UMC Utrecht intensivist Lennie Derde has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the European Clinical Research Alliance on Infectious Diseases (Ecraid), effective January 1, 2026. She will succeed Ecraid’s co-founder Prof. Marc Bonten. While focusing on her CEO responsibilities, Lennie will continue with her work as a clinical researcher at UMC Utrecht.
Lennie’s role as CEO will be instrumental in strengthening Ecraid’s position as Europe’s primary platform for clinical research on infectious diseases. She represents a new generation of leadership, bringing the agility and modern, data-driven perspective which is critical for navigating the evolving infectious diseases landscape.
Announced departure
Lennie Derde will succeed Marc Bonten, who has successfully led Ecraid from its inception in 2021, to a fully operational European clinical research network. His departure from Ecraid was announced earlier this year, after he took over the role of Vice Dean of Education at UMC Utrecht. Marc will remain involved to support a smooth transition.
Continuous impact
With her long-standing experience in clinical research in infectious diseases, Lennie brings a wealth of knowledge and simultaneously a fresh perspective to Ecraid. She steps into the role with energy, ambition, and a clear vision for Ecraid’s future; eager to build on the organization’s strong foundation and to further elevate its impact across Europe and beyond.
Leading research initiatives
Prior to her appointment as CEO, Lennie was a member of the Ecraid Coordinating Committee. She co-leads the ‘Epidemiology of Sepsis and Inflammation’ research group at UMC Utrecht, is the European principal investigator and immediate past global chair of the REMAP-CAP trial and has been involved in EU-funded projects such as ECRAID-Base. Lennie heads the ZonMw-funded IMPRINT consortium and is a member of the Steering Committee for the Surviving Sepsis Campaign and the ISAB of Sepsis Canada. She chairs the Dutch Research Collaboration in Critical care in the Netherlands (RCCNet).
While focusing on her CEO duties at Ecraid, her long-standing relationship as a clinical researcher with UMC Utrecht’s academic and research environment will continue, ensuring that Ecraid retains a vital connection to frontline academic insights and expertise.
“I am honoured to carry forward the remarkable work achieved in Ecraid under Marc’s supervision, and lead Ecraid through a new phase of growth by driving an even deeper focus on its mission of advancing clinical research in infectious diseases”
“Lennie is the right fit to push Ecraid to new heights and transform it into a Europe-leading organisation that fosters innovation in clinical research. She has a deep knowledge of Ecraid’s entire pipeline, and I am certain she will continue to pave the way to leaving a strong footprint in the field”
Under Lennie’s leadership, Ecraid remains committed to delivering high-impact clinical research, expanding collaborative research, and improving outcomes for patients and public health. Her appointment marks an exciting milestone, positioning Ecraid to build upon its foundation of operational rigor to scale its expertise and reach.
Academic clinical research organization
Ecraid advances clinical research in the field of infectious diseases by coordinating Europe’s largest academia-driven, self-sustainable ‘warm-base’ network. As an academic, not-for-profit foundation, Ecraid prioritizes scientific rigor and high-quality research. Ecraid’s mission is centred on improving clinical evidence for infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance. It is building sustainable research capacity with a single point of access to leading academic experts, key opinion leaders and engaged networks. More info on www.ecraid.eu.
