletal structures, including systemic sclerosis and related scleroderma spectrum conditions.
- Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis
- Limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis
- Juvenile dermatomyositis
- Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva
- Histiocytosis X
Efforts aim to define disease biomarkers and evaluate novel anti‑fibrotic agents.
Immunology and Biomarker Research in Children
Exploration of immune signatures and genetic determinants that drive paediatric inflammatory diseases.
- Autoantibody profiling
- HLA‑associated risk alleles
- Cytokine network analysis
- Peripheral blood mononuclear cell phenotyping
- Microbiome‑immune interactions
These studies support precision medicine approaches for early diagnosis and therapy selection.
Translational Therapeutics for Rare Paediatric Inflammatory Conditions
Development and assessment of innovative treatments for low‑prevalence diseases such as Behçet’s disease and autoinflammatory syndromes.
- Targeted cytokine inhibition
- Gene‑editing strategies
- Small‑molecule modulators of innate immunity
- Cell‑based immunotherapy
- Adaptive trial designs for rare cohorts
Collaboration with Amsterdam UMC enables rapid translation from bench to bedside.
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