Back

dr. N. (Niels) Eijkelkamp

dr. N. (Niels) Eijkelkamp

Associate Professor
dr. N. (Niels) Eijkelkamp
  • Center for Translational Immunology (CTI) Research

Biography

Biography

Niels Eijkelkamp (18-07-1980) is PI at the laboratory of translational immunology. His research focusses on chronic pain, a major debilitating disease that affects >20% of the population. He aims to unravel mechanisms and to identify novel treatments of chronic pain by elucidating the role of the immune system and its interactions with the nervous system in chronic pain. His group is one of the very few groups in the Netherlands studying the mechanisms underlying pain. 

His group uses different experimental approaches to unravel molecular pain mechansims and identify novel treatment approaches with the ultimate aim to translate these basic research findings to chronic pain patients such as children with Juvenile Idiopathic arthritis and adults with chronic inflammatory disease and osteoarthtis.

Eijkelkamp graduated in 2003 with honors in Medical Biology (University of Utrecht). In 2009 he completed his PhD under supervision of Dr. Heijnen with his thesis entitled ‘GRK gatekeeper of pain and inflammation’. Prior to his PhD he worked for 1 year on stress and wound healing in the team led by Dr. Sheridan at the Ohio State University. As PostDoc he had a joint appointment at the UMCU and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to work on the role of GRKs in pain. Finally, he worked for 2 years on sensory transduction and signalling pathways in chronic pain in the laboratory of Dr. Wood at the University College London. Since 2013 he started his own group at the UMCU.

Side Activities

Member of the editorial board of Brain, Behaviour & Immunity

Fellowship and Awards

2019: Health Holland. Cytofuse

2019: TTW(NWO). It takes two to stop chronic pain: an innovative treatment with endogenous regulatory immune molecules.

2018: Dutch arthritis foundation (ReumaNL). Identification of inflammatory mediators in spinal liquor in relation to synovial nerve sprouting and pain in osteoarthritis.

2018: H2020-MSCA-ITN-2018 – BonepainII. An innovative European PhD training network in bone pain.

2017: WKZ child Health Boost Grant. co-applicant. Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis, when does it hurt?

2015 Dutch arthritis foundation. Identification of inflammatory mediators in spinal liquor in relation to synovial nerve sprouting and pain in osteoarthritis.

2014 H2020-MSCA-ITN-2014 – Bonepain. Create an innovative European PhD training network in bone pain.

2013 Life science Seed grant Utrecht university. Title: Regulating neuroinflammation and sensory neuron function using a fusion protein of IL-4 and IL-10: a novel therapeutic strategy to block chronic pain.  

2010-2012 Rubicon fellowship of the Netherlands Organisation of Scientific Research (NWO). to perform research at the laboratory of Molecular Nociception of Prof Wood at the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research at University College of London, London, UK. Title: Novel mechanisms of chronic pain: regulated trafficking of sodium channels by GRK2.

Research Output (87)

Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells-derived extracellular vesicles as a potentially more beneficial therapeutic strategy than MSC-based treatment in a mild metabolic osteoarthritis model

Warmink Kelly, Rios Jaqueline L., Varderidou-Minasian Suzy, Torres-Torrillas Marta, van Valkengoed Devin R., Versteeg Sabine, Eijkelkamp Niels, Weinans Harrie, Korthagen Nicoline M., Lorenowicz Magdalena J. Dec 2023, In: Stem Cell Research and Therapy. 14

Inflammation-induced mitochondrial and metabolic disturbances in sensory neurons control the switch from acute to chronic pain

Willemen HLDM, Silva Santos Ribeiro Patrícia, Broeks Melissa, Meijer Nils, Versteeg Sabine, Tiggeler Annefien, de Boer Teun, Małecki Jędrzej, Falnes Pål Ø, Jans Judith, Eijkelkamp Niels 21 Nov 2023, In: Cell reports. Medicine. 4 16 p.

NLRP3 inflammasome activation in sensory neurons promotes chronic inflammatory and osteoarthritis pain

Silva Santos Ribeiro Patrícia, Willemen Hanneke L D M, Versteeg Sabine, Martin Gil Christian, Eijkelkamp Niels 24 Oct 2023, In: Immunotherapy advances. 3 16 p.

Insights into FcγR involvement in pain-like behavior induced by an RA-derived anti-modified protein autoantibody

Jurczak Alexandra, Sandor Katalin, Bersellini Farinotti Alex, Krock Emerson, Hunt Matthew A, Agalave Nilesh M, Barbier Julie, Simon Nils, Wang Zhenggang, Rudjito Resti, Vazquez-Mora Juan Antonio, Martinez-Martinez Arisai, Raoof Ramin, Eijkelkamp Niels, Grönwall Caroline, Klareskog Lars, Jimenéz-Andrade Juan Miguel, Marchand Fabien, Svensson Camilla I Oct 2023, In: Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 113 , p. 212-227 16 p.

Human IAPP is a contributor to painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy

Albariqi Mohammed Mh, Versteeg Sabine, Brakkee Elisabeth M, Coert J Henk, Elenbaas Barend Ow, Prado Judith, Hack C Erik, Höppener Jo Wm, Eijkelkamp Niels 17 Apr 2023, In: Journal of Clinical Investigation. 133

Effects of mesenchymal stem cells and heparan sulfate mimetics on urethral function and vaginal wall biomechanics in a simulated rat childbirth injury model

Janssen Kristine, van Ruiten Geertruida W., Eijkelkamp Niels, Damaser Margot S., van der Vaart Carl H. 2023, In: International Urogynecology Journal. 34 , p. 1635-1644 10 p.

Sustained release of locally delivered celecoxib provides pain relief for osteoarthritis:a proof of concept in dog patients

Tellegen Anna R, Rudnik-Jansen Imke, Utomo Lizette, Versteeg Sabine, Beukers Martijn, Maarschalkerweerd Roelof, van Zuilen Dick, van Klaveren Nicoline J, Houben Kaat, Teske Erik, René van Weeren P, Karssemakers-Degen Nina, Mihov George, Thies Jens, Eijkelkamp Niels, Creemers Laura B, Meij Björn P, Tryfonidou Marianna A 5 Dec 2022, In: Osteoarthritis and Cartilage. 31 , p. 351-362 12 p.

Sural Hypersensitivity after Nerve Transection depends on Anatomical Differences in the Distal Tibial Nerve of Mice and Rats

Brakkee E M, DeVinney E, Eijkelkamp N, Coert J H 24 Nov 2022, In: Annals of Anatomy. 246 , p. 1-6 6 p.

Feasibility of quantitative sensory testing in juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Mensink Maarten O, Eijkelkamp Niels, Veldhuijzen Dieuwke S, Wulffraat Nico M 9 Aug 2022, In: Pediatric rheumatology online journal. 20 , p. 1-7

All research output

Thank you for your review!

Has this information helped you?

Please tell us why, so that we can improve our website.

Working at UMC Utrecht

Contact

Emergency?

Directions

Appointments

Practical

umcutrecht.nl uses cookies

This website uses cookies This website displays videos from, among others, YouTube. Such parties place cookies (third-party cookies). If you do not want these cookies, you can indicate that here. We also place cookies ourselves to improve our site.

Read more about the cookie policy

Agree No, rather not