Lannie Ligthart

Lannie Ligthart is a Researcher at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, affiliated with the Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences and the departments of Biological Psychology, APH - Mental Health, and APH - Personalized Medicine. Her research focuses on genetics, epigenetics, and their applications in understanding complex traits like migraine, mental health, and well-being. She contributes to projects such as the multi-omics wellbeing framework (2023–2028) and has been recognized with the EFIC-Grünenthal Grant (2013) and the Thompson Award (2010).

Her research interests encompass genome-wide association studies (GWAS), DNA methylation, and genetic correlations. Notable recent work includes studies on polygenic scores for twinning genetics, epigenetic signatures in asthma, and machine learning models for well-being. Collaborations span disciplines like neurology, epidemiology, and developmental psychology.

Ligthart has published 113+ works since 2010, including high-impact articles in Nature Mental Health and Clinical Epigenetics. She actively participates in academic activities, such as presenting on pain-depression links and serving on faculty committees. Her datasets, including migraine metabolome analyses, are publicly available.

Her grants and awards reflect sustained contributions to genetic research, while her lab and team collaborations emphasize interdisciplinary approaches to health challenges.