Thijn Brummelkamp

Thijn Brummelkamp is a Professor at Utrecht University since 2017 and a group leader at the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam since 2011. He also serves as an adjunct principal investigator at the Center for Molecular Medicine (CeMM) in Vienna, Austria. His research focuses on using genetics in human cells to identify genes involved in human diseases, particularly cancer and infectious diseases.

His research interests include:

• Cancer research - identifying genetic factors in cancer development and progression
• Infectious disease - studying host-pathogen interactions and viral entry mechanisms
• Genetics - developing innovative genetic screening approaches in human cells
• Biomedical research - translating basic genetic discoveries into potential therapeutic applications
• Virology - investigating mechanisms of viral entry and host factors used by pathogens

Dr. Brummelkamp's publication record demonstrates a strong focus on genetic screening technologies and their application to understanding viral pathogenesis and cancer biology. His work has led to significant discoveries including the identification of the lysosomal cholesterol transporter NPC1 as the intracellular receptor for Ebola virus. His research has evolved from developing RNA interference tools to pioneering haploid genetic screens in human cells, which has enabled groundbreaking discoveries in viral entry mechanisms and host-pathogen interactions.

His scientific awards include:

• 2003 Ph.D degree, cum laude
• 2003 Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek Award for contributions on Genomics
• 2004 NVBMB Award (Dutch association for biochemistry and molecular biology)
• 2005 TR35: Elected as one of the world's top young innovators by Technology Review Magazine
• 2006 Kimmel Scholar Award, Sidney Kimmel Foundation for Cancer Research
• 2012 The Molecular Biosystems Early Career Award
• 2012 Phoenix Pharmazie Wissenschaftspreis
• 2012 ERC starting grant
• 2013 EMBO Gold Medal
• 2014 Elected as EMBO member
• 2015 Ammodo Award from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW)

Dr. Brummelkamp has been highly successful in translating his research into practical applications, co-founding three biotech companies: Haplogen, Haplogen Genomics, and Scenic Biotech. His work on haploid genetic screens formed the basis for these spinouts, with Haplogen Genetics being acquired by Horizon Discovery in 2015, Haplogen partnering with Bayer in 2018, and Scenic Biotech founded in 2017. His laboratory has received significant grant funding including an ERC starting grant in 2012. Through his mentorship and leadership, he has trained numerous scientists who have gone on to make their own contributions to the field.

His research is conducted through his laboratory at the Netherlands Cancer Institute, which has established itself as a leading center for genetic research in human disease. The lab has developed innovative technologies that have been adopted by researchers worldwide, including the stable RNA interference system and haploid genetic screening approaches.