Fibrinogen variants and coagulation

After her Chemistry study at Utrecht University (1987 -1991), Moniek de Maat started her PhD research program in 1991 at the TNO Prevention and Health in Leiden and the department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus University in Rotterdam, under the supervision of dr. Kees Kluft and professor Paul Wilson. She graduated in 1995 at the Erasmus University. The title of her thesis was “Regulation and modulation of the plasma fibrinogen level”.  She then worked at TNO as a senior researcher on thrombosis and haemostasis and from 2003 she works at the Erasmus MC, also as senior researcher on thrombosis and haemostasis. From 2008 to 2023 she was also head of the hemostasis diagnostic laboratory at the Erasmus MC, which performs routine and special coagulation tests in adults and children using state of the art technology Since 2019, Moniek de Maat is Professor Biochemistry of Haemostasis and Thrombosis at the Hematology department of Erasmus MC. Since 2019, she also holds a position as visiting professor at the University Hospital of South West Denmark. In 2010 she was rewarded with the Outstanding Investigator Award of the International Fibrinogen Research Society (ISTH). She has been involved in the organisation of several congresses in her field (IFRS Workshop, ISTH scientific program group). In the past two decades his science had a focus on “Fibrinogen variants and coagulation", with particular attention on the effects of fibrinogen variants on clot structure and properties in thrombotic disease.

The important discoveries her team made were:

• We discovered how protein and genetic variation in fibrinogen affects fibrin structure stability
• We elucidated the role of fibrinogen variation in risk of thrombosis and the response to treatment
• We discovered that fibrinogen variants affect the growth and ingrowth of cells, especially endothelial cells, in the fibrin matrix
• We discovered new genes that contribute to the plasma levels of fibrinogen
• We discovered that NETs levels are independent of cardiovascular risk factor levels in the general population
• We found that thrombin generation is associated with ischemic stroke at a young age

Our research

Our research focusses on understanding the role of the coagulation system in thrombosis, with emphasis on fibrinogen and the fibrin network. The last step of the coagulation cascade is the conversion of the protein fibrinogen to fibrin. Fibrin forms long fibers that branch and ultimately form the network that stabilized the thrombus. Fibrinogen is a very heterogeneous molecule and we study the relationship between the different forms and the architecture of the fibrin network, such as fiber thickness and branching, strength, elasticity, fibrinolysis rate. We recently started collaborating with the TU Delft (prof. Gijsje Koenderink) on this subject. By understanding this relationship we hope to optimize patient treatment in thrombosis, delayed wound healing and bleeding.

We still do not completely understand the mechanisms underlying arterial thrombosis and knowing these mechanisms will enable us to recognise high risk patients and to optimize treatment options. We search (using genetic variation and protein variation) patient and population studies for new mechanisms and biomarkers. We have been involved in several successfully completed studies on these aspects, including basic research, clinical trials and epidemiological (sub)studies (Rotterdam Study, ECAT, ECAPTURE, REGRESS, ATTAC). At the moment we participate in the Contrast consortium in patients with acute ischemic stroke to search for biomarkers that are associated with treatment effect.

Our team

Key publications