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Uyên Châu Nguyên wins UM Dissertation Prize 2025

Uyên Châu Nguyên wins UM Dissertation Prize 2025

29 January 2026

During the Dies Natalis of Maastricht University, Uyên Châu Nguyên received the UM Dissertation Prize 2025.

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Global research network launched to study menopause and heart health

Global research network launched to study menopause and heart health

20 January 2026

Ten international health research funders, including the Dutch Heart Foundation, are investing $10 million in a new global research network to improve early prevention of cardiovascular disease in women. The initiative focuses on understanding how menopause affects heart health and how early intervention can reduce risk.

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Carim Maastricht
Carim Maastricht

Constance Baaten

Post doc

Dr. Constance Baaten is a postdoctoral researcher in the thrombosis and hemostasis field. She obtained her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Molecular Life Sciences at Maastricht University. Subsequently, she started her PhD research at the department of Biochemistry at CARIM under the supervision of Prof. Johan Heemskerk and Dr. Paola van der Meijden, focusing on the acquired impairment and recovery of platelet function. Upon obtaining her PhD degree in 2018, Constance joined the group of Dr. Heidi Noels at the Institute for Molecular Cardiovascular Research (IMCAR) at the University Hospital Aachen with an Alexander von Humboldt fellowship for postdoctoral researchers. With this fellowship she was able to investigate platelet function in the context of chronic kidney disease. In 2020, she was awarded the prestigious Dekker grant for postdoctoral researchers by the Dutch Heart Foundation that allowed her to join the group of Prof. Hugo ten Cate at the department of Biochemistry to study platelet-platelet interactions while maintaining her postdoc position at the IMCAR institute.

Currently, Constance works as a researcher within the group of Prof. Henri Spronk at the Department of Biochemistry at CARIM and the group of Dr. Heidi Noels within the IMCAR institute. She continues to investigate platelet function in different pathophysiological conditions and is involved in the recently initiated study on thrombo-inflammation in post-COVID. Over the years, she has gained expertise in studying interactions between vascular cells (endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells), immune cells (neutrophils, monocytes) and platelets. 

Constance baaten

Department of Biochemistry
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
Room number: H1.314
T: +31(0)88 388 7444

