As a practicing paediatric oncologist with a research career in fundamental paediatric cancer biology (Senior Clinical Investigator with the Research Foundation – Flanders) I aim to translate basic mechanistic insights on the development of paediatric cancer to clinical innovation. My research focuses on the development of novel diagnostic and disease follow up tools by applying next generation sequencing technology to the analysis of liquid biopsies of children with solid tumors.

As a clinical trial lead in the frontline, relapse and early phase treatment of solid paediatric tumours in Belgium I am also very much invested in finding novel treatment strategies. Through the fundamental study of neuroblastoma and sarcoma disease biology we aim to identify novel drug targets, treatment strategies and drug response biomarkers and bring much needed innovation to the treatment of children with cancer. The pursuit of resolution of regulatory and organizational barriers in the development of these new treatment strategies makes sure our innovation really reaches the patients in dire need.