Willem A. Dik, PhD

Laboratory specialist Medical Immunology
Laboratory Medical Immunology, Department of Immunology
Immune Regulation Diagnostics (IRD) Research Group​

w.dik@erasmusmc.nl

Immune Regulation Diagnostics (IRD) Research Group

The research aims at the identification of cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie (chronic) inflammatory processes and related tissue remodeling and organ dysfunction. Being a staff member of the Laboratory Medical Immunology (LMI) another more specific goal is to use this information to guide the development of (novel) diagnostic and protective measures to be used in the clinic.

There is a strong focus on ocular disease, including a.o. Graves’ ophthalmopathy, uveitis (TB-associated and auto-immune) and retinal disorders including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.

In addition there are several research lines on other immune diseases, including immune dysregulation/immunodeficiency disorders, sarcoidosis and IgG4-related disease

The studies use various types of patient tissue and make extensive use of in vitro approaches as well as ex vivo approaches (for instance tissue cultures in the presence and absence of specific drugs) to study the mechanistic aspects of disease and to identify druggable targets and suitable drugs.

The research is performed in a multi-disciplinary setting together with medical specialists and scientists from different (medical) fields, both national and international.

Group members

  • Willem A. Dik, Group leader
  • Kornvalee Meesilpavikkai, PhD student
  • Benjamin Schrijver, PhD student
  • Mahnaz Shariatzadeh, PhD student
  • Astrid van Stigt, PhD student
  • Conny van Holten-Neelen, Technician (Research)
  • Marion Kolijn-Cowenberg, Technician (Diagnostics)
  • Nicole Nagtzaam, Technician (Diagnostics)
  • Sandra Posthumus-van Sluijs, Technician (Diagnostics)
  • Angelique van Rijswijk, Technician (Diagnostics)
  • Marja Smits-te Nijenhuis, Technician (Diagnostics)

Selected Publications

(Check for all publications: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=dik+w)

Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor Induces Adipogenesis in Orbital Fibroblasts: Implications for the Pathogenesis of Graves’ Orbitopathy.
Schrijver B, Kooiman MA, Kasteleijn E, van Holten-Neelen C, Virakul S, Paridaens D, Peeters RP, van Hagen PM, Dalm VASH, Dik WA.
Thyroid. 2019;29:395-404

Combined cellular and soluble mediator analysis for improved diagnosis of vitreoretinal lymphoma.
de Hoog J, Dik WA, Lu L, Heezen KC, Ten Berge JC, Swagemakers SMA, van der Spek PJ, van Dongen JJM, van der Velden VHJ, Rothova A, Langerak AW.
Acta Ophthalmol. 2019 Jan 27

Efficacy of Baricitinib in the Treatment of Chilblains Associated With Aicardi-Goutières Syndrome, a Type I Interferonopathy.
Meesilpavikkai K, Dik WA, Schrijver B, van Helden-Meeuwsen CG, Versnel MA, van Hagen PM, Bijlsma EK, Ruivenkamp CAL, Oele MJ, Dalm VASH.
Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71:829-831.

Type 1 interferon-inducible gene expression in QuantiFERON Gold TB-positive uveitis: A tool to stratify a high versus low risk of active tuberculosis?
La Distia Nora R, Sitompul R, Bakker M, Versnel MA, Swagemakers SMA, van der Spek PJ, Susiyanti M, Edwar L, Sjamsoe S, Singh G, Handayani RD, Rothova A, van Hagen PM, Dik WA.
PLoS One. 2018 Oct 18;13:e0206073.

The JAK1/JAK2- inhibitor ruxolitinib inhibits mast cell degranulation and cytokine release.
Hermans MAW, Schrijver B, van Holten-Neelen CCPA, Gerth van Wijk R, van Hagen PM, van Daele PLA, Dik WA.
Clin Exp Allergy. 2018;48:1412-1420

Three-dimensional tubule formation assay as therapeutic screening model for ocular microvascular disorders.
Shariatzadeh M, Brandt MM, Cheng C, Ten Berge JC, Rothova A, Leenen PJM, Dik WA.
Eye (Lond). 2018;32:1380-1386

Baricitinib treatment in a patient with a gain-of-function mutation in signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1).
Meesilpavikkai K, Dik WA, Schrijver B, Nagtzaam NMA, Posthumus-van Sluijs SJ, van Hagen PM, Dalm VASH.
J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2018l;142:328-330.

Soluble Interleukin-2 Receptor: A Potential Marker for Monitoring Disease Activity in IgG4-Related Disease.
Karim AF, Eurelings LEM, Bansie RD, van Hagen PM, van Laar JAM, Dik WA.
Mediators Inflamm. 2018:6103064.

Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells Control Early Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection via Interferon Signaling.
La Distia Nora R, Walburg KV, van Hagen PM, Swagemakers SMA, van der Spek PJ, Quinten E, van Velthoven M, Ottenhoff THM, Dik WA, Haks MC.
Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2018;59:1384-1395.

HLA-DR Expression on Monocyte Subsets in Critically Ill Children.
Boeddha NP, Kerklaan D, Dunbar A, van Puffelen E, Nagtzaam NMA, Vanhorebeek I, Van den Berghe G, Hazelzet JA, Joosten KF, Verbruggen SC, Dik WA, Driessen GJ.
Pediatr Infect Dis J. 2018;37:1034-1040.

An Intraocular Inflammatory Profile of Rubella Associated Uveitis.
Fazil Z, Ten Berge JC, Langerak AW, Rothova A, Dik WA.
Ocul Immunol Inflamm. 2019;27:418-423.

Dabigatran inhibits intravitreal thrombin activity.
Bastiaans J, Mulder VC, van Meurs JC, Smits-Te Nijenhuis M, van Holten-Neelen C, van Hagen PM, Dik WA.
Acta Ophthalmol. 2018;96:452-458.

Diagnostic Value of Serum-Soluble Interleukin 2 Receptor Levels vs Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme in Patients With Sarcoidosis-Associated Uveitis.
Groen-Hakan F, Eurelings L, ten Berge JC, van Laar J, Ramakers CRB, Dik WA, Rothova A.
JAMA Ophthalmol. 2017;135:1352-1358

A Novel Heterozygous Mutation in the STAT1 SH2 Domain Causes Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis, Atypically Diverse Infections, Autoimmunity, and Impaired Cytokine Regulation.
Meesilpavikkai K, Dik WA, Schrijver B, Nagtzaam NM, van Rijswijk A, Driessen GJ, van der Spek PJ, van Hagen PM, Dalm VA.
Front Immunol. 2017;8:274