Introduction
Laboratory Medical Immunology (LMI)
Being an academic diagnostic laboratory, the Laboratory of Medical Immunology (LMI) has three main tasks, which are clearly connected and interwoven:
The LMI strives to excel in all three main tasks, through:
- performing high quality diagnostics, including state-of-the-art technology/ tests, as well as consulting and advising clinicians ordering lab tests
- actively initiating diagnostic innovation and cutting edge translational research, related to the different areas in the field of medical immunology
- organizing a broad spectrum of educational activities in the field of medical immunology and immunology in general
The LMI has over the years obtained a clear and strong position within Erasmus MC as a partner for clinicians ordering laboratory tests for immunological and malignant hematological diseases. In 2024 a total of more than 67,000 tests were performed; Furthermore, the LMI performs a large number of tests for external laboratories; over the years 45-50% of the total number of laboratory requests is from outside the Erasmus MC. This strong connection to external clients (clinicians, laboratories) directly follows from the role of the LMI as national and international reference laboratory for several laboratory tests. This is the direct consequence of continuous innovation of diagnostics, in which the LMI has a leading national and international position.
The total LMI consists of ~60 persons. The LMI management is formed by the following consultants / laboratory specialists medical immunology:
- A.W. (Ton) Langerak, PhD, coördinator LMI
- R.A. (Rik) Brooimans, PhD
- K.A. (Kyra) Gelderman, PhD
- S. (Sharon) Veenbergen, PhD
- V.H.J. (Vincent) van der Velden, PhD
Vision and mission
The LMI focuses on the development and application of immunological insights and methodologies for patient-oriented laboratory analysis in the field of medical immunology.
The LMI has the following aims:
- performing high quality diagnostic patient care;
- actively innovating diagnostics plus implementing state-of-the-art methodologies;
- acting as a national and international reference center for specific diagnostic tests;
- offering financially competitive diagnostic tests;
- promoting diagnostic effectiveness and stewardship through advise on requests for laboratory tests;
- promoting interdisciplinary collaborations contributing to integrated diagnostics;
- performing leading translational research.
Diagnostic assays
The diagnostic assays of the LMI concern several areas (Immune deficiencies, Autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders, Allergic diseases, and Malignant hematological diseases) of the scope Medical Immunology, as defined nationally by the Raad voor Accreditatie (RvA).
The LMI is ISO 15189 certified, RvA M294 testing.
The LMI offers a broad spectrum of immunological tests, as can be seen on the following webpage:
https://www.erasmusmc.nl/laboratorium-diagnostiek
Pre-analytical advising, analytical performance, and post-analytical consultation
Within the LMI there is ample immunological and technical knowledge, and expertise to optimally perform diagnostic laboratory tests for immunological diseases.
This concerns the analytical phase of the diagnostic process, based on extensive experience with serological, cellular, molecular and functional tests of immune parameters. Additionally, the LMI has an important contribution to clinical patient care via (pre-analytical) advising and (post-analytical) reporting, and consultation.
All diagnostic results of the LMI are being reported to the clinician or the external laboratory, whenever relevant in combination with an interpretation of the results plus advice on possible next laboratory tests or repeated testing upon clinical need.
These reports are accessible via HiX for internal requests or are being sent (encrypted email, Lab2Lab, formal letter) to external parties.
