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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

Leon Schurgers

Professor

Initially trained in clinical chemistry and hematology at the University of Applied Science, Prof. Leon Schurgers obtained his PhD at the Department of Biochemistry within CARIM on the role of vitamin K1 and K2 on bone metabolism and cardiovascular disease. He worked as post-doc on a Dutch Heart Foundation grant on the role of matrix Gla-protein synthesized by vascular smooth muscle cell and calcification in collaboration with the group of Prof. Catherine Shanahan (Cambridge, UK).

In 2009, he was appointed on a tenured position at the Department of Biochemistry. After entering the Toptalent programme (Maastricht UMC+) in 2016, he was appointed as Professor of Biochemistry of Vascular Calcification in 2017. He is vice-chair of the department of Biochemistry. Since 2021, he chairs the stem cell research facility of the University of Maastricht (SCRUM).

The focus of his current work is elucidating the molecular mechanisms by which vascular remodelling is initiated and propagated. Key cellular events include phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and the role of oxidative stress, extracellular vesicles and calcification. In this, he collaborates closely with the Cardiothoracic Surgery and Vascular Surgery departments of the Heart and Vessel Center (HVC) of the Maastricht University Medical Center. Patient derived primary SMCs are isolated from vascular tissue and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are generated from patient derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). These iPSCs are used to differentiate into patient specific cardiovascular cells (i.e., cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells and fibroblasts) to study cardiovascular disease.

The underlying causes of SMC phenotypic switching are insufficient to understand the pathogenesis of vascular ageing and calcification at a level that allows development of novel diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies. In his project line, the Schurgers’ group aim to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of vitamin K-metabolism in health and vascular disease. Importantly, this work will help to understand the paradoxal observation that patients with low vitamin K-status during oral anticoagulant treatment develop enhanced vascular calcification and our results might provide new insights in prognostic and preventive measures to combat vascular ageing.

Professor Schurgers is Chairman of the steering scientific board on the world-wide quality assurance scheme for vitamin K detection and member of the scientific advisory boards of the Dutch Thrombosis Society.

Leon-schurgers

Department of Biochemistry
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
Room number: 4.314
T: +31(0)43 388 16 80

