PhD defence Promotie R.H.J. (Rik) Beernink

Targeted and untargeted biomarker discovery studies for the great obstetrical syndromes

Biomarkers are biological parameters that can be measured to, for example, demonstrate a specific biological condition, diagnose a disease or monitor the effect of a therapeutic intervention. Two different strategies can be used to find new biochemical markers, such as proteins in the blood: a 'targeted' and an 'untargeted' analysis strategy. In the thesis of Rik Beernink, both strategies were used to find new candidate biomarkers for the Great Obstetrical Syndromes early in pregnancy. Two analysis techniques were used for this; enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). 'The Great Obstetrical Syndromes' is a collective name for the most common conditions during pregnancy and include gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia (pre-eclampsia), fetal growth restriction and spontaneous preterm birth.Furthermore, this thesis describes a data analysis method to improve the reproducibility of large LC-MS studies and a cost-effectiveness analysis of a first trimester screening test. In addition to the positive clinical effects of a first trimester screening test, the cost-effectiveness analysis showed that such a test is also cost-effective in the Netherlands. The candidate biomarkers described in this thesis should be further validated in larger and preferably more heterogeneous populations in subsequent studies. Such validated biomarkers can then lead to a first trimester screening test, but can also provide new biological insights into the pathophysiology of the disorders, resulting in new therapeutic targets.

Promotors: Prof.dr. T.I.F.H. Cremers and Prof.dr. S.A. Scherjon