Jacoba (Cobi) J. Heijnen, PhD
Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine
About Dr. Heijnen
I am a professor of Psychoneuroimmunology and have been the Chair of the Department of Psychoneuroimmunology at the University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands for more than 15 years. During my career I have developed the full expertise necessary to successfully direct the research described in this project. In September 2012, I started as a Professor in the Department of Symptom Research. I became Chair of the department in April 2018. I have a vast experience with assessing biomarkers in association with psychological and psychiatric conditions. I have worked and published with psychologists on biological mechanisms and neuro-inflammatory biomarkers of fatigue, stress, depression and post-traumatic stress syndrome. During the last 6 years I have worked on biomarkers to support and study the mechanism of neurotoxicities as a result of cancer treatment in collaboration with psychologists and oncologists(Dr. Fagundes, Rice University, Drs. S. Kesler, S. Wang, J. Wefel, and many others in MDACC). My current focus on biomarkers involve cytokine profiles of leukocytes and in serum, phenotyping of changes in leukocyte populations by Flow analysis, mitochondrial functions of leukocytes and RNA sequencing of leukocytes to explore biomarkers in more depth. Apart from research on biomarkers my research focuses on the mechanism of neurotoxicities in rodent models and on the investigation of therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of neurotoxicities including chemotherapy-induced neuropathy and cognitive deficits.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Department Chair, Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Professor, Department of Symptom Research, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Professor, School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences, The University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 1982 | Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, FRA, PHD, Sciences Naturelles |
| 1978 | Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, FRA, MS, Medical Biology |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Professor, Department of Psychoneuroimmunology and Laboratory for Neuroimmunology and Developmental Origins of Disease (NIDOD), University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 1997 - 2012
Associate Professor, Department of Laboratory of Psychoneuroimmunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, Utrecht, 1986 - 1997
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
Committee Chair, Department of Research Board, Division of Woman and Baby, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 2010 - 2012
Committee Chair, Department of Medical Ethical Committee, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 1998 - 2006
Department Chair, Department of Department of Neuroimmunology and Developmental Origins of Disease, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 1997 - 2012
Honors & Awards
| 1999 | Norman Cousins Memorial Award for Excellence in Psychoneuroimmunology, Psychoneuroimmunology Research Society |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Krukowski K, Ma J, Golonzhka O, Laumet GO, Gutti T, van Duzer JH, Mazitschek R, Jarpe MB, Heijnen CJ, Kavelaars A. HDAC6 inhibition effectively reverses chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy. Pain 158(6):1126-1137, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28267067.
- van Velthoven CT, Dzietko M, Wendland MF, Derugin N, Faustino J, Heijnen CJ, Ferriero DM, Vexler ZS. Mesenchymal stem cells attenuate MRI-identifiable injury, protect white matter, and improve long-term functional outcomes after neonatal focal stroke in rats. J Neurosci Res 95(5):1225-1236, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27781299.
- Chiu GS, Maj MA, Rizvi S, Dantzer R, Vichaya EG, Laumet G, Kavelaars A, Heijnen CJ. Pifithrin-µ prevents cisplatin-induced chemobrain by preserving neuronal mitochondrial function. Cancer Res 77(3):742-752, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27879267.
- Braccioli L, Heijnen CJ, Coffer PJ, Nijboer CH. Delayed administration of neural stem cells after hypoxia-ischemia reduces sensorimotor deficits, cerebral lesion size and neuroinflammation in neonatal mice. Pediatr Res 81(1-1):127-135, 2017. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27632779.
- Maj MA, Ma J, Krukowski KN, Kavelaars A, Heijnen CJ. Inhibition of mitochondrial p53 accumulation by PFT-μ prevents cisplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy. Front Mol Neurosci 10:108, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28458631.
- Lacourt TE, Heijnen CJ. Mechanisms of neurotoxic symptoms as a result of breast cancer and its treatment: considerations on the contribution of stress, inflammation, and cellular bioenergetics. Curr Breast Cancer Rep 9(2):70-81, 2017. e-Pub 2017. PMID: 28616125.
- Zhou W, Kavelaars A, Heijnen CJ. Metformin prevents cisplatin-induced cognitive impairment and brain damage in mice. PLoS One 11(3):e0151890, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 27018597.
- Donega V, Nijboer CH, van Velthoven CT, Youssef SA, de Bruin A, van Bel F, Kavelaars A, Heijnen CJ. Assessment of long-term safety and efficacy of intranasal mesenchymal stem cell treatment for neonatal brain injury in the mouse. Pediatr Res 78(5):520-6, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 26270577.
- Krukowski K, Nijboer CH, Huo X, Kavelaars A, Heijnen CJ. Prevention of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy by the small-molecule inhibitor pifithrin-μ. Pain 156(11):2184-92, 2015. PMID: 26473292.
- Heijnen CJ, Uytdehaag F, Pot CH, Ballieux RE. Feedback inhibition by human primed T-helper cells. Nature 280(5723):589-91, 1979. PMID: 313527.