  • 2011
    • Gorgels, T. G. M. F., Waarsing, J. H., Herfs, M., Versteeg, D., Schoensiegel, F., Sato, T., Schlingemann, R. O., Ivandic, B., Vermeer, C., Schurgers, L. J., & Bergen, A. A. B. (2011). Vitamin K supplementation increases vitamin K tissue levels but fails to counteract ectopic calcification in a mouse model for pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Journal of Molecular Medicine, 89(11), 1125-1135. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00109-011-0782-y
    • Weijs, B., Blaauw, Y., Rennenberg, R. J. M. W., Schurgers, L. J., Timmermans, C. C. M. M., Pison, L., Nieuwlaat, R., Hofstra, L., Kroon, A. A., Wildberger, J., & Crijns, H. J. G. M. (2011). Patients using vitamin K antagonists show increased levels of coronary calcification: an observational study in low-risk atrial fibrillation patients. European Heart Journal, 32(20), 2555-2562. https://doi.org/10.1093/eurheartj/ehr226
    • Ueland, T., Dahl, C. P., Gullestad, L., Aakhus, S., Broch, K., Skardal, R., Vermeer, C., Aukrust, P., & Schurgers, L. J. (2011). Circulating levels of non-phosphorylated undercarboxylated matrix Gla protein are associated with disease severity in patients with chronic heart failure. Clinical Science, 121(3-4), 119-127. https://doi.org/10.1042/CS20100589
    • Kapustin, A. N., Davies, J. D., Reynolds, J. L., McNair, R., Jones, G. T., Sidibe, A., Schurgers, L. J., Skepper, J. N., Proudfoot, D., Mayr, M., & Shanahan, C. M. (2011). Calcium Regulates Key Components of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell-Derived Matrix Vesicles to Enhance Mineralization. Circulation Research, 109(1), E1-U41. https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCRESAHA.110.238808
    • Cranenburg, E. C. M., van Spaendonck-Zwarts, K. Y., Bonafe, L., Crettol, L. M., Rodiger, L. A., Dikkers, F. G., van Essen, A. J., Superti-Furga, A., Alexandrakis, E., Vermeer, C., Schurgers, L. J., & Laverman, G. D. (2011). Circulating matrix gamma-carboxyglutamate protein (MGP) species are refractory to vitamin K treatment in a new case of Keutel syndrome. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 9(6), 1225-1235. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-7836.2011.04263.x
    • Roijers, R. B., Debernardi, N., Cleutjens, J. P. M., Schurgers, L. J., Mutsaers, P. H. A., & van der Vusse, G. J. (2011). Microcalcifications in Early Intimal Lesions of Atherosclerotic Human Coronary Arteries. American Journal of Pathology, 178(6), 2879-2887. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.02.004
    • Noordzij, M., Cranenburg, E. M., Engelsman, L. F., Hermans, M. M. H., Boeschoten, E. W., Brandenburg, V. M., Bos, W. J., Kooman, J. P., Dekker, F. W., Ketteler, M., Schurgers, L. J., Krediet, R. T., & Korevaar, J. C. (2011). Progression of aortic calcification is associated with disorders of mineral metabolism and mortality in chronic dialysis patients. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 26(5), 1662-1669. https://doi.org/10.1093/ndt/gfq582
    • Jiang, Q., Li, Q., Grand-Pierre, A. E., Schurgers, L. J., & Uitto, J. (2011). Administration of vitamin K does not counteract the ectopic mineralization of connective tissues in Abcc6(-/-) mice, a model for pseudoxanthoma elasticum. Cell Cycle, 10(4), 701-707. https://doi.org/10.4161/cc.10.4.14862
    • Schlieper, G., Westenfeld, R., Krueger, T., Cranenburg, E. C., Magdeleyns, E. J. P., Brandenburg, V. M., Djuric, Z., Damjanovic, T., Ketteler, M., Vermeer, C., Dimkovic, N., Floege, J., & Schurgers, L. J. (2011). Circulating Nonphosphorylated Carboxylated Matrix Gla Protein Predicts Survival in ESRD. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 22(2), 387-395. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2010040339
  • 2010
    • van Hasselt, P. M., de Vries, W., de Vries, E., Kok, K., Cranenburg, E. C. M., de Koning, T. J., Schurgers, L. J., Verkade, H. J., & Houwen, R. H. J. (2010). Hydrolysed Formula Is a Risk Factor for Vitamin K Deficiency in Infants With Unrecognised Cholestasis. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 51(6), 773-776. https://doi.org/10.1097/MPG.0b013e3181efb0b3
    • Hristova, M., van Beek, C., Schurgers, L. J., Lanske, B., & Danziger, J. (2010). Rapidly Progressive Severe Vascular Calcification Sparing the Kidney Allograft Following Warfarin Initiation. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 56(6), 1158-1162. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2010.06.017
