R. (Ruben) Bierings, PhD

My research focuses on how endothelial cells and platelets secrete hemostatic and inflammatory proteins from their secretory organelles, the endothelial Weibel-Palade bodies and the alpha- and dense granules in platelets. Our aim is to understand how defects in this system lead to bleeding abnormalities in patients.

• Endothelial cell biology
• Von Willebrand factor (VWF) biosynthesis and secretion
• Weibel-Palade body biogenesis and exocytosis
• Rab GTPases and effectors
• SNARE proteins
• Blood outgrowth endothelial cells

Current and previous affiliations

• 2018 - now Group Leader/Principal Investigator
  • Department of Hematology Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands 

• 2013 - 2018 Group Leader Department of Molecular and Cellular Hemostasis
  • Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam, Netherlands

• 2011 - 2013 Senior Postdoc
  • Department of Plasma Proteins Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam, Netherlands 

• 2007 - 2011 Career Development Fellow
  •  Divisions of Physical Biochemistry and Molecular Neuroendocrinology MRC National Institute for Medical Research, London, United Kingdom

• 2002 - 2007 PhD Candidate
  • Department of Plasma Proteins CLB-Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, Netherlands 

• 2001 - 2002 Junior Research Associate
  • Department of Molecular Cellular and Developmental Biology University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara CA, USA

Education 

• 2002 - 2007 PhD
  • Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands (October 17, 2007) Thesis title: “Sorting out the Weibel-Palade body” Promotor: Prof.dr. K. Mertens 

• 1996 - 2002 MSc
  • Molecular Sciences, Wageningen University, Netherlands 

For publications, follow this link.

Supervised theses as co-promoter

• April 24, 2020 - Ellie Karampini
  • Title: “Weibel-Palade Body formation and release; An Odyssey through the secretory pathway”, University of Amsterdam

• June 20, 2019 - Maaike Schillemans
  • Title: “Weibel-Palade body logistics: express delivery in the vasculature”, University of Amsterdam

• June 18, 2014 - Dorothee van Breevoort
  • Title: “Tuning the SNAREs that regulate Weibel-Palade body exocytosis”, University of Amsterdam

• April 11, 2014 - Kathinka van Hooren
  • Title: “Molecular mechanisms involved in Weibel-Palade body exocytosis”, University of Amsterdam

Courses

• Biochemistry of coagulation, (Erasmus MC)
• Biosynthesis and function of Von Willebrand factor, (Dutch Society of Thrombosis and Hemostasis, PhD course)

Project grants

• 2019 Nationale Wetenschapsagenda SYMPHONY
  • “Orchestrating personalised treatment for patients with bleeding disorders” (co-applicant) 

• 2018 Sanquin Product and Process Development Cellular Products (PPOC18-21)
  • “Pulling platelets to sites of vascular injury” (co-applicant) 

• 2017 Dutch Thrombosis Foundation (TSN)
  • “The only way is up: polarized secretion of VWF and tethering by adhesion molecules” (head applicant) 

• 2015 Dutch Thrombosis Foundation (TSN)
  • “Caught in a trap: Unravelling von Willebrand factor extracellular traps” (head applicant)

• 2012 Landsteiner Foundation for Blood transfusion Research (LSBR)
  • “Vascular gatekeepers” (head applicant)

Personal grants and fellowships

• 2017 Landsteiner Foundation for Blood transfusion Research (LSBR) Fellowship
  • “Von Willebrand factor secretion from Weibel-Palade bodies: pulling the strings in vascular disease” (personal grant) 

• 2013 European Hematology Association (EHA) Research Fellowship
  • “Gatekeepers of the vasculature; regulation of Weibel-Palade body exocytosis by syntaxin binding protein 1 (STXBP1)” (personal grant) 

• 2007 Medical Research Council Career Development Fellowship