Pim Pijnappel appointed Extraordinary Professor of Cell and Gene Therapy
Dr. Pim Pijnappel has been appointed as Professor of Cell and Gene Therapy at Erasmus MC, focusing specifically on neuromuscular and metabolic diseases. With his chair, Pim aims to explore innovative approaches to address muscle and metabolic disorders. “There is still much research to be done,” he explains, “but with our team, I expect we will make significant strides.”
The chair is shared between the Departments of Clinical Genetics and Pediatrics and the Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases. It is supported by the Prinses Beatrix Spierfonds and Spierziekten Nederland, and focuses on several key themes.
One major area of work involves the development of gene therapies for Pompe disease, Hunter syndrome, and CLN2. To accelerate this progress, Dr. Pijnappel and his team recently founded the spin-off company LentiCure B.V., which aims to bring gene therapies to market at a fair and transparent price.
Another focus is the development of muscle-on-a-chip technology, which allows the study of disease mechanisms and testing of both new and existing treatments. Additionally, the team is exploring muscle regeneration through muscle stem cells, with the long-term goal of creating new muscle tissue for patients who have lost it due to illness or injury.
Dr. Pijnappel’s research also includes RNA therapies for Pompe disease and the establishment of a globally recognized database for this condition.
This work is conducted in close collaboration with clinicians and researchers from both national and international institutions, reflecting a highly integrated approach to tackling complex diseases.
