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Meet Janneke Grutters, Professor of early Health Technology Assessment at IQ Health and working at the Radboud University Medical Center since 2012. She is involved in the research programs Non-/minimally invasive cancer treatment, SANITY, Sustainable health systems.
If you weren't a scientist, what do you think you would be doing today?
When I was young, I always wanted to be a writer. I have written many ‘books’ during my childhood. I considered studying journalism or literary studies. At some point however, my uncle advised me that if I wanted to be a writer, I should have something to write about. So eventually I decided to study health sciences. I don’t regret this, as I love working with people, and as a scientist I still get the chance to write and be creative.
If you could solve one major scientific mystery in your lifetime, what would it be and why?
I’m not sure if it counts as a scientific mystery. But I find it deeply problematic that, in general, the largest investments and greatest risks in the development of healthcare innovations are borne by society, while big pharma ultimately reaps the most financial rewards. I once served on a committee for the Heart Foundation, where millions were allocated to consortia aiming to improve patient care. Wonderful work was proposed in these consortia, but ultimately the pharmaceutical industry is needed to scale up the innovations that are being developed. The fact that we, as a society, fund these efforts—only for CEOs of major companies to end up with lavish homes and expensive cars—is something I find hard to accept. That’s why I eventually stepped down from the committee, although of course that doesn’t solve the underlying issue.
If you had a time machine and could travel to any period in history, where would you go and what would you do?
I would travel back to November 2016, when my middle son was in the neonatal intensive care unit at Radboudumc. He passed away from sepsis at just 10 days old. I wish I could return to those precious days, to hold him once more and speak to him.
What's your favorite way to de-stress after a busy day at work?
I love playing a game of tennis with my eldest son. He’s 11 and already plays much better than I do, but I cherish this time while he still wants to play with me. I’m a beginner, but I really enjoy being active together outdoors.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received about conducting research?
Do more of what makes you happy. It may sound a little cliché, but I truly believe that when you understand your strengths and inner drivers, you can align them with every stage of the research process. In doing so, you’ll not only enjoy the journey more but also create more meaningful and impactful results. Even as a PhD candidate working within a predefined project, there are always opportunities to adjust your approach so that your research better reflects what makes you happy.
What inspired you to pursue your current research topic, and how do you hope your findings will impact the field?
With the rapid introduction of medical technology, concerns are growing that healthcare may soon become unsustainable. This means patients’ access to care could come under pressure. To safeguard the future, we must decide which innovations truly contribute to sustainable healthcare and meet societal needs—and which do not.
In my field, Health Technology Assessment (HTA), we evaluate health technologies to inform these choices. Traditionally, this happens late in the process, once a technology has already been developed. By then, reimbursement or adoption decisions are often made, leaving our findings with limited impact. As the saying goes: once the toothpaste is out of the tube, it’s nearly impossible to put it back in.
This realization inspired me to focus on assessing innovations at the earliest stages of development—a practice known as early HTA. By collaborating with both users and developers, we can guide innovation and research more effectively. This allows us to direct financial and human resources toward technologies with the greatest potential value for patients and society, and to ensure they are deployed in ways that maximize their societal impact.
My hope is that by systematically evaluating innovations before adoption, Radboudumc can serve as an international example. In doing so, we can promote responsible research and innovation, and ultimately contribute to truly sustainable healthcare.
