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.
Kim Schellekens
Guest PhD student
My name is Kim Schellekens and I am a PhD student in the group of prof. dr. Zwaan since February 2022. During my PhD, I will combine clinical research projects at the Trial and Data Centre of the Princess Máxima Centre with pre-clinical projects at the Drost lab. My main research topic at the Drost lab is evaluating the efficacy of multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitors in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma and synovial sarcoma organoids.
In my spare time I like to cook and have dinner with friends and family, read a good book, and walk or run in the forest.