Theme 2: Perception, Action and Control

Multifactorial eye diseases

The main goals of our research are to understand the molecular disease mechanisms of common forms of vision loss, to determine which molecular factors can influence response to therapy, and to stratify patients for the most optimal therapy based on their molecular profile. Our research focuses on common diseases of the retina, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), central serous retinopathy and retinal detachment. By better understanding the molecular background of these diseases we aim to improve patient care towards personal needs (personalized healthcare).

Current research projects include a VICI Innovational Research Award from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, in which we will identify biomarkers for patient stratification, and will model the disease using an organ-on-a-chip model for AMD. In other projects we are searching for (molecular) biomarkers for disease progression in AMD, and we are investigating the role of the complement system in AMD. We are also performing genetic studies for retinal detachment.

Contact
Name:	A. I. den Hollander
Telephone:	024-3610402
Email:	Anneke.denHollander@radboudumc.nl
Visiting address:	Department of Ophthalmology / Route 409 Geert Grooteplein Zuid 10 6525 GA Nijmegen The Netherlands
Postal address:

Key grants and prizes

VICI Innovational Research Award, Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research, 2017 (Anneke den Hollander)
ERC Proof of Concept Grant, European Research Council, 2017 (Anneke den Hollander)
Cogan Award, Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO), 2015 (Anneke den Hollander)
Radboud Science Award, 2014 (Anneke den Hollander)
Pfizer Ophthalmics Carl Camras Translational Research Award, ARVO Foundation for Eye Research, 2013 (Anneke den Hollander)
Global Ophthalmology Award, Bayer, 2013 (Anneke den Hollander)
ERC Starting Grant, European Research Council, 2012 (Anneke den Hollander)

Publications

van Leeuwen EM, Emri E, Merle BMJ, Colijn JM, Kersten E, Cougnard-Gregoire A, Dammeier S, Meester-Smoor M, Pool FM, de Jong EK, Delcourt C, Rodrigez-Bocanegra E, Biarnés M, Luthert PJ, Ueffing M, Klaver CCW, Nogoceke E, den Hollander AI, Lengyel I. A new perspective on lipid research in age-related macular degeneration. Prog Retin Eye Res. 2018 Nov;67:56-86.
Corominas J, Colijn JM, Geerlings MJ, Pauper M, Bakker B, Amin N, Lores Motta L, Kersten E, Garanto A, Verlouw JAM, van Rooij JGJ, Kraaij R, de Jong PTVM, Hofman A, Vingerling JR, Schick T, Fauser S, de Jong EK, van Duijn CM, Hoyng CB, Klaver CCW, den Hollander AI. Whole-Exome Sequencing in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Identifies Rare Variants in COL8A1, a Component of Bruch's Membrane. Ophthalmology. 2018 Sep;125(9):1433-1443.
Lorés-Motta L, Paun CC, Corominas J, Pauper M, Geerlings MJ, Altay L, Schick T, Daha MR, Fauser S, Hoyng CB, den Hollander AI, de Jong EK. Genome-Wide Association Study Reveals Variants in CFH and CFHR4 Associated with Systemic Complement Activation: Implications in Age-Related Macular Degeneration. Ophthalmology. 2018 Jul;125(7):1064-1074.
Geerlings MJ, Kremlitzka M, Bakker B, Nilsson SC, Saksens NT, Lechanteur YT, Pauper M, Corominas J, Fauser S, Hoyng CB, Blom AM, de Jong EK, den Hollander AI. The Functional Effect of Rare Variants in Complement Genes on C3b Degradation in Patients With Age-Related Macular Degeneration. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2017 Jan 1;135(1):39-46.
Saksens NT, Krebs MP, Schoenmaker-Koller FE, Hicks W, Yu M, Shi L, Rowe L, Collin GB, Charette JR, Letteboer SJ, Neveling K, van Moorsel TW, Abu-Ltaif S, De Baere E, Walraedt S, Banfi S, Simonelli F, Cremers FP, Boon CJ, Roepman R, Leroy BP, Peachey NS, Hoyng CB, Nishina PM, den Hollander AI. Mutations in CTNNA1 cause butterfly-shaped pigment dystrophy and perturbed retinal pigment epithelium integrity. Nature Genet 2016 Feb;48(2):144-51.
van de Ven JPH, Nilsson SC, Tan PL, Buitendijk GHS, Ristau T, Mohlin FC, Nabuurs SB, Schoenmaker-Koller FE, Smailhodzic D, Campochiarro PA, Zack DJ, Duvvari MR, Bakker B, Paun CC, Boon CJF, Uitterlinden AG, Liakopoulos S, Klevering BJ, Fauser S, Daha MR, Katsanis N, Klaver CCW, Blom AM, Hoyng CB, den Hollander AI. (2013) A functional variant in the CFI gene confers a high risk of age-related macular degeneration. Nature Genet, 45:813-817.

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Research Theme 2:
Perception, Action and Decision-making

Research Group
Sensory Disorders - Retinal Dystrophies

Principal Investigator
Prof. Dr. A.I. den Hollander

Group members at the Department of Ophthalmology:

Co-investigator
Carel Hoyng

Postdocs
Laura Lores de Motta
Giuliana Gagliardi

PhD students
Erkin Acar
Anita de Breuk
Birgit Govers
Tom Heesterbeek
Sarah de Jong
Susette Lauwen
Elja Louer (Department of Physiology)
Manon Peeters (Department of Genetics)

Research technicians
Bjorn Bakker
Louet Koolen

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