Profile photo Paul van Diest

Paul van Diest

Full Professor

Strategic program(s):

Biography

Paul J van Diest has been a dedicated cancer researcher since the start of his career, obtaining numerous grants a.o. from the NIH and the Dutch Cancer Society. He studied Medicine, did his PhD and pathology residency at the VU University medical center (VUMC) in Amsterdam. After obtaining his Board certification in Pathology in 1996, he became Consultant Pathologist at the Department of Pathology of the VUMC. In 1999 he was appointed Associate Professor and in 2001 to full Professor. In 2003 he moved to Utrecht to become Head of the Department of Pathology at the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU) where he is currently still working. He is Adjunct Professor of Oncology at the Sidney Kimmel Oncology Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, USA. He serves on the editorial board of >20 international journals. He has been active in the board as secretary and president of several international societies. He has published >900 papers in peer reviewed journals, personally supervised 90 PhD theses, and has an H-index of 99. The main theme of his research is finding ways for prevention, optimized diagnosis and cure of breast cancer, both the male and female forms. He is also active in the field of implementing digital pathology and AI.

Strategic program(s):

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Research groups

Translational breast cancer research group

Research aim

We aim to optimize early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer, especially rare breast cancers like pregnancy associated, male & lobular breast cancer. We refine tissue diagnostics with molecular techniques/AI, and apply nipple fluid/blood tests.

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AI in pathology

Research aim

To develop, validate, and implement AI in digital pathology practice

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Recent publications

Oestrogen receptor phosphorylation profiles and in silico PAM50 subtyping reflect sexual dimorphism in breast cancer Subarnarekha Chatterji, Aimee Diack, Marcin Szostok, Michael D Morgan, Valentina Silvestri, Laura Ottini, Cathy B Moelans, Paul J van Diest, Cigdem Selli, Andrew H Sims, Rasha Abu-Eid, Valerie Speirs
The journal of pathology. Clinical research, 2026, vol. 12
Influence of Artificial Intelligence Assistance on Gleason Grading and Prostate Cancer Detection by Uropathologists in Daily Practice Jacqueline E van Hees, Paul J van Diest, Tri Q Nguyen, Mitchell G Lynch, Trudy N Jonges, Richard P Meijer, Peter-Paul M Willemse, Britt B M Suelmann, Carmen van Dooijeweert
JCO clinical cancer informatics, 2026, vol. 10
Radiological over- and underestimation of DCIS extent in breast conserving surgery specimens Bartosz Radzinski, Teresa Loebsin, Paul J van Diest, Doreen Gläser, Ludwig Kiesel, Walter Heindel, Cornelia M Focke
Human Pathology, 2026, vol. 176
Towards patient-centered research in pregnancy-associated breast cancer Carsten F.J. Bakhuis, Anna S. Koning, Britt B.M. Suelmann, Inge O. Baas, Janna W. Nijkamp, Kirsten Coutinho-Steentjes, Pleun A. Gilsing-Doreleijers, Manuela Guerra, Aaltje G.H. Hoppentocht, Elsemieke Kaashoek-de Jong, Nicol Nijholt, Roselien van der Wielen, Jan Ewout Ruiter, Sabine C. Linn, Stefan Preković, Paul J. Van Diest, Elsken van der Wall, Carmen van Dooijeweert
Breast, 2026, vol. 88
Margin status in ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast Teresa Loebsin, Bartosz Radzinski, Paul J. van Diest, Doreen Gläser, Ludwig Kiesel, Walter Heindel, Cornelia M. Focke
Human Pathology, 2026, vol. 174
Impact of less invasive axillary staging procedures after neoadjuvant systemic therapy on adjuvant systemic therapy indications in HER2-positive and triple-negative breast cancer Eva L Claassens, Linetta B Koppert, Carmen C van der Pol, Ernest J T Luiten, Thiemo J A van Nijnatten, Agnes Jager, Maaike de Boer, Paul J van Diest, Marjolein L Smidt, Janine M Simons,
European Journal of Surgical Oncology, 2026, vol. 52

Fellowships & Awards

Dutch Cancer Society (KWF)

Health Care Efficiency Research Programme of The Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw)

External positions

Board of Advisors - Adviseren - ESDIP

Member of the Digital Pathology advisory board of Paige - Op basis van expertise - Paige

Scientific Advisory Board - Advisor - Natsar Pharmaceuticals

Contractresearch - Vanuit de expertise van mijn huidige functie - Samantree

Visiting Professor. lesgeven, opleiding AIOS uit Siena voor stage althier - Op basis expertise - University of Siena, Italy

Zie bijlage - Alles op basis van expertise in mijn functie - Varia alle inkomsten t.g.v. UMC Utrecht zie bijlage

Member of the Digital Pathology advisory board of Philips - Vanuit mijn expertise - Philips

Wetenschappelijk - Vanuit mijn expertise - Sidney Kimmel Oncology Center at Johns Hopkins