Jolanda Vaarwater

Jolanda Vaarwater is a researcher in the Department of Ophthalmology at Erasmus Medical Center, specializing in ocular oncology with a focus on uveal melanoma. Her work spans molecular genetics, tumor biology, and clinical aspects of eye cancer.

Her research interests center on the molecular mechanisms of uveal melanoma, particularly the role of BAP1 and SF3B1 mutations in tumor development and metastasis. She investigates genetic and metabolic biomarkers that can predict disease progression and patient outcomes. Her work has significant implications for developing targeted therapies and improving diagnostic approaches for ocular cancers.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on the genetic underpinnings of uveal melanoma, with particular attention to mutation profiles (BAP1, SF3B1, GNA), chromosomal abnormalities (8q gain), and their relationship to metastatic potential. Her research increasingly incorporates multi-omics approaches, combining genetic, transcriptomic, and metabolomic data to develop comprehensive biomarker panels.

Dr. Vaarwater actively collaborates with international research groups, notably serving as a key member of the Rotterdam Ocular Melanoma Study Group (ROMS) and contributing to the European Ophthalmic Oncology Group initiatives. Her work involves large-scale collaborative studies examining rare presentations of ocular melanoma, including pediatric and young adult cases.