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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

Sébastien Foulquier

Assistant Professor

Sébastien Foulquier is Assistant Professor at the Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology of Maastricht University, with a joint affiliation to the cardiovascular (CARIM) and neuroscience (MHeNs) research institutes. He trained as a pharmacist in Nancy, France, and obtained his Master and PhD in cardiovascular pharmacology before joining Maastricht University in 2012.

After eight years as a postdoctoral researcher, he was tenured as Assistant Professor in 2020 and started his own research group. His team studies neurodegeneration of vascular origin, and in particular vascular dementia caused by cerebral small vessel disease. He investigates how cardiometabolic stressors (hypertension, diabetes, obesity and heart failure) compromise the neuro-glio-vascular unit, leading to blood-brain barrier dysfunction, neuroinflammation, white matter injury and cognitive decline. Beyond understanding cSVD pathobiology, the group aims to identify the molecular and cellular targets that could prevent or delay its progression.

His research has been supported by national and European funding, including the Dutch Heart Foundation, the EFSD, and several H2020 and MSCA-ITN consortia, and is conducted in close collaboration with vascular neurology at Maastricht UMC+ and academic partners across Europe.

Sebastien-foulquier

Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
Room number: G4.222
T: +31(0)43 388 14 09

  • 2026
    • Gijs, M., Liang, L., Goezinne, F., Wang, Y., Foulquier, S., & Nuijts, R. M. M. A. (2026). Introducing the blood-tear barrier: Structure, function, and disruption in ocular surface homeostasis. Progress in Retinal and Eye Research, 114, Article 101492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.preteyeres.2026.101492
    • van der Taelen, L., Lambrichts, S. M. P., Temmerman, L., El Ajjouri, R., Gijbels, M. J., Bitsch, N., Scheijen, J., van de Waarenburg, M., Kutmon, M., Unger, T., Staals, J., Schalkwijk, C. G., Briones, A. M., van Oostenbrugge, R. J., & Foulquier, S. (2026). Longitudinal Profiling Reveals Divergent Kidney and Brain Immune Responses during Metabolic Syndrome. Aging and Disease. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2026.0557
    • Grzymala, B., Halldorsdottir, D. T., Thorsteinsso, H., Thorfinnsdottir, K., Sveinsdottir, H. S., Parker, M. O., Foulquier, S., & Karlsson, K. AE. (2026). Reinventing amlodipine. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 393(6), Article 104900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpet.2026.104900
    • Berends, E., Eussen, S. J. P. M., Backes, W. H., Dagnelie, P. C., Jansen, J. F. A., Galan, B. E. D., Greevenbroek, M. M. J. V., Kohler, S., Schram, M. T., Wesselius, A., Oostenbrugge, R. J., Foulquier, S., & Schalkwijk, C. G. (2026). Associations between methylglyoxal and cerebral small vessel disease and cognitive function-The Maastricht Study. Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases, 35(3), Article 108578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2026.108578
  • 2025
    • Pencheva, M. G., Berends, E., van der Laan, K. W. F., Giudici, A., Niessen, P., Scheijen, J. L. J. M., Vangrieken, P., Leenders, P., Delhaas, T., Caiment, F., Kutmon, M., Trujillo, F. M., Wouters, K., Foulquier, S., Spronck, B., Reesink, K. D., & Schalkwijk, C. G. (2025). Glyoxalase-1 overexpression attenuates arterial wall stiffening in diabetic mice. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 24(1), Article 283. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-025-02823-4
    • Van der Taelen, L., Briones, A. M., Unger, T., Staals, J., van Oostenbrugge, R. J., & Foulquier, S. (2025). Circulating immune cells in cerebral small vessel disease: a systematic review. Biogerontology, 26(3), Article 101. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10522-025-10250-x
    • Lambrichts, S. M. P., van Oostenbrugge, R. J., & Foulquier, S. (2025). TRPV4 in Cerebral Small Vessel Disease: A key interacting partner. Vascular Pharmacology, 159, Article 107492. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vph.2025.107492
    • Berends, E., Vangrieken, P., Amiri, N., van de Waarenburg, M. P. H., Scheijen, J. L. J. M., Hermes, D. J. H. P., Wouters, K., van Oostenbrugge, R. J., Schalkwijk, C. G., & Foulquier, S. (2025). Increased Levels of Circulating Methylglyoxal Have No Consequence for Cerebral Microvascular Integrity and Cognitive Function in Young Healthy Mice. Molecular Neurobiology, 62(4), 4190-4202. Article 101148. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-024-04552-3
