Jeroen Rouwkema

Jeroen Rouwkema is an Associate Professor in Engineering Organ Support Technologies at the University of Twente, Faculty of Engineering Technology, Department of Biomedical Engineering. He is a leading researcher in tissue engineering, with a focus on vascularization and bioprinting. His work integrates advanced fabrication techniques with biological principles to engineer functional tissues with integrated vascular networks.

His research interests center on tissue engineering, vascularization, bioprinting, and regenerative medicine. He investigates methods to create multiscale vascular networks in engineered tissues using programmable bioinks, aptamer-based growth factor delivery, and embedded 3D printing technologies. His lab explores how mechanical and biochemical cues influence cell behavior and tissue self-organization, particularly in cardiac and synovial models.

Analysis of his recent publications reveals a strong trend toward 4D bioprinting, spatiotemporal control of growth factors, organ-on-a-chip systems, and magnetic-assisted fabrication. His work bridges engineering innovation with biological functionality, aiming to solve the critical challenge of vascularization in engineered organs.

• TERMIS EU Robert Brown Early Career Principal Investigator Award (2017)

Rouwkema has supervised multiple PhD and research students, including D. Rana, V. R. Rangel, and P. Padmanaban, and has been involved in numerous research projects and patents. His work is supported by active collaborations across Europe and has resulted in over 140 research outputs. He is a member of the Netherlands Society for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, contributing to the broader academic community through invited talks and conference organization.

His research is conducted within a multidisciplinary team focused on biofabrication and organ support technologies, utilizing state-of-the-art facilities for 3D printing, microfluidics, and cell culture. The lab emphasizes translational outcomes, aiming to develop clinically relevant solutions for tissue regeneration and organ support.