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Our laboratory focusses on placenta research in collaboration with specialists from the departments of Neonatology, Obstetric Medicine, Obstetrics & Fetal Medicine, Pathology, Pharmacy and Pharmacology.

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We research the placenta, as the maternal-fetal interface, in relation to pregnancy-related disorders such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes and preterm birth, but also regarding maternal-fetal transport over the placenta. 

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We aim for a translational approach, aiming for our results to go from 'bench to bedside' for improved outcomes for both mother and child. 

placenta perfusion setup

Welcome to
The RotterdamPlacentaLab

Get to know our team

Currently working as a physician-researcher to achieve my PhD, my main focus is the role of early-onset preeclampsia on long term cardiovascular health. Though my research has a clinical focus, I work with my colleagues on better understanding the placental function and its role in pregnancy pathology.

Sahil Sabnani, MD

My research investigates the endocannabinoid system in the placenta, which is crucial for healthy development. In preeclampsia, this system is disrupted, though the exact mechanisms are unclear. Additionally, I’m investigating the effects of cannabis use during pregnancy, which is linked to preeclampsia, to explore how it impacts placental function.

Madhavi Harhangi, MSc

I am a postdoctoral researcher with a passion for developing tissue-like models by blending (computational) biology and engineering. My work is centered on the maternal-fetal interface, with a specific focus on creating innovative placental models, such as trophoblast organoids and placenta-on-a-chip systems.

Olivier Schaffers, MSc

Tim Korevaar is an obstetric internist and endocrinologist with a specific interest in gestational and placental endocrinology. His research is focused on the physiology and clinical consequences of gestational thyroid disease, steroid hormones, glucose homeostasis and endocrine disrupting chemicals. He supports the placenta lab by thinking about bench-to-bedside translations and vice versa, and to fully leverage the potential of the placental lab models to perform endocrinological studies

Tim Korevaar, MD, PhD

Professor Dr. Irwin Reiss is neonatologist at Erasmus MC – Sophia Children's Hospital in Rotterdam, Netherlands. He specializes in Neonatology, with a research focus on cardiopulmonary adaptation in preterm infants and pulmonary vascular disease in bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Professor Reiss is also a member of the Placenta Lab, contributing to studies on placental function and its impact on neonatal health. He has co-authored over 400 international peer-reviewed publications.

Prof. dr. Irwin Reiss

As a pharmacologist, I have always been interested in novel drugs, and given my research topic hypertension, this concerned antihypertensive drugs, in particular drugs interfering with the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Over the last decade, interest has moved into the direction of hypertension in cancer patients and pregnant women, where endothelin receptor blockers might be of advantage.

Prof. dr. Jan Danser

I am a medical doctor currently working on my PhD research, mainly focusing on preeclampsia. I am mostly involved in this research from a more clinical perspective, but I am also involved in the placenta lab trying to involve clinical perspective into the lab.

Ans Kluivers, MD

I am an internist specializing in obstetric medicine at Erasmus MC, dedicated to improving maternal and fetal health. My research focuses on high-risk pregnancies, including pre-eclampsia, using glucose sensors, placental perfusion, and placenta explant models to study complications and enhance outcomes. By bridging clinical practice and research, I aim to develop innovative solutions for better care.

Koen Verdonk, MD, PhD

Get in touch with us!

Dr. Molewaterplein 40

Room Ee-1418 - RotterdamPlacentaLab

3015 GD Rotterdam

The Netherlands

RotterdamPlacentaLab@erasmusmc.nl

Contact us

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