Dr Martin Schipperus has resigned from his position at the UMCG with effect from 1 June this year. However, he will remain attached to Sanquin and will continue his ITP research there, in collaboration with Rick Kapur’s group.

Rick Kapur is an internationally renowned ITP researcher who works closely with John Semple (a leading authority on ITP). Rick has been awarded a substantial grant to do ITP research and Rick and Martin have decided to join forces, in order to gain as much new knowledge as possible in the area of the causes and treatment of ITP.

Vivianne Nelson, a researcher, has succeeded Sufia Amini within the STIP research programme and will work on developing tests in the laboratory at Sanquin that can predict whether it is possible to stop a TPO receptor agonist, such as Romiplostim (Nplate) or Eltrombopag (Revolade). This will also intensify the already very good collaboration with Prof Masja de Haas and Leendert Porcelijn.

Dr Martin Schipperus will remain a member of the Medical Advisory Board of the ITP patients’ association and will also remain the chairman of the ITP working group of the Dutch Society for Haematology. For medical-related questions, you can reach him through the patients’ association. Before the end of the year, we will probably be able to let you know in which hospital an outpatient appointment with him can be made.