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Social and economic background influences survival in intensive care: Research with societal impact

Social and economic background influences survival in intensive care: Research with societal impact

18 August 2026

A large-scale study by researchers from Maastricht UMC+ and Amsterdam UMC demonstrates that lower socioeconomic status (SES) of patients admitted to Dutch intensive care units contributes to worse survival.

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Fatma Karapinar appointed as Professor in Medication Safety

Fatma Karapinar appointed as Professor in Medication Safety

12 August 2026

As of 1 June 2026, Dr Fatma Karapinar has been appointed Professor of Medication Safety at Maastricht University.

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Marc van Zandvoort

Professor

Prof. Marc A.M.J. van Zandvoort, born and grown up in Heerlen, studied Physics in Utrecht and achieved his PhD degree in Biophysics at Utrecht University (1994). He then worked as a postdoc at Universitá di Bologna (Bologna, Italy) and LENS institute (Firenze, Italy). He returned to Utrecht University as a postdoc in 1996. In 1998, he moved to Maastricht University first as postdoc, from 2000 as assistant professor Biophysics. In 2007, he became associate professor at the department of Biomedical Engineering, while in 2009, he additionally became professor Biophysics of Microscopy at the Universitätsklinikum Aachen (Germany) and scientific leader of the Two-photon core-facility there. In 2012, he moved to the department of Genetics and Cell Biology, where he is still located. In 2017 he became Professor with chair 'Advanced optical Microscopy' in Maastricht

He is board member of the conference series Focus on Microscopy, board member of NL-BioImaging-AM (the national infrastructure roadmap of optical microscopy), and leader of the EuroBioImaging Node AMMI in Maastricht (the European roadmap of imaging Nodes).

His research currently zooms on the development and application of advanced optical microscopy (multi-photon microscopy, Raman SRS microscopy, multi-photon endoscopy, high-resolution 3D-STED microscopy, and spectral microscopy) to biomedical cardiovascular, oncological, and brain questions. His group consists of assistant professor Dimitris Kapsokalyvas, several postdocs (currently Vytautas Kucikas, Mengyao Zhou), technicians (Monique Ummelen, Michael Vogt), and several PhD students, partly located in his home department, partly distributed over the University and abroad.

As examples of research, his group developed a method to measure mouse carotid plaque micro vessel functionality using in vivo multi-photon microscopy, he has done a variety of studies on bimodal (e.g., optical-MRI, optical-US) imaging. In combination with the techniques used (see the website of EUROBIOIMAGING), a variety of systems can be studied, ranging from artificial systems, via cells in culture (e.g., Lamin substructure, mitochondrial network, and substructure), to whole tissues, organs, and animals. Recently, in collaboration with the Science Campus in Venlo and Prof. Nicola D’ Ascenzo in Magdeburg he got involved in plant imaging (specifically wheat and crop) via the EIC Pathfinder project Re-Imagine-Crops and the MC program PETAL.

He has tutored both scientists with background in physics and biomedical research. He is an experienced teacher for a wide range of students (medicine, biomedical engineering, and science students) and in a variety of roles (mentor, course coordinator, tutor, and internship supervisor). Finally, he has been organizing (since 2014) the MMM PhD/Postdoc course in Maastricht.

Marc-van-zandvoort_5d5f9d20184f1

Department of Molecular Cell Biology
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
T: +31 (0)43 388 13 61

