dr. A. (Arjan) Diepstra
I am an academic hematopathologist and Associate Professor with ius promovendi at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). My research is embedded within the Cancer Research Center Groningen and the research institute Mechanisms of Healthy Ageing and Disease (MoHAD).
My work focuses on malignant lymphomas, with a particular emphasis on Hodgkin lymphoma and the interactions between tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment. During my PhD research, “Classical Hodgkin lymphoma: population-based studies on HLA and EBV” (2007), I identified a key role for the HLA system in susceptibility to Hodgkin lymphoma. These findings, including their implications for underlying biology and prognosis, were published in The Lancet and the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Functional follow-up studies have been supported by three grants from the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF).
My areas of expertise include immunology, tumor cell biology, genetic association studies, and molecular diagnostics in pathology.
In addition to my research and teaching activities, I serve as:
-
Program Leader of the Onco-Immunology theme at the Cancer Research Center Groningen
-
Chair of the Tissue Review Board, Department of Pathology (UMCG)
-
Chair of the Dutch Society for Hematopathology
-
Chair of the national HOVON Pathology Facility
-
Writer of multiple diagnostic guidelines in hematopathology
Internationally, I am:
-
Chair of the Translational Research Working Group of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC)
-
Chair of the Pathology Working Group of the InterLymph Consortium
-
Member of the Coordinating Committee of InterLymph
-
Contributing author to multiple editions of the World Health Organization (WHO) Classification of Tumours
Translational research on Hodgkin lymphoma, including clinical trials and advisory board activities, is partially funded by Takeda. I have also received funding from EUSA Pharma for participation in an advisory board on Castleman disease.