    • Ueland, T., Gullestad, L., Dahl, C. P., Aukrust, P., Aakhus, S., Solberg, O. G., Vermeer, C., & Schurgers, L. J. (2010). Undercarboxylated matrix Gla protein is associated with indices of heart failure and mortality in symptomatic aortic stenosis. Journal of Internal Medicine, 268(5), 483-492. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2796.2010.02264.x
    • Cranenburg, E. C. M., Koos, R., Schurgers, L. J., Magdeleyns, E. J. P., Schoonbrood, T. H. M., Landewe, R. B., Brandenburg, V. M., Bekers, O., & Vermeer, C. (2010). Characterisation and potential diagnostic value of circulating matrix Gla protein (MGP) species. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 104(4), 811-822. https://doi.org/10.1160/TH09-11-0786
    • Wallin, R., Schurgers, L. J., & Loeser, R. F. (2010). Biosynthesis of the vitamin K-dependent matrix Gla protein (MGP) in chondrocytes: a fetuin-MGP protein complex is assembled in vesicles shed from normal but not from osteoarthritic chondrocytes. Osteoarthritis and Cartilage, 18(8), 1096-1103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joca.2010.05.013
    • Cosemans, J. M. E. M., Van Kruchten, R., Olieslagers, S., Schurgers, L. J., Verheyen, F. K., Munnix, I. C. A., Waltenberger, J., Angelillo-Scherrer, A., Hoylaerts, M. F., Carmeliet, P., & Heemskerk, J. W. M. (2010). Potentiating role of Gas6 and Tyro3, Axl and Mer (TAM) receptors in human and murine platelet activation and thrombus stabilization. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 8(8), 1797-1808. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-7836.2010.03935.x
    • Rennenberg, R. J. M. W., van Varik, B. J., Schurgers, L. J., Hamulyak, K., ten Cate, H., Leiner, T., Vermeer, C., de Leeuw, P. W., & Kroon, A. A. (2010). Chronic coumarin treatment is associated with increased extracoronary arterial calcification in humans. Blood, 115(24), 5121-5123. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2010-01-264598
    • Vanakker, O. M., Martin, L., Schurgers, L. J., Quaglino, D., Costrop, L., Vermeer, C., Pasquali-Ronchetti, I., Coucke, P. J., & De Paepe, A. (2010). Low serum vitamin K in PXE results in defective carboxylation of mineralization inhibitors similar to the GGCX mutations in the PXE-like syndrome. Laboratory Investigation, 90(6), 895-905. https://doi.org/10.1038/labinvest.2010.68
    • Parker, B. D., Schurgers, L. J., Brandenburg, V. M., Christenson, R. H., Vermeer, C., Ketteler, M., Shlipak, M. G., Whooley, M. A., & Ix, J. H. (2010). The Associations of Fibroblast Growth Factor 23 and Uncarboxylated Matrix Gla Protein With Mortality in Coronary Artery Disease: The Heart and Soul Study. Annals of Internal Medicine, 152(10), 640-648. https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-152-10-201005180-00004
    • Parker, B. D., Schurgers, L. J., Vermeer, C., Schiller, N. B., Whooley, M. A., & Ix, J. H. (2010). The association of uncarboxylated matrix Gla protein with mitral annular calcification differs by diabetes status: The Heart and Soul study. Atherosclerosis, 210(1), 320-325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2009.11.023
    • Schlieper, G., Grotemeyer, D., Aretz, A., Schurgers, L. J., Krueger, T., Rehbein, H., Weirich, T. E., Westenfeld, R., Brandenburg, V. M., Eitner, F., Mayer, J., Floege, J., Sandmann, W., & Ketteler, M. (2010). Analysis of Calcifications in Patients with Coral Reef Aorta. Annals of Vascular Surgery, 24(3), 408-414. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avsg.2009.11.006
    • Rennenberg, R. J. M. W., de Leeuw, P. W., Kessels, A. G. H., Schurgers, L. J., Vermeer, C., van Engelshoven, J. M. A., Kemerink, G. J., & Kroon, A. A. (2010). Calcium scores and matrix Gla protein levels: association with vitamin K status. European Journal of Clinical Investigation, 40(4), 344-349. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2362.2010.02275.x
    • Schurgers, L. J., Barreto, D. V., Barreto, F. C., Liabeuf, S., Renard, C., Magdeleyns, E. J. P., Vermeer, C., Choukroun, G., & Massy, Z. A. (2010). The Circulating Inactive Form of Matrix Gla Protein Is a Surrogate Marker for Vascular Calcification in Chronic Kidney Disease: A Preliminary Report. Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 5(4), 568-575. https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.07081009
    • Rennenberg, R. J. W. M., Schurgers, L. J., Kroon, A. A., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2010). Arterial calcifications. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, 14(9), 2203-2210. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1582-4934.2010.01139.x
