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Uyên Châu Nguyên wins UM Dissertation Prize 2025

Uyên Châu Nguyên wins UM Dissertation Prize 2025

29 January 2026

During the Dies Natalis of Maastricht University, Uyên Châu Nguyên received the UM Dissertation Prize 2025.

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Global research network launched to study menopause and heart health

Global research network launched to study menopause and heart health

20 January 2026

Ten international health research funders, including the Dutch Heart Foundation, are investing $10 million in a new global research network to improve early prevention of cardiovascular disease in women. The initiative focuses on understanding how menopause affects heart health and how early intervention can reduce risk.

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Jack Cleutjens

Associate professor

Dr Jack Cleutjens has been working for Maastricht University since 1985. After finishing his thesis 'Basement membrane heterogeneity' in 1989, he started working in the cardiovascular field as a post-doc on the regulation of the wound healing after myocardial infarction. His main interest is in the area of extracellular matrix remodeling, mainly collagen synthesis and degradation.

His area of focus is education and cardiovascular research. He is a specialist in the field of morphometry and (digital) microscopy. Jack Cleutjens is a member of the Dutch Society of Pathology, Experimental Pathology section and of the Dutch Society for Matrix Biology.

Focus areas:
• Cardiovascular examination
• Extracellular matrix turnover
• Myocardial infarction / atherosclerosis
• (Digital) microscopy
• Morphometry

 

Jack-cleutjens

Department of Pathology
Verheylaan 10, 6229 HX Maastricht
Room number: VH10 5.M1-002
T: +31(0)43 387 66 31

