Personal data
Prof. Anouk M. Rijs
Professor & Chair of Analytics of BioMolecular Interactions (MS-LaserLab)
Division BioAnalytical Chemistry
Research
In the MS-LaserLab (www.mslaserlab.nl), we develop advanced native and ion mobility mass spectrometry approaches to investigate how protein structure, proteoform diversity and post-translational modifications contribute to neurodegenerative diseases. Our research focuses on capturing and structurally resolving the earliest neurotoxic oligomers formed during protein aggregation. We integrate our methodological goals directly into this work, investigating the molecular mechanisms of early-stage oligomer formation, evaluating therapeutic interventions, and analyzing PTM-rich proteoforms from both model systems and increasingly complex biological samples. We pioneered the Photo-Synapt spectrometer, which combines ion mobility, UV photodissociation and IR action spectroscopy to simultaneously measure mass, shape and molecular structure, providing real-time insight into aggregation pathways. Recently, we have added the FIRE stage and the ICE orbi, integrating spectroscopy into other MS platforms.
In addition to neurodegenerative diseases, our work is expanding into biopharmaceuticals, including oligonucleotide-based therapeutics, where structural analysis is supported by collaboration with academic and industrial partners. We continue to develop new analytical capabilities, including droplet microfluidics-MS, chemical cross-linking and cold IR-MS, to advance the field of proteoform-resolved structural biology and therapeutic discovery.
Education
(i) Bachelor courses:
- Molecular Analysis(1st year BSc. Chemistry).
- Unraveling molecular structure and function by mass spectrometry(2nd yearBSc. Chemistry)
(ii) Master courses in MSc Analytical Sciences.
- Spectroscopic analysis
- Advanced spectroscopy
- Fundamentals of mass spectrometry
- Advanced Mass Spectrometry
(iii) Examiner of many BSc and MSc projects
(iv) Chairman of the education committee of the joint degrees (VUA/UvA) Chemistry (BSc) and Chemistry (MSc).
Other important information / grants / group information / other activities
- Recent research grants
- NWO-XL grant 2024 - Approaching De-Novo Life, Otto (PI), Spruijt, Marrink, Rijs, Verpoorte (co-PI)
- Marie-Curie Doctoral Network 2023 "Spidocs" - 10 PhD positions (including 3 in Amsterdam).
- Key Technologies consortium Grant 2022 INNOVATOR, Somsen, Rijs (VU Amsterdam), Pirok, Gargano (UvA), AstraZeneca, GSK, Novartis, Tosoh, MS Vision.
- VICI 2020 - NWO Talent Program (highest level NL person grant).
- NWO Aspasia career grant 2020, promotion of women in science
- Prizes:
- Robert Boyle Prize for Analytical Science 2021 (Analytical Division Horizon Prize, RSC), Team award for a novel approach for early diagnosis and stratification of Parkinson's disease using a simple non-invasive skin swab.
- Academic Activities.
- Chairman of the editorial board of Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics (PCCP).
- President of the Dutch Society for Mass Spectrometry (NVMS)
- Board member NWO research community Fundamentals & Methods of Chemistry
- More information: www.mslaserlab.nl
Additional activities
- Royal Society of Chemistry | Cambridge | Associate Editor PCCP | January 2016 - present
- Lorentz Center Leiden | Leiden | Member of the Physics Scientific Advisory Board | April 2019 - present
- Royal Society of Chemistry | Cambridge | Vice Chair of the Editorial Committee of PCCP | January 2020 - present
- NWO Study Group Foundations and Methods of Chemistry | The Hague | Member of the Council of Foundations and Methods of Chemistry | May 2020 - present
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