K.G.F. Gerritsen, MD PhD
Associate professor, internist-nephrologist
Biography
Karin Gerritsen, MD PhD, is internist-nephrologist and associate professor, at the University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands, with a main interest in home and green dialysis. Her research focuses on innovative kidney replacement technologies, including portable/ wearable/ implantable artificial kidney, novel dialysis membranes, protein bound toxin removal, systems-on-chip for dialysis, biohybrid systems and green dialysis. As PI on several international (European Commission-funded) and national (Growth Fund-, Dutch Kidney Foundation-, National Science Organization- and Health Holland-funded) collaborative projects, she has a coordinating role in the development and (pre)clinical validation of these novel technologies, in close involvement with the Dutch Kidney Foundation.
Research
Research focus
Innovative kidney replacement therapy, in particular portable/wearable, bioartificial and implantable kidney, novel dialysis membranes, protein bound toxin removal, systems-on-chip for dialysis, sorbent-based dialysis and green dialysis
Aim of my research line is to improve current kidney replacement therapy, which has major disadvantages (a.o. inadequate blood purification, high treatment burden, large ecologic footprint), by development of new technologies using advanced sorbent, membrane, electrochemical, biohybrid and chip technologies. Goal is to validate these new technologies in vitro, in vivo (in validated uremic animal models) and finally in a clinical setting to ensure fast translation from bench to bedside. The research is performed in close collaboration with the Dutch Kidney Foundation and follows the ‘Roadmap towards development of novel renal replacement therapies’1. My research requires a multidisciplinary approach and includes several national and international collaborative projects with other knowledge institutes (a.o. Utrecht University, University of Twente, Maastricht University (MERLIN), UNIMORE (IT), SERMAS (ES) and Trinity College Dublin (IE) and companies (a.o. IMEC, NextKidney, Nanodialysis).
J.C. Vollenbroek, PhD ir.
Assistent professor
Biography
Jeroen Vollenbroek received his BSc and MSc in Electrical Engineering at the University of Twente. During his master, which he finished in 2016, he specialized in microtechnology and Lab on a Chip systems. He received a joint doctorate from the University of Twente (BIOS Lab on a Chip group) and Utrecht University (Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis) for his PhD thesis entitled “Microreactors for single catalyst particle diagnostics” in 2020. After that, he worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU, department of Nephrology and Hypertension), where he developed electrocatalytic systems for the oxidation of urea, with the aim of improving dialysate regeneration for use in a wearable artificial kidney. Currently, he is employed as a senior post-doctoral researcher at the University of Twente (BIOS Lab on a Chip group) and the University Medical Center Utrecht (department of Nephrology and Hypertension). Part of his UMCU appointment is detached at research institute Imec NL. He tries to bring together expertise of the technical research institutes for projects focused on the development of microdevices of artificial and implantable kidney systems and environmental applications. Some of the projects and grants he is involved in can be found under the research tab.
Research
As an Assistant Professor at UMCU and a researcher at the University of Twente, I have established a dedicated research line on micro/nanotechnology for artificial kidney systems. I supervise four PhD students and one postdoc, guiding them in cutting-edge projects that I have initiated through grant applications and strategic collaborations.
Within the NXT GEN growth fund, subsidized by the Dutch government, I am leading the establishment of a state-of-the-art test lab at UMCU. This facility is designed to expedite the translation of artificial kidney innovations from bench to bedside in collaboration with both academic and industrial partners. The test lab is equipped with advanced systems for in-vitro and in-vivo studies, including real-time monitoring of protein-bound uremic toxins, testing the durability of miniaturized hemofilters, and developing sorbents for portable dialysis machines.
These test facilities and collaborations are being actively utilized in several projects, including the UKID project, where we develop sorbent technology for portable artificial kidneys, and the MI-TRAM project, focusing on non-invasive methods for improving protein-bound toxin removal for kidney patients. Additionally, I lead a work package within the KIDNEW project, collaborating with IMEC and Utrecht University to integrate a miniaturized silicon-based flat membrane hemofilter with a bio-artificial kidney module. In this project, we developed a rapid prototyping lab critical to our advancements. I have also secured funding for the MICROMERULUS project, where I am developing novel, ultra-strong silicon nitride membranes with specialized coatings for use in artificial kidneys. For this, I have partnered with the Membrane Science and Technology group at the University of Twente, experts in novel membrane coatings.
F.P. Wieringa, PhD ing.
Prinicipal Scientist (IMEC-NL), Visiting Associate Professor (UMCU)
Biography
Fokko Pieter Wieringa (PhD) is Principal Scientist within the Health Department of IMEC the Netherlands, and part-time associate professor of medical technology at UMC Utrecht.