    • Vangrieken, P., Scheijen, J. L. J. M., Schiffers, P. M. H., van de Waarenburg, M. P. H., Foulquier, S., & Schalkwijk, C. C. G. (2025). Modelling the effects of elevated methylglyoxal levels on vascular and metabolic complications. Scientific Reports, 15(1), Article 6025. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-90661-5
    • Manukjan, N., Fulton, D., Ahmed, Z., Blankesteijn, W. M., & Foulquier, S. (2025). Vascular endothelial growth factor: a double-edged sword in the development of white matter lesions. Neural Regeneration Research, 20(1), 191-192. https://doi.org/10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-23-01843
  • 2024
    • Berends, E., Pencheva, M. G., van de Waarenburg, M. P. H., Scheijen, J. L. J. M., Hermes, D. J. H. P., Wouters, K., van Oostenbrugge, R. J., Foulquier, S., & Schalkwijk, C. G. (2024). Glyoxalase 1 overexpression improves neurovascular coupling and limits development of mild cognitive impairment in a mouse model of type 1 diabetes. Journal of Physiology, 602(22), 6209-6223. https://doi.org/10.1113/JP286723
    • Manukjan, N., Chau, S., Caiment, F., van Herwijnen, M., Smeets, H. J., Fulton, D., Ahmed, Z., Blankesteijn, W. M., & Foulquier, S. (2024). Wnt7a Decreases Brain Endothelial Barrier Function Via β-Catenin Activation. Molecular Neurobiology, 61(7), 4854-4867. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12035-023-03872-0
    • van der Laan, K. W. F., Reesink, K. D., Lambrichts, S., Bitsch, N. J. J. E., van der Taelen, L., Foulquier, S., Delhaas, T., Spronck, B., & Giudici, A. (2024). Effect of rapid cooling, frozen storage, and thawing on the passive viscoelastic properties and structure of the rat aorta. Journal of Biomechanics, 171, Article 112190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112190
  • 2023
    • Nelissen, E., Schepers, M., Ponsaerts, L., Foulquier, S., Bronckaers, A., Vanmierlo, T., Sandner, P., & Prickaerts, J. (2023). Soluble guanylyl cyclase: A novel target for the treatment of vascular cognitive impairment?Pharmacological Research, 197(1), Article 106970. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106970
    • Berends, E., van Oostenbrugge, R. J., Foulquier, S., & Schalkwijk, C. G. (2023). Methylglyoxal, a highly reactive dicarbonyl compound, as a threat for blood brain barrier integrity. Fluids and barriers of the CNS, 20(1), Article 75. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12987-023-00477-6
    • Giudici, A., van der Laan, K. W. F., van der Bruggen, M. M., Parikh, S., Berends, E., Foulquier, S., Delhaas, T., Reesink, K. D., & Spronck, B. (2023). Constituent-based quasi-linear viscoelasticity: a revised quasi-linear modelling framework to capture nonlinear viscoelasticity in arteries. Biomechanics and modeling in mechanobiology, 22(5), 1607–1623. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-023-01711-8
    • Manukjan, N., Majcher, D., Leenders, P., Caiment, F., van Herwijnen, M., Smeets, H. J. J., Suidgeest, E., van der Weerd, L., Vanmierlo, T., Jansen, J. F. A., Backes, W. H. H., van Oostenbrugge, R. J. J., Staals, J., Fulton, D., Ahmed, Z., Blankesteijn, W. M., & Foulquier, S. (2023). Hypoxic oligodendrocyte precursor cell-derived VEGFA is associated with blood-brain barrier impairment. Acta neuropathologica communications, 11(1), Article 128. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40478-023-01627-5
    • Kerkhofs, D., Helgers, R., Hermes, D., Steinbusch, H. P. J., Van Essen, H., Leenders, P., Prickaerts, J., Staals, J., Biessen, E. A., Van Oostenbrugge, R. J., & Foulquier, S. (2023). Amlodipine limits microglia activation and cognitive dysfunction in aged hypertensive mice. Journal of Hypertension, 41(7), 1159-1167. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000003445
    • Colin, M., Delaitre, C., Foulquier, S., & Dupuis, F. (2023). The AT(1)/AT(2) Receptor Equilibrium Is a Cornerstone of the Regulation of the Renin Angiotensin System beyond the Cardiovascular System. Molecules, 28(14), Article 5481. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28145481
  • 2022
    • Kemps, H., Dessy, C., Dumas, L., Sonveaux, P., Alders, L., Van Broeckhoven, J., Font, L. P., Lambrichts, S., Foulquier, S., Hendrix, S., Brône, B., Lemmens, R., & Bronckaers, A. (2022). Extremely low frequency electromagnetic stimulation reduces ischemic stroke volume by improving cerebral collateral blood flow. Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism, 42(6), 979-996. Article 0271678X221084410. https://doi.org/10.1177/0271678X221084410
  • 2021
    • Laukkanen, L., Diniz, C. R. A. F., Foulquier, S., Prickaerts, J., Castren, E., & Casarotto, P. C. (2021). Facilitation of TRKB Activation by the Angiotensin II Receptor Type-2 (AT2R) Agonist C21. Pharmaceuticals, 14(8), Article 773. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph14080773
