Ramon Arens appointed professor

Connection between research and patient care

T cells play an important role in our defenses against viral infections and malignant cells. Knowledge about these cells is very useful in fighting disease. In immunotherapy, T cells are often used directly to attack infections or tumors.

One of his efforts is to connect research and patient care. In doing so, he wants to strengthen knowledge about T cells in cancer and viral pathogens. Moreover, he wants to better understand how immunotherapies work in order to improve them. He does this through fundamental research (gaining as much knowledge as possible about the fundamentals) and clinical trials (studies with patients). He also has an advisory role here for researchers and physicians. In addition, X teaches immunology classes to students, both fundamental and translational, translating knowledge from fundamental research into patient care.

Resume

Ramon Arens studied Medical Biology at the University of Amsterdam and carried out his PhD research at Sanquin and Amsterdam University Medical Center in the laboratory of Prof. René van Lier. After obtaining his PhD in 2003, he performed postdoctoral research in the group of Prof. Ton Schumacher at the Immunology Division of the Netherlands Cancer Institute till 2006, which was followed by a position as a research scientist at the La Jolla Institute of Allergy and Immunology in the United States.

In 2010 he became Assistant Professor in the Immunohematology department at the LUMC, and in 2017 Associate Professor. He became full professor within the Immunology department at the LUMC in 2024. He is also appointed as Honorary investigator at the University of Oxford.