Gerard Pasterkamp, MD, is professor at the Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry. His group houses researchers that cover a broad range of activities. The research interests of the group are in the field of cardiovascular biology and more specifically innovation in biomarkers and drug targets. The research group houses the largest atherosclerotic plaque biobank worldwide: Athero Express including >4000 patients. Patients who undergo carotid or femoral endarterectomy are included and all undergo follow-up. This biobank has generated new insights into determinants of plaque destabilisation. For example, it has been demonstrated that local plaque characteristics are strongly associated with long term outcome but also that plaque characteristics have rapidly changed in the last decade. The laboratory now invests in the excavation of genetic determinants of atherosclerotic plaque characteristics. The group coordinates national and EU based consortia with the aim to unravel biomarkers and mechanisms of atherosclerotic disease. The translational profile of the group is noted in the private public consortia they are involved in. In 2017 three public private grants have been rewarded with the aim to develop novel biomarkers and imaging technology to detect cardiac ischemia and endothelial dysfunction. Most recently Gerard Pasterkamp obtained a LeDucq grant together with Prof G Owens (Virginia University) on the role of smooth muscle cell plasticity in the atherosclerotic plaque.

Associate and assistent professors:

• Michal Mokry
• Sander van der Laan
• Arjan Boltjes

PhD students: 

• Floor Groepenhoff
• Lotte Slenders
• Marian Wesseling
• Robin Hartman
• Marc van Moorsel
• Birol Batman

Principal Investigator:

• Gerard Pasterkamp

Technicians:

• Arjan Schoneveld
• Danny Elbersen
• Arnold Koekman