prof. dr. ir. Marcel Verbeek

About Marcel Verbeek

The focus of my research is on neurodegenerative disorders. These comprise disorders that affect large numbers of people worldwide (Alzheimer’s disease, Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Parkinson’s disease), but also rare, genetic movement disorders (neurometabolic disorders). Although traditional classified as distinct disorders, they have many aspects in common. For example, the underlying mechanisms of disease, comprising protein misfolding, dysfunction of the neurovascular unit, excess neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, disturbed neurotransmitter function and cognitive decline are common denominators in all these disorders. These disorders also have similar diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in common: specific diagnosis of the non-genetic, clinically heterogeneous, disorders is often difficult based on clinical grounds only and requires specific biomarkers of disease, that are linked to the underlying pathophysiology. Moreover, because of the heterogeneity in clinical presentation, a one-size-fits-all therapy is not suitable for all patients with the same disorder. Personalized therapy should, therefore, be guided by personalized diagnostics and biomarkers.

Personal prizes & awards

• Combined grant – Maag-Lever-Darm-Stichting, Stichting Woelse Waard, Parkinson NL: Microbiome-mitochondrial interactions impact neuronal circuits and gut-brain connections in Parkinson’s disease
• ZonMW – Dementia Program: TAP-Dementia
• ZonMW – Dementia Program: Mechanisms of Dementia (MODEM)
• Alzheimer Nederland: Clinical correlates of cerebral Amyloid angiopathy subTypes (CAT)
• Stichting Alkemade – Keuls: Blood AADC enzyme activity as a biomarker for ‘peripheral levodopa resistance’
• Ever Pharma, investigator-initiated collaboration: Subcutaneous apomorphine as a biomarker-based treatment for early Parkinson’s disease

Additional Functions

• Member of the Advisory Board – International Society for CSF Analysis and Clinical Neurochemistry
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Board – AADC Research Trust
• Member of the Scientific Advisory Board – Alzheimer Nederland
• Research collaboration with Ever Pharma (no personal fees)
• Principal Investigator (PI) – Radboudumc
• Chair – Radboudumc Technology Centers Board (Radboudumc)