Training:  MD (1997), medical doctorate (1998), Eberhard-Karls-Universität,  Tübingen, Germany. Residency in pediatrics and training in Neonatology, University Hospitals Tübingen and Würzburg, Germany, with Prof. Dr. C.P. Speer (1999-2006). Research fellow with Prof. Dr. Alan H. Jobe, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Ohio, USA (1999-2001).

Positions: Junior member of medical faculty, Würzburg (2006). Maastricht UMC+ (2006 to 2022): neonatologist and leader of experimental research group. PhD in 2007 and Professor for Experimental Perinatology since 2011. From 2013-2022 Director of Pediatric Research. Part-time position at the Institute of Women’s Health, University College London, United Kingdom from 2016-2018. Clinical Professor University of Western Australia (2013-2023). Since 2022 chief medical officer Neuroplast BV, Maastricht, The Netherlands. Since 2023 Professor for Neonatology at Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.

Several national and international research awards e.g. young scientist of ESPR (2003) and Dutch Society for Pediatrics (2008). Chosen as a “top talent” by the faculty of medicine (2008). Management classes at INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.

Research interests: Stem cell therapy, Microbiome in necrotizing enterocolitis and bronchopulmonary dysplasia, development of lung, gut, brain, and immune system after preterm birth. Supervised 35 completed PhDs, 305 peer-reviewed papers in international journals, and 7 reviews in textbooks.