Rate My Professor Martine Lamfers

Lamfers specializes in patient-derived model systems to study human diseases and evaluate novel therapies, with a focus on oncology and brain tumors, particularly malignant gliomas. As Principal Investigator of the GLIOscreen research group, she oversees a platform utilizing the Erasmus Brain Tumor Cell Culture Repository of over 350 patient-derived samples for biobanking, in vitro drug screening, molecular analysis, clinical data integration, and in vivo validation. This work correlates treatment efficacy to tumor molecular profiles for personalized strategies and translates findings into clinical decision-making for glioblastoma patients. Her research encompasses oncolytic viral therapy, innate and acquired immune responses in glioblastoma, and innovative model systems like serum-free glioma stem cell cultures. Key publications include Balvers et al., 'Serum-free culture success of glial tumors is related to specific molecular profiles and expression of extracellular matrix-associated gene modules' (Neuro-Oncology, 2013); Posthoorn-Verheul et al., 'Optimized culturing yields high success rates and preserves molecular heterogeneity, enabling personalized screening for high-grade gliomas' (npj Precision Oncology, 2025); and Zekanovic et al., 'Cut the fat: targeting cholesterol and lipid metabolism in glioblastoma' (Cell Death & Disease, 2025).