  • 2026
    • Stiekema, M., van Gorp, C., Macamo, A., zur Hausen, A., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Ramaekers, F. C. S., & Broers, J. L. V. (2026). Variable A-type lamin expression in Merkel cell carcinoma cell lines and its association with nuclear integrity. Scientific Reports, 16(1), Article 11070. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-39775-y
    • Ahmadian, S., Lindsey, P. J., Ummelen, M., Hopman, A., Van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Smeets, H. J. M., & Van Tienen, F. H. J. (2026). Fusion Between Control Mesoangioblasts and mtDNA-Mutant Myotubes Preserves Myotube Morphology and Mitochondrial Network Organization. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 27(3), Article 1357. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms27031357
    • Kucikas, V., Morgan, A. D., Ciurlionis, I., Bohm, C., Jockenhovel, S., Jahnen-Dechent, W., & van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J. (2026). A new flow chip in combination with multiphoton microscopy as a protocol for longitudinal 3D imaging of tissue calcification under shear stress. FEBS Open Bio. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1002/2211-5463.70295
  • 2025
    • Ju, J., Neuen, S. M. L., Zandvoort, M. V., Keulers, T. G. H., & Rouschop, K. M. A. (2025). Extracellular vesicles: cargo loading, degradation and secretory pathways, and their intersection with autophagy. Extracellular Vesicles and Circulating Nucleic Acids, 6(3), 360-385. https://doi.org/10.20517/evcna.2025.21
    • Bierens, J., Severens-Rijvers, C., Hildebrand, S., van Zandvoort, M., Al-Nasiry, S., & Kapsokalyvas, D. (2025). Imaging and quantification of placental terminal villi microvasculature and nuclear characteristics in preeclampsia. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 308, 181-189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejogrb.2025.03.015
    • Nagy, M., Bender, M., Poulter, N. S., Pike, J. A., Sickmann, A., Vondenhoff, S., Bielicka, N., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Koenen, R. R., ten Cate, H., Stéphenne, X., Heemskerk, J. W. M., & Baaten, C. C. F. M. J. (2025). Formation of tight junction-like structures of zonula occludens 2 in platelet–platelet interaction. Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis, 9(3), Article 102845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rpth.2025.102845
  • 2024
    • Al Enezy-Ulbrich, M. A., Belthle, T., Malyaran, H., Kucikas, V., Kuettner, H., de Lange, R. D., van Zandvoort, M., Neuss, S., & Pich, A. (2024). Fibrin Hydrogels Reinforced by Reactive Microgels for Stimulus-Triggered Drug Administration. Small, 20(42), Article 2309912. https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202309912
    • Rademakers, T., Manca, M., Jin, H., Orban, T., Perisic, L. M., Frissen, H. J. M., Rühle, F., Hautvast, P., van Rijssel, J., van Kuijk, K., Mees, B. M. E., Peutz-Kootstra, C. J., Heeneman, S., Daemen, M. J. A. P., Pasterkamp, G., Stoll, M., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Hedin, U., Dequiedt, F., ... Biessen, E. A. L. (2024). Human atherosclerotic plaque transcriptomics reveals endothelial beta-2 spectrin as a potential regulator a leaky plaque microvasculature phenotype. Angiogenesis, 27(3), 461-474. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10456-024-09921-z
    • Ahmadian, S., Lindsey, P. J., Smeets, H. J. M., van Tienen, F. H. J., & van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J. (2024). Spinning Disk Confocal Microscopy for Optimized and Quantified Live Imaging of 3D Mitochondrial Network. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(9), Article 4819. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25094819
    • Bischof, J., Fletcher, G., Verkade, P., Kuntner, C., Fernandez-Rodriguez, J., Chaabane, L., Rose, L. A., Walter, A., Vandenbosch, M., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Zaritsky, A., Keppler, A., & Parsons, M. (2024). Multimodal bioimaging across disciplines and scales: challenges, opportunities and breaking down barriers. npj Imaging, 2(1), Article 5. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44303-024-00010-w
    • You, W., Knoops, K., Boesten, I., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Benedikter, B. J., Webers, C. A. B., Reutelingsperger, C. P. M., & Gorgels, T. G. M. F. (2024). A time window for rescuing dying retinal ganglion cells. Cell Communication and Signaling, 22(1), Article 88. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-023-01427-3
