Denise Hilling

Dr. Denise Hilling is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at Erasmus MC, Faculty of Medicine. Her research is centered on surgical oncology, particularly rectal cancer and innovative imaging techniques to improve surgical outcomes. She is actively involved in national and collaborative studies, including the PLCRC study group, contributing to high-impact clinical research.

Her research interests span rectal cancer, neoadjuvant therapy, molecular and near-infrared tumor imaging, and health-related quality of life following minimally invasive surgery. She also explores emerging applications of artificial intelligence in radiology to enhance patient understanding of medical reports.

Recent publications show a strong trend in evaluating the impact of neoadjuvant treatments on tumor biology, optimizing surgical strategies, and leveraging AI for patient communication. Her work frequently appears in journals such as European Journal of Surgical Oncology and Cancers, reflecting a focus on translational and clinical oncology.

• Active contributor to multicenter cohort studies in rectal cancer
• Involved in research on watch-and-wait strategies post-neoadjuvant therapy
• Explores fluorescence-guided surgery using molecular targets
• Investigates AI-driven tools for radiology report interpretation

Dr. Hilling supervises academic work, as indicated by her supervised output, and collaborates extensively with leading surgical oncologists and imaging specialists. While no formal awards are listed, her consistent publication record in high-impact journals underscores her growing influence in the field.

She is part of an active surgical research network at Erasmus MC, contributing to both clinical trials and systematic reviews aimed at refining colorectal cancer management. Her lab or research team appears to focus on intraoperative imaging and patient-centered outcomes, working in close collaboration with multidisciplinary oncology teams.