S. (Sarah) Schalekamp-Timmermans, MD

Research Focus & Overview

I am a clinician scientist studying the influence of pregnancy on a woman’s lifecycle with a specific interest in the area of women’s, maternal and perinatal cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. In 2010 I gained my PhD with my thesis "Folic acid, dietary patterns, and perinatal health" under the direct supervision of Professor Eric Steegers and Professor Regine Steegers-Theunissen. Hereafter I started working as post-doctoral research fellow in the Generation R Study, next to my clinical activities as obstetrician. Generation R includes information over 10.000 children and their parents during pregnancy. Follow-up is now about 17 years after index pregnancy.

We have detailed information on preeclampsia, and maternal, placental and fetal hemodynamic and vascular adaptation to pregnancy, and cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and endothelial function after pregnancy. We combine our expertise in aging and pregnancy complications to study the long term cardiovascular and cerebrovascular effects for mothers with a pregnancy complicated by preeclampsia. For this Professor Sandra Davidge, Professor Jim Roberts and Professor Eric Steegers act as my research mentors. I strongly believe that doing research is not only important but also that it is fun! For this reason we are always open-minded to share our data and expertise through collaboration in order to achieve the best results as possible.  

Preeclampsia

Studies include understanding mechanisms for normal hemodynamic and cardiovascular adaptations of pregnancy as well as mechanisms for impaired or altered hemodynamic and cardiovascular responses in women with preeclampsia, a pregnancy disorder characterized by hypertension and proteinuria.

We focus on the following topics:

• Ageing and longevity versus pregnancy course and outcome.
• Preeclampsia and maternal risk of cardiovascular disease in later life.
• Cerebrovascular health in women with former preeclampsia.
• Fetal sex specific differences in pregnancy.

Trainees

We are committed to the training of undergraduate and graduate students. During the past years I have supervised various PhD students and many undergraduate students with an interest in the area of women’s, maternal and perinatal cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health. If you are interested to join our team, please feel free to contact us! 

Funding Support

The Generation R Study is supported by the Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development; the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research; the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport; and the Ministry of Youth and Families. Furthermore I received addition funding from Ansh-Labs in Houston, Texas, The bo Hjelt Foundation, Roche Diagnostics, The Preeclampsia foundation and Stichting Coolsingel Rotterdam.

• Ageing and longevity versus pregnancy course and outcome.
• Preeclampsia and maternal risk of cardiovascular disease in later life.
• Cerebrovascular health in women with former preeclampsia.
• Fetal sex specific differences in pregnancy.

• Education
  Netherlands Institute of Health Sciences
  27-08-2010: Main subject: Clinical Epidemiology (Msc).

• Erasmus University Rotterdam
  17-03-2006: Main subject: Medicine (MD).

• Doctorate
  Erasmus University Rotterdam
  01-05-2007 - 15-09-2010
  Supervisor (‘Promotor’): Professor.Eric Steegers and Professor Regine Steegers-Theunissen.
  Thesis title: Folic acid, dietary patterns, and perinatal health.

• CLINICAL TRAINING
  Erasmus MC Rotterdam
  01-06-2010 - 15-07-2018
  Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Focus: obstetric medicine

• Guy’s and St Thomas, NHS foundation trust, London: United Kingdom: Visiting professional program obstetric health (Professor Catherine Nelson-Piercy).
• Erasmus MC Rotterdam: university hospital training program differentiation perinatology with extra focus on obstetric health (Dr. M.J. ten Kate-Booij – Dr. J.J. Duvekot).
• Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis Delft: university affiliated teaching hospital In-training program (Dr. H.A. Bremer).
• Amphia Hospital Breda: university affiliated teaching hospital In-training program (Dr. M.J. Dijksterhuis).

Placental Growth Factor as an Indicator of Maternal Cardiovascular Risk After Pregnancy.
Benschop L, Schalekamp-Timmermans S, Broere-Brown ZA, Roeters van Lennep JE, Jaddoe VWV, Roos-Hesselink JW, Ikram MK, Steegers EAP, Roberts JM, Gandley RE. (2019). Circulation. 2019 Apr 2;139(14):1698-1709.

Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and subsequent maternal cardiovascular health.
Bergen NE, Schalekamp-Timmermans S, Jaddoe VWV, Steegers EAP, Roeters van Lennep JE. (2018). Eur J Epidemiol. 2018 Aug;33(8):763-771.

Fetal sex specific differences in gestational age at delivery in preeclampsia: a meta-analysis.
Chalekamp-Timmermans S, Arends L, Alsaker E, Chappell L, Hansson S, Harsem N, Jälmby M, Jeyabalan A, Laivuori H, Lawlor DA, Macdonald-Wallis C, Magnus P, Myers J, Olsen J, Poston L, Redman CW, Staff AC, Villa P, Roberts JM, Steegers EA. (2017). Int J Epidemiol. 2017 Apr 1;46(2):632-642.

In utero origin of sex-related differences in future cardiovascular disease.
Schalekamp-Timmermans S, Cornette J, Hofman A, Helbing WA, Jaddoe VWV, Steegers EAP, Verburg BO. (2016). Biol Sex Differ. 2016 Oct 13;7:55.

Periconception folic acid supplementation, fetal growth and the risks of low birth weight and preterm birth: the Generation R Study.
Timmermans S, Jaddoe VW, Hofman A, Steegers-Theunissen RP, Steegers EA. (2009). Br J Nutr. 2009 Sep;102(5):777-85.

Conservative management of abnormal placentation.
Timmermans S, van Hof AC, Duvekot JJ. (2007). Obstet Gynecol Surv 2007;62:529-539.

Nelfinavir and nevirapine side effects during pregnancy. 
Timmermans S, Tempelman C, Godfried MH, Nellen JFJB, Dieleman JP, Sprenger HG, Schneider ME, Wolf F, Boer K, van der Ende ME; for the Dutch HMF Study Group. (2005). AIDS. 2005 May 20;19(8):795-9.

GRANTS

• 2018
  Ansh-Labs, Houston, Texas, USA: € 431.252.00 (mede-aanvrager) AMH, zwangerschapsuitkomsten en lange termijn maternale gezondheid.

• 2018
  The Bo Hjelt FOUNDATION - In memory of Madeleine Hjelt - € 90.000 (mede-aanvrager).
  Maternale ageing en neurale buis defecten.

• 2018
  Roche Diagnostics International Ltd: € 44.626.00 (mede-aanvrager) Cardiovasculaire gezondheid Generation R moeders (CHARM).

• 2016
  Preeclampsia Foundation USA: Vision Grant 2016: $ 20.000 Maternale cerebrovasculaire gezondheid na pre-eclampsie.

• 2016
  Stichting Coolsingel Rotterdam: 2016: € 30.000 Gezondheid van de hersenen na zwangerschapsvergiftiging (project 417).

AWARDS

• 2010
  Rotterdamse Gynaecologen Opleidingscluster (RCOG): Juriy Wladimiroff Research award 2010.
  Het Mediterraan dieet en intrauteriene groei.

• 2008
  International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy (ISSHP): Young Investigator Travel Award 2008. Foliumzuur gebruik en maternale vasculaire parameters in de zwangerschap.

• 2008
  Society for Gynecologic Investigation (SGI). President’s Presenter Award 2008 Periconceptioneel foliumzuurgebruik en intrauteriene groei.

• 2003
  Nederlandse Vereniging van Aids Behandelaren (NVAB). Bristol-Meyers Squibb Young Investigators Award 2003 Antiretrovirale therapie bij HIV-positieve zwangeren.