Within my research group we are investigating the role of thyroid hormone on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This disease currently affects 30% of the population. Recently, thyroid hormone analogs are the first approved drug for MASLD. It is intruiging that altough the effects of thyroid hormone are thought to be metabolic, also anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties exist. Within the Endocrine Laboratory we are investigating these effects to understand the beneficial effects and develop more targeted interventions. Within this research line I am also the project leader on a nationwide clinical study combining treatment with thyroid hormone with the active thyroid hormone (T3). I am investigating with liver MRI and fibroscan whether this is beneficial on a grant from the European Thyroid Association. 

Second, I am currently the work package leader in the menopause consortium in which we will study the effects of estrogen on diabetes and MASLD in our in vitro models. We collaborate with TNO to investigate these effects also in organoids. 

I am the secretary of the Dutch Thyroid Research Foundation and on the executive committee of the European Thyroid Association. Furthermore, I have co-organized the AGEM-MASLD symposium over the past years and am on the Fulbright selection committee. 

Thyroid, Liver, Metabolism, Metabolic dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), Thyroid hormone analogs