  • 2001
    • Sandmann, S., Claas, R., Cleutjens, J. P., Daemen, M. J., & Unger, T. (2001). Calcium channel blockade limits cardiac remodeling and improves cardiac function in myocardial infarction-induced heart failure in rats. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 37(1), 64-77. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005344-200101000-00008
    • Schurgers, L. J., Dissel, P. E., Spronk, H. M., Soute, B. A., Dhore, C. R., Cleutjens, J. P., & Vermeer, C. (2001). Role of vitamin K and vitamin K-dependent proteins in vascular calcification. Zeitschrift fur Kardiologie, 90 Suppl 3, 57-63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s003920170043
  • 2000
    • Creemers, E., Cleutjens, J., Smits, J., Heymans, S., Moons, L., Collen, D., Daemen, M., & Carmeliet, P. (2000). Disruption of the plasminogen gene in mice abolishes wound healing after myocardial infarction. American Journal of Pathology, 156(6), 1865-73. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9440(10)65060-2
  • 1999
    • Cleutjens, J. P., Blankesteijn, W. M., Daemen, M. J., & Smits, J. F. (1999). The infarcted myocardium: simply dead tissue, or a lively target for therapeutic interventions. Cardiovascular Research, 44(2), 232-41. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0008-6363(99)00212-6
    • Heymans, S., Luttun, A., Nuyens, D., Theilmeier, G., Creemers, E., Moons, L., Dyspersin, G. D., Cleutjens, J. P., Shipley, M., Angellilo, A., Levi, M., Nübe, O., Baker, A., Keshet, E., Lupu, F., Herbert, J. M., Smits, J. F., Shapiro, S. D., Baes, M., ... Carmeliet, P. (1999). Inhibition of plasminogen activators or matrix metalloproteinases prevents cardiac rupture but impairs therapeutic angiogenesis and causes cardiac failure. Nature Medicine, 5(10), 1135-42. https://doi.org/10.1038/13459
  • 1998
    • Vos, M. A., de Groot, S. H. M., Verduyn, S. C., van der Zande, J., Leunissen, H. D. M., Cleutjens, J. P., van Bilsen, M., Daemen, M. J., Schreuder, J. J., Allessie, M. A., & Wellens, H. J. (1998). Enhanced susceptibility for acquired torsade de pointes arrhythmias in the dog with chronic, complete AV block is related to cardiac hypertrophy and electrical remodeling. Circulation, 98(11), 1125-35. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.98.11.1125
    • van Oosterhout, M. F., Prinzen, F. W., Arts, T., Schreuder, J. J., Vanagt, W. Y., Cleutjens, J. P., & Reneman, R. S. (1998). Asynchronous electrical activation induces asymmetrical hypertrophy of the left ventricular wall. Circulation, 98(6), 588-95. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.98.6.588
  • 1997
    • Ulrich, M. M., Anique, M. H., Daemen, M. J., Rappaport, L., Samuel, J. L., Contard, F., Smits, J. F., & Cleutjens, J. P. (1997). Increased expression of fibronectin isoforms after myocardial infarction in rats. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 29(9), 2533-43. https://doi.org/10.1006/jmcc.1997.0486
    • de Vries, J. E., Vork, M. M., Roemen, T. H., de Jong, Y. F., Cleutjens, J. P., van der Vusse, G. J., & van Bilsen, M. (1997). Saturated but not mono-unsaturated fatty acids induce apoptotic cell death in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. Journal of Lipid Research, 38(7), 1384-1394. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-2275(20)37421-6
    • Weber, K. T., Sun, Y., Katwa, L. C., & Cleutjens, J. P. (1997). Tissue repair and angiotensin II generated at sites of healing. Basic Research in Cardiology, 92(2), 75-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00805565
  • 1996
    • Cleutjens, J. P. (1996). The role of matrix metalloproteinases in heart disease. Cardiovascular Research, 32(5), 816-821. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-6363(96)00104-6
    • Tyagi, S. C., & Cleutjens, J. P. (1996). Myocardial collagenase: purification and structural characterization. Canadian Journal of Cardiology, 12(2), 165-71.
  • 1995
    • Smits, J. F., Passier, R. C., Nelissen-Vrancken, H. J., Cleutjens, J. P., Kuizinga, M. C., & Daemen, M. J. (1995). Does ACE inhibition limit structural changes in the heart following myocardial infarction?European Heart Journal, 16 Suppl N, 46-51. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/16.suppl_n.46
    • Cleutjens, J. P., Verluyten, M. J., Smiths, J. F., & Daemen, M. J. (1995). Collagen remodeling after myocardial infarction in the rat heart. American Journal of Pathology, 147(2), 325-338.
    • Ausma, J., Cleutjens, J., Thoné, F., Flameng, W., Ramaekers, F., & Borgers, M. (1995). Chronic hibernating myocardium: interstitial changes. Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, 147(1-2), 35-42. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00944781
    • Cleutjens, J. P., Kandala, J. C., Guarda, E., Guntaka, R. V., & Weber, K. T. (1995). Regulation of collagen degradation in the rat myocardium after infarction. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 27(6), 1281-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-2828(05)82390-9
    • Weber, K. T., Sun, Y., Guarda, E., Katwa, L. C., Ratajska, A., Cleutjens, J. P., & Zhou, G. (1995). Myocardial fibrosis in hypertensive heart disease: an overview of potential regulatory mechanisms. European Heart Journal, 16 Suppl C, 24-8. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/16.suppl_c.24
    • Weber, K. T., Sun, Y., Katwa, L. C., Cleutjens, J. P., & Zhou, G. (1995). Connective tissue and repair in the heart. Potential regulatory mechanisms. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 752, 286-99. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1995.tb17438.x
    • Katwa, L. C., Ratajska, A., Cleutjens, J. P., Sun, Y., Zhou, G., Lee, S. J., & Weber, K. T. (1995). Angiotensin converting enzyme and kininase-II-like activities in cultured valvular interstitial cells of the rat heart. Cardiovascular Research, 29(1), 57-64. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0008-6363(96)88547-6