  • 2020
    • Reinhold, S., Blankesteijn, W. M., & Foulquier, S. (2020). The Interplay of WNT and PPARγ Signaling in Vascular Calcification. Cells, 9(12), Article 2658. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9122658
    • Kerkhofs, D., van Hagen, B. T., Milanova, I. V., Schell, K. J., van Essen, H., Wijnands, E., Goossens, P., Blankesteijn, W. M., Unger, T., Prickaerts, J., Biessen, E. A., van Oostenbrugge, R. J., & Foulquier, S. (2020). Pharmacological depletion of microglia and perivascular macrophages prevents Vascular Cognitive Impairment in Ang II-induced hypertension. Theranostics, 10(21), 9512-9527. https://doi.org/10.7150/thno.44394
    • Manukjan, N., Ahmed, Z., Fulton, D., Blankesteijn, W. M., & Foulquier, S. (2020). A Systematic Review of WNT Signaling in Endothelial Cell Oligodendrocyte Interactions: Potential Relevance to Cerebral Small Vessel Disease. Cells, 9(6), 1-15. Article 1545. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells9061545
    • Foulquier, S. (2020). Brain perivascular macrophages: connecting inflammation to autonomic activity in hypertension. Hypertension Research, 43(2), 148-150. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-019-0359-7
  • 2019
    • Koizumi, T., Kerkhofs, D., Mizuno, T., Steinbusch, H. W. M., & Foulquier, S. (2019). Vessel-Associated Immune Cells in Cerebrovascular Diseases: From Perivascular Macrophages to Vessel-Associated Microglia. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 13, Article 1291. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2019.01291
    • Foulquier, S., Caolo, V., Swennen, G., Milanova, I., Reinhold, S., Recarti, C., Alenina, N., Bader, M., Steckelings, U. M., Vanmierlo, T., Post, M. J., Jones, E. A., van Oostenbrugge, R. J., & Unger, T. (2019). The role of receptor MAS in microglia-driven retinal vascular development. Angiogenesis, 22(4), 481-489. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10456-019-09671-3
    • Koizumi, T., Taguchi, K., Mizuta, I., Toba, H., Ohigashi, M., Onishi, O., Ikoma, K., Miyata, S., Nakata, T., Tanaka, M., Foulquier, S., Steinbusch, H. W. M., & Mizuno, T. (2019). Transiently proliferating perivascular microglia harbor M1 type and precede cerebrovascular changes in a chronic hypertension model. Journal of Neuroinflammation, 16(1), Article 79. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12974-019-1467-7
  • 2018
    • Meyer, M., Foulquier, S., Dupuis, F., Flament, S., Grimaud, L., Henrion, D., Lartaud, I., Monard, G., Grillier-Vuissoz, I., & Boisbrun, M. (2018). Synthesis and evaluation of new designed multiple ligands directed towards both peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ and angiotensin II type 1 receptor. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 158, 334-352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.08.082
    • Foulquier, S., Namsolleck, P., Van Hagen, B. T., Milanova, I., Post, M. J., Blankesteijn, W. M., Rutten, B. P., Prickaerts, J., Van Oostenbrugge, R. J., & Unger, T. (2018). Hypertension-induced cognitive impairment: insights from prolonged angiotensin II infusion in mice. Hypertension Research, 41(10), 817-827. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41440-018-0090-9
    • Foulquier, S., Daskalopoulos, E. P., Lluri, G., Hermans, K. C. M., Deb, A., & Blankesteijn, W. M. (2018). WNT Signaling in Cardiac and Vascular Disease. Pharmacological Reviews, 70(1), 68-141. https://doi.org/10.1124/pr.117.013896
  • 2016
    • Paulis, L., Foulquier, S., Namsolleck, P., Recarti, C., Steckelings, U. M., & Unger, T. (2016). Combined Angiotensin Receptor Modulation in the Management of Cardio-Metabolic Disorders. Drugs, 76(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40265-015-0509-4
  • 2014
    • Foulquier, S., Boehm, M., Schmieder, R., Sleight, P., Teo, K., Yusuf, S., Schumacher, H., & Unger, T. (2014). Impact of telmisartan on cardiovascular outcome in hypertensive patients at high risk: a Telmisartan Randomised AssessmeNt Study in ACE iNtolerant subjects with cardiovascular Disease subanalysis. Journal of Hypertension, 32(6), 1334-1341. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000000154
    • Namsolleck, P., Recarti, C., Foulquier, S., Steckelings, U. M., & Unger, T. (2014). AT(2) Receptor and Tissue Injury: Therapeutic Implications. Current Hypertension Reports, 16(2), Article 416. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-013-0416-6
  • 2012
    • Foulquier, S., Steckelings, U. M., & Unger, T. (2012). Impact of the AT(2) Receptor Agonist C21 on Blood Pressure and Beyond. Current Hypertension Reports, 14(5), 403-409. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-012-0291-6
Overview