Biospit Initiative: harmonizing sputum methodology and biomarkers across multicenter studies (November 2011 – Present)

This is a collaboration project initiated at Quintiles (London, Spain) where I was asked to help to develop the strategy and provide the scientific rationale. We select and train centers of excellent according to one standardized operating procedure and thus enable harmonization of sputum outcomes in multiple center trials of respiratory diseases.

ATS-ERS Task force for (Allergen) bronchoprovocation tests (September 2008 – Present)

The aim is to set up recommendations regarding safety, reproducibility and validity of the allergen challenge methods for clinical trials. Includes implementation of biomarkers from airway samplings.

Respiratory & Allergy Research (February 2003 – September 2009)

In 2003-2009 I have set up Respiratory Research including asthma disease models (allergen challenge) and airway sampling at CHDR, Leiden, The Netherlands. At that time I have trained and supervised a PhD student, J.D.Boot, now PhD (2009) and Medical Director at HAL Allergy BV in Leiden, The Netherlands. Presently, I moved my Respiratory Research to QPS-Netherlands in Groningen, The Netherlands, where we conduct data intensive studies in asthma, allergy and COPD, using allergen challenge, LPS challenge and several airway biomarker sampling methods.