Project
Recipients of kidney transplants depend on medication for the rest of their lives. Jan Peter Veeneman and his wife Diane made a donation to the Erasmus Trustfonds to support groundbreaking research at Erasmus MC, focused on personalised medication after a kidney transplant.
“Transplantation is often the best treatment, but not without its risks”, says dr. Dennis Hesselink, nephrologist internist at the Erasmus MC. “The body may detect the kidney as an intruder and activate the immune system. Good medication has been developed to block this reaction, but that has its own risks: the immune system is inhibited, making the patient vulnerable. Our research examines how to personalise the medicinal dose.” Hesselink is working on several angles to improve the quality of life of kidney transplant recipients. “We’re trying to increase the life span of
transplanted kidneys. We’re testing medicines on lab-grown ‘mini kidneys’, which is yielding enormous amounts of data. With psychologists, we’re trying to make it easier for patients to take their medicines. And together with the Erasmus School of Health Policy & Management, we’re finding ways to make new medicines economically viable.”
Gratitude
Jan Peter Veeneman was in his late thirties when he discovered his kidneys were malfunctioning. “First, I underwent a new treatment”, Veeneman says. “But after twenty years, it was time for a transplant. My brother donated one of his kidneys.” “When I woke up after the operation, I felt like I had flown through the dark clouds”, Jan Peter Veeneman says. “It was a gift. I was reborn, and could finally be there for my family. We’re so grateful, which is why Diane and I chose to support this research. We want every kidney patient to feel this joy.”
Jan Peter and Diane Veeneman together with dr. Dennis Hesselink
