Prof. Dr. M. (Maria) Yazdanbakhsh

I head the Leiden University Center of Infectious Diseases (LUCID) which engages in basic and clinical research and employs an interdisciplinary group of basic and clinical scientists who focus on developing novel vaccines, drugs and diagnostics to prevent and cure infectious diseases. I also chair the LUMC Global committee to stimulate internationalization at home and abroad, to create a community of researchers with a strong international outlook, and to prepare our students for a future that is Global, in particular those who are interested in infectious diseases, as infectious diseases have no borders. I hold visiting professorships at the University of Indonesia in Jakarta, University of Hasanuddin in Makassar, Indonesia, and Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Gabon.

My research interests have been in understanding the immune system of populations with varying degree of exposure to microorganisms and parasites, which can influence disease patterns and vaccine responsiveness across the globe. I am the winner of the Spinoza prize 2021. I am also an elected fellow of the Royal Academy of Sciences (KNAW), the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities (KHMW), the Academia European and the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). My recent grants comprise of: ERC advanced in 2022, NIH in 2022, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in 2023. I have been involved in training of Indonesian, Gabonese, Ghanaian, Senegalese and Ugandan medical doctors and basic scientists interested in research. I believe in capacity building to allow equal partnership that results in a win-win collaboration.