Remco Westerink
Head of Neurotoxicology
Remco Westerink (PhD, ERT) is head of the Neurotoxicology Research Group at IRAS since 2005. He is member of the Society of Toxicology (SOT), the Netherlands Society of Toxicology (NVT), and the International Neurotoxicology Association (INA) where he served as President (2017-2019). Currently, he serves as Editor-in-Chief of NeuroToxicology (Elsevier).
Emma Kasteel
Postdoc
Emma Kasteel (PhD, ERT) is a postdoctoral researcher and project manager at IRAS. She completed her PhD in 2021 on Next Generation Risk Assessment of Chemicals, looking into alternative (in vitro/in silico) approaches for toxicity testing. In 2022, she (re)joined the NTX group as a postdoctoral researcher on the MOMENTUM project, which focusses on the human health effects of micro- and nanoplastics.
Heeteak Kang
PhD-student
Heeteak Kang joined the Neurotoxicology group as a part-time PhD-student in July 2023. His research is focused on investigating the acute and chronic neurotoxicological effects of additive by-products(Arvin substances) formed in plastics and found in drinking water. Heeteak is also working as a toxicologist at LyondellBasell since 2019.
Lora Gerber
PhD-student
Lora Gerber started in the Neurotoxicology Research Group as PhD student on the EU-funded TUBE project in Autumn 2019. Her research will focus on assessing the effects of air pollution on in vitro neurotoxicity. To ensure a realistic inhalation exposure scenario, part of her work will be performed at RIVM using air-liquid interface lung models.
Lennart van Melis
PhD-student
Lennart van Melis started as PhD student in the Neurotoxicology Research Group in Autumn 2019. He is working on the EU-funded ENDpoiNTs project, which is focused on investigating the developmental neurotoxicity of endocrine disruptors in vitro. As part of his research, Lennart will also develop new assays and models to improve (developmental) neurotoxicity testing.
Julia Meerman
PhD-student
Julia Meerman started as a PhD student on the Virtual Human Platform for Safety Assessment project at the end of 2021. She is part of the Neurotoxicology Research Group at IRAS and the department for Innovative Testing Strategies at the RIVM. Her research focuses on the mechanisms underlying development of Parkinson’s disease in relation to exposure to pesticides. To improve regulatory risk and safety assessment of pesticides in the future, she will work on developing a novel in vitro test battery.
Gina van Kleef
Technician
Gina van Kleef is one of our research-technicians. Since 1980 she trained dozens of MSc and PhD students how to take care of the cells and learned them to perform voltage-clamp recordings in cultured cells and oocytes. Additionally, she takes care of most daily lab routines and has helped many of the PhD students to finish their thesis just in time!
Pepijn Wopken
Technician
Pepijn Wopken started as a technician in the Neurotox lab in March 2022. He is partially working on the NWO-funded VHP4Safety project which focusses on assessing the safety of chemicals and pharmaceuticals without using laboratory animals. Specifically, he will set up an in-vitro Blood-Brain-Barrier model using differentiated hIPSC’s to test integrity against chemicals. Furthermore, he is responsible for keeping the lab up and running together with Gina.
Jeske Hoogeboom
Technician
Jeske Hoogeboom started as a technician in the Neurotox lab in October 2024. She is working on the INTACT project, which focusses on the application and development of innovative models and test methods in the risk assessments of substances for humans without animal tests. Specifically, she will set up an in-vitro Blood-Brain-Barrier model using differentiated hIPSC’s to test integrity against environmental chemicals. Additionally, multiple in vitro modules (i.e. liver, brain, BBB) will be combined to mimic physiological-relevant exposure and kinetics. Furthermore, she is responsible for keeping the lab up and running together with Pepijn, Gina and Ilia.
Ilia Timpanaro
Technician
Ilia Timpanaro joined the Neurotoxicology lab as a research technician in September 2024. She has a background in neurobiology and epigenetics, as she recently completed her PhD on this topic. She is developing an in vitro model of the human brain to use as a platform for the hazard assessment of chemicals and pharmaceuticals. She is part of the INTACT project, which is aimed at developing innovative models for animal-free toxicology testing.
Students
Manon van Rossum
Masterstudent
Manon van Rossum started as a MSc student Health and Environment on a research project at the Neurotoxicology research group in February 2024. Her research focusses on the neurotoxic effects of micro- and nanoplastics, considering both the uptake and toxicity. Manon has a background in environmental sciences.
John Doe
Masterstudent
John Doe
Masterstudent
