In October 2024 the hDMT Management Team (MT) was officially installed, consisting of three enthusiastic young female professionals: Saskia Aan (Manager Science), Hanna Lammertse (Manager Infrastructure) and Sabine Middendorp (Manager Valorization). The MT is led by Janny van den Eijnden-van Raaij (Managing Director) and supported by Emelie Grote (Coordinator hDMT). Current activities within hDMT are aligned, and new strategies, based on ideas and requests for support from the hDMT consortium, are discussed in the MT and worked out further for decision-making in the hDMT Boards. The input from the MT members and collaboration from three different perspectives Science, Infrastructure and Valorization, is a welcome expansion of the hDMT organization.
Manager Science: Saskia Aan
Since March 2024 Saskia Aan joined hDMT as Manager Science. In this role she supports the hDMT researchers in shaping research projects by providing letters of support, facilitating consortium building, offering matchmaking support and representing hDMT in advisory boards and user committees. In addition, she contributes to the growth of the hDMT community by organizing theme group meetings and events, acting as a contact point for members, monitoring their satisfaction, and translating their needs into meaningful activities. For education and training Saskia is mapping existing educational initiatives and member’s needs, addressing any gaps to ensure comprehensive support for the hDMT community. Furthermore, she is highlighting and promoting hDMT’s activities and those of hDMT partner organization across various communication channels, ensuring that the work of hDMT is effectively shared and made visible.
Saskia obtained her master’s degree in biomedical sciences at VU Amsterdam in 2017 after which she joined Stichting Proefdiervrij as advisor Science & Innovation, a position she held for 7 years. During that period, she supported researchers in the development of New Approach Methodologies, fostered collaborations between public and private partners and also set-up and organized the annual event of Stichting Proefdiervrij. As Manager Science she is using her experience to help strengthen and grow the hDMT consortium.
Manager Infrastructure: Hanna Lammertse
As of September 1st, 2024, Hanna Lammertse joined hDMT in the position of Manager Infrastructure. In this role Hanna is setting up hDMT INFRA, the national infrastructure for Organ-on-Chip technology in the Netherlands with different Service Centers of Expertise (SCE). This infrastructure is dedicated to making Microphysiological Systems (MPS), in particular Organ-on-Chip technologies, available for a wide group of (end)users. The aim is to facilitate and enhance the adoption and implementation of MPS-based human models. Hanna is developing the Central Hub, which supports the hDMT INFRA SCEs. The Central Hub is a direct access point to hDMT INFRA, connecting users to one or more SCEs to facilitate the specification of projects/assignments. Hanna’s first focus is on hDMT INFRA StemCells with SCEs on stem cell services at the Medical Centers in Leiden, Utrecht and Rotterdam. In the near future new SCEs such as hDMT INFRA OoCDev at UTwente will become integrated in the infrastructure.
Hanna obtained her PhD in Neurobiology from the VU in 2022, in which she studied the pathological mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental disorders using hiPSC-based disease models and investigated optimal study design & statistical power for hiPSC-based disease modelling. After her PhD, she worked as an innovation consultant advising companies in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and sustainability sectors on project development, consortium building and grant writing. In 2023, she joined the LUMC as project advisor & business developer for the hiPSC & Organ-on-Chip Centre. As Manager Infrastructure she is using her expertise to contribute to the development and strengthening of hDMT INFRA.
Manager Valorization: Sabine Middendorp
Since November 2023, Sabine is project leader of the NXTGEN Hightech One-Stop-Shop project within the Biomed domain. The aim of the One-Stop-Shop is to improve the valorization of cutting-edge biomedical innovations, by supporting activities that allow market entry. These innovations include Lab-on-Chip, Organ-on-Chip, Artificial Organs and Cell Production Technologies. The Biomed ecosystem of 60+ partners consists of developers, suppliers, and end-users, derived from knowledge institutions, governmental organizations as well as companies, ranging from start-ups to large companies. Together, an innovation pipeline is being built by utilizing both existing and newly established specialized facilities, enabling the continuous and scalable production of biomedical products and devices. Regulatory compliance is guaranteed by the establishment and application of dedicated standardization and qualification frameworks. Sabine is in contact with all NXTGEN Hightech Biomed partners, as well as with other NXTGEN domains and related valorization ecosystems funded by the National Growth Fund, such as RegMedXB, CPBT and Oncode Accelerator.
Sabine has a strong track record in basic research, ranging from immunology to stem cell biology. In 2010, she was appointed as Associate Professor at the UMCU and Regenerative medicine center Utrecht (RMCU), where she was leading research on congenital intestinal disease by using patient-derived intestinal organoids. In 2020, she made a transfer to a small biotech company, where she was leading translational research on cell therapy products. As Manager Valorization she is using her skills and network to stimulate the valorization of newly developed biomedical products in the hDMT network.
