Internist-clinical immunologist Helen Leavis has been appointed professor of Clinical Immunology at Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht. This chair will focus on the care and scientific research of adults with primary immune deficiencies and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. The appointment of Helen Leavis further strengthens the position of UMC Utrecht as a center for rare immunological disorders.
UMC Utrecht is a nationally and internationally recognized center of expertise for rare primary immune deficiencies (PID) and complex immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs). This new chair will contribute to strengthening this position by optimizing tertiary clinical patient care at UMC Utrecht (including the transition of patient care from child to adult) and expanding research in that area. Prof. Helen Leavis, MD will be particularly committed to further improving this care through innovations in diagnostics and treatment. Her research interests include the use of artificial intelligence (AI) for earlier detection of PID and IMIDs, which can lead to faster diagnoses and more effective treatments. She is also working to develop new therapies, such as stem cell therapy and the reuse of existing medications, especially for patients with rare diseases for which few or no registered treatment options are available. As professor, Prof. Leavis will also further strengthen the Infection & Immunity strategic research program. Here she will work with other experts to develop personalized care and therapies based on the molecular profiling of diseases.
Helen Leavis has worked as an internist-clinical immunologist at UMC Utrecht since 2013. Her work focuses on improving care for adults with rare immune deficiencies and complex immune diseases. “My goal is to improve the quality of life of these patients by developing new treatment options and leveraging technologies such as AI for better diagnostics,” Leavis said. She is also an active lecturer within the training program for physicians in Allergology and Clinical Immunology. She also plays an important role in training the next generation of physicians and researchers. Furthermore, she is a sought-after speaker at international conferences and seminars.
An important aspect of Leavis’ work is collaboration, both within UMC Utrecht and with international partners. She has collaborations with several research groups within UMC Utrecht, such as the Center for Translational Immunology (CTI), the Department of Medical Microbiology and the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care. “Rare immune deficiencies and diseases of the immune system often occur in different organs and therefore cannot be treated by one discipline alone,” Leavis explains. “By collaborating with other specialties, such as infectiologists, pulmonologists, gastroenterologists and hematologists, we can develop a comprehensive approach to treating these complex conditions.”
Leavis not only collaborates with other departments within UMC Utrecht, but also actively seeks collaboration with leading international centers, such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda Md, U.S.A., and the Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency at the University Clinic in Freiburg, Germany. These international collaborations are essential for the further development of innovative treatment methods and the establishment of clinical trials.
The appointment of Helen Leavis is an important step in further strengthening the UMC Utrecht as a center of expertise for PID and IMIDs. The UMC Utrecht thus continues to play a leading role in both the care of these patients and scientific developments in this field. Her appointment will not only further improve clinical care, but also raise research into new therapies and diagnostic methods to a higher level.
Helen L. Leavis has been appointed Professor of Clinical Immunology as of May 1, 2025, and has been working as an internist-clinical immunologist at the Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology at UMC Utrecht since 2013. Her clinical focus is on patients with complex immunological diseases, including primary immunodeficiencies and autoinflammatory disorders. As a clinical scientist, Helen is able to dedicate part of her time to initiating and conducting scientific research. As a (principal) investigator, her research centers on the development of healthcare innovations for these patients using AI tools, and on making new treatments available through precision medicine and drug repurposing.
Helen obtained her medical degree in 2003 from Utrecht University, where she also earned her PhD in 2007 with a thesis titled “Evolutionary insights into CC17 Enterococcus faecium.” From 2016 to 2022, Helen Leavis served as program manager of the subspecialty of Allergy & Clinical Immunology within Internal Medicine at the UMC Utrecht. Throughout her career, Helen Leavis has held various national and international academic roles, including reviewer and editor for medical journals, organizer of scientific conferences, and advisor to professional organizations and funding bodies. She is (co-)author of approximately 90 publications in international scientific journals.
