Personal profile
Research interests
Background
The clinical application of liquid biopsies (i.e. biomarkers in body fluids) is challenged by variability introduced during sample collection and processing.
My research focuses on improving the reliability and clinical applicability of liquid biopsy–based diagnostics, with a particular emphasis on understanding and controlling sources of variability in blood-derived biomarkers.
Goal of my research
- To improve the reproducibility and reliability of blood-based biomarkers by identifying and controlling pre-analytical variability
- To advance the use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as biomarkers for disease detection, monitoring, and treatment selection
- To develop reproducible liquid biopsy workflows and technologies for translation into clinical practice, ensuring real-world applicability and impact
Ultimately, my research aims to improve patient outcomes by enabling earlier disease detection and more precise and effective treatment strategies.
Profile and team
I obtained my industrial PhD in Barcelona and was awarded a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship (MSCA-PF) in 2022. In 2025, I received a VENI grant from NWO and I was co-applicant on a funded NWO Perspectief programme: Secret-omics.
My research is embedded within the Amsterdam Vesicle Center (AVC) in Amsterdam UMC, where I lead three research projects and contribute to the supervision and mentoring of students and researchers. In addition, I am co-founder of the start-up company EVcount, where I currently serve as Chief Board Strategy Officer. I served as Chair for the Amsterdam UMC Postdoc Network from 2022-2025.
I have received multiple awards for my research, including prizes for oral and poster presentations at leading international conferences.
Specialisation
My areas of expertise are:
- Liquid biopsy biomarker discovery and validation
- Reproducibility of blood-based biomarker assays
- Pre-analytical variables in blood collection and plasma processing
- Detection and characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs), including EV-RNA biomarkers
- Flow cytometry-based detection of nanoparticles
- Translation of biomarker technologies into clinical practice
- Oncology, cardiovascular disease and endometriosis
Related documents
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, H2020-MSCA-ITN: European Liquid Biopsies Academy (ELBA) , Pangaea Oncology
1 Feb 2018 → 1 Feb 2021
Award Date: 28 May 2021
Master, Oncology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2 Aug 2015 → 31 Aug 2017
Award Date: 31 Aug 2017
Bachelor, Biomedical Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
2 Sept 2012 → 14 Aug 2015
Award Date: 14 Aug 2015
External positions
Associate Research Scientist, Pangaea Oncology
2 Sept 2017 → 1 Feb 2018
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being
Fingerprint
- 1 Similar Profiles
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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RNA-top: RNA topology of test samples and single extracellular vesicles: how cells package RNA messages to communicate (MSCA-PF)
Bracht, J. (Principal investigator)
01/02/2023 → 30/04/2026
Project: Research
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AQrate: A quantitative sequencing approach for EV-miRNAs to generate cancer signatures
Bracht, J. (Principal investigator)
01/02/2021 → 31/01/2023
Project: Research
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Platelet removal from human blood plasma improves detection of extracellular vesicle-associated miRNA
Bracht, J. W. P., Los, M., van Eijndhoven, M. A. J., Bettin, B., van der Pol, E., Pegtel, D. M. & Nieuwland, R., 1 Feb 2023, In: Journal of extracellular vesicles. 12, 2, p. e12302 12302.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile31 Downloads (Pure) -
Choice of size-exclusion chromatography column affects recovery, purity, and miRNA cargo analysis of extracellular vesicles from human plasma
Bracht, J. W. P., Los, M., van der Pol, E., Verkuijlen, S. A. W. M., van Eijndhoven, M. A. J., Pegtel, D. M. & Nieuwland, R., 1 Sept 2024, In: Extracellular Vesicles and Circulating Nucleic Acids. 5, 3, p. 597-608 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile36 Downloads (Pure) -
Clinical applications and challenges in the field of extracellular vesicles
Nieuwland, R., Enciso-Martine, A. & Bracht, J. W. P., 31 Dec 2023, In: Medizinische Genetik. 35, 4, p. 251-258Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile33 Downloads (Pure) -
Analysis of extracellular vesicle mRNA derived from plasma using the nCounter platform
Bracht, J. W. P., Gimenez-Capitan, A., Huang, C.-Y., Potie, N., Pedraz-Valdunciel, C., Warren, S., Rosell, R. & Molina-Vila, M. A., 12 Feb 2021, In: Scientific reports. 11, 1, p. 3712Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile7 Downloads (Pure) -
Swarm Intelligence-Enhanced Detection of Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Using Tumor-Educated Platelets
Best, M. G., Sol, N., In 't Veld, S. G. J. G., Vancura, A., Muller, M., Niemeijer, A.-L. N., Fejes, A. V., Tjon Kon Fat, L.-A., Huis In 't Veld, A. E., Leurs, C., Le Large, T. Y., Meijer, L. L., Kooi, I. E., Rustenburg, F., Schellen, P., Verschueren, H., Post, E., Wedekind, L. E., Bracht, J. & Esenkbrink, M. & 33 others, , 14 Aug 2017, In: Cancer cell. 32, 2, p. 238-252.e9Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Activities
- 1 Membership of board
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Amsterdam UMC (Organisational unit)
Bracht, J. (Chair)
1 Apr 2022 → 1 Aug 2025Activity: Membership › Membership of board › Academic