  • 2025
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Wollenhaupt, J., Henning, T. M., Vondenhoff, S., Schröer, J. R., Stamellou, E., Saritas, T., Kurt, B., Boger, L., Antwerpen, A., Hermann, J., Nagy, M., Sternkopf, M., Buhl, E. M., Raffetseder, U., van der Meijden, P. E. J., Kuijpers, M. J. E., Spronk, H. M. H., Schunk, S. J., ... Noels, H. (2025). Impaired Secondary Platelet Response in Chronic Kidney Disease as a Consequence of Prior Platelet Activation. JACC: Basic to Translational Science, 10(9), Article 101355. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacbts.2025.101355
    • van Dievoet, M.-A., Baaten, C. C., Nagy, M., David, C., Brusa, D., Dahlqvist, G., Coubeau, L., De Bruyne, R., Jannone, G., Scheers, I., Hermans, C., Tambucci, R., Pirotte, T., de Magnee, C., Sokal, E., Horman, S., Douxfils, J., Heemskerk, J. W., Lisman, T., & Stephenne, X. (2025). Primary hemostasis in children with cirrhosis prior to liver transplantation: key roles of liver disease severity, von Willebrand factor, and platelet count. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 23(7), 2297-2313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtha.2025.04.010
    • Lauxen, J. S., Vondenhoff, S., Junho, C. V. C., Martin, P., Fleig, S., Schuett, K., Schulze-Spaete, U., Soehnlein, O., Prates-Roma, L., Doering, Y., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., & Noels, H. (2025). Neutrophil Function in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Acta Physiologica, 241(6), Article e70057. https://doi.org/10.1111/apha.70057
    • Nagy, M., Bender, M., Poulter, N. S., Pike, J. A., Sickmann, A., Vondenhoff, S., Bielicka, N., van Zandvoort, M. A. M. J., Koenen, R. R., ten Cate, H., Stéphenne, X., Heemskerk, J. W. M., & Baaten, C. C. F. M. J. (2025). Formation of tight junction-like structures of zonula occludens 2 in platelet–platelet interaction. Research and practice in thrombosis and haemostasis, 9(3), Article 102845. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rpth.2025.102845
  • 2024
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Nagy, M., Spronk, H. M. H., Ten Cate, H., & Kietselaer, B. L. J. H. (2024). NETosis in Cardiovascular Disease: An Opportunity for Personalized Antithrombotic Treatments?Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 44(12), 2366-2370. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.124.320150
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Nagy, M., Bergmeier, W., Spronk, H. M. H., & van der Meijden, P. E. J. (2024). Platelet biology and function: plaque erosion vs. rupture. European Heart Journal, 45(1), 18-31. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehad720
  • 2023
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Vondenhoff, S., Jankowski, J., & Noels, H. (2023). Thrombozytenstörungen bei Urämie: Mediator von Herz- und Gefäßschäden. Die Nephrologie, 18(6), 346–354. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11560-023-00682-2
    • Akbalut, C., Arisz, R., Baaten, C., Baildildinova, G., Barakzie, A., Bauersachs, R., Ten Berg, J. M., van den Broek, W., de Boer, H. C., Broker, V., Buka, R., Ten Cate, H., Cate, A. T., De Luca, C., De Simone, I., Dignat-George, F., Freson, K., Gazzaniga, G., van Gorp, E., ... van Zonneveld, A.-J. (2023). Blood coagulation and beyond: Position paper from the Fourth Maastricht Consensus Conference on Thrombosis. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 123(8), 808-839. https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2052-9175
    • De Simone, I., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Gibbins, J. M., Ten Cate, H., Heemskerk, J. W. M., Jones, C. I., & van der Meijden, P. E. J. (2023). Repeated platelet activation and the potential of previously activated platelets to contribute to thrombus formation. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 21(5), 1289-1306. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtha.2023.01.006
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Vondenhoff, S., & Noels, H. (2023). Endothelial Cell Dysfunction and Increased Cardiovascular Risk in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease. Circulation Research, 132(8), 970-992. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.123.321752
  • 2022
