R. (Ruben) Bierings, PhD

Ruben Bierings is an endothelial cell biologist and Associate Professor in the Department of Hematology. He received his PhD from Utrecht University for his work on Von Willebrand factor secretion in endothelial cells (2007, thesis “Sorting out the Weibel-Palade body), which was carried out at CLB-Sanquin Research in Amsterdam. He completed postdoctoral research as an MRC Career Development Fellow (2007-2011) at the National Institute for Medical research (NIMR) in London (UK). Upon his return to the Netherlands he started his own lab, first at Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam UMC, but since 2018 at Erasmus MC.

He serves as a co-chair of the International Society for Thrombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Vascular Biology Scientific Standardization Subcommittee (SSC) and as a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Trombosestichting Nederland (TSN).

Research in the Bierings lab revolves around the molecular mechanisms of Von Willebrand factor secretion, biogenesis and exocytosis of Weibel-Palade bodies and how defects in these process can give rise to bleeding abnormalities in patients.

• Molecular mechanisms of Von Willebrand factor secretion
• Weibel-Palade body formation and exocytosis
• Patient-derived Endothelial Colony Forming Cells
• Pathogenic mechanisms of von Willebrand Disease

Focus area

In our lab we study the molecular mechanisms of von Willebrand factor secretion in endothelial cells in order to understand how defects in these mechanism can lead to bleeding disorders.

Using innovative (patient-derived) cellular model systems such as endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs; formerly known as blood outgrowth endothelial cells, BOECs) we are systematically investigating the mechanisms that control how secretory organelles such as Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs) are formed and how they acquire the molecular machinery to undergo exocytosis.
Over the years we have made substantial contributions to the elucidation of the signaling networks and the role of membrane proteins, such as Rab GTPases, Rab effectors and SNARE proteins, in the formation and exocytosis of WPBs.

Together with our clinical partners within the Erasmus MC (Prof. dr. Frank Leebeek, Hematology and Prof. dr. Marjon Cnossen, Pediatric Hematology) and beyond we use patient-derived ECFCs to study the pathogenic mechanisms of bleeding disorders such as von Willebrand disease (VWD). We also use this model system as a pre-clinical platform to evaluate gene correction and gene therapy strategies for von Willebrand disease (VWD), with the ultimate aim to develop personalized therapies for VWD patients.

• 2023 – present
  Associate Professor / Principal Investigator
  Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  
  
• 2018 – 2023
  Group Leader / Principal Investigator
  Hematology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands
  
  
• 2013 – 2018
  Group Leader
  Molecular and Cellular Hemostasis, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  
  
• 2011 – 2013
  Senior Postdoc
  Plasma Proteins, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
  
  
• 2007 – 2011
  MRC Career Development Fellow
  Physical Biochemistry and Molecular Neuroendocrinology, MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom
  
  
• 2002 – 2007
  PhD Candidate
  Plasma Proteins, CLB-Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands
  
  
• 2001 – 2002
  Junior Research Associate
  Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA.

• 2022 – present
  Co-chair of International Society for Thombosis and Haemostasis (ISTH) Vascular Biology Scientific Standardization Subcommittee (SSC)
  
  
• 2024 – present
  Member of Scientific Advisory Board Trombosestichting Nederland (TSN)

• EHA