Reference center
The LMI functions as reference center at the regional, national, or even international level for the following diagnostic tests:
Immune deficiencies
- Immunophenotyping of PID
(regional reference center, since 1991; national-international reference center, since 1998) - PID gene diagnostics, esp. SCID and antibody deficiencies
(national / international reference center, since 1998)
Autoimmune diseases and inflammatory disorders
- Serological analysis of systemic auto-immune diseases
(national reference center, since 1990) - Serological analysis of paraneoplastic neuronal syndromes and autoimmune encephalitis (national reference center, since 1990)
- Immunophenotyping of interstitial lung disease (regional reference center, since 1990)
- Cytokine diagnostics (national reference center, since 2007)
Allergic diseases
- Immunophenotyping and molecular testing of mastocytosis (regional reference center, since 2001)
- Component-based allergy diagnostics (regional and national reference center; since 2011)
Malignant hematological diseases
- Immunophenotyping of hematological malignancies (incl. PNH)
(regional reference center, since 1985) - IG-TR molecular clonality diagnostics
(regional and national reference center, since 1987) - Immunophenotyping of T-cell proliferations
(regional and national reference center, since 1998) - Molecular MRD diagnostics (pediatric ALL, adult ALL, CLL, NHL)
(national and international reference center, since 1998) - Immunophenotyping, cytokine analysis and molecular testing of vitre-retinal and CNS lymphoma in vitreous fluid and cerebrospinal fluid
(regional and national reference center, since 2002) - IGHV somatic mutation analysis in CLL
(regional and national reference center, since 2002)
Instrumentation
In the LMI the following instruments are available for routine diagnostics, diagnostic innovation, and translational research:
Serological assays
- Phadia-250 (n=2)
- Evolis (n=2)
- ISAC biochip reader
- Quantalyser 3000
- ImageXplorer
- EuroBlotOne
- Immunoblot system AutoLia
- Luminex Intelliflex and MagPix
- Immulite
Cellular and functional assays
- FACS Lyric flowcytometers (n=4)
- FACS Duet flowcytometer
Molecular assays
- QIACube DNA isolation system
- PCR instruments; VeritiDx en VeritiPro
- RT-PCR instrument; Quantstudio 5ABI 3130 XL sequencer
- EUROarray scanner
- iSeq 100 system
- auto DG digital droplet PCR
- Qubit fluorometer
Translational research
Projects and clinical trials
Within the LMI, translational research* is an integrated part of the activities of the medical immunology laboratory specialists and their work groups. This research is based on a number of research projects and clinical trials, largely financed with external funding. In 2024 this concerns 24 ongoing projects,.
* Advisory Council on Health Research (RGO) definition “Translational research refers to all phases from identification (in patients or patient material) of targets for diagnostics, prevention or therapy till early clinical application in practice. Research questions can stem from clinical practice as well as from the laboratory side; source: RGO report 2007, Translationeel onderzoek in Nederland – Van kennis naar kliniek. Publicatienummer 55. Den Haag.
Publications and valorisation
The translational research of the LMI has over the years resulted in a considerable output of publications in high- ranked journals with a good impact factor (usually top 25% of field).
In 2024 this concerned roughly 48 publications, which are partly based on own LMI research and partly concern essential contributions of LMI members to research projects of scientists within and outside Erasmus MC. Additionally, based on LMI translational research, in recent years several patents have been written, which are being licensed to national and international companies.
For more details on LMI translational research check the web pages of the individual LMI investigators:
- R.A. (Rik) Brooimans, PhD
- A.W. (Ton) Langerak, PhD
- V.H.J. (Vincent) van der Velden, PhD
- S. (Sharon) Veenbergen, PhDK.A. (Kyra) Gelderman, PhD
Group members
- Anton W. Langerak, Principal investigator
- Jorn Assman, PhD student
- Martijn Kolijn, PhD student
- Paul Hengeveld, PhD student (from Sep 2019)
- Simar Pal Singh, PhD student
- Alice F. Muggen, PhD student
- Fatemeh Saberi Hosnijeh, Post Doc
- Ellen van Gastel-Mol, technician
- Joyce Schilperoord-Vermeulen, technician
- Kim Heezen, technician
- Michèle van der Klift, technician
- Roxane Wouters, technician
- Brigitte van Krimpen, technician/quality officerBarbara Barendregt, technician/project coordination
- Maud van den Oetelaar
- Niki de Winter
Group members
- Vincent van der Velden, group leader
- Anne Bras, PhD student
- Martijn Verbeek, PhD student
- Fleur de Bie, technician
- Maaike de Bie, technician
- Claudia Brandt-Hagens, technician
- Jolanda Doekharan-van der Sluis, technician
- Patricia Hoogeveen, technician
- Stijn de Jong, technician
- Romana Jugooa, technician
- Thyra Kleibergen, technician
- Jeroen te Marvelde, technician
- Sjoerd Oude Alink, technician
- Gonnie Paulides, technician
- Zara-Li van der Sande, technician
- Ilse Hordijk, technician
Publications LMI
PubMed publications:
