Dannis van Vuurden is working as a pediatric oncologist and Principal Investigator at the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology. His specific focus, both in the clinic as in translational research, is on pediatric high-grade brain tumors, with an emphasis on pediatric high-grade glioma and DIPG. 

He obtained his PhD in 2014 at the VU University Amsterdam, with his thesis entitled: 'Innovative treatment targets in pediatric high-grade brain tumors', studying new targets in vitro for potential translation to the clinic. 

He combines clinical work with translational research, leading translational pediatric neuro-oncology projects, translating new therapies from the lab to the clinic.  

His preclinical research line focuses on convection-enhanced delivery (CED) and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) mediated blood-brain barrier disruption to enhance drug delivery in diffuse adult and pediatric high grade glioma models. 

He is developing early phase clinical trials, such as a study of convection-enhanced intra-tumoral drug delivery (CED) in patients with DIPG. Furthermore, a preclinical CED program is being developed at the Princess Máxima Center. 

He is an active member of the Novel Therapeutics Research Committee of the Dutch Childhood Oncology Group (DCOG). As chair of the DIPG Network (since 2012) of the International Society of Pediatric Oncology Europe (SIOPE) he has created a European DIPG Registry, which allows registration of all European DIPG patients for research and future collaborative international trials in DIPG. He currently chairs the high-grade glioma and DIPG working group of SIOPE.

 

Jasper van der Lugt is working as a pediatric oncologist at the Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology.  Together with the neurosurgeon and the neurologist, he takes care of patients with brain tumours. He has a coordinating role and is responsible for the chemotherapeutic treatment. In addition, he is involved in research into new drugs, especially for children with brain tumours.
 His main research interest is the therapeutic modulation of the immune system.

"We are looking for a radically different method of treating brain tumours in children. One promising way is to use the child's own immune system. When cancer occurs, the cancer cells suppress the immune system. There is increasing evidence that this is the case to an extreme extent in children's brain tumours. The aim of our project is to make the immune cells active. We want to achieve this with the help of viruses. It has been proven that certain viruses can destroy tumour cells, which the immune system can 'see' and clean up. We want to investigate this method step-by-step in the Máxima hospital, first in the laboratory and eventually in patients. Good results have already been achieved in adults, partly thanks to the efforts of the Casper Foundation. In order to progress further, we are working closely with Erasmus MC and UMC Utrecht.”