What is the topic of your PhD project and how does your work look like in practice?
The topic of my PhD is imaging biomarkers in Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA). You may not have heard of this condition before, as it is a rare genetic neurodegenerative movement disorder primarily affecting the cerebellum. This leads to symptoms such as impaired coordination and balance issues. The severity and progression of symptoms can vary strongly between patients, and currently, there is no cure. Our goal is to identify biomarkers that can help predict symptom onset, monitor disease progression, and evaluate the effectiveness of potential treatments in clinical trials.
How does this look like in practice? We are collecting data from SCA1 and SCA3 patients over a two-year period. In those two years, participants visit Radboudumc three times. Each visit starts with an MRI scan, followed by several questionnaires. After lunch, we draw blood, and a neurologist performs a lumbar puncture. The day concludes with a series of cognitive, clinical, and disease-specific tests. Once all the data is collected, we will do a baseline analysis to compare patient data with controls, followed by a longitudinal analysis to identify biomarkers sensitive to changes over time.
What has your career path been so far and how did you come to your current position?
A while ago, I started the Bachelor’s in Medical Biology here in Nijmegen. During my first year, my interest in the brain was already triggered, which led me to choose the Cognitive Neuroscience Master. After finishing my master’s internship, I worked as a research assistant at the neurology department. Toward the end of my first year there, I met Bart, my current supervisor, who was looking for a PhD candidate to join the CureQ consortium. Interestingly, we first crossed paths at a Christmas borrel with my old team. After a more formal meeting a few weeks later, we both felt that this collaboration could be a great fit. Three months later, I officially started my PhD.
What does your perfect weekend look like?
My perfect weekend starts with sleeping in a bit, then go for breakfast at a cute coffee place. If the weather is good, I love to go for a walk in the woods and end the day with a movie or a board game night with friends.
What is the most important advice you want to share with Donders PhD candidates?
Do not forget to enjoy the little things. Sometimes everything feels like too much, too fast, and too overwhelming, making it easy to overlook the things you are proud of. We try to celebrate these moments—whether it is the first inclusion, the last inclusion, a presentation that went well, a paper being accepted, a grant being awarded, or personal milestones. We take a moment together, with cake or simply a good coffee, to appreciate these moments.