Translating SARS-CoV-2 Clinical Trial Challenges Into Lasting Solutions

Carel van Baalen, Director R&D, Viroclinics

Carel van Baalen was trained in immunology and virology at the University of Utrecht, and he performed his PhD studies at the department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. His studies focused on the effectiveness of HIV-specific cytotoxic T cells, which led to applications in clinical immunotherapy trials. In the framework of various subsequent projects at the interface of fundamental science and influenza vaccine trials, he has been working on the development, validation and implementation of novel assays at Viroclinics Biosciences since 2008. In addition to virus-specific serological and cellular assays, he has also worked on novel assays and readouts aim at monitoring virus infection, replication and cell-to-cell transmission as well as at testing the effectiveness of novel antiviral compounds.

Rienk Jeeninga, Director Clinical Virology Services, Viroclinics

Rienk Jeeninga studied Biology at the University of Groningen. He performed his PhD studies at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam on ribosomal RNA in yeast. He worked as a postdoc at the Amsterdam Medical Center on HIV-1 with a focus on latency mechanisms of the virus. He expanded his work to the influenza field in 2010 to explore on 3D culture systems and human adaptation of influenza viruses. He moved to the department of Clinical Virology Services at Viroclinics Biosciences in 2015 to manage the teams responsible for the serology and cell-based assays.

Jeroen Strating, Director Molecular Services, Viroclinics

Jeroen holds a PhD in Cell Biology from Radboud University (The Netherlands). After his PhD, Jeroen studied cellular membranes and how enteroviruses usurp them for 11 years. He joined Viroclinics-DDL in 2019 as manager of molecular assay development (sequencing & RT-PCR). Since June 2020, Jeroen heads the department Molecular Virology Services.

Eva van der Veer, M.Sc. VP Diagnostic Services, DDL

Eva received her Master’s degree in (Molecular) Biology from Leiden University, the Netherlands. Before joining DDL in 2011, she worked at several diagnostic laboratories where she was responsible for implementation of a diverse range of new molecular assays and technologies. Eva played a leading role in setting up DDL’s fully automated Next Generation Sequencing pipeline specifically designed for viral variant detection.

Marc van Pruijssen, Director Global Logistics, Viroclinics

Marc van Pruijssen holds a Bsc. In international marketing, as well as management & organizational sciences. He performed an Msc, studying Transport & Logistics at TIAS-NIMBAS in Tilburg.

Before joining Viroclinics-DDL in 2020, he has been responsible for a variety of developing supply chain functions and new business set up: supply chain planning, transport and distribution center operations, strategy development, program management and new product introductions.

Next to that he is Board member and VP Marketing of the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) Benelux Round Table.

Leon de Waal, Sr. Study Director, Viroclinics Xplore

Leon de Waal started as a PhD student at the Department of Viroscience of the Erasmus Medical Center and defended his thesis “Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Anti-viral immunity in humans and macaques” in 2003. His PhD project focused on investigating the immunological response to respiratory syncytial virus  infections in humans and primed macaques. Subsequently, he became a PhD at the Department of Viroscience on the Virgo project investigating the genomics of respiratory infections. The Virgo project focused on the in-depth analysis of virus-host interactions using advanced genomics techniques such as microarrays. In 2009 Leon de Waal joined Viroclinics Biosciences B.V. as a Study Director of Viroclinics Xplore where he is responsible for initiating, conducting and reporting of preclinical studies.