Jolien Vanhooren

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a rare pediatric malignancy, with approximately 10–15 cases diagnosed annually in Belgium. Over the past decades, large-scale genomic and transcriptomic profiling has revealed pediatric AML as a highly heterogeneous disease, consisting of multiple subtypes driven by diverse genetic and epigenetic aberrations. These variations have significant prognostic and therapeutic implications. Collaborative efforts by international study groups have resulted in more risk-adapted treatment protocols and improved supportive care, raising the 5-year overall survival rates to approximately 75%. However, further improvements in cure rates have begun to plateau. Intensive chemotherapy continues to impact childrens quality of life, and high-risk cases often require hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Moreover, 30–40% of patients experience relapse after primary treatment, largely due to the persistence of leukemic stem cells (LSCs). The identification of LSC-specific targets remains a challenge, as LSCs closely resemble normal hematopoietic stem cells. Our research aims to further unravel the biology of pediatric AML, contributing to the ongoing development of improved risk-stratification algorithms and targeted therapies with minimal off-target effects.
 

• 2020-present: PhD candidate in Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University
• 2015-2020: Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences
• 2009-2015: Science – Mathematics, Sint-Jozefsinstituut college Torhout
   

• Lab address: Laboratory for Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, ingang 10 (route 1034), Ghent University Hospital, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent
• PHO UZ Gent 
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• ORCID ID 
• Jolien Vanhooren is interested to receive invitations for talks or presentations