About E. (Erwin) Brosens, PhD
Introduction
Dr. Erwin Brosens is an assistant professor and program manager at the department of clinical genetics. He is a senior translational scientist, with nearly fifteen years of experience in translational research, molecular diagnostics, and data-driven innovation. His patient-centered approach, shaped by direct engagement with families, drives his commitment to meaningful, impactful research aligned with institutional goals.
He integrates biomedical medical science with strategic project and program management to drive impactful research aligned with institutional goals. His ambition is to gain clinically relevant insights from patient genomes and clinical registries. He aims to identify new relevant oncogenic biomarkers and vulnerabilities, increase our understanding of tumor biology and the interaction of tumor cells with their environment, develop targeted therapies and minimize the need for invasive techniques for prognosis and disease monitoring.
He integrates biomedical medical science with strategic project and program management to drive impactful research aligned with institutional goals. His ambition is to gain clinically relevant insights from patient genomes and clinical registries. He aims to identify new relevant oncogenic biomarkers and vulnerabilities, increase our understanding of tumor biology and the interaction of tumor cells with their environment, develop targeted therapies and minimize the need for invasive techniques for prognosis and disease monitoring.
Field(s) of expertise
He investigates the genetic basis of esophageal atresia and the VACTERL association, with a focus on understanding long-term complications such as the potentially increased risk of esophageal cancer in adulthood. In collaboration with clinicians, diagnostic experts, and scientists, his team uses genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic analyses—alongside in vitro and in vivo models—to explore the biological mechanisms underlying these complex congenital conditions. His research has identified shared genetic risk loci and disrupted pathways between esophageal atresia, Barrett’s esophagus, and esophageal cancer, suggesting a common developmental origin. Through immunohistochemistry and transcriptomics, he demonstrated that tracheoesophageal fistula is associated with myofibroblast-driven fibrosis and disrupted epithelial homeostasis, which may predispose patients to disease progression. His work aims to improve early diagnosis, risk prediction, and long-term care for individuals affected by these rare but serious congenital anomalies.
Together with Dr. E. Kilic he focusses on clinically relevant biomarkers and therapeutic targets for patients with (peri-) ocular cancer. His work integrates multi-omics analysis, CRISPR/Cas9-edited cell models, organoids, and zebrafish xenografts to study tumor evolution and vulnerabilities in rare cancers such as uveal melanoma, retinal hemangioblastoma, and sebaceous gland cancer. Through the EVICT program, he combines genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic data with clinical insights to develop non-invasive monitoring tools and high-throughput drug screening platforms. Liquid biopsy-based biomarkers as minimally invasive tools for cancer detection, prognosis, and monitoring is needed when uveal melanoma patients undergo eye-sparing treatments. However, not all noninvasive approaches are suitable to detect or monitor uveal melanoma patients. In several pilot studies his group have evaluated the use of metabolomics[6], circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as methods for the early detection and continuous monitoring of uveal melanoma patients. His team uses machine learning to identify patterns across histopathology, clinical outcomes, and multi-omics datasets. His group has optimized zebrafish models for drug testing and identified molecular subclasses linked to poor prognosis in uveal melanoma. His goal is to improve patient outcomes by enabling precision therapies and reducing the need for invasive procedures. His translational approach bridges advanced modelling with clinical relevance, driving innovation in cancer research and personalized medicine.
Together with Dr. A. Wagner he also focusses on Genetic Tumor Risk Syndromes (GENTURIS). As an institute level principal investigator and work package leader of the NESTOR and GENTURIS registries, he coordinates a nationwide collaboration to build a sustainable genetic research infrastructure for hereditary cancer. This His team, in the INSPIRE project, focuses on improving early detection and personalized prevention of hereditary cancers. Affecting thousands in the Netherlands, these syndromes often go undiagnosed due to limited access to integrated clinical and genetic data. His team uses advanced sequencing and multi-omics approaches to uncover hidden genetic risks and refine cancer risk assessments. Collaborating with an European network of 27 cancer centers, his team investigates complex cases and develops tailored prevention strategies. By combining tumor-first diagnostics, cellular modeling, and translational genomics, INSPIRE aims to make genetic testing a standard part of care—enhancing early detection, guiding treatment decisions, and improving outcomes for patients and families at risk.
