My research field lies at the intersection of imaging physics, device engineering and cardiovascular medicine. I was trained as a physicist and have been working with optical spectroscopy and light scattering since my PhD at the University of Amsterdam. A brief stint in remote sensing of atmospheric ozone steered my interests to applied research. Since 2005 I have been active in the field of coronary and cardiac imaging, using invasive imaging devices.
I have worked with optical coherence tomography, photoacoustics and ultrasound to characterize atherosclerosis and myocardial tissue. Broadly, my research portfolio consists of three topics: development of new techniques and instruments for intravascular and invasive imaging, parametric imaging with data obtained by existing clinical imaging instruments, and non-invasive photoacoustic imaging. My work in intravascular photoacoustics led to the foundation of a spin-off company, Kaminari Medical, a start-up company that is developing this principle to a clinical reality.
I am also associated with Delft University of Technology's Department of Precision Microsystems Engineering, at the Faculty of Mechanical, Materials and Maritime Engineering. This post exposes me to a range of novel manufacturing and design technologies which I incorporate in my medical device research.
Besides research, I consider teaching, coaching and mentoring younger scientists and students as an important responsibility. I teach in the medicine and clinical technology bachelor programs at Erasmus MC, and have lectured at a range of summer and graduate schools worldwide. I am part of the mentoring program at my institute. Diversity, equity and inclusion is an important topic to me. Biophotonics is a technology for humans, and I believe that we need a broad range of world views and experiences to create a biophotonics that works for all of us and leaves no-one behind.