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Researcher

W. (Wim) Mandemakers, PhD

Assistant Professor

  • Department
  • Clinical Genetics
  • Focus area
  • Parkinson's disease/Movement Disorders
Contact   External Profile
External profile

About W. (Wim) Mandemakers, PhD

Introduction

After having obtained my PhD degree at Erasmus MC, I worked as a postdoc in the labs of Dr. Ben Barres at Stanford University, USA and Dr. Bart de Strooper at KUL/VIB in Leuven, Belgium. Currently, I am an Assistant Professor at the Clinical Genetics department at Erasmus MC. In close collaboration with the Prof. Vincenzo Bonifati, the main goal of my research is the identification and functional characterization of genetic mutations in heritable forms of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other movement disorders. Our lab uses patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells that are differentiated into various brain cell types as well as organoids as a model system to study PD. We hope that our work on PD will help gain more insight into the molecular mechanisms that lead to pathology in PD. 

Field(s) of expertise

Parkinson's disease/Movement Disorders

Education and career

  • PhD: Cell Biology and Genetics dept. Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

  • Postdoc: Ben Barres lab, Neurobiology Dept. Stanford University, USA.

  • Postdoc: Bart de Strooper lab, KUL/VIB Leuven, Belgium.

  • Assistant Professor: Vincenzo Bonifati lab, Clinical Genetics department, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Publications

LRP10 and α-synuclein transmission in Lewy body diseases Carreras Mascaro, A., et al., Dec 2024, In: Cellular and molecular life sciences: CMLS. 81, 1, p. 75 1 p., 75. https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85184459556

PTPA variants and impaired PP2A activity in early-onset parkinsonism with intellectual disability Fevga, C., et al., Apr 2023, In: Brain. 146, 4, p. 1496-1510 15 p.

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85152396974

LRP10 interacts with SORL1 in the intracellular vesicle trafficking pathway in non-neuronal brain cells and localises to Lewy bodies in Parkinson’s disease and dementia with Lewy bodies

Grochowska, M. M., et al., Jul 2021, In: Acta Neuropathologica. 142, p. 117-137 21 p. https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85105398816

EIF2AK2 Missense Variants Associated with Early Onset Generalized Dystonia Kuipers, D. J. S., et al., Mar 2021, In: Annals of Neurology. 89, 3, p. 485-497 13 p.

https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85097551907

A complete overview of publications can be found here: Wim Mandemakers

 

 

 

 

Teaching activities

2002-present: Advising and Training (under)graduate students at Neurobiology Dept. Stanford University,  VIB Center for Biology of Disease Laboratory for the Research of Neurodegenerative Diseases K.U. Leuven, and  Clinical Genetics department, Erasmus MC Rotterdam 

  • 2017-2018: Tutor  1st year Bachelor Medical students Erasmus MC
  • 2014-present: teaching courses for Molecular Medicine and Neuroscience Masters programs, and Biomedical Sciences PhD students at Erasmus MC, Rotterdam.
  • 2026: PO docent Erasmus MC, Rotterdam
  • May 2011 Member thesis committee of Noorjahan Jagalur Basheer, Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
  • Mar 2015 Member thesis committee of Liesbeth Aerts, KU Leuven, Belgium.
  • Oct 2018 Member thesis committee (co-promotor) of Roy Masius, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • May 2019 Member thesis committee of Lisa Smits, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
  • Jan 2024 Member thesis committee (co-promotor) of Martyna Grochowska, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • Mar 2024 Member thesis committee (co-promotor) of Christina Fevga, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  • Apr 2024 Member thesis committee (co-promotor) of Ana Carreras Mascaro, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Other positions

2018-present Member editorial board of ‘Parkinsonism and Related Disorders’

2018-present Co-organizer Clinical Genetics department weekly research meeting.

2018-present Member organizing committee MGC PhD course: Protein Aggregation: from clinic to therapy

2025-present Member Data and material access committee, Clinical Genetics department.

Scholarships, grants, and awards

  • 2001 - 2002: TALENT-stipend, NWO.
  • 2002 - 2004: Postdoctoral fellowship - National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), USA.
  • 2006 - 2007: Visiting postdoctoral fellowship, FWO, Belgium
  • 2007 - 2009: Marie Curie Intra European Fellowship - European Commission Research.
  • 2014 - 2018: MRace grant Erasmus MC.
  • 2015 - present: Research support from Stichting ParkinsonFonds, Nederland.

More

‘Societal outreach’

Parkinson TV - Onderzoek naar Parkinson: Erasmus Medisch Centrum Rotterdam

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZOpQIi1lcA

 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPRVeNOjCyt/

My Groups

Molecular Mechanisms of Movement Disorders

We focus on finding genes involved in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and related neurodegenerative disorders (PD-dementia, Dementia with Lewy bodies), as well as other movement disorders (dystonia, neurodegeneration with brain metal accumulations), with the overarching aim to illuminate the disease mechanisms and identify novel targets for disease-modifying therapies.

Related

Departments and research centers

Genetic Identification logo

Clinical genetics

Research groups/labs

Molecular Mechanisms of Movement Disorders