    • Le Boulanger, G., Labreze, C., Croue, A., Schurgers, L. J., Chassaing, N., Wittkampf, T., Rutsch, F., & Martin, C. L. (2010). An Unusual Severe Vascular Case of Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum Presenting as Generalized Arterial Calcification of Infancy. American Journal of Medical Genetics Part A, 152A(1), 118-123. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.a.33162
    • Ueland, T., Fougner, S. L., Godang, K., Lekva, T., Schurgers, L. J., Scholz, H., Halvorsen, B., Schreiner, T., Aukrust, P., & Bollerslev, J. (2010). Associations between Body Composition, Circulating Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist, Osteocalcin, and Insulin Metabolism in Active Acromegaly. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 95(1), 361-368. https://doi.org/10.1210/jc.2009-0422
    • Shroff, R. C., McNair, R., Skepper, J. N., Figg, N., Schurgers, L. J., Deanfield, J., Rees, L., & Shanahan, C. M. (2010). Chronic Mineral Dysregulation Promotes Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Adaptation and Extracellular Matrix Calcification. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 21(1), 103-112. https://doi.org/10.1681/ASN.2009060640
  • 2009
    • Rennenberg, R. J. M. W., Kessels, A. G. H., Schurgers, L. J., van Engelshoven, J. M. A., de Leeuw, P. W., & Kroon, A. A. (2009). Vascular calcifications as a marker of increased cardiovascular risk: a meta-analysis. Vascular health and risk management, 5(1), 185-97. https://doi.org/10.2147/vhrm.s4822
  • 2008
    • Vanschoonbeek, K., Wouters, K., van der Meijden, P. E., van Gorp, P. J. J., Feijge, M. A., Herfs, M., Schurgers, L. J., Hofker, M. H., de Maat, M. P., & Heemskerk, J. W. (2008). Anticoagulant effect of dietary fish oil in hyperlipidemia: a study of hepatic gene expression in APOE2 knock-in mice.Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 28(11), 2023-2029. https://doi.org/10.1161/ATVBAHA.107.156992
    • Cranenburg, E. C., Vermeer, C., Koos, R., Boumans, M. L., Hackeng, T. M., Bouwman, F. G., Kwaijtaal, M., Brandenburg, V. M., Ketteler, M., & Schurgers, L. J. (2008). The circulating inactive form of matrix Gla Protein (ucMGP) as a biomarker for cardiovascular calcification. Journal of Vascular Research, 45(5), 427-36. https://doi.org/10.1159/000124863
  • 2007
    • Knapen, M. H. J., Schurgers, L. J., & Vermeer, C. (2007). Vitamin K2 supplementation improves hip bone geometry and bone strength indices in postmenopausal women. Osteoporosis International, 18(7), 963-72. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-007-0337-9
    • Schurgers, L. J., Teunissen, K. J. F., Hamulyak, K., Knapen, M. H. J., Vik, H., & Vermeer, C. (2007). Vitamin K-containing dietary supplements: comparison of synthetic vitamin K1 and natto-derived menaquinone-7. Blood, 109(8), 3279-83. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2006-08-040709
    • Hermans, M. M., Vermeer, C., Kooman, J. P., Brandenburg, V., Ketteler, M., Gladziwa, U., Rensma, P. L., Leunissen, K. M., & Schurgers, L. J. (2007). Undercarboxylated Matrix GLA Protein Levels Are Decreased in Dialysis Patients and Related to Parameters of Calcium-Phosphate Metabolism and Aortic Augmentation Index. Blood Purification, 25(5), 395-401. https://doi.org/10.1159/000108629
  • 2006
    • Willems, H. P. J., den Heijer, M., Gerrits, W. B. J., Schurgers, L. J., Havekes, M., Blom, H. J., & Bos, G. M. J. (2006). Oral anticoagulant treatment with coumarin derivatives does not influence plasma homocysteine concentration. European journal of internal medicine, 17(2), 120-4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejim.2005.10.009
  • 2005
    • Demir, A. Y., Groothuis, P. G., Dunselman, G. A. J., Schurgers, L., Evers, J. L. H., & de Goeij, A. F. P. M. (2005). Molecular characterization of soluble factors from human menstrual effluent that induce epithelial to mesenchymal transitions in mesothelial cells. Cell and Tissue Research, 322(2), 299-311. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00441-005-0002-6
    • Schurgers, L. J., Teunissen, K. J. F., Knapen, M. H. J., Kwaijtaal, M., van Diest, R., Appels, A., Reutelingsperger, C. P., Cleutjens, J. P. M., & Vermeer, C. (2005). Novel conformation-specific antibodies against matrix gamma-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) protein: undercarboxylated matrix Gla protein as marker for vascular calcification. Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology, 25(8), 1629-33. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.ATV.0000173313.46222.43
