A.J. (Annique) Claringbould

Annique Claringbould is interested in researching the changes in gene regulation and gene expression that underlie complex diseases. She joined the Department of Internal Medicine at Erasmus Medical Center in July 2024. During her PhD at the University Medical Centre in Groningen, Annique studied how genetic variants affect gene expression using large population cohort data. She then pursued postdoctoral research at the European Molecular Biology Laboratories in Heidelberg, Germany, focusing on single-cell gene regulatory networks and multiomics approaches.

• Genetics
• Gene regulation
• Transcriptomics
• Functional genomics
• Bioinformatics
• Population genomics
• Type 2 Diabetes
• Familial Hypercholesterolemia

Ongoing projects

• Molecular mechanisms of genetic risk for type 2 diabetes
  This project investigates how genetic risk factors for type II diabetes (T2D) influence gene regulation and activity in pancreatic β-cells. By using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from individuals with high and low genetic risk scores, the study aims to identify key genetic regulators that contribute to T2D. Insights from single-cell gene activity analysis could lead to personalized medicine approaches, improving treatment for patients with T2D.
  

• Integrative scoring for familial hypercholesterolaemia
  Individuals with familial hypercholesterolaemia have high cholesterol levels in their blood from birth, which can lead to cardiovascular complications in some individuals. Next to diet and medication, genetics play a significant role in determining these outcomes. This study examines to what extent someone’s genetic background can predict their cardiac health outcomes.

• Postdoc, European Molecular Biology Laboratories, Heidelberg, Germany, 2020-2024
• PhD University Medical Centre Groningen, 2015-2020
  • Thesis: Core gene identification using gene expression
  • Visiting scientist, University of Queensland, Australia, 2018
  • Visiting scientist, University of California Los Angeles, United States, 2019
• MSc Human Molecular Genetics, Imperial College London, 2014-2015
• BSc Life Sciences, University College Utrecht, 2010-2013

• ‘Single-cell ultra-high-throughput multiplexed chromatin and RNA profiling reveals gene regulatory dynamics’, Lobato-Moreno S*, Yildiz U*, Claringbould A*, et al. (2025), Nature Methods.  https://doi.org/10.1038/s41592-025-02700-8
• ‘High-Sensitivity C Reactive Protein Mediates Age-Related Vascular Dysfunction: The Rotterdam Study.’, Mohammadi Jouabadi, S., Claringbould, A et al. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. (2025)  https://doi.org/10.1093/eurjpc/zwaf370
• ‘Identification of rare disease genes as drivers of common diseases through tissue-specific gene regulatory networks’, Bakker, O. B.*, Claringbould, A.* et al. (2024), Scientific Reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-80670-1
• ‘GRaNIE and GRaNPA: inference and evaluation of enhancer-mediated gene regulatory networks’, Kamal, A.*, Arnold, C.*, Claringbould, A. et al. (2023), Molecular Systems Biology. https://doi.org/10.15252/msb.202311627
• ‘Enhancers in disease: molecular basis and emerging treatment strategies’, Claringbould, A. and Zaugg, J. B. (2021), Trends in Molecular Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molmed.2021.07.012
• ‘Large-scale cis- and trans-eQTL analyses identify thousands of genetic loci and polygenic scores that regulate blood gene expression’, Võsa, U.*, Claringbould, A.* et al. (2021), Nature Genetics. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41588-021-00913-z

 

For a full list of publications, see Google Scholar.

We are currently setting up our research group and are excited to invite applications for master internships. If you are a highly motivated and hardworking student, we encourage you to reach out to us.
Collaboration is at the heart of our work, so we are looking for students with strong communication skills. We especially welcome candidates with a background in bioinformatics, computational biology, genomics, or molecular biology, and an interest in gene regulation, GWAS, lipid biology, or cardiovascular diseases.

Scholarships

2020 EMBL Interdisciplinary Postdoctoral Fellowship (EIPOD)
2014 School of Public Health Master’s Scholarship Imperial College London

Grants
2024 NWO ZonMW Veni Grant
2024 Diabetes Foundation Junior Fellowship
2019 Simons Foundation Scientific Visit Grant
2018 De Drie Lichten Foundation Scientific Visit Grant
2016 Simons Foundation Conference Travel Grant

Awards
2018 Charles J. Epstein Trainee Award for Excellence in Human Genetics Research semi-finalist
2015 School of Public Health Prize for best research proposal
2015 Dean’s Prize for best overall course performance