Assist. Prof. Dr. Mehdi Ajalli | Strategic Decision-Making | Best Researcher Award 

🎓Early Academic Pursuits 

Education and Training

Professor Cornelia Marja van Duijn began her academic journey in the Netherlands, earning her Master of Science degree in Human Nutrition from the Agricultural University of Wageningen in March 1987. She then proceeded to pursue a Ph.D. in Genetic Epidemiology at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, which she completed in January 1991. Her doctoral studies laid the groundwork for her future research focus, particularly in unraveling the genetic underpinnings of complex diseases. Shortly after completing her Ph.D., Van Duijn engaged in a postdoctoral fellowship at Boston University between 1991 and 1992, deepening her expertise in genetic epidemiology. Her formative academic and research training at internationally renowned institutions helped establish her as a future leader in the field.

💼Professional Endeavors 

Academic Positions

Over the years, Van Duijn has held various significant academic and research positions. She began her career as a Research Fellow with the Dutch Childhood Leukaemia Study Group in 1987, and from there, rose through the academic ranks at Erasmus University Medical School Rotterdam—starting as a Ph.D. student, and eventually becoming a full professor of Genetic Epidemiology in 2001. She also served as Full Professor of Translational Epidemiology at Leiden University in 2016. Since 2018, she has held the esteemed position of Professor of Epidemiology at the Nuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, UK. In this role, she continues to conduct pioneering research and mentor emerging scholars in the field. In addition to her academic appointments, Van Duijn has also undertaken foreign research training at prestigious institutions including Stanford University Medical School, MRC Biostatistics Unit Cambridge, and Boston University School of Medicine.

📚Contributions and Research Focus on Strategic Planning

Van Duijn’s scientific contributions are both broad and profound, with her early work centering on the genetic epidemiology of Alzheimer’s disease. She has played a pivotal role in discovering genetic mutations such as those in the beta-amyloid precursor protein gene and linking APOE4 allele to early-onset Alzheimer’s. Her work in genome-wide association studies has identified multiple risk loci, including rare coding variants like TREM2 and PLD3, underscoring the role of microglial-mediated innate immunity. She has actively contributed to leading scientific consortia such as CHARGE, ENGAGE, IGAP, IGGC, and EAGLE, and led multiple large-scale projects under the European Framework Programs, Horizon 2020, and the Netherlands Genomic Initiative. Her publication record—over 1300 scientific papers—reflects her sustained impact, and she has supervised and graduated 56 Ph.D. students, many of whom have gone on to successful academic careers.

🏆Accolades and Recognition 

Van Duijn’s work has been recognized with numerous prestigious honors. She received the Pioneer Grant Award from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO/ZonMw) in 1998 and the Herman Boerhaave Award from Leiden University in 1996. In recognition of her research on aging and neurodegenerative disorders, she was awarded the Junior Research Award by the Gerontology and Geriatrics Society and the Research Award from Erasmus University. More recently, she was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences, UK, and a Fellow of St. Cross College, Oxford. She is also a Member of the Royal Academy of Sciences of the Netherlands and has served as the Chair of the Advisory Board at the Institute for Molecular Medicine Finland (FIMM).

🌍 Impact and Influence 

Community Impact

Van Duijn’s influence extends beyond academic circles into international public health policy and biomedical infrastructure. She was instrumental in establishing the BBMRI-NL (Biobanking and BioMolecular resources Research Infrastructure) and the Netherlands Consortium on Healthy Aging (NCHA). She has served on global scientific committees including the European Research Council (ERC) and the European Society for Human Genetics. Her research has significantly influenced our understanding of Alzheimer’s disease, glaucoma, and cardiovascular disease through genomics and biostatistics. She has brought new insights into how polygenic risk scores and environmental interactions contribute to neurodegeneration, offering pathways for preventive strategies and early diagnosis.

🔮Legacy and Future Contributions