    • Werner, M. P., Kucikas, V., Voß, K., Abel, D., Jockenhoevel, S., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., & Schmitz-Rode, T. (2024). Multiphoton imaging of maturation in tissue engineering. Tissue Engineering, 30(1), 38-48. https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.TEC.2023.0141
  • 2023
    • van Lanen, R. H. G. J., Haeren, R. H. L., Staals, J., Dings, J. T. A., Schijns, O. E. M. G., Hoogland, G., van Kuijk, S. M. J., Kapsokalyvas, D., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Vink, H., Rijkers, K., & ACE Epilepsy Surgery Group (2023). Cerebrovascular glycocalyx damage and microcirculation impairment in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 43(10), 1737-1751. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271678X231179413
    • Jung, S. A., Malyaran, H., Demco, D. E., Manukanc, A., Häser, L. S., Kucikas, V., van Zandvoort, M., Neuss, S., & Pich, A. (2023). Fibrin-Dextran Hydrogels with Tunable Porosity and Mechanical Properties. Biomacromolecules, 24(9), 3972-3984. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biomac.3c00269
    • You, W., Zhou, T., Knoops, K., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Germeraad, W. T. V., Benedikter, B., Webers, C. A. B., Reutelingsperger, C. P. M., & Gorgels, T. G. M. F. (2023). Stressed neuronal cells can recover from profound membrane blebbing, nuclear condensation and mitochondrial fragmentation, but not from cytochrome c release. Scientific Reports, 13(1), Article 11045. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-38210-w
    • De Lorenzi, F., Rizzo, L. Y., Daware, R., Motta, A., Baues, M., Bartneck, M., Vogt, M., van Zandvoort, M., Kaps, L., Hu, Q., Thewissen, M., Casettari, L., Rijcken, C. J. F., Kiessling, F., Sofias, A. M., & Lammers, T. (2023). Profiling target engagement and cellular uptake of cRGD-decorated clinical-stage core-crosslinked polymeric micelles. Drug Delivery and Translational Research, 13(5), 1195-1211. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13346-022-01204-8
    • Kylies, D., Zimmermann, M., Haas, F., Schwerk, M., Kuehl, M., Brehler, M., Czogalla, J., Hernandez, L. C., Konczalla, L., Okabayashi, Y., Menzel, J., Edenhofer, I., Mezher, S., Aypek, H., Dumoulin, B., Wu, H., Hofmann, S., Kretz, O., Wanner, N., ... Puelles, V. G. (2023). Expansion-enhanced super-resolution radial fluctuations enable nanoscale molecular profiling of pathology specimens. Nature Nanotechnology, 18(4), 336-342. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-023-01328-z
    • Hermans, S., Pilon, J., Eschweiler, D., Stegmaier, J., Severens-Rijvers, C. A. H., Al-Nasiry, S., van Zandvoort, M., & Kapsokalyvas, D. (2023). Definition and Quantification of Three-Dimensional Imaging Targets to Phenotype Pre-Eclampsia Subtypes: An Exploratory Study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 24(4), Article 3240. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24043240
    • Kucikas, V., Werner, M. P., Schmitz-Rode, T., Louradour, F., & van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J. (2023). Two-Photon Endoscopy: State of the Art and Perspectives. Molecular Imaging and Biology, 25(1), 3-17. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-021-01665-2
  • 2022
    • Voß, K., Werner, M. P., Gesenhues, J., Kučikas, V., van Zandvoort, M., Jockenhoevel, S., Schmitz-Rode, T., & Abel, D. (2022). Towards technically controlled bioreactor maturation of tissue-engineered heart valves. Biomedizinische Technik, 67(6), 461-470. https://doi.org/10.1515/bmt-2021-0379
    • Momoh, J., Kapsokalyvas, D., Vogt, M., Hak, S., Kiessling, F., van Zandvoort, M., Lammers, T., & Marios Sofias, A. (2022). Intravital microscopy for real-time monitoring of drug delivery and nanobiological processes. Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews, 189, Article 114528. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addr.2022.114528
    • Goossens, P., Lu, C., Cao, J., Gijbels, M. J., Karel, J. M. H., Wijnands, E., Claes, B. S. R., Fazzi, G. E., Hendriks, T. F. E., Wouters, K., Smirnov, E., van Zandvoort, M. J. M., Balluff, B., Cuypers, E., Donners, M. M. P. C., Heeren, R. M. A., & Biessen, E. A. L. (2022). Integrating multiplex immunofluorescent and mass spectrometry imaging to map myeloid heterogeneity in its metabolic and cellular context. Cell Metabolism, 34(8), 1214-1225.e6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2022.06.012
    • Neupane, B., Pradhan, K., Ortega-Ramirez, A. M., Aidery, P., Kucikas, V., Marks, M., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Klingel, K., Witte, K. K., Grunder, S., Marx, N., & Gramlich, M. (2022). Personalized Medicine Approach in a DCM Patient with LMNA Mutation Reveals Dysregulation of mTOR Signaling. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 12(7), Article 1149. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm12071149
