Humoral immunity in kidney transplantation and autoimmunity
Autoimmunity, Kidney, Transplantation
Research aim
Our primary research interest is focused on humoral immunity including associated effector mechanisms. This is studied in kidney transplantation aimed at preventing rejection, and in autoimmune diseases in order to improve diagnosis and treatment.
About us
Our research group leads two sequential national PROCARE consortia with the purpose to modernize kidney allocation by studying the impact of pretransplant humoral allo- and auto-immunity and associated effector mechanisms in approximately 15.000 kidney transplants. Together with dr. Maarten Limper, clinical immunologist, early diagnosis of SLE and relevant symptoms are investigated by defining novel patterns of multiple autoantibodies. In collaboration with dr. Helen Leavis, clinical immunologist, we aim to diagnose patients with periodic fever syndromes across departmental boundaries as quickly as possible using intelligent text mining from the EPD. With the group of dr. André Knulst, Dermatologist, studies are conducted in order to predict (the severity of) food allergy and urticaria aimed to find new leads for therapeutic intervention and new biomarkers to improve diagnostics.