    • Weber, K. T., Sun, Y., Katwa, L. C., & Cleutjens, J. P. (1995). Connective tissue: a metabolic entity?Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 27(1), 107-20. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-2828(08)80011-9
  • 1994
    • Ratajska, A., Campbell, S. E., Cleutjens, J. P., & Weber, K. T. (1994). Angiotensin II and structural remodeling of coronary vessels in rats. Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine, 124(3), 408-15.
    • Sun, Y., Cleutjens, J. P., Diaz-Arias, A. A., & Weber, K. T. (1994). Cardiac angiotensin converting enzyme and myocardial fibrosis in the rat. Cardiovascular Research, 28(9), 1423-32. https://doi.org/10.1093/cvr/28.9.1423
    • Weber, K. T., Sun, Y., Tyagi, S. C., & Cleutjens, J. P. (1994). Collagen network of the myocardium: function, structural remodeling and regulatory mechanisms. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 26(3), 279-92. https://doi.org/10.1006/jmcc.1994.1036
  • 1993
    • Volders, P. G., Willems, I. E., Cleutjens, J. P., Arends, J. W., Havenith, M. G., & Daemen, M. J. (1993). Interstitial collagen is increased in the non-infarcted human myocardium after myocardial infarction. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 25(11), 1317-1323. https://doi.org/10.1006/jmcc.1993.1144
  • 1992
    • van Kleef, E. M., Smits, J. F., De Mey, J. G., Cleutjens, J. P., Lombardi, D. M., Schwartz, S. M., & Daemen, M. J. (1992). Alpha 1-adrenoreceptor blockade reduces the angiotensin II-induced vascular smooth muscle cell DNA synthesis in the rat thoracic aorta and carotid artery. Circulation Research, 70(6), 1122-1127. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.res.70.6.1122
    • Smits, J. F., van Krimpen, C., Schoemaker, R. G., Cleutjens, J. P., & Daemen, M. J. (1992). Angiotensin II receptor blockade after myocardial infarction in rats: effects on hemodynamics, myocardial DNA synthesis, and interstitial collagen content. Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology, 20(5), 772-778. https://doi.org/10.1097/00005344-199211000-00013
    • Bosman, F. T., Havenith, M. G., Visser, R., & Cleutjens, J. P. (1992). Basement membranes in neoplasia. Progress in Histochemistry and Cytochemistry, 24(4), 1-92. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0079-6336(11)80212-3
  • 1991
    • van Krimpen, C., Smits, J. F., Cleutjens, J. P., Debets, J. J., Schoemaker, R. G., Struyker Boudier, H. A., Bosman, F. T., & Daemen, M. J. (1991). DNA synthesis in the non-infarcted cardiac interstitium after left coronary artery ligation in the rat: effects of captopril. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, 23(11), 1245-53. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-2828(91)90082-w
    • van Krimpen, C., Schoemaker, R. G., Cleutjens, J. P., Smits, J. F., Struyker-Boudier, H. A., Bosman, F. T., & Daemen, M. J. (1991). Angiotensin I converting enzyme inhibitors and cardiac remodeling. Basic Research in Cardiology, 86(S1), 149-155.
    • Smits, J. F., Cleutjens, J. P., van Krimpen, C., Schoemaker, R. G., & Daemen, M. J. (1991). Cardiac remodeling in hypertension and following myocardial infarction: effects of arteriolar vasodilators. Basic Research in Cardiology, 86(S1), 133-139.
    • van Baar, H. M., Perret, C. M., van Vlijmen-Willems, I. M., Cleutjens, J. P., Mackie, E. J., Happle, R., & Schalkwijk, J. (1991). Expression of tenascin in perifollicular connective tissue: comparison of normal scalp and alopecia areata. Archives of Dermatological Research, 283(2), 86-90. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00371614
  • 1990
    • Cleutjens, J. P., Havenith, M. G., Kasper, M., Vallinga, M., & Bosman, F. T. (1990). Absence of type IV collagen in the centre of the corneal epithelial basement membrane. Histochemical Journal, 22(12), 688-694. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01047454
    • Cleutjens, J. P., Havenith, M. G., Beek, C., Vallinga, M., Ten Kate, J., & Bosman, F. T. (1990). Origin of basement membrane type IV collagen in xenografted human epithelial tumor cell lines. American Journal of Pathology, 136(5), 1165-1172.
    • Havenith, M. G., Dingemans, K. P., Cleutjens, J. P., Wagenaar, S. S., & Bosman, F. T. (1990). Basement membranes in bronchogenic squamous cell carcinoma: an immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study. Ultrastructural Pathology, 14(1), 51-63. https://doi.org/10.3109/01913129009050874
  • 1989
    • Bosman, F. T., Cleutjens, J., Beek, C., & Havenith, M. (1989). Basement membrane heterogeneity. Histochemical Journal, 21(11), 629-33. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01002481
    • Havenith, M. G., van Zandvoort, E. H., Cleutjens, J. P., & Bosman, F. T. (1989). Basement membrane deposition in benign and malignant naevo-melanocytic lesions: an immunohistochemical study with antibodies to type IV collagen and laminin. Histopathology, 15(2), 137-146. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2559.1989.tb03061.x
    • Cleutjens, J. P., Havenith, M., Beek, C., Vallinga, M., & Bosman, F. T. (1989). Basement membrane heterogeneity detected by monoclonal antibodies. Acta histochemica. Supplementband, 37, 179-84.
    • Cleutjens, J. P., Havenith, M. G., Vallinga, M., Beek, C., & Bosman, F. T. (1989). Monoclonal antibodies to native basement membranes reveal heterogeneous immunoreactivity patterns. Histochemistry, 92(5), 407-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00492498
  • 1987
    • Havenith, M. G., Cleutjens, J. P., Beek, C., vd Linden, E., De Goeij, A. F., & Bosman, F. T. (1987). Human specific anti-type IV collagen monoclonal antibodies, characterization and immunohistochemical application. Histochemistry, 87(2), 123-8. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00533396
  • 1986
    • Visser, R., van der Beek, J. M., Havenith, M. G., Cleutjens, J. P., & Bosman, F. T. (1986). Immunocytochemical detection of basement membrane antigens in the histopathological evaluation of laryngeal dysplasia and neoplasia. Histopathology, 10(2), 171-80. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2559.1986.tb02472.x
  • 1985
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