About
Introduction
During my internship in Internal medicine, I got involved in clinical research in organ transplantation, especially CMV infection and immunosuppression and joined the Rotterdam liver transplant group in 1988. After the early pioneering years, the program slowly developed to the largest liver transplant program in the Netherlands, including a living donor liver transplant program and a translational research lab. Currently, around 80 liver transplantations are performed annually, including 10 liver donor liver transplantations. The program is still expanding aiming at around 100 liver transplants annually.
My clinical research interest has changed over the years. From diagnostics and treatment of Cytomegalovirus infection and the role of immunoglobulin treatment in liver transplantation in the early years to more recently studying long term outcome and optimization of immunosuppression after liver transplantation.
From 2012 till July 2021, I headed a team of talented clinicians, clinical and translational researches within the field of Hepatology and Liver Transplantation.
Education and career
Medical Education
1973-1979 Erasmus University, Rotterdam (medicine)
1980-1985 Internal Medicine
1985-1987 Intensive Care Medicine
2000-2002 Gastroenterology
Degrees
1979 Arts-Examen" (equivalent to M.D.), Erasmus University Rotterdam
2007 Professor of Liver Failure and Liver Transplantation (Full professor), Erasmus MC, Rotterdam
PhD thesis
1990 CMV infection after organ transplantation.
Teaching activities
- Teaching of bachelor and medical students
- Teaching of PhD students
Appointments
1980-1985 Resident Internal Medicine, University Hospital Rotterdam
1985-1988 Consultant Physician Surgical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospital Rotterdam
1988-2021 Consultant Physician Transplantation Unit, Dept. of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Erasmus MC Rotterdam
2012-2021 Head Section Hepatology
Other positions
- Chairman Medical Ethics Committee, Erasmus MC
- Board Dutch Society of Hepatology
Publications
- Everolimus With Reduced Tacrolimus Improves Renal Function in De Novo Liver Transplant Recipients: A Randomized Controlled Trial. De Simone P, Nevens F, De Carlis, Metselaar, HJ, Beckebaum S, Saliba F, Jonas, S, Sudan D, Fung, Fischer, L for the H2304 Study Group. Am J Transplant 2012; 12; 3008-20. (166 times cited).
- Modulation of the cellular immune system by intravenous immunoglobulin. Tha-In T, Bayry J, Metselaar H.J., Kaveri SV, Kwekkeboom J. Trends Immunol 2008; 29:608-15. (135 times cited).
- A Randomized, Controlled Study to Assess the Conversion From Calcineurin-Inhibitors to Everolimus After Liver Transplantation – PROTECT. Fischer L, Klempnauer J, Beckebaum S, Metselaar HJ, Neuhaus, P et al. A J Transplant 2012; 12: 1855-65 (108 times cited).
- Conversion from a Calcineurin Inhibitor to Everolimus Therapy in Maintenance Liver Transplant Recipients: A Prospective, Randomized, Multicenter Trial. De Simone P, Metselaar HJ, Fischer L, Dumortier J et al. Liver Transplant 2009; 15: 1262-69. (94 times cited).
- Practical Recommendations for Long-term Management of Modifiable Risks in Kidney and Liver Transplant Recipients: A Guidance Report and Clinical Checklist by the Consensus on Managing Modifiable Risk in Transplantation (COMMIT) Group. Neuberger JM (Neuberger, Bechstein WO, Kuypers DRJ, Burra P, Citterio F, De Geest S, Duvoux C, Jardine AG, Kamar N, Kramer BK, Metselaar HJ, Nevens F, Pirenne J, Rodriguez-Peralvarez ML, Samuel D, Schneeberger S, Seron D, Trunecka P, Tisone G and van Gelder. Transplantation 2017;0101: S1-56. (66 times cited).
Scholarships, grants, and awards (recent 5 years)
- Astellas (240 kE): Optimization of care of patient after liver transplantation
- Chiesi (340kE): Optimization of immunosuppression after liver transplantation
- Astellas (750 kE): Optimization of immunosuppression after liver transplantation
Current research projects
- Recurrence of PSC after liver transplantation
- Optimization of immunosuppression after liver transplantation
