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Dasja Pajkrt

Principal Investigator

Emma Research

For the latest publications of this PI visit Dasja Pajkrt – Amsterdam UMC

Pajkrt, D. (Dasja) d.pajkrt@amsterdamumc.nl

Research line Pediatrische InfectieZiekte Onderzoek, PIZO
DepartmentPediatric immunology, rheumatology and infectious disseases
Research Institute(s)AR&D
Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Disease
DescriptionThis research line primarily revolves around clinical pediatric viral infections. The projects investigate how viruses impact children’s health, aiming to develop better diagnostic tools and treatments. The research line focuses on long term health outcomes of children and adolescents born with HIV or CMV.
SeniorsJason van Genderen, postdoctoral researcher
Projects
The NOVICE cohortJulie van der Post and Ben van Nieuwland investigate the long term neurological, neurocognitive, cardiovascular outcomes of children and adolescents born with HIV
The perinatal HIV cohortAnnouschka Weijsenfeld investigates the long term societal, behavioral and human health outcomes of children and adolescents born with HIV
The iCMV studyJason van Genderen investigates the long term neurological and neurocognitive, outcomes of children born with CMV

Research linePediatric Viral Infectious Diseases
DepartmentPediatric immunology, rheumatology and infectious disseases
Research Institute(s)AR&D
Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Disease
DescriptionWith the use of human organoid technology, researchers within OrganoVIR labs investigate the effects of picornaviruses, HIV, CMV and SARS-CoV2 on these models, to increase our understanding of the mechanism of disease in humans.
SeniorsKatja Wolthers, PI
Adithya Sridhar, PI
Renata Vieira de Sa, postdoctoral researcher
Carlemi Calitz, postdoctoral researcher
Projects
The GUTVIBRATIONS ( Gut Virus Brain Axis Technology in Organoid Science ) projectRenata Viera de Sa, Carlemi Calitz, Joep Korsten and Eline Freeze develop a human-based organ-on-chip system that mimics the gut-brain axis. This model system will be crucial for studying diseases that impact both the gut and brain, such as viral diseases.
The COMMUTE (COMORBIDITY MECHANISMS UTILIZED IN HEALTHCARE ) projectRenata Viera de Sa investigates links between Covid-19 infections and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson
The MAGENTA projectNina Johannesson,and Gijs Afink focus on understanding the impact of cytomegalovirus (CMV) on the placenta during pregnancy with the use of human placenta organoid models.
The AVATAR projectEline Freeze and Nina Johannesson) use an in vitro human complex intestinal mucosa model to evaluate the effects of unprocessed, Holder pasteurized, and UV-C processed CMV negative and CMV positive human milk on the host cell transcriptome. The effects of HoP or UV-C processing techniques on the inhibition of CMV infection in this physiologically relevant intestinal mucosal model are evaluated.
The NOVICE multi-omics studyJulie van der Post contributes to this case –control cohort about multi-omics in Neurological and Neurocognitive functioning in HIV infected children
The COMBAT studyAmber Schotting investigates Advancing Pandemic Preparedness Innovative Multidisciplinary Strategies for COMBATing severe Dengue
The CMV Brain Organoid StudiesLance Mulder investigates the effect of CMV on human iPSC derived brain organoids.
TPI-PPP Allowance of TKI-LSH: Focus-on-Virus: Picornavirus and HIV infection using a complex gut-brain modelPamela Capendal contributes to the project TPI-PPP Allowance of TKI-LSH: Focus-on-Virus: Picornavirus and HIV infection using a complex gut-brain model
The ADVOCATE modelInes Garcia Rodrigue investigates advanced complexity in human derived organoid models for virology; (PPP Allowance 2022 TKI Health-Holland)

Research linePediatric Viral Infectious Diseases
DepartmentPediatric immunology, rheumatology and infectious disseases
Research Institute(s)AR&D
Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Disease
DescriptionThis research aims to establish human disease models for studying infectious diseases. Here, we use human stem cells to generated organotypic models of the human intestinal tract, human airway, and the central nervous system. These models are then used in the subsequent research lines for studying viral pathogenesis and antiviral testing.
Seniors• Prof. Dr. Dasja Pajkrt, PI
Katja Wolthers, PI
Renata Vieira de Sa, postdoctoral researcher
Projects
The GUTVIBRATIONS consortiumThe consortium is developing a next-generation gut-brain axis organ-on-chip. This multi-organ system will simulate the human body and provides an animal-free solution for modelling human diseases and pre-clinical drug development

Research lineUnderstanding Dengue virus neuropathogenesis
DepartmentPediatric immunology, rheumatology and infectious disseases
Research Institute(s)AR&D
Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Disease
DescriptionAdvanced technologies, such as a brain-on-chip model, will be used to study dengue's impact on the nervous system.
Seniors• Prof. Dr. Dasja Pajkrt, PI
Projects
The COMBAT initiativeAmber Schotting aims to develop scalable, affordable solutions to address the growing dengue epidemic as well as establish a pipeline for rapid response to future viral pandemics.

Research lineDrug repurposing for chronic intestinal viral infections
DepartmentPediatric immunology, rheumatology and infectious disseases
Research Institute(s)AR&D
Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Disease
DescriptionIn this research, we use human intestinal organoids to test potential antivirals for patients suffering from chronic intestinal infections. Specifically, antiviral effects of clinically approved compounds is tested against patient isolated viruses in an human intestinal model.
Seniors• Prof. Dr. Dasja Pajkrt, PI
Dr. Katja Wolthers, PI
Projects

Last edited: 05-03-2026