History of urologic research 1969 – 2019

The basic and translational research at the department of Urology was initiated in 1977 by the appointment of the physicist dr Ron van Mastrigt, PhD, for the development of physical models in urology. He explored the urodynamics of the lower urinary tract. Shortly after in 1979, the molecular biologist Dr Hans Romijn, PhD, initiated the experimental laboratory for in vitro and in vivo cancer models. The first prostate cancer cell lines and subsequently murine xenograft models were established for drug research and metabolic analysis. Romijn was joined in 1987 by Dr Wytske van Weerden, PhD, to extend the panel of murine models for the various disease phases of prostate cancer, and Dr Gert Jan van Steenbrugge.

Nowadays, the experimental oncologic urology lab is situated in the Josephine Nefkens Insititue, while the separate urodynamic lab is still in the original ornamental Erasmus Medical faculty building. The urodynamic lab has been upgraded recently by Dr Els van Asselt, PhD [link] who conducts in vivo experimental pelvic nerve stimulation experiments since 1989. Functional urology research is lead by professor Bertil Blok.

In the experimental oncology lab, prof Dr Guido Jenster, molecular biologist, initiated the genomica analyses for prostate cancer from 2002 onwards. The collaboration with the neighboring labs of the department of Pathology is intense, previously with the retired professors  Jan Trapman on prostate cancer, and Ellen Zwarthoff on bladder cancer, now with prof Arno van Leenders, clinical uropathologist. The famous pathologist Theo van der Kwast preceeded him. Since 2015 there is a special unit on Bioinformatics lead by Dr Harmen van der Werken. Core business now is in the Urinoma, cancer organoids, and immune genetics of bladder and prostate cancer.

A completely different research unit for epidemiologic and statistical studies is located close to the clinical floors and clinician offices. Started in 1990 in a tiny office with loads of paperwork, prof Dr Monique Roobol conducted the analysis of longitudinal data sets, first on the European Randomized study of Prostate Cancer (ERSPC), but since 2006 also on Prostate cancer International Active Surveillance (PRIAS) and the Movember Global Action Plan 3 with the identical focus. Statistical studies to support the third line clinical Andrology section lead by prof Dr Gert Dohle, and the Paediatric urology unit are also located at there at the 15^th floor of the new Erasmus central tower.

Patient participation

The foundation SUWO supported research initiatives for more than 40 years. Click here to go to the website.