Prior to beginning a PhD at the Genetic Epidemiology Department at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Felix obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Molecular Cell Biology from Wageningen University and a Master’s degree in Biomedical Science from the University of Amsterdam, with a Major in Big Biomedical Data Science. Following his laboratory background in genetic diagnostics, he is eager to bring gene-environment interaction into the picture. Within the Stress in Action project, he focuses on gene vulnerability traits and investigates gene x stress exposure as well as gene x stress response interactions on cardiometabolic health.

“How does heritability impact stress exposure, and what insights do gene X stress exposure interactions offer regarding their link to cardiometabolic health?”

In the multigenerational large-scale (N>~160,000) LifeLines cohort, we examined with genetic heritability analysis the extent to which our stress exposures (i.e., long-term difficulties, stressful life events, childhood trauma, loneliness, and lack of social support) can be attributed to our genetic makeup, shared environment and unique environment.

Future analysis will focus on the influence of gene X stress interaction analysis on cardiometabolic health.

PhD student,
UMC Groningen