Vaste staf
Manuela Joore (Hoofd Afdeling)
m.joore@mumc.nl, T:043-3875434
Biography
Manuela A. Joore (1971) graduated from Health Policy, Economics and Management (Maastricht University) in 1996. Following her graduation she worked at the Department of Urology of the University Hospital Maastricht. In 1998 she started working at the department which is now known as Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment (KEMTA) of the MUMC+. She got her PhD in Economics in 2002 (Maastricht University) on the topic of health economic evaluation. Since 2006 Manuela has been teaching methods of Health Technology Assessment at Maastricht University and at other organizations. She is the developer and course-coordinator of the 'Cost-effectiveness modelling methods' course of the Health Sciences Research Master. She is a member of the 'Rational Pharmacotherapy' ('Goed Gebruik Geneesmiddelen') committee of the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw) and the ‘Methodology Research Panel’ of the Medical Research Council in the United Kingdom. She leads a health economics evidence review group for the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence NICE) in the United Kingdom. She is the chair of the Scientific Advisory Committee (wetenschapscommissie) of Maastricht UMC+. She is (co-)author of over 180 peer-reviewed papers and is/was supervisor of 20 PhD students. In 2016 she was appointed full professor in 'Health Technology Assessment & Decision-Making' within the research school CAPHRI, FHML. From 2019 she is head of the department KEMTA, and from 2021 member of the management team of the Maastricht UMC+ centre of expertise Quality, Innovation & Research (KIO).
Research interest and focus
Manuela Joore has over 15 years of experience with (mostly model-based) health economic evaluation in a large variety of clinical areas. She uses economic evaluation to inform decision making regarding the (further) development, reimbursement, and use of health care technologies.
Sander van Kuijk (waarnemend afdelingshoofd)
sander.van.kuijk@mumc.nl, T:043-3874374
Biography
Sander M.J. van Kuijk (1981) works as clinical epidemiologist at the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment. In his current job, he primarily provides methodological and statistical advice to researchers and clinicians of the academic hospital, and cooperates in clinical research projects. He obtained an M.Sc. degree in Epidemiology from Maastricht University in 2008. After graduation, he started working as a teacher at the department of Epidemiology at the same university, where he primarily taught epidemiology and statistics, and as a researcher at the department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of the Maastricht University Medical Centre. In 2013, Sander obtained his PhD on the prediction of recurrent early-onset preeclampsia, and on methodological and statistical challenges that are prevalent in studies aiming to develop or validate prediction models.
Research interest and focus
Sander has a keen interest in research methodology and statistics for all major clinical epidemiological domains, such as therapeutic interventions, aetiology, and prognostic and diagnostic research (e.g. predictive and diagnostic modelling). He teaches a course on clinical prediction modelling in cooperation with Maastricht University. Besides empirical research, he is interested in statistical methods for handling missing data (such as stochastic and multiple imputation), index-event bias, and the use of stochastic simulations to determine the characteristics of statistical methods and the impact of bias.
Irene Vrancken(Secretariaat)
irene.vrancken@mumc.nl, T: 043-3875559
Irene Vrancken works as secretary in the department of KEMTA. Before that she first finished her study Schoevers Secretary in Tilburg. Then she worked within the AZM/MUMC+ as a secretary within the departments of Facility Services and Cleaning Services. For the past 16 years, Irene is the secretary of KEMTA.
Brigitte Essers
brigitte.essers@mumc.nl, T: 043-3877430
Biography
Brigitte A.B. Essers obtained an MSc in Health Sciences at Maastricht University (Health Policy, Economics and Management). Before joining KEMTA, she worked as a policy-advisor and project manager focused on the development and implementation of a management-information system (DRG) within the University Hospital Maastricht. In 2008 she got her PhD in Health Sciences on the clinical topic of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC), a non-melanoma form of skin cancer. Her PhD research included the development of a patient reported outcome measure for measuring expectations and satisfaction with treatments for BCC, a study into the preferences for different surgical treatments and cost-effectiveness. Next to her research work, she finished a MSc in Epidemiology.