    • Böhler, H., Orth-Alampour, S., Baaten, C., Riedner, M., Jankowski, J., & Beck, T. (2022). Assembly of chemically modified protein nanocages into 3D materials for the adsorption of uremic toxins. Journal of Materials Chemistry. B, Materials for Biology and Medicine, 11(1), 55-60. https://doi.org/10.1039/d2tb02386e
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Rigatto, C., & Noels, H. (2022). CKD Effects on Platelets: Implications for Cardiovascular Risk. Kidney International Reports, 7(10), 2126-2128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ekir.2022.08.005
    • Berger, M., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Noels, H., Marx, N., & Schutt, K. (2022). Herz und Diabetes: Thrombozytenfunktion und antithrombozytäre Therapie bei chronischer Nierenerkrankung. Herz, 47(5), 426-433. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00059-022-05129-3
    • De Simone, I., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Jandrot-Perrus, M., Gibbins, J. M., Ten Cate, H., Heemskerk, J. W. M., Jones, C. I., & van der Meijden, P. E. J. (2022). Coagulation Factor XIIIa and Activated Protein C Activate Platelets via GPVI and PAR1. International journal of molecular sciences, 23(18), Article 10203. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810203
    • Veninga, A., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., De Simone, I., Tullemans, B. M. E., Kuijpers, M. J. E., Heemskerk, J. W. M., & van der Meijden, P. E. J. (2022). Effects of Platelet Agonists and Priming on the Formation of Platelet Populations. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 122(05), 726-738. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1735972
    • Peters, L. J. F., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Maas, S. L., Lu, C., Nagy, M., Jooss, N. J., Bidzhekov, K., Santovito, D., Moreno-Andrés, D., Jankowski, J., Biessen, E. A. L., Döring, Y., Heemskerk, J. W. M., Weber, C., Kuijpers, M. J. E., & van der Vorst, E. P. C. (2022). MicroRNA-26b Attenuates Platelet Adhesion and Aggregation in Mice. Biomedicines, 10(5), Article 983. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines10050983
    • Harlacher, E., Wollenhaupt, J., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., & Noels, H. (2022). Impact of Uremic Toxins on Endothelial Dysfunction in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review. International journal of molecular sciences, 23(1), Article 531. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms23010531
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Schroer, J. R., Floege, J., Marx, N., Jankowski, J., Berger, M., & Noels, H. (2022). Platelet Abnormalities in CKD and Their Implications for Antiplatelet Therapy. Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 17(1), 155-170. https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.04100321
    • Tullemans, B. M. E., Fernandez, D. I., Veninga, A., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Peters, L. J. F., Aarts, M. J. B., Eble, J. A., Campello, E., Spiezia, L., Simioni, P., van der Vorst, E. P. C., van der Meijden, P. E. J., Heemskerk, J. W. M., & Kuijpers, M. J. E. (2022). Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Sunitinib Delays Platelet-Induced Coagulation: Additive Effects of Aspirin. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 122(01), 92-104. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0041-1730312
  • 2021
    • van Gorp, R. H., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Habibi, A., Jaminon, A. M. G., Peeters, F. E. C. M., Leenders, P., Crijns, H. J. G. M. C., Heemskerk, J. W. M., Reutelingsperger, C. P., Spronk, H. M., & Schurgers, L. J. (2021). Vitamin K antagonist use induces calcification and atherosclerotic plaque progression resulting in increased hypercoagulability. European heart journal open, 1(2), Article oeab017. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjopen/oeab017
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Sternkopf, M., Henning, T., Marx, N., Jankowski, J., & Noels, H. (2021). Platelet Function in CKD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 32(7), 1583-1598. https://doi.org/10.1681/asn.2020101440
    • Huang, J., Swieringa, F., Solari, F. A., Provenzale, I., Grassi, L., De Simone, I., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Cavill, R., Sickmann, A., Frontini, M., & Heemskerk, J. W. M. (2021). Assessment of a complete and classified platelet proteome from genome-wide transcripts of human platelets and megakaryocytes covering platelet functions. Scientific Reports, 11(1), Article 12358. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-91661-x
    • Wu, J. Y., Heemskerk, J. W. M., & Baaten, C. C. F. M. J. (2021). Platelet Membrane Receptor Proteolysis: Implications for Platelet Function. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 7, Article 608391. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2020.608391
    • Tullemans, B., Karel, M., Léopold, V., ten Brink, M. S., Baaten, C., Maas, S. L., de Vos, A. F., Eble, J. A., Nijziel, M. R., van der Vorst, E., Cosemans, J., Heemskerk, J., Claushuis, T. A. M., & Kuijpers, M. (2021). Comparison of inhibitory effects of irreversible and reversible Btk inhibitors on platelet function. eJHaem, 2(4), 685–699. https://doi.org/10.1002/jha2.269
  • 2019
    • Coppin, L., Najimi, M., Bodart, J., Rouchon, M.-S., van der Smissen, P., Eeckhoudt, S., Dahlqvist, G., Castanares-Zapatero, D., Komuta, M., Brouns, S. L., Baaten, C. C., Heemskerk, J. W. M., Horman, S., Belmonte, N., Sokal, E., & Stephenne, X. (2019). Clinical Protocol to Prevent Thrombogenic Effect of Liver-Derived Mesenchymal Cells for Cell-Based Therapies. Cells, 8(8), Article 846. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells8080846
    • Nagy, M., van Geffen, J. P., Stegner, D., Adams, D. J., Braun, A., de Witt, S. M., Elvers, M., Geer, M. J., Kuijpers, M. J. E., Kunzelmann, K., Mori, J., Oury, C., Pircher, J., Pleines, I., Poole, A. W., Senis, Y. A., Verdoold, R., Weber, C., Nieswandt, B., ... Baaten, C. C. F. M. J. (2019). Comparative Analysis of Microfluidics Thrombus Formation in Multiple Genetically Modified Mice: Link to Thrombosis and Hemostasis. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 6, Article 99. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2019.00099
    • van Geffen, A., Brouns, S., Batista, J., McKinney, H., Kempster, C., Nagy, M., Sivapalaratnam, S., Baaten, C., Bourry, N., Frontini, M., Jurk, K., Krause, M., Pilliteri, D., Swieringa, F., Verdoold, R., Cavill, R., Kuijpers, M., Ouwehand, W. H., Downes, K., & Heemskerk, J. (2019). High-throughput elucidation of thrombus formation reveals sources of platelet function variability. Haematologica-the Hematology Journal, 104(6), 1256-1267. https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2018.198853
  • 2018
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Meacham, S., de Witt, S. M., Feijge, M. A. H., Adams, D. J., Akkerman, J.-W. N., Cosemans, J. M. E. M., Grassi, L., Jupe, S., Kostadima, M., Mattheij, N. J. A., Prins, M. H., Ramirez-Solis, R., Soehnlein, O., Swieringa, F., Weber, C., White, J. K., Ouwehand, W. H., & Heemskerk, J. W. M. (2018). A synthesis approach of mouse studies to identify genes and proteins in arterial thrombosis and bleeding. Blood, 132(24), E35-E46. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2018-02-831982
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Swieringa, F., Misztal, T., Mastenbroek, T. G., Feijge, M. A. H., Bock, P. E., Donners, M. M. P. C., Collins, P. W., Li, R., van der Meijden, P. E. J., & Heemskerk, J. W. M. (2018). Platelet heterogeneity in activation-induced glycoprotein shedding: functional effects. Blood advances, 2(18), 2320-2331. https://doi.org/10.1182/bloodadvances.2017011544
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Moenen, F. C. J. I., Henskens, Y. M. C., Swieringa, F., Wetzels, R. J. H., van Oerle, R., Heijnen, H. F. G., ten Cate, H., Holloway, G. P., Beckers, E. A. M., Heemskerk, J. W. M., & van der Meijden, P. E. J. (2018). Impaired mitochondrial activity explains platelet dysfunction in thrombocytopenic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Haematologica-the Hematology Journal, 103(9), 1557-1567. https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2017.185165
    • Spronk, H. M. H., Padro, T., Siland, J. E., Prochaska, J. H., Winters, J., van der Wal, A. C., Posthuma, J. J., Lowe, G., d'Alessandro, E., Wenzel, P., Coenen, D. M., Reitsma, P. H., Ruf, W., van Gorp, R. H., Koenen, R. R., Vajen, T., Alshaikh, N. A., Wolberg, A. S., Macrae, F. L., ... ten Cate, H. (2018). Atherothrombosis and Thromboembolism: Position Paper from the Second Maastricht Consensus Conference on Thrombosis. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 118(2), 229-250. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH17-07-0492