37 years MedTech experience & (co)inventor of 26 granted patents. Specialized on interactions & spectral response of electricity & light with the human body, and medical device safety in general. Co-authored several international safety standards & EU-Directive on Optical Radiation Safety. Core driver of Dutch Kidney Foundations’ NeoKidney initiative to develop a portable artificial kidney. European liaison to the FDA/ASN Kidney Health Initiative (KHI) and co-author of their international roadmap.
Strong interest in human factor engineering & interdisciplinary research. Member of Photonics21, IEC/ISO & AAMI. Chairman of WG3 “Breakthrough Innovation” of the European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA).
T. Irmak, PhD ir.
Postdoctoral researcher
Biography
Research
My research focuses on the development and testing of various artificial kidney components, with work spanning membrane hemocompatibility, full-scale device manufacturing, and bioreactor development.
S. Swapnasrita, PhD ir.
Postdoctoral researcher
Biography
Research
My research focuses on computational modelling and data-driven optimization for dialysis devices and other healthcare applications.
J.G. Brás, MSc.
PhD Candidate
Biography
João Brás received his BSc and MSc in Biomedical Engineering at Nova University, Portugal, with an exchange period at Groningen University. The MSc had a specialization in electronics with a thesis on the design of medical plasma devices. He started his professional career as a software engineer in the telecom and automotive industries, centered on high-throughput data pipelines. Currently, he is a PhD candidate at UMC Utrecht (Department of Nephrology).
Research
My research focusses on the development of novel, non-invasive methods to improve the removal of protein-bound uremic toxins in hemodialysis, in partnership with Imec NL, Utrecht University and RWTH Aachen.
D.P. Bolhuis, MD MSc.
PhD Candidate
Biography
Dian Bolhuis obtained an Erasmus Mundus master degree in Innovative Medicine at Heidelberg University (Germany) and Uppsala University (Sweden) for which she received an EIT Health scholarship. During this master program, Dian worked on in vitro and in vivo models of chronic kidney disease and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Because of her passion for patient care and clinical translational research, she decided to pursue a medical degree at the Utrecht University, which she obtained in 2024.
Dian started working as a PhD candidate at the University Medical Center Utrecht (Department of Nephrology and Hypertension) in 2023.
Research
My research focuses on clinical studies to test new dialysis devices and to explore patients’ preferences regarding these developments. Furthermore, I set up a clinical study to examine drug-toxin interactions in patients with chronic kidney disease, and I’m working on in vivo models to test new hemodialysis membranes.
M.D.P. Ekhart, MSc.
PhD Candidate
Biography
Martijn did his BSc and MSc in Wageningen, studying Molecular Lifesciences. He mainly focused on various aspects related to chemistry ranging from spectroscopy and imaging to polymer chemistry and microfluidics. During his masters, he also joined the SensUs student competition with a team from Wageningen University. During this competition he developed a biosensor for early sepsis diagnostics. Following this student challenge, his team became a start-up for further development of their technique. Martijn left the startup to further focus on his studies and his PhD at the UMCU, UU and WUR.
Research
My PhD project is a collaboration between UMC Utrecht, Utrecht University and Wageningen University. At these institutions, I am working on the development of urea sorbents. These sorbents are to be used for dialysis generation during portable dialysis. I am developing ninhydrin-based polymers, which have already been shown to bind with urea, but not yet at large enough capacity. Therefore, I am looking for solutions to improve their urea binding capacity by increasing their reactivity.
C.L. Tsai, MSc.
PhD candidate
Biography
Chang-Lung (Jan) Tsai is a master’s student in Biomedical Engineering at Delft University of Technology. Before starting his graduate studies, he worked in the medical device industry in Taiwan for several years as a mechanical engineer in manufacturing and R&D. He received a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from National Taiwan University in 2015. He was also a research student at the Tokyo Institute of Technology during his final year of undergraduate studies and participated in research on biomechanics and robotics. Born in Cebu, the Philippines, and raised in Taiwan, he has developed an interest in the design, fabrication, and translation of medical devices for low- and middle-income countries, hoping to narrow global gaps and improve accessibility and sustainability in healthcare.
Research
During my PhD I will focus on technologies that will increase the sustainability of hemodialysis. My project is part of the KITNEWCARE project and the ESCH-R project, which is a collaboration between the UMCU and TU Delft.
T.A. Alcerreca Valdez, MSc.
