Rick Essers

I am working at the Cellular Genomic Medicine lab of Masoud Zamani Esteki. Our young research group is embedded within the Department of Clinical Genetics (MUMC+) and the Department of Genetics and Cell Biology (Maastricht University). We are investigating the genetic basis of early stages of human development and try to actively translate our knowledge and technologies into the clinic.

One example of this is my PhD project. One of the goals of preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) is to avoid the transmission of genetic disorders to their offspring. Currently, whole genome PGT methods require genetic material from a close relative to phase parental genomes. Haplotype phasing means deciphering the parental origin of alleles to individual parental homologue level and is important for discerning segregational origin (meiotic/mitotic). This makes PGT dependent on close relatives, e.g. grandparents or child,  of the couples and does not allow tracing the inheritance of de novo mutations to the embryos. With a combination of novel wet- and dry-lab techniques I try to solve these substantial limitations in the current PGT practice.

My academic career started with Health Sciences (BSc) at Maastricht University where I specialized in Biology & Health, after which I studied Biomedical Sciences (MSc) with a specialization in Regenerative Medicine. During these studies I completed multiple internships but one of my favorites was my internship at the department of Clinical Genetics. This eventually led me to pursue a PhD within this field.