Dr. Sophie Veldhuijzen van Zanten, research resident and principal in the Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, conducts research on brain tumors in adults and children. This week she was awarded a grant of more than $400,000 from the American Cure Starts Now Foundation for new and unique research aimed at developing innovative nuclear therapies for children. The tumors are internally irradiated. The grant allows for translational research in which patients’ tumor tissue is used for the development and optimization of these nuclear therapies. Erasmus MC brings it back.
In his line of research, Veldhuijzen van Zanten focuses on the development of radionuclide-targeted therapies (“targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy” or RPT), a form of internal radiotherapy. Unlike external beam radiation, which is currently the standard treatment for brain tumors, RPT has not yet been extensively studied for the treatment of brain tumors.
Sons
In 2019, the Dutch parents’ association for children with brainstem tumors, Stichting Semmy, awarded a scholarship. With this, Veldhuijzen van Zanten started a successful line of research at Erasmus MC where various clinical trials are ongoing for adult patients with brain tumours.
By: National Care Guide