PhD candidate
Biography
Tadeo Alcerreca received his BSc in Chemical Engineering at the University of Sonora, Mexico, and his MSc in Nanotechnology at the University of Twente. Before his graduate degree, he worked in the water treatment industry in Mexico as a project engineer, in charge of design and startup of several industrial projects regarding filtration, ionic exchange, reverse osmosis, and wastewater treatment systems. During his master´s degree, he specialized in nanofluidics and Lab-on-a-Chip devices. His MSc thesis work at the BIOS Lab-on-a-Chip group, under the guidance of prof. Mathieu Odijk and dr. ir. Jeroen Vollenbroek, explored the fabrication of silicon-based membranes, as well as polyelectrolyte coatings, for implantable artificial kidney applications. Currently, he is employed as a PhD candidate at the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU, department of Nephrology and Hypertension) and a guest position at the University of Twente.
Research
My current project is a continuation of my MSc. research and related to investigating the development and testing of nanomembranes capable of being used as an implantable artificial kidney. I focus on the use of semiconductor processing techniques for nanomembrane development and explore the possibilities for blood/bio-compatible coatings.
T.F. Verburg, MSc.
PhD candidate
Biography
Tibo Verburg obtained his BSc in Biomedical Engineering from Eindhoven University of Technology and his MSc Bio Inspired Innovation from Utrecht University. During his Master’s, he did internships in amongst others the Regenerative Medicine Center Utrecht. He worked at sustainable network organization MVO Nederland, where he deepened his experience with sustainability.
Research
Currently, he is a PhD candidate at UMC Utrecht, on the topic of sustainable kidney care.
A. Fehintola, MSc.
Visiting PhD candidate
Biography
Abass Fehintola is a PhD candidate at Trinity College Dublin, where his doctoral research focuses on the environmental sustainability of kidney care as part of the EU-funded KitNewCare initiative.
Abass holds dual master’s degrees in Materials Engineering from KU Leuven (Belgium), where he focused on additive manufacturing and fatigue behaviour of titanium alloys for biomedical and aerospace applications, and in Materials Science from the University of Milano-Bicocca (Italy), funded by EIT RawMaterials. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering from the Federal University of Technology Akure (Nigeria).
He is passionate about bridging clinical practice and sustainability science, with the goal of advancing greener and more resilient dialysis pathways worldwide.
Research
He applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to dialysis modalities, evaluating the full environmental footprint of haemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis across multiple European clinical centres. This work involves establishing baseline datasets to identify hotspots in energy use, material consumption, and waste generation, while also exploring innovations such as central concentrate delivery systems, dialyzer reuse technologies, and home haemodialysis to reduce the carbon footprint of kidney replacement therapy.
S. Verbakel, MSc.
Visiting PhD candidate
Biography
Sjoerd Verbakel received his MSc in Biology at the Radboud University in the Netherlands. During his master he followed the specialization Science, Management and Innovation where he learned how to quantify environmental impacts with life cycle assessment. He applied this methodology in this master internship at the Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital to compare the environmental impact of different inhalers and investigated what the challenges and solutions are to implement a sustainable inhaler in the healthcare sector.
Research
Currently, he is pursuing a PhD at Radboudumc and Amsterdam UMC. In his research he quantifies the environmental impact of care pathways of patients with kidney failure, including dialysis, kidney transplantation and conservative kidney management. Moreover, he investigates how life cycle assessments for care pathways can be standardized to ensure that results can be comparable.
A.A.F. Crooijmans
Dialysis nurse and staff member for KitNewCare
Biography
Guus Crooijmans is a specialized dialysis nurse since 2000, and Clinical Research Coordinator since 20 13. Has worked in all hemodialysis settings available in Dutch Healthcare: Home-, Micro-clinic (HUB), Regional incentre, Nocturnal incentre, University and acute settings as well as commercial (Clinical Application Specialist).
Z. Chasapopoulou, MSc.
Research Assistant
Biography
Zoi Chasapopoulou is a research assistant and her scientific journey started with a B.Sc. in Molecular Biology & Genetics (Democritus University of Thrace, Greece), followed by an Erasmus+ traineeship at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, where she also completed her M.Sc. in Medical Neurosciences. Beyond technical expertise, her academic experience also includes contributions to three peer-reviewed publications in pharmacogenomics, Parkinson’s disease, and a systematic review on Huntington’s disease.
Research
The accumulation of protein-bound uremic toxins (PBUTs) in patients undergoing dialysis contributes to uremic symptoms and systemic complications due to insufficient clearance. Despite their clinical significance, the comparative effectiveness of PBUT removal across dialysis modalities and relative to healthy individuals remains unclear. Together with Dian, we aim to address this gap through a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing relevant clinical and biochemical outcomes.
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If you have any questions about our research or are interested in potential collaborations, we’d love to hear from you. Whether you’re a researcher, clinician, or industry partner, feel free to reach out to explore how we can work together to advance artificial kidney technologies.
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