Team

Professor Eric Boersma has been a key figure in the cardiovascular field for many years, working at the intersection of clinical research and innovation. He is principal investigator of IMPRESS consortium and leads research on risk prediction, biomarkers, sex- and gender-specific differences in cardiovascular disease, and large-scale clinical data, with a strong focus on translating insights into patient care. Outside of his academic and clinical work, he is active in local politics and civic engagement. He has been appointed as the managing-director of the DCVA at the start of 2026.

Hester den Ruijter is a distinguished researcher specializing in cardiovascular health and disease. She currently holds the position of Chair of the Pillar Research Policy at the DCVA. Her expertise lies in advancing our understanding of cardiovascular conditions and developing impactful research and policy strategies. Hester den Ruijter's leadership plays a crucial role in shaping cardiovascular research agendas and policies to address key challenges in this field.

Rob de Ree spearheads collaborative efforts to advance cardiovascular research and innovation in the Netherlands. With expertise in molecular biology and cardiovascular imaging, he plays a key role in shaping research agendas and fostering partnerships to address cardiovascular challenges. Rob de Ree's leadership is instrumental in promoting interdisciplinary approaches to improve cardiovascular outcomes and public health strategies.

Cardiologist Robert Tieleman is the Chair of Implementation at the DCVA. His aim is that new therapies and insights in the field of cardiovascular disease are translated into clinical practice more rapidly, so that patients can benefit sooner. `The translation from science to practice is often too slow. There is still much to be gained.’

Folkert Asselbergs is a clinical cardiologist, Prof of Precision Medicine, and co-lead of the NFU expertise center for inherited cardiac disease at UMC Utrecht. Asselbergs has a joint position as Professor of Precision Medicine at University College London and responsible for the data infrastructure within the DCVA.

Leon de Windt is a leading researcher in cardiovascular biology and disease. As a Senior Researcher at the Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), he is renowned for his groundbreaking work in understanding heart health and disease mechanisms. His contributions emphasize ongoing development and innovation in cardiovascular research.

Naomi completed both the bachelor and the master Biomedical Sciences at Leiden University. Afterwards, she researched the metabolic effects of the intestinal microbiome at the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam. Since March 2023, Naomi has been dedicated to reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease by fostering collaboration among DCVA partners.

Stephanie recently joined the DCVA as a Project Manager. She has an academic background in Health Sciences (Policy and Management) from Maastricht University and holds a Master’s degree in International Public Health from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.

Most recently, Stephanie completed an internship in Melbourne, where she contributed to research on physical activity patterns in young children and how these behaviors evolve over time. This experience further deepened her interest in preventive health.

In her free time, Stephanie enjoys staying active. She loves running, traveling and exploring new places, and spending time in the kitchen cooking or baking. What particularly resonates with her about the DCVA’s mission is its strong focus on collaboration. She firmly believes that only by joining forces can we make a real impact in improving cardiovascular health for all.

Luc Schoppink is an Impact Officer at the DCVA, focused on translating cutting-edge cardiology research into scalable ventures for rapid development and commercialization. With a background in Biomedical and Neurosciences, along with a degree in Life Science-based Management and Entrepreneurship, Luc previously served as a Senior Consultant at Catalyze-Group, aiding researchers and companies in securing financing for innovative R&D projects in Biotech, Medtech, and Healthtech. Luc is dedicated to advancing promising research and innovation within the cardiovascular field to benefit patients.

With extensive experience in leading clinical trials and conducting impactful research, Wiek has contributed significantly to advancing our understanding of cardiovascular disease. He holds the position of Professor of Cardiovascular and Clinical Pharmacology at the UMCG, and was the first director of the DCVA.

Prof. dr. Yvo Roos studied Medicine at the Erasmus MC and completed his neurology training at Amsterdam UMC, where he also obtained his PhD in 2000. He built his academic and clinical career at Amsterdam UMC, serving for many years as Head of the Department of Neurology and gaining international recognition for his work in acute stroke care, clinical research, and medical education. In January 2024, he was appointed Member of the Executive Board of Amsterdam UMC and Dean of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Amsterdam.

Dr. Monika Hollander is a General Practitioner with a special interest in cardiovascular disease. She coordinates the Academic Workplace for General Practice and is also an Assistant Professor at the Julius Center, UMC Utrecht.

Conny Helder was Minister for Long-Term Care and Sport (2022–2024) and briefly Minister of Health, Welfare and Sport in 2024. She focused on healthcare innovation, ageing, and workforce retention. During the COVID-19 crisis, she advocated for elderly care, drawing on her leadership at tanteLouise. Previously, she was CEO of SGE and held leadership roles in hospitals. With broad experience across various care sectors, she specialises in change management and healthcare innovation. Since 2025, she has served in several positions, including Chair of the Supervisory Board at OLVG Hospital in Amsterdam.

Lodewijk Wagenaar is cardiologist at the Medisch Spectrum Twente. His main interests lie in cardiac imaging (particularly cardiac MRI and CT) and congenital heart defects in both children and adults. He is the chair of the NVVC since 2025.

Prof. Dr. Wouter Jukema is Head of the Department of Cardiology at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) and Co-Chair of the Netherlands Heart Institute (NLHI) in Utrecht. Since 2005, he has been Professor of Cardiology and Medicine with a special focus on atherothrombosis and regenerative medicine. He completed his cardiology training at the LUMC and obtained his PhD there in 1996. He further specialized through a fellowship from the European Society of Cardiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Prof. Jukema is a former Established Clinical Investigator of the Netherlands Heart Foundation and the founding director of the Durrer Center for Cardiovascular Research in Amsterdam.

Hans Snijder has been the new director of the Dutch Heart Foundation since 1 February 2022. Before that, he was director of Media & Communications at the Princess Máxima Centre for Paediatric Oncology.