    • Stiekema, M., Houben, F., Verheyen, F., Borgers, M., Menzel, J., Meschkat, M., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Ramaekers, F. C. S., & Broers, J. L. V. (2022). The Role of Lamins in the Nucleoplasmic Reticulum, a Pleiomorphic Organelle That Enhances Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Interplay. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 10, Article 914286. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcell.2022.914286
    • You, W., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Knoops, K., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Webers, C. A. B., Reutelingsperger, C. P. M., & Gorgels, T. G. M. F. (2022). Single Cell Analysis of Reversibility of the Cell Death Program in Ethanol-Treated Neuronal PC12 Cells. International journal of molecular sciences, 23(5), Article 2650. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23052650
  • 2021
    • Stiekema, M., Ramaekers, F. C. S., Kapsokalyvas, D., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Veltrop, R. J. A., & Broers, J. L. V. (2021). Super-Resolution Imaging of the A- and B-Type Lamin Networks: A Comparative Study of Different Fluorescence Labeling Procedures. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22(19), Article 10194. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms221910194
    • van Lanen, R. H. G. J., Melchers, S., Hoogland, G., Schijns, O. E. M. G., van Zandvoort, M. A. J., Haeren, R. H. L., & Rijkers, K. (2021). Microvascular changes associated with epilepsy: A narrative review. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 41(10), 2492-2509. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271678X211010388
    • Houben, T., Yadati, T., De Kruijf, R., Gijbels, M. J. J., Luiken, J. J. F. P., Van Zandvoort, M., Kapsokalyvas, D., Lutjohann, D., Westerterp, M., Plat, J., Leake, D., & Shiri-Sverdlov, R. (2021). Pro-Inflammatory Implications of 2-Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin Treatment. Frontiers in Immunology, 12, Article 716357. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2021.716357
    • Dickhout, A., Kaczor, D. M., Heinzmann, A. C. A., Brouns, S. L. N., Heemskerk, J. W. M., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., & Koenen, R. R. (2021). Rapid Internalization and Nuclear Translocation of CCL5 and CXCL4 in Endothelial Cells. International journal of molecular sciences, 22(14), Article 7332. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms22147332
    • Kapsokalyvas, D., Rosas, R., Janssen, R. W. A., Vanoevelen, J. M., Nabben, M., Strauch, M., Merhof, D., & van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J. (2021). Multiview deconvolution approximation multiphoton microscopy of tissues and zebrafish larvae. Scientific Reports, 11(1), Article 10160. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89566-w
    • Kerselidou, D., Dohai, B. S., Nelson, D. R., Daakour, S., De Cock, N., Hassoun, Z. A. O., Kim, D.-K., Olivet, J., El Assal, D. C., Jaiswal, A., Alzahmi, A., Saha, D., Pain, C., Matthijssens, F., Lemaitre, P., Herfs, M., Chapuis, J., Ghesquiere, B., Vertommen, D., ... Twizere, J.-C. (2021). Alternative glycosylation controls endoplasmic reticulum dynamics and tubular extension in mammalian cells. Science advances, 7(19), Article eabe8349. https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.abe8349
    • Khan, L., van Lanen, R., Hoogland, G., Schijns, O., Rijkers, K., Kapsokalyvas, D., van Zandvoort, M., & Haeren, R. (2021). Two-Photon Imaging to Unravel the Pathomechanisms Associated with Epileptic Seizures: A Review. Applied sciences-Basel, 11(5), Article 2404. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11052404
    • Hakvoort, K., Otto, L., Haeren, R., Hoogland, G., Schijns, O., Vink, H., Klein, D., van Zandvoort, M., & Rijkers, K. (2021). Shedding light on human cerebral lipofuscin: An explorative study on identification and quantification. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 529(3), 605-615. https://doi.org/10.1002/cne.24971
  • 2020
    • Merckx, G., Tay, H., Lo Monaco, M., van Zandvoort, M., De Spiegelaere, W., Lambrichts, I., & Bronckaers, A. (2020). Chorioallantoic Membrane Assay as Model for Angiogenesis in Tissue Engineering: Focus on Stem Cells. Tissue Engineering - Part B: Reviews, 26(6), 519-539. https://doi.org/10.1089/ten.teb.2020.0048
