Profile photo Gimano Amatngalim

Gimano Amatngalim

Assistant Professor

Biography

Dr. Gimano Amatngalim is an Assistant Professor at the Department of Cellular Disease Models and the Regenerative Medicine Center at UMC Utrecht. He received his PhD in respiratory cell biology and immunology from Leiden University Medical Center, where he studied airway epithelial host defense mechanisms in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. He completed postdoctoral training at UMC Utrecht, where he established primary human nasal epithelial culture models as personalized disease models for monogenic airway diseases and viral infections.

His current research focuses on the development of personalized airway and lung models using epithelial stem/progenitor cells. These models are applied to study conditions such as cystic fibrosis, primary ciliary dyskinesia, bronchiectasis, and asthma. A central theme in his work is the exploration of individual-specific traits, examining how epithelial stem/progenitor cells contribute to inflammation, therapy response, and regeneration in chronic respiratory diseases.

Research groups

Cellular disease models

Research aim

To develop patient-derived cell models to understand the molecular mechanisms of disease, to identify and validate targets for treatment, and to develop drugs and precision medicine applications.

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Pediatric pulmonology

Research aim

We unravel biological, clinical and psychosocial aspects of lung diseases like Cystic Fibrosis, Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia and oncology to continuously improve diagnosis and treatment by implementing latest scientific insights into clinical care.

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Recent publications

Dual RNA sequencing of a co-culture model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and human 2D upper airway organoids Cayetano Pleguezuelos-Manzano, Wouter A.G. Beenker, Gijs J.F. van Son, Harry Begthel, Gimano D. Amatngalim, Jeffrey M. Beekman, Hans Clevers, Jeroen den Hertog
Scientific Reports, 2025, vol. 15

Fellowships & Awards

Longfonds (Dutch Lung Foundation) – Short-Term Research Fellowship (2015)

European Respiratory Society (ERS) – Young Scientist Sponsorship (2019)

Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) – Pilot and Feasibility Award (2023)

Longfonds (Dutch Lung Foundation) – Young Investigator Grant (2023)

European Respiratory Society (ERS) – Young Scientist Sponsorship (2024)