  • 2017
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., ten Cate, H., van der Meijden, P. E. J., & Heemskerk, J. W. M. (2017). Platelet populations and priming in hematological diseases. Blood Reviews, 31(6), 389-399. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.blre.2017.07.004
  • 2016
    • Mattheij, N. J. A., Swieringa, F., Mastenbroek, T. G., Berny-Lang, M. A., May, F., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., van der Meijden, P. E. J., Henskens, Y. M. C., Beckers, E. A. M., Suylen, D. P. L., Nolte, M. W., Hackeng, T. M., McCarty, O. J. T., Heemskerk, J. W. M., & Cosemans, J. M. E. M. (2016). Coated platelets function in platelet-dependent fibrin formation via integrin alpha(IIb)beta(3) and transglutaminase factor XIII. Haematologica-the Hematology Journal, 101(4), 427-436. https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2015.131441
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Moenen, F. C. J. I., Henskens, Y. M. C., Swieringa, F., Wetzels, R., van Oerle, R., ten Cate, H., Beckers, E. A. M., Heemskerk, J. W. M., & van der Meijden, P. E. J. (2016). Multiple functional defects in platelets from thrombocytopenic cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. Thrombosis Research, 140S1, S171-S171. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0049-3848(16)30125-6
    • Swieringa, F., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Verdoold, R., Mastenbroek, T. G., Rijnveld, N., van der Laan, K. O., Breel, E. J., Collins, P. W., Lance, M. D., Henskens, Y. M. C., Cosemans, J. M. E. M., Heemskerk, J. W. M., & van der Meijden, P. E. J. (2016). Platelet Control of Fibrin Distribution and Microelasticity in Thrombus Formation Under Flow. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 36(4), 692-699. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.115.306537
    • Mattheij, N. J. A., Braun, A., van Kruchten, R., Castoldi, E., Pircher, J., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Wuelling, M., Kuijpers, M. J. E., Koehler, R., Poole, A. W., Schreiber, R., Vortkamp, A., Collins, P. W., Nieswandt, B., Kunzelmann, K., Cosemans, J. M. E. M., & Heemskerk, J. W. M. (2016). Survival protein anoctamin-6 controls multiple platelet responses including phospholipid scrambling, swelling, and protein cleavage. Faseb Journal, 30(2), 727-737. https://doi.org/10.1096/fj.15-280446
    • Mattheij, N., Braun, A., van Kruchten, R., Castoldi, E., PIRCHER, J., Baaten, C., WÜLLING, M., Kuijpers, M., KÖHLER, R., POOLE, A. W., Schreiber, R., VORTKAMP, A., COLLINS, P. W., Nieswandt, B., KUNZELMANN, K., Cosemans, J., & Heemskerk, J. (2016). Survival protein anoctamin-6 controls multiple platelet responses including phospholipid scrambling and swelling. Nederlands tijdschrift voor klinische chemie en laboratoriumgeneeskunde, 41(3), 207-208. https://www.nvkc.nl/sites/default/files/NTKC/Mattheij.pdf
  • 2015
    • Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Veenstra, L. F., Wetzels, R., van Geffen, J. P., Swieringa, F., de Witt, S. M., Henskens, Y. M. C., Crijns, H., Nylander, S., van Giezen, J. J. J., Heemskerk, J. W. M., & van der Meijden, P. E. J. (2015). Gradual increase in thrombogenicity of juvenile platelets formed upon offset of prasugrel medication. Haematologica-the Hematology Journal, 100(9), 1131-1138. https://doi.org/10.3324/haematol.2014.122457
    • van Geffen, J. P., Kleinegris, M.-C., Verdoold, R., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Cosemans, J. M. E. M., Clemetson, K. J., ten Cate, H., Roest, M., de Laat, B., & Heemskerk, J. W. M. (2015). Normal Platelet Activation Profile in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease on Aspirin. Thrombosis Research, 135(3), 513-520. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.thromres.2014.12.029
  • 2014
    • Ninivaggi, M., Feijge, M. A. H., Baaten, C. C. F. M. J., Kuiper, G. J. A. J. M., Marcus, M. A. E., ten Cate, H., Lance, M. D., Heemskerk, J. W. M., & van der Meijden, P. E. J. (2014). Additive roles of platelets and fibrinogen in whole-blood fibrin clot formation upon dilution as assessed by thromboelastometry. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 111(3), 447-457. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH13-06-0493
Overview