UTFacultiesTNWNewsRogier Wildeboer wins Philips Graduation Prize for Biomedical Technology

Rogier Wildeboer wins Philips Graduation Prize for Biomedical Technology

On 28 November, Rogier Wildeboer will be awarded the Philips Graduation Prize for Biomedical Technology at the Royal Holland Society of Sciences and Humanities (hereinafter KHMV) in Haarlem, the Netherlands, for his work in Biomedical Technology.

He has won this prize, which comes with a financial contribution of 3,000 euros) for his research into magnetic nanoparticles. Rogier focused on the development of a new technique that allows researchers to follow these particles very accurately, and improved the associated medical equipment. This is the very first year in which the Philips Graduation Prize will be awarded.

A safe, fast and optimal way to check for metastases is a matter of life and death for breast cancer patients. The application of nanotechnology can make an important contribution to this. For his thesis, Rogier Wildeboer conducted research into magnetic nanoparticles that can be used to detect the nearest lymph node during breast cancer surgery. This is necessary in order to identify metastases. At present, radioactive particles are still being used for this procedure.

While working in the Neuroimaging Department at the University of Twente he developed a new technique to track the nanoparticles very precisely with minimal interference. Moreover, his main area of focus was on the design and optimization of the medical equipment, so that it will eventually be available to surgeons for use in the operating theatre. In addition, he studied how to describe the precise behaviour of nanoparticles in the body. This is important in order to ascertain which nanoparticles possess the most ideal characteristics, and, for example, emit the best signals.

At Eindhoven University of Technology, Rogier is presently conducting doctoral research into the diagnostic options for the application of ultrasound in prostate cancer.

The prize will be awarded in Haarlem on 28 November by Michel van Bruggen, Department Head of In-Body Systems at Philips Research. The Philips Graduation Prize of 3,000 euros for Data Science In Healthcare will be awarded on the same day by Milan Petkovic, Department Head of Data Science at Philips Research. This prize is awarded to Ivo Kuiper (Eindhoven University of Technology), for his analysis of compliance with the protocol for glucose regulation, conducted in various departments of the Intensive Care Unit of the Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+).

Prize judging was in the hands of the KHMW in Haarlem. This association judges numerous other important scientific prizes.

L.P.W. van der Velde MSc (Laurens)
Spokesperson Executive Board (EB)