Janet de Beukelaar

Dr. Janet de Beukelaar is a researcher in the Department of Neurology at Erasmus MC, Faculty of Medicine. Her work is centered on neuroimmunological disorders, particularly autoimmune encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, and paraneoplastic neurological syndromes. She actively contributes to systematic reviews and meta-analyses in neurology.

Her research interests include:

• Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis
• Autoimmune Encephalitis
• Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease differential diagnosis
• Paraneoplastic Neurological Syndromes
• Neuroimmunology and CSF biomarkers
• Hu-antibody associated disorders

The recent publications indicate a strong focus on disease activity assessment in neurodegenerative conditions using meta-analytic methods, diagnostic clarification between autoimmune and prion diseases, and immunological mechanisms in paraneoplastic syndromes. Her work bridges clinical neurology with immunological investigation.

Scientific contributions include:

• Research on HLA-DQ2 susceptibility in paraneoplastic syndromes
• Exploration of hCG as a treatment for anti-Hu syndromes
• Analysis of T-cell responses in cerebrospinal fluid
• Systematic review on disease activity in primary progressive MS
• Pathological confirmation of autoimmune encephalitis mimicking CJD

Dr. de Beukelaar has collaborated extensively with experts such as P. S. Sillevis Smitt, J. W. Gratama, and M. Graaf. She has not listed any formal advisees or grants, but her research has been referenced in clinical guidelines and widely read on platforms like Mendeley. She is part of a robust neuroimmunology research network at Erasmus MC.