Research interest and focus
Brigitte Essers works as a senior researcher within the department KEMTA. Her research interests are trial based economic evaluation, patient reported outcomes/measures ( general or disease specific quality of life/satisfaction) and preference research. Her work covers different clinical areas like dermatology, internal medicine, paediatric care, surgery, traumatology, and is for a large part funded by the ZonMw Health Care Efficiency Programme/Expensive Medicine. She (co-) developed and (co-) presented an introductory course on the design and application of 'Discrete choice experiments in health care'. She is a member of the ‘Rational Pharmacotherapy’ ( Goed Gebruik Geneesmiddelen) committee of the Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMw).
Carmen Dirksen
c.dirksen@mumc.nl, T: 043-3877447
Biography
Carmen D. Dirksen (1967) finished her studies in Health Sciences at Maastricht University (Health Policy, Economics and Management) in 1992. Following her graduation she worked as a researcher at the Department of General Surgery of the University Hospital Maastricht, where she obtained her PhD on Health Technology Assessment of laparoscopic surgery (1998). In 1997 she started working for the department which is now known as Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment (KEMTA) of the MUMC+. Since 2007, Carmen has been teaching health technology assessment methods at the Maastricht University (MU) and at several courses. Carmen is member of several advisory committees (Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development, Dutch Clinical Research Foundation) and was chair of the Dutch Society for Technology Assessment in Health Care (NVTAG) from 2016-2019. In 2012 she was appointed full professor in 'Health Technology Assessment of clinical interventions' within the research school CAPHRI, FHML. She is co-author of over 150 peer-reviewed papers, and was/is (co-)supervisor of more than 25 PhD students. From 2014 until 2019 she was head of the department KEMTA. As from 2019 she is deputy head of KEMTA and Chief Executive Officer at the Clinical Trial Center Maastricht (www.CTCM.nl).
Research interest and focus
Carmen Dirksen has over 25 years of experience mostly with trial-based economic evaluations, covering a broad range of clinical specialties. Her specific research interest, besides economic evaluations, concerns (patient) outcomes research.
Andrea Peeters
andrea.peeters@mumc.nl, T: 043-3874409
Biography
Andrea Peeters graduated in General medicine at the Comenius University in Bratislava (Slovak Republic). Following her graduation she worked five years as a physician at the Radio-diagnostic department at an academic hospital. She then moved to the Netherlands and graduated in Epidemiology at the Free University, Amsterdam. From 2001 she was employed as a researcher at the Department of Epidemiology of the Maastricht University and the Department of Ophthalmology of the Maastricht University Hospital. In 2008 she obtained a PhD title on the topic of Primary open-angle glaucoma and ocular hypertension, cost-effectiveness of early detection and treatment. During one year she also participated as a researcher on a project 'Cost-effectiveness of particle therapy' at the Maastro Clinic in Maastricht. Since 2008 she works as a researcher at the Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment (KEMTA) department of the MUMC+ and also as a teacher/tutor at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences at the Maastricht University.
Research interest and focus
Andrea has gained experience in modelling of the processes such as take place in the clinical practice and in determination of cost-effectiveness in the health care. Her main interest lies in the field of clinical epidemiology. This includes principles, methods and applications for all clinical research. Her main focus lies upon the randomized clinical trials.
Bram Ramaekers
bram.ramaekers@mumc.nl, T: 043-3877399
Biography
Bram L.T. Ramaekers (1986) finished his study Medical Imaging and Radiation Therapy (MBRT) in 2007. In the final year of this study, he worked on a regular basis as a radiation technologist at MAASTRO clinic and finished the pre-master methodology and statistics program at Maastricht University. Afterwards he studied Public Health (specialization: Health Services Innovation) at Maastricht University. Following his graduation, he started as a PhD student at MAASTRO clinic and Maastricht University where he obtained his PhD (2013) on acknowledging patient heterogeneity in Health Technology Assessment. Since November 2012 Bram works as a researcher at the MUMC+ (department: KEMTA) where he is involved in multiple research projects related to Health Technology Assessment. This includes acting as a health economic lead of the Evidence Review Group for The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). In addition, he is also involved in teaching and supervising master and PhD students.
