About Hélène Gleitz
Introduction
Our research on myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) is guided by the overarching question of how mutations acquired in bone marrow stem cells interact with their surrounding niche, lead to a remodeling of the bone marrow microenvironment and ultimately lead to the inability to produce blood.
We use a combination of murine models, patient samples, single-cell sequencing, and methylation technology to understand the cellular and molecular ‘cues’ that are triggered by mutations in stem cells and how their interaction with other surrounding cells is affected, leading to the replacement of normal blood-forming cells by fibrotic tissue.
Moreover, we seek to clarify the downstream effects of chronic inflammation and myeloproliferation on the cellular crosstalk with the central nervous system, the immune-rich dural layer underneath and the brain parenchyma. The ultimate goal is to be able to identify new therapeutic targets to treat and improve the prognosis of myeloproliferative neoplasm (MPN) patients.
Education and career
Hélène F.E. Gleitz, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the department of Developmental Biology at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. She studied Biomedical Materials and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Manchester followed by a PhD in the group of Brian Bigger at the University of Manchester, where she developed and patented a new brain-targeted stem cell gene therapy for Mucopolysaccharidosis type II (Hunter Syndrome) now in clinical trials. Hélène started her postdoctoral fellowship in 2018 in the lab of Rebekka Schneider at Erasmus MC in the Netherlands, supported by a Horizon2020 Marie Curie LEaDing fellowship. In the lab, she identified Tasquinimod, a S100A9-inhibitor, as a novel therapeutic option for rare chronic blood cancer, known as myeloproliferative neoplasms, also in clinical trials. She obtained a ZonMW VENI grant and an Erasmus MC fellowship in 2021 to start her own research group in the department of Developmental Biology at Erasmus MC. She investigates the crosstalk between hematopoietic stem cells and their microenvironment in the development of chronic blood cancers and fibrosis, identifying new targets and therapeutic options, supported by an NWO ENW M1 grant. In addition, she recently obtained a prestigious KWF Exploration grant in 2025 to investigate the effects of chronic blood cancers and inflammation on the skull BM niche, the meningeal layers and the brain.
Publications
Full list of publications:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=gleitz%2C+H+%5Bauthor%5D&sort=date
Team members
The Gleitz Lab works closely with the Schneider Lab to advance research that improves clinical outcomes for patients with myeloid malignancies. Several team members hold dual appointments, strengthening this collaborative effort.
Hélène F.E. Gleitz, PhD – Principal investigator, assistant professor
Gerjanne Vroeg in de wei, BSc – Research technician and lab manager
Hector Tejeda Mora, PhD – Postdoctoral researcher (bioinformatics)
Iris Bakker, MSc. – PhD student
Tesa Klenovšek, MSc – PhD student
Stijn N.R. Fuchs, BSc – PhD student, co-supervised with R. Schneider