How can a child who deals with the profound consequences of a chronic condition, illness or trauma on a daily basis grow up as healthy as possible? Paediatrician Sanne Nijhof has been researching this for years. On 15 December 2025, she was appointed professor of Interdisciplinary Preventive Paediatrics at UMC Utrecht.
These are children who have experienced something that affects their development: a chronic illness, a congenital disorder or a traumatic event, such as abuse. The cause varies, but these children are more likely to get stuck in their daily lives.
“They experience under-reported, often delayed consequences such as persistent fatigue, reduced mental health, participation problems and an increased cardiovascular risk,” says Sanne. “These problems usually develop gradually and are not always immediately recognised, but they can have a major impact on how a child feels, functions at school and participates in social life.” She sees these children regularly during her consultation hours.
Thanks to better treatments, many children with chronic conditions now have the prospect of a longer life. “This requires us to broaden our focus in healthcare: from simply treating illness to promoting health, resilience, autonomy and participation”, says Sanne. “The question is not only how children survive, but above all how they can develop as well as possible – now and later in life – so that they can participate as fully as possible with their peers.”
This requires a life course approach that focuses on early detection, understanding and preventive action. “I want to better understand which children are at risk of getting stuck, what early signs indicate this and how we can take timely action,’ says Sanne. ‘Early detection makes it possible to provide earlier and more targeted support before problems accumulate or become entrenched.”
“We should not only focus on illness, but above all on health. How can we strengthen children’s resilience, autonomy and daily functioning?” In her research, Sanne systematically follows children with chronic conditions and children who have experienced a traumatic event over time. “We not only identify vulnerabilities, but also protective factors: physical and mental well-being, participation in social activities and school, as well as factors such as coping styles, friendships and social support,” she explains.
Sanne Nijhof. Photo: Arnold Reyneveld
“For example, we know that prolonged fatigue and pain limit children in their play, sports and social activities. This does not happen just like that; there are recognisable patterns behind it. If we recognise these patterns early on, we can also provide early support or make adjustments.”
At the same time, Sanne and her team are focusing on children who, despite facing similar challenges, continue to function well. By systematically monitoring these children, they are gaining insight into what helps them to continue participating, recover and develop. “It is precisely by understanding why children remain resilient that we learn which factors are protective and how we can strengthen them in other children.”
All children are growing up in a time of rapid societal, technological and social change. The issues they – and the next generation of professionals – face are complex: increasing mental health problems, long-term effects of infections, pressure to perform, and growing differences in opportunities and circumstances. By systematically comparing children with chronic conditions to healthy peers, it becomes clear which challenges are specifically related to illness and which are part of growing up in today’s society. This distinction is essential: not everything that hinders a child is a consequence of illness, and not every vulnerability requires a medical solution.
That is precisely why she works in an interdisciplinary manner. In her role as Domain Chair Thriving and Healthy Youth within Utrecht University’s strategic theme Dynamics of Youth, she connects researchers and professionals within UMC Utrecht. This collaboration brings together biomedical, social, pedagogical and data science perspectives on the development and health of children and young people.
Sanne studied medicine in Utrecht and obtained her PhD in 2013 on chronic fatigue in adolescents. Since then, she has combined patient care with research and education. For example, she was co-developer of the interfaculty Master’s programme Youth Development and Social Change at Utrecht University, in which students are trained to become bridge builders and translational thinkers in the field of youth. “The issues that children and young people face today are complex,” says Sanne. “I am happy to contribute to the training of professionals who dare to think beyond the boundaries of their own profession.”
“Where do I personally want to make a difference in the coming years? As a scientist, I want to contribute to better recognition of early signs, so that we as paediatricians can assess what each child needs and when,” says Sanne. “That’s why I’m working on care concepts in which children and parents are full partners. With the help of diary apps, patient-reported outcomes and co-design, we are working together to build care that really suits the child.”
“Every child is unique, every complaint has its own story. We know a lot about what works on average, but standard solutions often fall short. No individual acts like a group. This calls for prevention, interdisciplinarity and care that adapts to the child – with attention to those factors that matter and can be influenced for this specific child and in his or her context. Together with children and parents, I look for what is going on in their situation and try to let their values and wishes guide each treatment process.”
