Profile photo Anouk Hiensch

Anouk Hiensch

Assistant Professor

Strategic program(s):

Biography

Anouk Hiensch has a background in Health Sciences (BSc) and Epidemiology (MSc, with distiction). From 2017-2021, she conducted her PhD on the effects of exercise in patients with cancer and its underlying mechanisms, at the University Medical Center Utrecht, Julius Center. After completing her PhD, Anouk continued working at the Julius Center. 

Her research focuses on elucidating the underlying mechanisms of the beneficial effects of exercise in patients with cancer. Understanding the (patho)physiology is crucial to counteract the detrimental effects of cancer treatment. To get insight in part of the underlying mechanisms, she recently obtained a Boost-grand and an investigator initiated grant from WCRF. 

She is the scientific coordinator of two international exercise-oncology trials: PREFERABLE (H2020-funded) and PREFERABLE-II (Horizon Europe funded). She is also involved in national exercise-oncology trials, including PERFECT (completed), RADICES and SICILY. Anouk was involved in the development of a website for patients and healthcare providers about exercise and cancer (Bewegen-en-kanker-info). Furthermore, she joined the Roparun twice and cycled the Alpe d’Huez to raise money for cancer research (motto: Practice what you Preach).

Finally, Anouk serves in international webinar and educational committees, including the Cancer Cachexia Society Education Committee and International Society of Exercise Oncology webinar committee.

Recent publications

Considerations for delivery of live-remote exercise for people with cancer in research and practice Eva M Zopf, Jana Müller, Mark Trevaskis, Alina Kias, Anouk E Hiensch, Kelcey A Bland, Maria C Lorenz, Evelyn M Monninkhof, Martina E Schmidt, David Binyam, Dorothea Clauss, Nadira Gunasekara, Mary Crisafio, Esther De Jongh, Franziska Olivier, Yvonne Wengström, Karen Steindorf, Alberto J C Alves, Anna Campbell, Kristin L Campbell, Martijn M Stuiver, Anne M May, Kerri Winters-Stone
Journal of the National Cancer Institute Monographs, 2025, vol. 2025, p.351-359
Factors Associated With Employment and Quality of Working Life in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer Alina Kias, Martina E Schmidt, Anouk E Hiensch, Dorothea Clauss, Evelyn M Monninkhof, Mireia Pelaez, Jon Belloso, Nadira Gunasekara, Maike G Sweegers, Mark Trevaskis, Helene Rundqvist, Jana Müller, Joachim Wiskemann, Elsken van der Wall, Neil K Aaronson, Milena Lachowicz, Ander Urruticoechea, Eva M Zopf, Wilhelm Bloch, Martijn M Stuiver, Yvonne Wengström, Anne M May, Karen Steindorf
Cancer Medicine, 2025, vol. 14
Exercise effects on symptoms of depression and anxiety vary by patient, clinical, and intervention characteristics in cancer survivors Marlou-Floor Kenkhuis, Meike Doorenbos, Isa H Mast, Neil K Aaronson, Marc van Beurden, Martin Bohus, Kerry S Courneya, Amanda J Daley, Daniel A Galvão, Martine M Goedendorp, Wim H van Harten, Sandi C Hayes, Anouk E Hiensch, Melinda L Irwin, Marie José Kersten, Hans Knoop, Anne M May, Alex McConnachie, Willem van Mechelen, Nanette Mutrie, Robert U Newton, Frans Nollet, Hester S Oldenburg, Martina E Schmidt, Kathryn H Schmitz, Karl-Heinz Schulz, Gabe S Sonke, Karen Steindorf, Martijn M Stuiver, Dennis R Taaffe, Lene Thorsen, Miranda J Velthuis, Joachim Wiskemann, Ilse Mesters, Cornelia M Ulrich, Jonna K van Vulpen, Jose A E Custers, Laurien M Buffart
Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025, vol. 33
Impact of exercise on sexual health, body image, and therapy-related symptoms in women with metastatic breast cancer Martina E Schmidt, Anouk E Hiensch, Johanna Depenbusch, Evelyn M Monninkhof, Jon Belloso, Dorothea Clauss, Nadira Gunasekara, Mark Trevaskis, Helene Rundqvist, Joachim Wiskemann, Jana Müller, Maike G Sweegers, Andreas Schneweiss, Renske Altena, Joanna Kufel-Grabwska, Rhodé M Bijlsma, Lobke van Leeuwen-Snoeks, Daan Ten Bokkel Huinink, Gabe Sonke, Susanne Brandner, Peter Savas, Yoland Antill, Michelle White, Nerea Ancizar, Elsken van der Wall, Neil K Aaronson, Elzbieta Senkus, Ander Urruticoechea, Eva M Zopf, Wilhelm Bloch, Martijn M Stuiver, Yvonne Wengström, Anne M May, Karen Steindorf
International Journal of Cancer, 2025, vol. 157, p.490-503
Supervised Exercise for Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer Aniek E.M. Schouten, Anouk E. Hiensch, Geert W.J. Frederix, Evelyn M. Monninkhof, Martina E. Schmidt, Dorothea Clauss, Nadira Gunasekara, Jon Belloso, Mark Trevaskis, Helene Rundqvist, Joachim Wiskemann, Jana Müller, Maike G. Sweegers, Carlo Fremd, Renske Altena, Rhodé M. Bijlsma, Gabe Sonke, Ainhara Lahuerta, G. Bruce Mann, Prudence A. Francis, Gary Richardson, Wolfram Malter, Joanna Kufel-Grabowska, Elsken Van Der Wall, Neil K. Aaronson, Elzbieta Senkus, Ander Urruticoechea, Eva M. Zopf, Wilhelm Bloch, Martijn M. Stuiver, Yvonne Wengstrom, Karen Steindorf, Miriam P. Van Der Meulen, Anne M. May
Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2025, vol. 43, p.1325-1337
Metastatic breast cancer patients’ preferences for exercise programs Maike G. Sweegers, Johanna Depenbusch, Neil K. Aaronson, Anouk E. Hiensch, Yvonne Wengström, Malin Backman, Nadira Gunasekara, Dorothea Clauss, Jon Belloso, Milena Lachowicz, Anne M. May, Karen Steindorf, Martijn M. Stuiver
Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025, vol. 33