dr. Jos van Dijck

Over Jos van Dijck

Besides being assistant professor (being a coach for student; teaching epidemiology and research methodology to (bio)medical students), Jos van Dijck is epidemiological researcher in the field of breast cancer screening. Currently, she coordinates the IMAGINE-study.

The IMAGINE-study (Combining features from In-depth MAmmoGraphy analysis and pathology to optimize referral of possible INvasivE breast cancers at screening) aims to optimize referral in breast cancer screening (earlier detection of aggressive cancers and less referral of indolent cancers). Image features will be identified on digital mammograms by deep learning techniques and correlated to pathological subtypes of tumour aggressiveness. Also, the predictive power of the identified image features in predicting breast cancer recurrences will be studied. For this study data are used from 80,000 participants of the breast cancer screening programme in the city of Utrecht. Around 2,100 breast cancer cases have been diagnosed in this cohort so far. The IMAGINE-study started on 1 July 2019 with a grant from the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF).

Jos van Dijck’s PhD thesis, on the effectiveness of breast cancer screening in elderly women (1996), led to the decision to increase the upper age limit of the Dutch screening programme from 70 to 75 years. After her PhD graduation, Jos was head of the departments of Cancer Registry and Trial Bureau at the former Comprehensive Cancer Centre East for 10 years.

Opleiding

• Titel proefschrift: “The efficacy of mammographic screening for breast cancer in elderly women”
• 7-11-1996 Promotie, RU Nijmegen, Promotoren: Prof. André Verbeek, dr. Roland Holland, dr. Jan Hendriks.
• 1985-1989: Biomedische Gezondheidswetenschappen Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen
• 1979-1981: Radiodiagnostisch laborant, UMC St Radboud Nijmegen
• 1973-1979: VWO-B, St. Thomascollege Venlo