My main research field concerns studies on HPV related genital (pre)cancers. I am project leader or co-PI on many research projects and have initiated multiple multicentre clinical studies (both WMO and non-WMO studies). As a pathologist, I am responsible for the pathology review of involved patient material. Together with prof. Renske Steenbergen, we lead our research group and I have an active supervision role in many projects. This research line embodies a translational pipeline from cancer biology to biomarker discovery towards clinical validation (see www.hpvstudies.nl). The strength of this research line relates to the fact that in vitro studies using unique model systems run in parallel to molecular discovery and validation studies on well-characterized patient cohorts with clinical specimens. My current projects focus on identification and detection of biomarkers for cancer risk stratification of anogenital precursor lesions and studies in which non-invasive sample types including urine are collected to search for biomarkers to detect gynaecologic (pre)cancer. Our research team is highly interdisciplinary and consists of clinicians, molecular biologists and biostatisticians. For many years, my clinical partners are both from Amsterdam UMC and from NKI-AVL and I collaborate with many gynaecologists and pathologists from other hospitals.

As pathologist within Amsterdam UMC, I am team chair of the group of pathologists who is involved in the field of Gynaecopathology. I am member of the weekly MDT for gynaecologic oncology-related patient care at Amsterdam UMC. For gynaecologists, medical oncologists and radiotherapists of Amsterdam UMC (both locations), hospital Amstelland and regional clinics (Women’s Healthcare Center Amsterdam), I am first point of contact for when it concerns gynaecopathology-related issues (i.e. patient care, research, education, teaching and/or ‘waving’). I chair the monthly meetings of the GPA panel (discussing gynaecopathology cases) from >12 different hospitals participate (including AUMC, EMC, UMCU, Radboud, MUMC, UZ Gent, AVL-NKI and regional referral hospitals). In 2018, I was one of the initiators of the Nederlandse Werkgroep Gynaecologische Pathologie (NWGP/expertise group Gynaecopathology of the NVVP) which I chaired until 2023. In collaboration with PALGA (the national pathology registry), I have developed the synoptic reporting module for cervical pathology and am currently developing the module for vulvar pathology. These synoptic reporting modules form an important basis for clinicians and researchers as well as cancer and quality registrations. I further participate in multidisciplinary working groups of multiple gynaecologic guidelines both within the Center of Gynaecologic Oncology Amsterdam (CGOA) and nationally (cervical cancer, VIN, and vulvar cancer). I am board member of the werkgroep cervix uteri (WCU).