Dr. Thijs Koorman

Thijs Koorman studied Cancer, Stem cells and Developmental Biology in Utrecht. His PhD focused on cell polarity in the nematode C. elegans at Utrecht University. After obtaining his PhD in 2016, Thijs moved to Boston to perform his postdoctoral study at Harvard Medical School / Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, shifting focus towards growth factor receptors, cancer matrix and oncogenic signaling in breast cancer. In 2018, Thijs moved to the UMC Utrecht Pathology department as a senior postdoc working on lobular breast cancer and cell-based immunotherapies. This led to the appointment of Assistant Professor in 2022.

Besides research, Thijs is passionate about patient advocacy, communication, and teaching. In 2023 he co-joined the Utrecht Bachelor Research Hub to combine his ongoing research questions with education, focusing on the concept of research-based teaching.

Thijs is broadly-skilled in molecular biology – 2D / 3D cultures (including primary organotypic materials) – matrix biology – microfluidics – preclinical patient translation, and (cell-based)-therapy.