Marieke Essers
Marieke Essers is a group leader at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) working on understanding the effect of inflammation on hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).
After getting her MSc at Utrecht University, she joined the lab of Dr. Ir. Boudewijn Burgering focussing on the role of FoxO transcription factors in quiescence and stress responses in cells. She followed this up with a postdoc at the Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research in Lausanne, discovering that the cytokine IFNα can activate quiescent HSCs. Since 2009, Marieke has run her own lab at the DKFZ as part of the Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technologies and Experimental Medicine (hi-STEM) cluster. There, she focused on understanding the effect of stress induced pro-inflammatory cytokines on quiescent HSCs and their bone marrow niche. Understanding this interaction will help to better understand what the mechanisms are by which HSCs are reassuring the successful restoration of the blood system.
Marieke’s work on hematopoietic stem cell biology has led to high-impact publications in Nature and Science, establishing her as a leading voice in the field. We look forward to hearing how she has combined scientific excellence with an international career and family life.
