prof. dr. Bas Bloem

About Bas Bloem

Bas Bloem (1967), neurologist and Professor of Neurological Movement Disorders, has worked in the Department of Neurology at Radboud university medical center since 2001. In 2002, he founded the Radboudumc Center of Expertise for Parkinson's & Movement Disorders. The Center of Expertise strives to provide the best possible care for people with Parkinson's disease, parkinsonism or a rare hereditary movement disorder. A central part of our approach is a multidisciplinary and person-centered approach. The Center of Expertise has been recognized as a Center of Excellence since 2005.

Bloem works closely with Dr Marten Munneke. Their joint mission is to improve the care for persons with Parkinson’s disease or parkinsonism. In 2004 they founded ParkinsonNet, a nationwide network of over 4000 healthcare professionals (reference date 01-01-2024) who are specialized in the treatment and management of persons with Parkinson's disease or parkinsonism. Research shows that this innovative care concept leads to better care, a decrease in disease complications and a significant reduction in healthcare costs. ParkinsonNet has received multiple awards, including the Value-Based Healthcare Prize (in 2015) and the Value-Based Health Care Inspirational Award (in 2021). Through collaborations with healthcare institutions in the United States, Norway and Luxembourg, the ParkinsonNet concept has also been introduced internationally.

Bloem's scientific research focuses primarily on Parkinson's disease, with various specific areas of interest. Since his PhD research, Bloem’s research has included studies of gait and balance disorders, and the development and evaluation of person-centered medicine focused on people with Parkinson's disease. His present research also focuses on wearable sensors, including a focus on machine learning and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, since 2018 he has performed much work on the relationship between Parkinson's and exposure to toxins in our living environment. In 2022, Bas Bloem received the prestigious Stevin award because of the great societal impact of the research that he and his team perform in the Parkinson field. He now uses the Stevin award for new pioneering research aimed at the prevention of Parkinson’s disease. Together with colleagues, he wrote the book 'The Parkinson's Pandemic. A Prescription for Action' to raise more awareness for the need for prevention. His educational video for the University for the Netherlands was viewed over 1.2 million times.

Bloem has published more than 1,000 scientific papers, including more than 850 peer-reviewed papers in international journals. He also supervised 64 completed doctoral students as (co)supervisor.

Education

• 1979-1985: High school (Gymnasium alpha and beta, Sint Maartens College, Voorburg, with honours)
• 1985-1991: University (Medicine, Leiden University)
• 1989-1990: Specialization in movement disorders (The Parkinson's Institute, Sunneyvale, California, USA) Educators: Dr. D.J. Beckley, Dr. J.W. Langston
• 1991-1993: University (Medicine, Leiden University, with honours)
• 1994-2000: Specialization Neurology (Leiden University Medical Center) Trainer: Prof. Dr. R.A.C. Roos
• 1994: Promotion (University of Leiden) Supervisors: Prof. Dr. R.A.C. Roos & Prof. Dr. G.W. Bruyn. Thesis title: Postural reflexes in Parkinson's disease
• 2000-2001: Specialization in Movement Disorders (MRC Human Movement and Balance Unit, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, England) Trainers: Prof. N.P. Quinn, Prof. J.C. Rothwell

Personal prizes & awards

• NWO-Stevin grant (2022)
• Value-Based Health Care Inspirational Award for ParkinsonNet (2021)
• Tom Isaacs award (2018)
• Pearl of the Nijmegen Economic Board for ParkinsonNet (2017)
• Holst Memorial Lecture award (2015)
• National Value Based Health Care Award for ParkinsonNet (2015)
• Nijmegen Citizen of the Year (2012)
• ParkinsonNet chosen as Pearl of Pearls by ZonMw (2011)
• National Care Hero, on the theme "patient centric" as part of the Working on Care program (VWS) (2011)
• Radboud Medal for exceptional services to Radboud university medical center (together with Prof. Dr. Jan Kremer) (2009)
• Recognition of Radboudumc Center of Expertise for Parkinson's & Movement Disorders as a Center of Excellence by the National Parkinson's Foundation (granted annually since 2005)

Additional Functions

• Fellow of the European Academy of Neurology (since 2023)
• Co-founder and board member of the Dutch Parkinson's Scientists (2021-present)
• Co-editor-in-chief of Journal of Parkinson's Disease (2020-present)
• Member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences (since 2020)
• Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (since 2019)
• Member of the editorial board, Practical Neurology (2018 – present)
• Member Critical Path Institute for Parkinson (2018 – present)
• Member of the Royal Holland Society of Sciences (since 2018)
• Member of the Academia Europaea (since 2018)
• Executive Scientific Advisory Board of Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research (2017 – present)
• Member Editorial Board of Digital Biomarkers (2017 – present)
• Officer of the Movement Disorder Society (currently Secretary) (2017 – present)
• Member of multiple Task Forces of the Movement Disorder Society (e.g. Telemedicine) (2012 – present)
• Member of the Medical Advisory Council, Dutch Parkinson Patient Association (2006 – present)

Correspondence with the EFSA

Bas Bloem is collaborating with several organizations for his research on the relationship between Parkinson's disease and exposure to environmental toxins.

In 2023, the European Union voted to renew the marketing authorization of glyphosate. Correspondence about this took place via e-mail with EFSA staff. Access to this correspondence was requested by an unknown external party; for the sake of transparency, the full correspondence can be read here for all other interested parties.