Research interest and focus
Bram Ramaekers has extensive experience in the field of Health Technology Assessment, specifically with model-based economic evaluations and related statistical methods (e.g. evidence synthesis methods, survival analysis). His work covers several clinical areas, including Oncology and Radiotherapy.
Monique Bessems
monique.bessems@mumc.nl, T: 043-3874418
Biography
Monique Bessems (1962) studied Teacher Primary School at Maastricht Pedagogical Academy and graduated in 1984. She started working as a research assistant at the Institute for Rehabilitation Research in Hoensbroek en was involved with several projects focused on acquired brain injury. Meanwhile she followed the course Psychology Assistant and graduated in 1987.
In 2001 she started working at de department Patient & Care of the MUMC+. She worked for several projects concerning Chronic Pain (fibromyalgia) and Substitution in Healthcare.
Besides her work she studied Health Psychology, following several modules concerning Developmental Psychology, Healthcare Psychology, Social Psychology, Interviewing, Neuro Psychology, Coaching from a Psychological Perspective and an Introduction of Quantitative en qualitative Research Methods. In 2015 she followed a summer course Effective Writing at the University of Maastricht.
Research interest and focus
Currently she is working by research projects concerning Task reallocation in Healthcare and a research project about curricula in education programs nursing (MBO,HBO) regarding palliative care. She focuses on patient perspective in research projects and writes articles for use in Dutch Journals concerning this subject.
Daisy De Bruijn-Geraets
daisy.de.bruijn@mumc.nl, T: 043-3871007
Biography
Daisy De Bruijn-Geraets (1964) obtained an applied university degree on biochemistry at the Zuidlimburgse Laboratoriumschool Sittard in 1986. Following her training, she worked as a (senior) analyst at the Tissue Typing laboratory in the Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+), where she specialised in DNA techniques, especially sequencing. In 1999 she switched her career and joined the department of Patient & Care in the MUMC+. Since then, she was involved in several studies in the field of integrated care and task shifting as a research assistant and in later stages as a researcher. In 2011, she graduated in Epidemiology from Maastricht University and started working as a PhD student on two studies on independent rights of Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants for some reserved procedures (#voorBIGhouden). In 2018 she obtained her PhD (#Big Issues).
Currently, she works as a researcher at the department KEMTA (MUMC+) with a focus on realist evaluation with mixed methods. She is involved as a researcher in an evaluation on the independent rights of Allied Medical Healthcare professionals (in Dutch: Bachelor Medisch Hulpverleners). Besides, she is also an advisory member of the "College Specialismen Verpleegkunde".
Research interest and focus
Daisy De Bruijn-Geraets has gained experience in realist evaluation with mixed methods, ranging from formulating research questions to triangulation of the results, with particular attention to the context and mechanism of the intervention.
She has a special interest in task allocation from physicians to other healthcare professionals and in skill mix.
Merel Kimman
Biography
Merel Kimman obtained an MSc in Health Sciences (Health Policy, Economics and Management) and a PhD in Health Technology Assessment at Maastricht University. Her PhD focused on patient satisfaction, preferences, and the cost-effectiveness of breast cancer follow-up. Before joining KEMTA, she worked as a research fellow and conjoint lecturer at The George Institute for Global Health and The University of Sydney, Australia. During her time in Australia, most of her work focused on the economic and quality of life impact of cancer in low- and middle income countries.
Research interest and focus
Merel Kimman currently works as a senior researcher within the department KEMTA. Her research interests are (development of) patient-reported outcomes measures (PROMs), quality of life research, and (trial-based) health economic evaluations. Her work covers applied research in different clinical areas such as oncology, pulmonology, and surgery, as well as methodological work to support health policy (e.g. conceptual analysis of HRQoL measures, normative and ethical implications of QoL measurement for health policy).
LLoyd Brandts
Biography
Lloyd Brandts (1989) obtained a MSc degree in Epidemiology from Maastricht University in 2015. Afterwards, he started as a PhD student at the Department of Epidemiology (Maastricht University), where he studied possible determinants of reaching human longevity using data from a large prospective cohort study. Alongside this research, he was able to gain experience in teaching epidemiology and statistics to Bachelor and Master students. Since January 2020 Lloyd works as a clinical epidemiologist at the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment (KEMTA). He primarily provides methodological and statistical advice to researchers and clinicians within the academic hospital, and cooperates in several research projects.
