Remco Westerink

Remco Westerink is Associate Professor at Utrecht University's Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and head of the Neurotoxicology Research Group at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS). His work focuses on cellular and molecular mechanisms of neurotoxicants in food, drugs, and environmental pollutants.

• Expertise Areas: In vitro toxicology, developmental neurotoxicology, neuropharmacology, microplastics, risk assessment of chemicals
• Techniques: Multi-electrode arrays, calcium imaging, PC12 cell models, human iPSC-derived neurons

Research explores how pollutants like pesticides, flame retardants, and microplastics affect brain development, function, and degeneration through key projects including EU-funded initiatives (TUBE, ENDpoiNTs) and national collaborations.

Recent articles highlight his team's work on neurotoxic effects of:

• Microplastics crossing blood-brain barrier
• Bisphenols and PFAS disrupting neuronal networks
• Insecticides altering calcium signaling
• Organophosphate flame retardants (TCP) linked to aerotoxic syndrome
• Designer drugs affecting neurotransmission

Scientific Contributions:

• Editorial Board: NeuroToxicology, Toxicology in Vitro
• Keynote Speaker: 1st International Congress on Global Environmental Contamination (2014)
• Invited Talks: International Neurotoxicology Association meetings (2012-2017)

Westerink leads research into advanced in vitro models to replace animal testing, including development of 48-well microelectrode array platforms and collaborations with Mimetas and RIVM for organ-on-a-chip technology.