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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

Judith Sluimer

Professor

Prof. Dr. Judith Sluimer defended her PhD thesis at Maastricht University in 2008, under supervision of Prof. Mat Daemen. She established the first proof of hypoxia in human and murine atherosclerosis and investigated the hypoxia-dependent formation and leaky phenotype of atherosclerotic plaque angiogenesis. After her PhD defense, she joined the lab of Prof. Ira Tabas (Columbia University, NYC, USA) in 2008 as a post-doctoral fellow to further her expertise in macrophage apoptosis, efferocytosis and autophagy (funded by the Netherlands Scientific Organisation (NWO, Rubicon), the international atherosclerosis society (IAS), and Maastricht University). Since 2010, Judith has established an independent research line to investigate pharmaceutical and genetic strategies to improve plaque oxygen levels and their impact on atherogenesis (NWO Veni). In 2013, CARIM consolidated her tenure track. 

Judith’s team in the Department of Pathology of Maastricht UMC+ currently works on the overarching goal and vision is to revert vascular ageing, atherosclerotic plaque destabilisation and ensuing clinical events by elucidating the role of inflammatory and fibrotic cellular players.

She studied cellular oxygen metabolism and autophagy as network member of the highly competitive Leducq grant scheme for transatlantic networks of excellence, and as 2016 recipient of the Dr. Dekker senior postdoc fellowship from the Dutch Heart Foundation. Her group benefits from interdisciplinary expertise through honorary scientist positions at RWTH Aachen and University of Edinburgh. These interactions have led to single cell sequencing data supporting heterogeneity of mesenchymal cells in healthy and diseased vasculature (NWO VIDI, ERA-CVD, Marie Curie fellowship, Humboldt fellowship). In addition to research and teaching, she has been mentor of BSc students in Medicine and Biomedical Sciences since 2011. Judith was local organizer of the ESM-EVBO conference (430 delegates) in Maastricht in 2019. She is associate editor for several journals, treasurer of the European Vascular Biology Organization (2019-2025), Member of the Basic Science council European society for cardiology (ESC), board member of the CARIM division Blood, and she chairs CARIM’s Grants & Incentives team, and the faculty-wide committee that advises the dean on promotions to assistant and associate professorships (2020-2026).

Judith-sluimer

Department of Pathology
P. Debeyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht

  • 2012
    • Liao, X., Sluimer, J. C., Wang, Y.-J., Subramanian, M., Brown, K., Pattison, J. S., Robbins, J., Martinez, J., & Tabas, I. (2012). Macrophage Autophagy Plays a Protective Role in Advanced Atherosclerosis. Cell Metabolism, 15(4), 545-553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2012.01.022
  • 2010
    • Kamilic, J., Hamming, I., Kreutz, R., Bolbrinker, J., Siems, W.-E., Nassar, I., Sluimer, J. C., Walther, T., Navis, G. J., & van Goor, H. (2010). Renal ACE2 expression and activity is unaltered during established hypertension in adult SHRSP and TGR(mREN2)27. Hypertension Research, 33(2), 123-128. https://doi.org/10.1038/hr.2009.191
  • 2008
    • Sluimer, J. C., Gasc, J. M., Hamming, I., van Goor, H., Michaud, A., van den Akker, L. H., Jütten, B., Cleutjens, J., Bijnens, A. P. J. J., Corvol, P., Daemen, M. J. A. P., & Heeneman, S. (2008). Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) expression and activity in human carotid atherosclerotic lesions. Journal of Pathology, 215(3), 273-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/path.2357
    • Sluimer, J. C., Gasc, J.-M., van Wanroij, J. L., Kisters, N., Groeneweg, M., Sollewijn Gelpke, M. D., Cleutjens, J. P., van den Akker, L. H., Corvol, P., Wouters, B. G., Daemen, M. J., & Bijnens, A.-P. J. (2008). Hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible transcription factor, and macrophages in human atherosclerotic plaques are correlated with intraplaque angiogenesis. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 51(13), 1258-65. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2007.12.025
  • 2007
    • Heeneman, S., Sluimer, J. C., & Daemen, M. J. A. P. (2007). Angiotensin-converting enzyme and vascular remodeling. Circulation Research, 101(5), 441-54. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.107.148338
    • Sluimer, J. C., Kisters, N., Cleutjens, K. B., Volger, O. L., Horrevoets, A. J., van den Akker, L. H., Bijnens, A.-P. J., & Daemen, M. J. (2007). Dead or alive: gene expression profiles of advanced atherosclerotic plaques from autopsy and surgery. Physiological genomics, 30(3), 335-41. https://doi.org/10.1152/physiolgenomics.00076.2007
  • 2006
    • Sluimer, J. C., Hoefnagels, N. H. M., Emans, P. J., Kuijer, R., & Geesink, R. G. T. (2006). Comparison of two hydroxyapatite-coated femoral stems: clinical, functional, and bone densitometry evaluation of patients randomized to a regular or modified hydroxyapatite-coated stem aimed at proximal fixation. Journal of Arthroplasty, 21(3), 344-52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2005.06.015
  • 2005
    • Brunenberg, D. E., van Steyn, M. J., Sluimer, J. C., Bekebrede, L. L., Bulstra, S. K., & Joore, M. A. (2005). Joint recovery programme versus usual care: an economic evaluation of a clinical pathway for joint replacement surgery. Medical Care, 43(10), 1018-26. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.mlr.0000178266.75744.35
    • Gosens, T., Sluimer, J. C., Kester, A. D., & van Langelaan, E. J. (2005). Femoral fit predicts radiologic changes, but not clinical results, in Mallory-head total hip arthroplasties. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, (432), 138-47. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.blo.0000149813.32857.c2
  • 1999
    • Jonkers, D., Sluimer, J., & Stobberingh, E. (1999). Effect of garlic on vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 43(12), 3045. https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.43.12.3045
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