    • Bartmann, L., Schumacher, D., von Stillfried, S., Sternkopf, M., Alampour-Rajabi, S., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Kiessling, F., & Wu, Z. J. (2020). Corrigendum: Evaluation of Riboflavin Transporters as Targets for Drug Delivery and Theranostics. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 11, Article 617329. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.617329
    • Stiekema, M., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Ramaekers, F. C. S., & Broers, J. L. (2020). Structural and Mechanical Aberrations of the Nuclear Lamina in Disease. Cells, 9(8), 1-22. Article 1884. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9081884
    • Baues, M., Klinkhammer, B. M., Ehling, J., Gremse, F., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Reutelingsperger, C. P. M., Daniel, C., Amann, K., Babickova, J., Kiessling, F., Floege, J., Lammers, T., & Boor, P. (2020). A collagen-binding protein enables molecular imaging of kidney fibrosis in vivo. Kidney International, 97(3), 609-614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kint.2019.08.029
    • Kapsokalyvas, D., Loos, J., Boogers, I. A. L. A., Appeldoorn, M. M., Kabel, M. A., & Van Zandvoort, M. (2020). Quantification of morphochemical changes during in situ enzymatic hydrolysis of individual biomass particles based on autofluorescence imaging. Biopolymers, 111(3), Article e23347. https://doi.org/10.1002/bip.23347
    • Gomez, I., Ward, B., Souilhol, C., Recarti, C., Ariaans, M., Johnston, J., Burnett, A., Mahmoud, M., Le Anh Luong, West, L., Long, M., Parry, S., Woods, R., Hulston, C., Benedikter, B., Niespolo, C., Bazaz, R., Francis, S., Kiss-Toth, E., ... Ridger, V. (2020). Neutrophil microvesicles drive atherosclerosis by delivering miR-155 to atheroprone endothelium. Nature Communications, 11(1), Article 214. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-14043-y
  • 2019
    • Vig, S., Buitinga, M., Rondas, D., Crevecoeur, I., van Zandvoort, M., Waelkens, E., Eizirik, D. L., Gysemans, C., Baatsen, P., Mathieu, C., & Overbergh, L. (2019). Cytokine-induced translocation of GRP78 to the plasma membrane triggers a pro-apoptotic feedback loop in pancreatic beta cells. Cell Death & Disease, 10(4), 1-13. Article 309. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-019-1518-0
    • Bartmann, L., Schumacher, D., von Stillfried, S., Sternkopf, M., Alampour-Rajabi, S., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Kiessling, F., & Wu, Z. (2019). Evaluation of Riboflavin Transporters as Targets for Drug Delivery and Theranostics. Frontiers in Pharmacology, 10(FEB), 1-12. Article 79. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.00079
    • van Zandvoort, M. (2019). Guy Cox, Fundamentals of Fluorescence Imaging, 2019, Jenny Stanford Publishing; Singapore.Micron, 124, Article 102707. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micron.2019.102707
  • 2018
    • Gemmink, A., Daemen, S., Kuijpers, H. J. H., Schaart, G., Duimel, H., Lopez-Iglesias, C., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Knoops, K., & Hesselink, M. K. C. (2018). Super-resolution microscopy localizes perilipin 5 at lipid droplet-mitochondria interaction sites and at lipid droplets juxtaposing to perilipin 2. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta-Molecular and Cell Biology of Lipids, 1863(11), 1423-1432. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbalip.2018.08.016
    • Kapsokalyvas, D., Wilbers, A., Boogers, I. A. L. A., Appeldoorn, M. M., Kabel, M. A., Loos, J., & Van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J. (2018). Biomass Pretreatment and Enzymatic Hydrolysis Dynamics Analysis Based on Particle Size Imaging. Microscopy and Microanalysis, 24(5), 517-525. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1431927618015143
    • Sutanto, H., van Sloun, B., Schönleitner, P., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Antoons, G., & Heijman, J. (2018). The Subcellular Distribution of Ryanodine Receptors and L-Type Ca2+ Channels Modulates Ca2+-Transient Properties and Spontaneous Ca2+-Release Events in Atrial Cardiomyocytes. Frontiers in physiology, 9(AUG), Article 1108. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2018.01108
    • Haeren, R. H. L., Rijkers, K., Schijns, O. E. M. G., Dings, J., Hoogland, G., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Vink, H., & van Overbeeke, J. J. (2018). In vivo assessment of the human cerebral microcirculation and its glycocalyx: A technical report. Journal of Neuroscience Methods, 303, 114-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.03.009
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