EB

Erwin Brosens

Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus MC, Open University of the Netherlands, Erasmus MC Cancer Institute, Avans University of Applied Sciences

Research areas: Medicine · Ophthalmology · Ocular Oncology and Treatments · Congenital gastrointestinal and neural anomalies · Genomics and Rare Diseases

ORCID iD 0000-0001-8235-4010
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About

I have been active in the medical sector since the beginning of my professional career. Before completing my education as a medical analyst at Avans Hogeschool in Etten-Leur, I did my internship at Plant Research International in Wageningen, I was hired as a cytogenetic analyst in the Clinical Genetics department of Erasmus MC Rotterdam. Here, I used various techniques such as karyotyping, microarray, and Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization to investigate chromosomal abnormalities. During this time, I obtained my Bachelor and Master degrees in Environmental (Health) Sciences by following courses at the University in the evening hours. Experience gathered during this lifelong learning journey has strengthened competences as perseverance, autodidacticism and resilience. I started my scientific career in 2010, at the department of paediatric surgery. In these exciting early days of high-throughput genetic technologies as Single Nucleotide Polymorphism -array and exome sequencing I studied the genetic aetiology of congenital foregut anomalies. The hands-off management style of my supervisors allowed me to learn by doing and get the confidence I needed to find and setup international collaborations. These experiences benefitted me during my doctorate for instance with now long-standing collaborations.

During that time, I was able to broaden my skills by participating in the student advisory council. In this role, I helped develop guidelines and regulations for doctoral studies. Additionally, I took various courses, including project management, research integrity, data management and security, as well as the Basic Course in Regulation and Organization for Clinical Researchers and the Data Safety Monitoring Board training. As a researcher, I was responsible for obtaining informed consent from parents and patients for my research, and conversations with parents shaped my vision of patient-centred research. This experience also inspired me to serve in international networks as a genetic representative. Currently, I am the Data Program Officer in our department, where I am responsible for monitoring scientific integrity, GDPR regulations, data storage and security, biobanking, and transforming our department into a more data-driven organization.

After completing my PhD, I worked as a postdoc in the gastrointestinal genetics group at the department of clinical genetics, where I focused on the genetic cause of congenital intestinal abnormalities. I also worked as a postdoc in a research group studying congenital cardiomyopathies and thoracic aneurysms in adults. In these groups, I worked as a data scientist with large genomic datasets and improved my skills in the laboratory. I gained experience in using in vitro cell-based systems such as induced pluripotent stem cells and differentiation of these cells into disease-specific cell types. In addition, I worked with CrisprCas9 and zebrafish models to evaluate the functional consequences of identified genetic causes.

At the moment, I am the principal investigator of the ophthalmic oncology together with Dr. Emine Kilic. In the ophthalmic oncology group, our main aim is to move from predicting prognosis to understanding tumour biology and evaluating therapeutic options. We investigate the treatment of uveal melanoma and retinal hemangioblastoma, both in vitro and in vivo, to find intraocular and systemic therapies that can be used to treat or prevent metastases. We also optimize a range of non-invasive tests to predict risk and monitor disease progression during therapy and follow-up. Furthermore, we investigate how we can apply the knowledge and techniques we have gained to other types of cancer, such as conjunctival and sebaceous gland cancers.

I am also principal investigator of the congenital thoracic malformations group at the Erasmus MC. In collaboration with various experts, including clinicians, diagnostic personnel, and scientists, we focus on improving care for patients. Specifically, we aim to understand the causes of congenital defects in children with intestinal disorders, oesophageal atresia and diaphragmatic hernia. The genetic characterization of these thoracic anomalies is challenging and in its relative infancy. In my group, we study the relationship of the deleterious variation seen in these often-complex genetic developmental defects with the long-term morbidity seen in these patient populations. We also investigate the increased risk of oesophageal cancer in adults born with an oesophageal atresia. To achieve these goals, we study the genome, transcriptome, and methylome of these patients. We confirm our findings with in vitro and in vivo models.

I am a guest lecturer in various biomedical programs at our institute. Currently, I am supervising seven PhD students in different stages of their doctoral research, and every year, we offer two to three students with a laboratory background the opportunity to intern in my group

Employment

Education

Projects & Funding

  • Clipless MR-eye guided planning and follow-up for proton therapy of Uveal Melanoma Varian Medical Systems
    2022 - 2026
  • Generation of genetically engineered in vivo models for uveal melanoma research to identify and validate therapeutic targets Stichting voor Ooglijders
    2022 - 2023
  • Circulating tumor cells as a potential biomarker for high-risk uveal melanoma Combined Ophthalmic Research Rotterdam
    2022 - 2024
  • Unravelling uveal melanoma predisposition and development of metastasis Henkes Foundation
    2021 - 2022
  • Can metabolomic analysis of peripheral blood after diagnosis prognosticate between high and low risk UM? Bayer Ophthalmology Research Award (BORA)
    2021 - 2021
  • Molecular characterization of retinal hemangioblastomas Henkes foundation
    2021 - 2021
  • Development of patient specific retinal hemangioblastoma modelsioblastoom in-vitro modelsystemen Rotterdamse Blindenbelangen
    2021 - 2024
  • Molecular characterization of retinal hemangioblastomas Henkes Foundation
    2021 - 2021
  • Generation of induced Pluripotent Stemcell-derived Von Hippel-Lindau Organoids for Mimicking the Pathophysiology of Retinal Hemangioblastomas Bayer Ophthalmology Research Award (BORA)
    2020 - 2020
  • Fishing for future therapeutics: utilizing zebrafish to provide a genetic model for uveal melanoma aetiology Rotterdamse Stichting Blindenbelangen
    2020 - 2021
  • Unravelling Uveal Melanoma predisposition and development of metastases Combined Ophthalmic Research Rotterdam
    2020 - 2022
  • Unraveling the multifactorial role of BAP1 Landelijke Stichting voor Blinden en Slechtzienden
    2019 - 2022
  • Unraveling the multifactorial role of BAP1 Algemene Nederlandse Vereniging ter voorkoming van Blindheid
    2019 - 2022

Publications (91)