Profile photo Monique Nijhuis

Monique Nijhuis

Associate Professor

Strategic program(s):

Biography

Monique Nijhuis studied Molecular Biology and obtained her PhD in 1999 at the University of Utrecht on the investigation of the impact of antiretroviral therapy on HIV fitness. Following postdoctoral research training in respiratory viruses she initiated her own research line and became an associate Professor of Virology at the University Medical Center Utrecht in The Netherlands. She is heading the Translational Virology group which performs research at the interface between fundamental and clinical virology. Her research is centered on (I) Viral entry, transmission and pathogenesis (II) Mechanisms of antiviral resistance and viral evolution and (III) Viral-reservoirs and eradication. Monique Nijhuis was granted by the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO) with the VIDI and ASPASIA award. She is a member of the IAS HIV Cure International Scientific Working Group and the scientific advisory board of the Dutch Aidsfonds and associate editor of Retrovirology. She has published over 100 papers in peer-reviewed journals and has guided technicians, PhD student, and Postdoctoral Fellows. 

She is teaching Virology in the Bachelor Biomedical Sciences and several Master and PhD programs. She has mentored numerous Bachelor and Graduate students. She is heading the Biological Safety Committee supervising several Biosafety Level III laboratories.

Research groups

Translational virology

Research aim

By integrating insights from clinical and fundamental research on drug resistance, viral persistence, and evolution, we aim to improve antiviral treatment and viral eradication strategies globally

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Recent publications

The mutational landscape of SARS-CoV-2 provides new insight into viral evolution and fitness Jori Symons, Claire Chung, Bert M Verheijen, Sarah J Shemtov, Dorien de Jong, Gimano Amatngalim, Monique Nijhuis, Marc Vermulst, Jean-Francois Gout
Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16
Microglia Exhibit a Unique Intact HIV Reservoir in Human Postmortem Brain Tissue Marieke M Nühn, Stephanie B H Gumbs, Pauline J Schipper, Irene Drosou, Lavina Gharu, Ninée V E J Buchholtz, Gijsje J L J Snijders, Frederieke A J Gigase, Annemarie M J Wensing, Jori Symons, Lot D de Witte, Monique Nijhuis
Viruses, 2025, vol. 17
Author Correction Jord C Stam, Steven de Maat, Dorien de Jong, Mathia Arens, Fenna van Lint, Lavina Gharu, Mark H van Roosmalen, Rob C Roovers, Nika M Strokappe, Ralf Wagner, Alexander Kliche, Hans J de Haard, Paul M van Bergen En Henegouwen, Monique Nijhuis, C Theo Verrips
Scientific Reports, 2025, vol. 15
Model-based evaluation of the impact of a potential HIV cure on HIV transmission dynamics Alfredo De Bellis, Myrthe S Willemsen, Giorgio Guzzetta, Ard van Sighem, Kim A G J Romijnders, Peter Reiss, Maarten F Schim van der Loeff, Janneke H H M van de Wijgert, Monique Nijhuis, Mirjam E E Kretzschmar, Ganna Rozhnova
Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16
Selective Decline of Intact HIV Reservoirs During the First Decade of ART Followed by Stabilization in Memory T Cell Subsets Marieke M. Nühn, Kobus Bosman, Terry Huisman, Wouter H.A. Staring, Lavina Gharu, Dorien D.E. Jong, Theun M. de Kort, Ninée V.E.J. Buchholtz, Kiki Tesselaar, Aridaman Pandit, Joop Arends, Sigrid A. Otto, Eduardo LUCIO D.E. Esesarte, Andy I.M. Hoepelman, Rob J. de Boer, Jori Symons, José A.M. Borghans, Annemarie M.J. Wensing, Monique Nijhuis
AIDS, 2025, vol. 39, p.798-811
Defective proviruses significantly impact viral transcription and immune activation in men and women with HIV-1 subtype C in rural South Africa Ninée V.E.J. Buchholtz, Lucas E. Hermans, Chijioke N. Umunnakwe, Marieke M. Nühn, Regina Voss, Emma Need, Neeltje A. Kootstra, Irma Maurer, Dorien C.M. de Jong, Jori Symons, Hugo A. Tempelman, Annemarie M.J. Wensing, Monique Nijhuis
Frontiers in Immunology, 2024, vol. 15