PhD Roderick Slieker
Research:
My research interest lies in combining epidemiology with molecular data to investigate
health and disease. To get a better understanding how molecular markers contribute or mark disease progression, my research focuses on the integration and utility of multiple omics in tracking type 2 disease progression and in the T2D related complications prediction. In the past year, I have for example investigated the gene activity in blood cells in relation to T2D progression in blood to find biomarkers for poor progression. Part of this research is conducted within the IMI project RHAPSODY, where I am involved in joint analyses in three large cohorts with type 2 diabetes patients from three cohorts in the Nethgerlands (DCS), Scotland (GoDarts) and Sweden (ANDIS).
Curriculum Vitae:
I completed my PhD in molecular epidemiology at Leiden University Medical Center studying DNA methylation, a key regulatory mechanism of cells. I investigated how regulatory mechanisms are established in fetal development and how they define adult tissues. In a next step, I investigated the changes (linear changes and variability) that occur during aging to the normal regulation of multiple tissues possibly resulting in disease. From this research, I wanted to focus more on the intersection between molecular changes in disease and joined the diabetes groups in LUMC and VUmc to continue this type of research.
Publications
-
HbA1c is associated with altered expression in blood of cell cycle-and immune response-related genes.
Slieker RC, van der Heijden AA, van Leeuwen N, Mei H, Nijpels G, Beulens JW, et al.
Diabetologia. 2018;61(1):138-46.
-
Age-related DNA methylation changes are tissue-specific with ELOVL2 promoter methylation as exception.
Slieker RC, Relton CL, Gaunt TR, Slagboom PE, Heijmans BT
Epigenetics & Chromatin. 2018;11(1):25.
-
Age-related accrual of methylomic variability is linked to fundamental ageing mechanisms.
Slieker RC, van Iterson M, Luijk R, Beekman M, Zhernakova DV, Moed MH, et al
Genome Biology. 2016;17(1):191.
