Projects per year
Personal profile
specialisation
Neuroscience and Immunology; Multiple Sclerosis, Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis, Resolution of inflammation; lipidomics; SPMs
Research interests
Inflammation is a host-protective response and efficient resolution of inflammation (orchestrated by specialized pro-resolving lipid mediators, SPMs) is essential to clear the threat and restore tissues into their original/functional state. However, an inadequate resolution response propagates chronic inflammation, which is a unifying component in many chronic diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS). My main research focus is to elucidate whether and how altered inflammation-resolving mechanisms underlie MS to provide new perspectives on its pathogenesis and define novel and safe treatment opportunities. During my postdoctoral training at Harvard in Boston, on personal grants from IBRO, Nauta foundation and the Dutch MS research foundation, I discovered a unique lipid mediator signature in the cerebrospinal fluid and plasma associated with the clinical course of MS and provided first evidence for an impaired resolution of inflammation process in MS as reflected by the absence of protective lipid mediators at specific disease stages. Importantly, re-instating a proper resolution response significantly prevented neuro-inflammation and neuro-degeneration in animal models for MS. Together, these exciting findings form the basis of my current research line to reveal whether failed resolution mechanisms are at the root of MS pathogenesis and unravel underlying regulatory mechanisms to ultimately fully exploit this endogenous protection system and investigate its implementation for MS patient stratification (diagnosis, treatment efficacy) and therapy. These projects are funded by a personal Vidi (NWO) and Fellowship (Dutsch MS society) grants.Please add research interests.
Education/Academic qualification
PhD, Blood-brain barrier alterations in multiple sclerosis, VU University medical center
1 Mar 2004 → 3 Dec 2009
Award Date: 3 Dec 2009
External positions
Postdoctoral fellow, Harvard Medical School
1 Jan 2016 → 1 Jan 2017
Postdoctoral fellow, Theodor Kocher Institute
1 Aug 2015 → 1 Dec 2015
Keywords
- R Medicine (General)
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Resolution of inflammation
- neuro-inflammation
- lipidomics
- SPMs
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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Formatie van Myeline blaren als oorzaak van MS
Luchicchi, A., Kooij, G., Offerhaus, H. L. & Munoz Gonzalez, G.
1/04/2022 → 31/03/2026
Project: Research
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Treatment with Trichuris suis soluble products during monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation reduces inflammatory responses through epigenetic remodeling
Hoeksema, M. A., Laan, L. C., Postma, J. J., Cummings, R. D., de Winther, M. P. J., Dijkstra, C. D., van Die, I. & Kooij, G., Aug 2016, In: FASEB Journal. 30, 8, p. 2826-2836Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
24 Citations (Scopus) -
Disturbed function of the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier aggravates neuro-inflammation
Kooij, G., Kopplin, K., Blasig, R., Stuiver, M., Koning, N., Goverse, G., van der Pol, S. M. A., Hof, B. V., Gollasch, M., Drexhage, J. A. R., Reijerkerk, A., Meij, I. C., Mebius, R., Willnow, T. E., Muller, D., Blasig, I. E. & de Vries, H. E., 2014, In: Acta Neuropathologica. 128, 2, p. 267-277Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
73 Citations (Scopus) -
Modulation of innate immunity of patients with Alzheimer’s disease by omega-3 fatty acids
Fiala, M., Kooij, G., Wagner, K., Hammock, B. & Pellegrini, M., 1 Aug 2017, In: FASEB Journal. 31, 8, p. 3229-3239 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › Academic › peer-review
36 Citations (Scopus) -
P-glycoprotein regulates trafficking of CD8(+) T cells to the brain parenchyma
Kooij, G., Kroon, J., Paul, D., Reijerkerk, A., Geerts, D., van der Pol, S. M. A., van Het Hof, B., Drexhage, J. A., van Vliet, S. J., Hekking, L. H. P., van Buul, J. D., Pachter, J. S. & de Vries, H. E., May 2014, In: Acta Neuropathologica. 127, 5, p. 699-711 13 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
39 Citations (Scopus) -
Macrophage CD40 signaling drives experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Aarts, S. A. BM., Seijkens, T. T. P., Kusters, P. J. H., van Tiel, C. M., Reiche, M. E., den Toom, M., Beckers, L., van Roomen, C. P. AA., de Winther, M. P. J., Kooij, G. & Lutgens, E., 1 Apr 2019, In: Journal of pathology. 247, 4, p. 471-480 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open Access12 Citations (Scopus)
Activities
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(Re)solving MS: understand and exploit endogenous protection systems to combat BBB dysfunction
Gijs Kooij (Speaker)
25 Mar 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Academic
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ECTRIMS
Gijs Kooij (Participant)
26 Oct 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference, workshop, ... › Academic
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Dutch Neuroscience Meeting
Gijs Kooij (Participant)
9 Jun 2022Activity: Participating in or organising an event › Organising a conference, workshop, ... › Academic
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Lipid mediators to resolve chronic neuro-inflammation in Multiple Sclerosis
Gijs Kooij (Speaker)
28 Sept 2022 → 30 Sept 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Academic