Developmental Origins of Disease

Our research group studies how adverse early life events lead to injury in the developing brain and how these impacts neurodevelopmental outcome in the long run.

Advancing Neonatal Brain Health at the DDOD Laboratory

The DDOD laboratory is dedicated to understanding how early life events, such as preterm birth and perinatal complications, influence brain development and long-term outcomes. By uncovering the mechanisms behind neonatal brain injury, we aim to pioneer innovative neuroprotective and regenerative therapies that improve the lives of newborns.

Our research thrives on a collaborative and translational approach, integrating expertise across four complementary research lines. Beyond the lab, we contribute to (bio)medical teaching and clinical advancements, ensuring our discoveries drive meaningful change from the classroom to the clinic.

The DDOD lab operates under the Division of Woman & Baby, aligning research excellence with a commitment to improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

>

Research topics

Brain damage in the earliest stages of life can have devastating effects on the quality of life. This condition affects thousands of children each year in the Netherlands. Survivors report a wide range of consequences, such as childhood epilepsy and cerebral palsy. These disorders often affect motor functioning, cause hypersensitivity and impair social behavior and cognition.

Overview Research topics

>

Bench-to-bedside approach

We take a true bench-to-bedside approach by using clinically relevant cell- and animal-models to closely mimic brain injury in the human newborn and to test new treatment options via clinically applicable routes relevant to the target patient. We closely collaborate with the department of Neonatology of UMC Utrecht to translate our preclinical findings to the infants at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

>

Internships

We host various types of internship positions at DDOD:

  • Laboratory sciences (MLO, HLO)
  • Biomedical bachelor research projects
  • Biomedical master research projects
  • Writing assignments

You can always send in an application. Please send a letter of interest with your CV to ddod@umcutrecht.nl.

Key publications

PASSIoN Trial (Perinatal Arterial Stroke Treated With Intranasal Stromal Cells): 2-Year Safety and Neurodevelopment Wagenaar N, Baak LM, van der Aa NE, Groenendaal F, Dudink J, Tataranno ML, Koopman C, Verhage CH, Eijsermans RMJC, van Teeseling HC, Smit LS, Jellema RK, de Haan TR, Ter Horst HJ, de Boode WP, Steggerda S, Mulder-de Tollenaer SM, Dijkman KP, de Haar CG, de Vries LS, van Bel F, Heijnen CJ, Nijboer CH, Benders MJNL. Stroke 2025
Hypoxic Preconditioning Enhances the Potential of Mesenchymal Stem Cells to Treat Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury Sara T. De Palma, Eva C. Hermans, Tatiana M. Shamorkina, Trayford Chloe, Sabine van Rijt, Albert J.R. Heck, Cora H.A. Nijboer, Caroline G.M. de Theije Stroke 2025, 56: 1872-1882
Human milk oligosaccharides improve white matter and interneuron development in a double-hit rat model for preterm brain injury Myrna J.V. Brandt, Juliette van Steenwinckel, Bobbie-Louise van Emst, Julia Lohr, Marko Mank, Lidewij Schipper, Louise Harvey, Manon J.N.L. Benders, Caroline G.M. de Theije Neuropharmacology 2025, 276: 110507
Adaptations in hepatic glucose metabolism after chronic social defeat stress in mice. Meijboom FS, Hasch A, Ruiz de Azua I, Takeno Cologna C, Loopmans S, Lutz B, Müller MB, Ghesquière B, van der Kooij MA. Scientific Reports 2024, 14: 25511.
Transient impact of chronic social stress on effort-based reward motivation in non-food restricted mice: involvement of corticosterone. Evertse D, Alves-Martinez P, Treccani G, Müller MB, Meye FJ, van der Kooij MA. Neurobiol Stress, 2024, 33: 100690.
CXCL10 is a crucial chemoattractant for efficient intranasal delivery of mesenchymal stem cells to the neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain Eva C Hermans, Vanessa Donega, Cobi J Heijnen, Caroline G M de Theije, Cora H Nijboer Stem Cell Res Ther. 2024; 15(1):134
Modifying the Secretome of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Prolongs the Regenerative Treatment Window for Encephalopathy of Prematurity Josine E G Vaes, Suzanne M Onstwedder, Chloe Trayford, Eva Gubbins, Mirjam Maas, Sabine H van Rijt, Cora H Nijboer Int J Mol Sci. 2024; 25(12):6494

Updates

New publication: Milk fibers as a potential therapy for preterm brain injury

30 July 2025 Read more

New publication on hypoxic preconditioning!

29 July 2025

DDOD Lab achieves LEAF Bronze Certification for sustainability efforts

14 April 2025

Two PhD defenses: Myrna Brandt & Eva Hermans

24 February 2025

New publication on the reduced uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP) rat model!

22 February 2025