Profile photo Manon Benders

Manon Benders

Full Professor

Strategic program(s):

Biography

Manon Benders is professor in Neonatology of the Wilhelmina Children's hospital, UMC Utrecht. Currently she is head of the Department since 2015 (18 stafmembers/fellows and 10 physician assistents).
She obtained her PhD degree in Leiden (1999, Prof. Margot van der Bor). She was qualified as a Pediatrician-Neonatologist since 2006 (prof. Frank van Bel). thereafter she did a fellowship in Neonatal Neurology (prof. Linda de Vries).
She has been a consultant neonatologist in the Wilhelmina Children’s hospital of the University Medical Center in Utrecht, the Netherlands since 2006. In 2014 she was working as a senior clinical lecturer, King’s college London and honary consultant in Neonatology at Guy’s and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust.
Before she did a junior research fellowship on cerebral ultrasound (Prof. dr. F. Walther) in UCLA in 1997, USA and a senior neonatal neurology research fellowship on neonatal neuro-imaging at University of Geneva (Prof. dr. P.S. Hüppi) in 2006-2007 as part of her fellowship Neonatal Neurology. 
Manon is currently supervising  several PhD students and  clinical research fellows/postdocs, working on national and international research projects, focusing on prediction and perinatal neuro-imaging evaluating brain development and neuro-protective and -regenerative strategies.
 

Education

2008 finished fellowship Neonatal Neurology (Prof dr. Linda de Vries)
2006 Pediatrician- Neonatologist (prof. dr. Frank van Bel)
1999 PhD, Leiden University, the Netherlands (prof. dr. Margot van de Bor)
1996 Bachelor of Medicine, Leiden University, the Netherlands

 

Research line

Her research focuses on neonatal neuro-imaging. These techniques appear to give the opportunity to detect subtle differences, which are helpful in predicting neurodevelopmental outcome and evaluating of neuroprotective/neuroregenerative strategies to reduce brain injury, which is the other part of her research. 

Research groups

Congenital heart disease

Research aim

To improve long term cardiovascular and neurodevelopmental outcome in patients with severe congenital heart disease.
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Perinatal neuroimaging & neuromonitoring

Research aim

We use longitudinal fetal and neonatal neuroimaging and neuromonitoring to study brain development and function, model brain diseases, and improve long term outcome in high-risk infants.
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Protection and repair of the injured newborn brain

Research aim

Our mission is to unravel the impact of early life adversity, such as perinatal asphyxia and stroke, preterm birth and early life stress on brain development and to design strategies to improve outcome of affected infants, shaping a better future.
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Perinatal surgery & brain damage

Research aim

Our mission is to unravel the impact of neonatal surgery, as well for congenital heart defects as non-cardiac anomalies on brain injury, development and long-term impairments to develop strategies to improve long-term outcome shaping a better future.
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Recent publications

Neuroprotective therapies in the NICU in preterm infants Eleanor J. Molloy, Mohamed El-Dib, Janet Soul, Sandra Juul, Alistair J. Gunn, Manon Benders, Fernando Gonzalez, Cynthia Bearer, Yvonne Wu, Nicola J. Robertson, Mike Cotton, Aoife Branagan, Tim Hurley, Sidhartha Tan, Abbot Laptook, Topun Austin, Khorshid Mohammad, Elizabeth Rogers, Karen Luyt, Pia Wintermark, Sonia Lomeli Bonifacio, Sonia Lomeli Bonifacio, Pia Wintermark, Hany Aly, Vann Chau, Hannah Glass, Monica Lemmon, Courtney Wusthoff, Gabrielle deVeber, Andrea Pardo, Melisa Carrasco, James Boardman, Dawn Gano, Eric Peeples
Pediatric Research, 2024, vol. 95, p.1224-1236
Brain MRI Injury Patterns across Gestational Age among Preterm Infants with Perinatal Asphyxia Corline E J Parmentier, Loubna El Bakkali, Elise A Verhagen, Sylke J Steggerda, Thomas Alderliesten, Maarten H Lequin, Laura A van de Pol, Manon J N L Benders, Frank van Bel, Corine Koopman-Esseboom, Timo R de Haan, Linda S de Vries, Floris Groenendaal
Neonatology, 2024, vol. 121, p.616-626
Neuroinflammatory markers at school age in preterm born children with neurodevelopmental impairments S Van der Zwart, E F Knol, P Gressens, C Koopman, M Benders, E Roze
Brain, behavior, & immunity - health, 2024, vol. 38
Correction: Detailed statistical analysis plan for ALBINO: effect of Allopurinol in addition to hypothermia for hypoxic-ischemic Brain Injury on Neurocognitive Outcome — a blinded randomized placebo-controlled parallel group multicenter trial for superior Corinna Engel, Mario Rüdiger, Manon J.N.L. Benders, Frank van Bel, Karel Allegaert, Gunnar Naulaers, Dirk Bassler, Katrin Klebermaß-Schrehof, Maximo Vento, Ana Vilan, Mari Falck, Isabella Mauro, Marjo Metsäranta, Sampsa Vanhatalo, Jan Mazela, Tuuli Metsvaht, Roselinda van der Vlught, Axel R. Franz,
Trials, 2024, vol. 25
Morbidity and trends in length of hospitalisation of very and extremely preterm infants born between 2008 and 2021 in the Netherlands Karen De Bijl-Marcus, Manon J.N.L. Benders, Jeroen Dudink, Kees Ahaus, Marijn Kahlmann, Floris Groenendaal
BMJ Open, 2024, vol. 14
Population Pharmacokinetics and Target Attainment of Allopurinol and Oxypurinol Before, During, and After Cardiac Surgery with Cardiopulmonary Bypass in Neonates with Critical Congenital Heart Disease Wan-Yu Chu, Maaike Nijman, Raymond Stegeman, Johannes M P J Breur, Nicolaas J G Jansen, Joppe Nijman, Kim van Loon, Erik Koomen, Karel Allegaert, Manon J N L Benders, Thomas P C Dorlo, Alwin D R Huitema,
Clinical Pharmacokinetics, 2024, vol. 63, p.1205-1220