    • Schurgers, L. J., Teunissen, K. J. F., Knapen, M. H. J., Geusens, P., van der Heijde, D., Kwaijtaal, M., van Diest, R., Ketteler, M., & Vermeer, C. (2005). Characteristics and performance of an immunosorbent assay for human matrix Gla-protein. Clinica Chimica Acta, 351(1-2), 131-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cccn.2004.08.003
  • 2004
    • Schurgers, L. J., Shearer, M. J., Hamulyak, K., Stöcklin, E., & Vermeer, C. (2004). Effect of vitamin K intake on the stability of oral anticoagulant treatment: dose-response relationships in healthy subjects. Blood, 104(9), 2682-2689. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2004-04-1525
    • Geleijnse, J. M., Vermeer, C., Grobbee, D. E., Schurgers, L. J., Knapen, M. H. J., van der Meer, I. M., Hofman, A., & Witteman, J. C. M. (2004). Dietary intake of menaquinone is associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease: the Rotterdam Study. Journal of Nutrition, 134(11), 3100-5. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/134.11.3100
    • Ryan, B. M., Russel, M. G. V. M., Schurgers, L. J., Wichers, M. C., Sijbrandij, J., Stockbrügger, R. W., & Schoon, E. J. (2004). Effect of antitumour necrosis factor-alpha therapy on bone turnover in patients with active Crohn's disease: a prospective study.Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 20(8), 851-7. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2036.2004.02097.x
  • 2003
    • Spronk, H. M. H., Soute, B. A. M., Schurgers, L. J., Thijssen, H. H. W., De Mey, J. G. R., & Vermeer, C. (2003). Tissue-specific utilization of menaquinone-4 results in the prevention of arterial calcification in warfarin-treated rats. Journal of Vascular Research, 40(6), 531-7. https://doi.org/10.1159/000075344
    • Ketteler, M., Wanner, C., Metzger, T., Bongartz, P., Westenfeld, R., Gladziwa, U., Schurgers, L. J., Vermeer, C., Jahnen-Dechent, W., & Floege, J. (2003). Deficiencies of calcium-regulatory proteins in dialysis patients: a novel concept of cardiovascular calcification in uremia. Kidney International, 63(84), S84-7. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1523-1755.63.s84.21.x
  • 2002
    • Schurgers, L. J., Shearer, M. J., Soute, B. A. M., Elmadfa, I., Harvey, J., Wagner, K.-H., Tomasch, R., & Vermeer, C. (2002). Novel effects of diets enriched with corn oil or with an olive oil/sunflower oil mixture on vitamin K metabolism and vitamin K-dependent proteins in young men. Journal of Lipid Research, 43(6), 878-84. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-2275(20)30461-2
    • Schurgers, L. J., & Vermeer, C. (2002). Differential lipoprotein transport pathways of K-vitamins in healthy subjects. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. Mucoproteins and Mucopolysaccharides, 1570(1), 27-32. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-4165(02)00147-2
  • 2001
    • Spronk, H. M., Soute, B. A., Schurgers, L. J., Cleutjens, J. P., Thijssen, H. H., De Mey, J. G., & Vermeer, C. (2001). Matrix Gla protein accumulates at the border of regions of calcification and normal tissue in the media of the arterial vessel wall. Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications, 289(2), 485-90. https://doi.org/10.1006/bbrc.2001.5996
    • Schurgers, L. J., & Vermeer, C. (2001). Corn oil-induced decrease in arterial thrombosis tendency may be related to altered plasma vitamin K transport. Journal of Lipid Research, 42(7), 1120-1124. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0022-2275(20)31602-3
    • Schurgers, L. J., & Vermeer, C. (2001). Determination of phylloquinone and menaquinones in food. Effect of food matrix on circulating vitamin K concentrations. Haemostasis, 30(6), 298-307. https://doi.org/10.1159/000054147
    • Schoon, E. J., Geerling, B. J., van Dooren, I. M. A., Schurgers, L. J., Vermeer, C., Brummer, R. J. M., & Stockbrügger, R. W. (2001). Abnormal bone turnover in long-standing Crohn's disease in remission.Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 15(6), 783-792. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2036.2001.00997.x
    • Schoon, E. J., Muller, M. C. A., Vermeer, C., Schurgers, L. J., Brummer, R. J. M., & Stockbrügger, R. W. (2001). Low serum and bone vitamin K status in patients with longstanding Crohn's disease: another pathogenetic factor of osteoporosis in Crohn's disease?Gut, 48(4), 473-477. https://doi.org/10.1136/gut.48.4.473
    • Schurgers, L. J., Dissel, P. E., Spronk, H. M., Soute, B. A., Dhore, C. R., Cleutjens, J. P., & Vermeer, C. (2001). Role of vitamin K and vitamin K-dependent proteins in vascular calcification. Zeitschrift fur Kardiologie, 90 Suppl 3, 57-63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s003920170043
Overview