Research interest and focus
Lloyd has a broad interest in all domains of methodology, statistics and (clinical) epidemiology. During his PhD trajectory, Lloyd gained most experience with observational study designs, and worked together on a broad range of scientific disciplines (e.g. epidemiology, social sciences, demography). He has a large interest in study designs, causal inference, dealing with (confounding) bias and effect-modification, and statistical modelling.
Dorthe Klein
Biography
Dorthe Klein works as a senior researcher at the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment (KEMTA). Before she joined KEMTA, Dorthe has worked for several years as a Scientific Knowledge Manager at Danone Research. This was followed by a job as a research dietitian for the EnCoRe (Energy for life after ColoRectal cancer) study at the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Maastricht. Dorthe obtained her PhD in 2019 on the performance of medical record review as an instrument for measuring and improving patient safety. Her PhD research included an analysis of the internal and external reproducibility of the judgement of a committee on the presence and preventability of adverse events of patients who died during their hospital stay.
Research interest and focus
Dorthe has a special interest in the improvement of quality and safety in healthcare. She has experience with both quantitative and qualitative research on different clinical areas such as: intensive care, gynaecology and obstetrics, pharmacy, plastic surgery and general medicine. Also, she analyses the data of the Maastricht UMC+ regarding hospital standardized mortality rate (HSMR), readmission and unexpected longer hospital stay. These outcomes serve as a starting point for further medical record review and hospital wide improvements of the quality of care. A fellowship on new safety thinking, gave her insights to even more focus on psychological safety, safety II and team collaboration.
Sabine Grimm
Biography
Sabine Grimm (PhD, MSc, BA) is a health economic researcher at KEMTA at Maastricht University Medical Centre+. She holds a PhD in Health Economics and Decision Science (2016) from the University of Sheffield, School of Health and Related Research. After four years of work experience in the private sector in different countries, she focused on health economic research at City University London (2010-2011), University of Sheffield (2011-2016), and, as of November 2016, at KEMTA. Sabine has extensive experience with health technology assessments, with the UK's National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) through her role as a health economic lead within an Evidence Review and Assessment Group, and her previous role as a researcher for the NICE Decision Support Unit, as well as through projects in collaboration with the Dutch Health Care Institute. She is involved in various other research projects, and in teaching and supervision of Master and PhD students.
Research interest and focus
Sabine's research interest lies in the development of methods for model-based economic evaluations. Since the beginning of her PhD studies, her focus has been on methods for dealing with uncertainty, risk, and implementation in health technology assessments. She is furthermore interested in methods for generating information when evidence is sparse, including elicitation of expert opinion.
Willem Witlox
Biography
Willem J.A. Witlox (1993) finished his Bachelor study in Health Sciences (Biology and Health) at Maastricht University in 2015. Afterwards, he expanded his interest in health sciences and healthcare research and obtained an MSc degree in Health Sciences (specialization: Clinical Epidemiology) in 2017. Following his graduation, Willem started as a PhD candidate at the MUMC+ (department KEMTA), where he obtained his PhD (2022) on the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of prophylactic cranial irradiation for radically treated stage III non-small cell lung cancer. Since December 2021 he works at KEMTA as a senior researcher, which includes acting as a health economic lead of the Evidence Review Group for The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), and teaching and supervising activities.
Research interest and focus
Willem's current research interest is mainly focussed on model-based economic evaluations in de field of health technology assessment.
Lisanne Eppings
Biography
Lisanne Eppings (1989) got her BSc of Physiotherapy in 2011 and subsequently worked as a physical therapist for 1.5 years. In the meantime started with her MSc of Health Sciences (Public Health & Infectious Diseases) at the Free University of Amsterdam which she completed in 2014. After that she has had several jobs in the area of South Limburg at the GGD, Maastricht University and MUMC+. These jobs all involved bits and pieces of health care data, data management, clinical trials and research. This experience made that she recently started working as one of the core-team members at the Data Expertise Community (DEC) while appointed at the department of Clinical Epidemiology and Medical Technology Assessment (KEMTA).
