Utrecht University

Remco is an in vitro neurotoxicologist who studies the adverse effects of exogenous substances on the brain, and is leading objective #1. His research focuses on in vitro models, thereby reducing the need for animal experiments. In vitro models allow for sophisticated targeted approaches and novel technologies, including real-time cellular imaging, microelectrode arrays, and stem cell-derived models to assess neurotoxicity. Integration of these innovations paves the way to assess interactions between the brain and the blood-brain barrier as well as for investigation of adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) that integrate cellular toxicity and adverse human outcomes, thereby translating these findings into practice and policy.

Dr. Westerink has been involved in numerous projects on the neurotoxicological impact of environmental factors. He uses his expertise and enthusiasm to actively disseminate results, train (PhD-) students and to serve the (inter)national scientific community.

Emma is an assistant professor at the Neurotoxicology Research Group. With a background in Pharmaceutical Sciences (BSc) and Drug Discovery and Safety (MSc) from Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, she obtained her PhD on Next Generation Risk Assessment of Chemicals at IRAS, where she also earned her registration as European Registered Toxicologist in 2021. Her research focuses on understanding how environmental factors, in particular micro- and nanoplastics, impact the nervous system. She combines experimental in vitro models with in silico approaches to unravel mechanisms of neurotoxicity and to develop more predictive, animal-free strategies for chemical safety assessment.

Sara joined the Neurotoxicology Research Group as a PhD student on the ExpoSignalz project in September 2025. Her research focuses on the impact of a subset of environmental pollutants on brain health throughout life and their role in dementia, especially Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive decline. She will use in vitro models to evaluate these pollutants to identify those likely to have neurotoxic effects.

Pepijn started as a technician in the Neurotox lab in March 2022. He is working on various projects that focus on assessing the safety of chemicals and pharmaceuticals without using laboratory animals. For ExpoSignalz, he will set up an in-vitro blood-brain-barrier model using differentiated human induced pluripotent stem cells (hIPSCs) to test integrity against chemicals. Furthermore, he is responsible for keeping the lab up and running.