Marcel Karperien's Biography

Marcel Karperien, Head Department of Developmental BioEngineering, TechMed Centre, University of Twente

Marcel Karperien studied biology at Utrecht University. After completion of his PhD at the Netherlands Institute for Developmental Biology (Hubrecht Laboratory), he started working at the Leiden University Medical Center on bone and growth disorders. In 2007 he moved to the University of Twente where he established the Developmental BioEngineering group. It is his mission to translate the principles of developmental biology into new, technology based therapeutic strategies for the replacement of lost or worn out tissues in chronic diseases and in particular osteoarthritis. His research program is characterized by a multidisciplinary approach combining on one hand in depth knowledge in molecular biology of tissue formation in development and pathophysiology of disease and on the other hand expertise in polymer chemistry and biomaterials. His activities span the complete developmental cycle from bench to bedside by actively pursuing efforts to invent technological innovations and develop these into products that help patients for the benefit of our society.