dr. WJH (Werner) Koopman

Mitochondrial dysfunction is a key characteristic of a large number of disorders ranging from rare metabolic syndromes to aging-related neurodegeneration. In this exciting and rapidly developing field, research in my group aims to understand cellular energy metabolism in the context of mitochondrial (dys)function at various levels of complexity (organism, tissues, cells, proteins, molecules). This work is firmly embedded in the department (Pediatrics), the Amalia Children’s hospital, two Radboudumc Research Programs (“Therapy accelerator for rare disorders of the brain” and “The Amalia P4 research program”) and the Radboud Center for Metabolic Disorders (RCMM). Regarding disease mechanisms, research primarily focuses on rare mitochondrial diseases (MDs) including Leigh Syndrome (LS) but also studies mitochondrial (dys)function in other pathologies (e.g. melanoma, Parkinson’s disease, immunity, neurodevelopmental disorders, aging). Part of my research is performed at the department of Human and Animal Physiology (Prof. Dr. Ir. Keijer; Wageningen University), mainly to study the whole-body energy metabolism of mitochondrial disease mice and (nutritional) intervention strategies. In this context, my research pursues four main (1) to develop, apply and make available novel technologies for (single) live-cell analysis, (2) to provide new fundamental insights into cellular and mitochondrial bioenergetics, (3) to understand the (patho)physiology of MDs driving novel intervention strategies, (4) to disseminate (basic) knowledge and provide counselling to relevant stakeholders from the Radboudumc, (inter)national researchers, BSc/MSc students (education), industry, patient organizations and the general public. Together with Dr. Adjobo-Hermans (Radboudumc), Koopman is the primary organizer of the “Annual Dutch Mitochondria Meeting”.