At the Catharijne Conference held every two years, clinical epidemiologist Professor Rick Grobbee will tomorrow be awarded the Catharijne Prize from University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht. He will receive the prize for his pioneering research in clinical epidemiology on the causes, prevention, and treatment of cardiovascular conditions. A cash award of 10,000 euros accompanies the prize.
Grobbee is known for his research on the effect of dietary components – things like salt, coffee, and plant-based estrogens (phytoestrogens) – on the heart and circulation. Grobbee has published an impressive number of scientific articles – over eight hundred to date – which altogether have been cited more than 27,000 times. In addition, he has supervised more than a hundred PhD candidates. He has received a number of international prizes in recognition of the quality of his scientific work, such as the Prevention Award from the German Cardiac Society and the German Heart Foundation earlier this year.
Since 1996, Rick Grobbee (52) has been professor of clinical epidemiology at Utrecht University. He is also director of the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, which conducts research into cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer, mental health, and theoretical epidemiology.
Dr. Maroeska Rovers will also be awarded the “Elisabeth von Freyburg Medallion” (Elisabeth von Freyburgpenning), an award for promising young researchers. Rovers came up with ways to distinguish subgroups within large sets of patient data. For example, this can make it possible to identify a small group of patients that might benefit from a treatment that does not work for the group as a whole. Her research is extremely valuable for children with acute ear infections.
The Catharijne Foundation at UMC Utrecht is an umbrella organization that raises and manages charitable donations for scientific research.