Fellowships & Awards

Funding as Principal Investigator

1991      Leids Universitair Fonds: International Foundation for Student Research Projects: ‘Cardiac and Cerebral Doppler-sonography in Neonates’. University of California Los Angeles, Verenigde Staten (€20K)

2005      NSCK reward: Registry ‘Severe Hyperbilirubinemia in Neonates in the Netherlands.’ (NSCK, surveillance) (€10k)

2006      “Ter Meulen Fonds”, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, The Netherlands, Clinical Research Fellowship. Supervisor: Prof. P.S. Hüppi, University of Geneva, Switzerland (€50k)

2006      International Pediatric Research Foundation (IPRF): exchange program Young Investigator Fellowship of the ESPR, for Clinical Research fellowship Geneve, Prof. P.S. Hüppi, University Geneva, Switzerland (€20k)

2009      The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO): program ‘early evaluation of medical innovation’: ‘Perinatal allopurinol trial for reduction of birth asphyxia induced brain damage’. Co-PI with Obstetrician: Dr. J.B. Derks (PhD: Joepe Kaandorp) (€150k +€50K UMCU)

2009      Alexandre Suerman Stipendium: ‘Reference ranges for the lateral cerebral ventricles of newborn infants’  (PhD: Margaretha Brouwer) (€75k +€50k UMCU)

2009      Catherijne Foundation: MRI of preterm infants: prediction of neurodevelopmental outcome (€200k)

2010      Univeristy Medical Center Utrecht / Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital Foundation: ‘Maturation dependent vulnerability of the Brain and Outcome of Preterm Infants assessed by MRI’ (PhD: Karina Kersbergen) (€150k+€50k UMC)

2011      International Foundation initiated by University Medical Centre Utrecht ‘MRI-biomarkers of Outcome and Perinatal Brain Injury in Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease’ (€50k)

2013      Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, the Province and Municipality of Utrecht, Utrecht University and the University Medical Center Utrecht: ‘The Nutri-brain project: a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial to evaluate the effects of a nutritional supplement on brain integrity in preterm infants.  (€2.5m)

2016 Nutricia research: fetal and neonatal MRI in youth cohort utrecht. 200.000 euro. Elise Turk

2018    Crucial trial: CeRebrUm and CardIac protection with ALlopurinol in neonates with congenital heart disease requiring neonatal cardiac surgery.zonMW 80-84800-98-42022 (1.6 mljn). National RCT. Prinicipal investigator.

 

Funding as Co-Investigator

2008-2010     European project Framework VI: ‘NEOBRAIN Neonatal estimation of brain damage risk and identification of neuroprotectants’ LSHM-CT-2006-036534, contract Nr 036534. Member of the MRI workpackage. (€2.3m)

2009                Ministero della Salute – Direzione Generale della Ricerca Scientifica e Tecnologica. ‘Early identification of newborns at high risk of brain injury through a valida- ted biomarkers profile and specific neuro-imaging patterns. A follow up study of clinical and neurodevelopmental outcome in a large cohort study’. (PI Prof G. Buonocore, University Siena.) Co-applicant, co-supervised 3 PhD students. (€800k)

2011      European study: ‘SafeBoosC: Safeguarding the brain of our smallest children: randomised, blinded, multinational (10 countries), phase II feasibility clinical trial on near-infrared spectroscopy monitoring combined with defined treatment guidelines versus standard monitoring and treatment as usual in premature infantsconsortium’. Neuro-imaging work package leader. (€1.2m)

2012 – 2020  The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO). ‘Adult mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) to regenerate the neonatal brain’ (Co-PIs Prof Annemieke Kavelaars and Prof Linda de Vries). Co-applicant and neuro-imaging workpackage leader. (€1.7m)

2012                Grant Health Insurance company: Nuts-Ohra: ‘Neuromonitoring during neonatal surgery, and evaluating brain injury with MRI and long-term outcome’. (PI Petra Lemmers). Co-applicant, supervised PhD student: Lisanne Stolwijk. (€160k+50k)

2013                Irish Medical Research Council: ‘Automatic analysis of brain injury in MRI of asphyxiated infants’Co-applicant supervised post-doctoral Fellow (Dr Keelin Murphy). (€100k)

2013                Univeristy Medical Center Utrecht / Wilhelmina Children’s hospital Foundation: ‘White matter injury of the preterm infants’, animal experimental study.’ (PI Dr Cora Nijboer). Supervised PhD student: Erik van Tilborg (€150k +€50k UMCU)

2014                Univeristy Medical Center Utrecht / Wilhelmina Children’s hospital foundation: Anatomical brain networks and its functional dynamics in neonates : a biomarker for cognitive outcome’. (PI Dr Martijn van de Heuvel). Supervised PhD student: Kristin Keunen (€150k+€50k UMCU)

2016            IGLOInsuline like growth factor levels and outcome in extreme premature infants: Brain foundation. The Next Step HA2016-02-04. (co-applicant) (480.000)

2016   Univeristy Medical Center Utrecht / Wilhelmina Children’s hospital foundation:  The effects of preterm birth of stressresilience during childhood. WKZ foundation.  (co-applicant) €150.000 Femke Lammertink

 

 

External positions

Consultancy - . - Chiesi