I joined the Princess Máxima Center as a basic researcher and pediatrician in training in June 2018. My primary research interest lies in understanding the molecular biology of pediatric soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and to use that knowledge to develop new treatment options for patients suffering from these tumors. To this end, I study establishment procedures for novel preclinical models of pediatrist STS (i.e., tumor organoid models) as well as bulk and single-cell genomics of these tumors. I am furthermore member of the molecular tumor board of the Dutch iTHER as well as the German INFORM pediatric precision medicine trial.
My hobbies include sports (running, bootcamp) and gaming (board games, tabletop role-playing games, video games). I am the proud father of a boy and a girl.
Irene Paassen
PhD student
I am Irene, PhD student in the Drost group since August 2019. I am working on the establishment of patient-derived ATRT tumoroid development and unravelling subtype-specific differences between the distinct subtypes of malignant rhabdoid tumor. We aim to study the heterogeneity within and between rhabdoid samples implementing various techniques such as single-cell RNA+ATAC sequencing, lentiviral-based gene perturbation or high throughput drug screenings.
If I am not running around in the lab, you will probably find me running around Utrecht, the forest or on the athletics track. When not running around outside, you will find me hanging around in the climbing gym in Utrecht or enjoying a craft beer in one of the many pubs in Utrecht.