Together with Dr. E. Kilic he focusses on clinically relevant biomarkers and therapeutic targets for patients with (peri-) ocular cancer. His work integrates multi-omics analysis, CRISPR/Cas9-edited cell models, organoids, and zebrafish xenografts to study tumor evolution and vulnerabilities in rare cancers such as uveal melanoma, retinal hemangioblastoma, and sebaceous gland cancer. Through the EVICT program, he combines genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenetic data with clinical insights to develop non-invasive monitoring tools and high-throughput drug screening platforms. Liquid biopsy-based biomarkers as minimally invasive tools for cancer detection, prognosis, and monitoring is needed when uveal melanoma patients undergo eye-sparing treatments. However, not all noninvasive approaches are suitable to detect or monitor uveal melanoma patients. In several pilot studies his group have evaluated the use of metabolomics[6], circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), circulating tumor cells (CTCs) as methods for the early detection and continuous monitoring of uveal melanoma patients. His team uses machine learning to identify patterns across histopathology, clinical outcomes, and multi-omics datasets. His group has optimized zebrafish models for drug testing and identified molecular subclasses linked to poor prognosis in uveal melanoma. His goal is to improve patient outcomes by enabling precision therapies and reducing the need for invasive procedures. His translational approach bridges advanced modelling with clinical relevance, driving innovation in cancer research and personalized medicine.
Together with Dr. A. Wagner he also focusses on Genetic Tumor Risk Syndromes (GENTURIS). As an institute level principal investigator and work package leader of the NESTOR and GENTURIS registries, he coordinates a nationwide collaboration to build a sustainable genetic research infrastructure for hereditary cancer. This His team, in the INSPIRE project, focuses on improving early detection and personalized prevention of hereditary cancers. Affecting thousands in the Netherlands, these syndromes often go undiagnosed due to limited access to integrated clinical and genetic data. His team uses advanced sequencing and multi-omics approaches to uncover hidden genetic risks and refine cancer risk assessments. Collaborating with an European network of 27 cancer centers, his team investigates complex cases and develops tailored prevention strategies. By combining tumor-first diagnostics, cellular modeling, and translational genomics, INSPIRE aims to make genetic testing a standard part of care—enhancing early detection, guiding treatment decisions, and improving outcomes for patients and families at risk.
Education and career
He began his career as a cytogenetic analyst, applying techniques such as karyotyping, microarray, and FISH to investigate chromosomal abnormalities. While working full-time, he earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Environmental Health Sciences, demonstrating a strong commitment to lifelong learning. He launched his scientific career as a PhD student at Erasmus MC, studying the genetic causes of congenital foregut anomalies and diaphragmatic hernia. During his doctoral training, he actively contributed to academic governance through his role on the Student Advisory Council, helping shape guidelines for doctoral studies. He enhanced his expertise by completing courses in project management, research integrity, data management and security, clinical research regulation, and Data Safety Monitoring Board procedures. His research responsibilities included obtaining informed consent from patients and parents, which deepened his commitment to patient-centred research. This experience also motivated him to engage in international networks as a genetic representative. As a postdoc, his research expanded to include congenital neuromuscular intestinal disorders, cardiomyopathies, and thoracic aneurysms, using genomics, transcriptomics, and in vivo modelling. He has contributed to diagnostic practice by identifying causal genes for rare disorders such as Megacystis-microcolon-intestinal hypoperistalsis syndrome and Pediatric Intestinal Pseudo-obstruction. His work led to the inclusion of these genes in diagnostic panels and the reclassification of variants of unknown significance, improving genetic diagnosis and patient care.
Publications
https://pure.eur.nl/en/persons/erwin-brosens/publications/
Teaching activities
He is a guest lecturer in biomedical programs and currently supervises five PhD students. He regularly mentors interns with laboratory backgrounds and master students with a (bio-) medical, fostering the next generation of translational scientists.
Four of his students have currently obtained their doctoral degree
Four of his students have currently obtained their doctoral degree
Other positions
He serves as Data Program Manager in the Department of Clinical Genetics at Erasmus MC, where he leads the transition toward a data-centric research environment and alignment with institutional initiatives. He oversees scientific integrity, GDPR compliance, biobanking, and data governance, and has implemented a FAIR-aligned data management framework in collaboration with internal and external partners. Certified as a Data Management Professional (CDMP), he develops tools for data cataloguing, metadata tracking, and monitoring. He also contributes to institutional initiatives in AI, digitalization, and research ethics, serving on the Scientific Integrity Committee and as digital coordinator for the EMC Digital Community.
