Ilse Rooman, a researcher at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, has won the Roger Van Geen Prize. The award recognises outstanding fundamental research and gives laureates the opportunity to explore new research avenues. Professor Ilse Rooman is highly regarded as a scientist for her excellent research into pancreatic cancer, a disease that is extremely difficult to treat.
The award ceremony will take place at the VUB Health Campus in Jette on Thursday, 30 April.
What does the prize mean to you?
“First and foremost, it is a wonderful recognition of many years of commitment to scientific research. As a researcher, you are used to being confronted with criticism, for example when applying for grants or publishing results. That is why it is particularly rewarding to receive explicit appreciation for what you do.
In addition, this prize comes with funding that we can use very specifically to explore a new research direction that I am very enthusiastic about. In order to secure larger-scale funding at a later stage, it is essential first to gather preliminary data. That is precisely what we want to use this prize for: as a springboard to further develop this new idea.”
What has been the highlight of your scientific career?
“To be honest, I hope that the highlight of my scientific career still lies ahead. At the same time, I am grateful for where I stand today. I have reached this point through hard work and by surrounding myself with a strong team that gives me energy.
Support at home also plays an important role: by giving me the space I need, making opportunities possible and joining me on the inevitable rollercoaster that comes with a scientific career.”
What has enabled you to conduct top-level research at VUB?
“In that respect, I would certainly point to the investments VUB has made in research infrastructure. Access to high-end technology, such as that available today through the core facilities, is essential for conducting research at a high level and remaining competitive.
Although, on a global scale, this is still a relatively small initiative, those investments have already clearly proven their value. They make it possible to tackle research questions in a more ambitious way.”
Bio Ilse Rooman
Ilse Rooman is a professor at Vrije Universiteit Brussel and an internationally renowned expert in pancreatic cancer research. For more than twenty years, she has been studying how cells change their identity and behaviour, enabling them to transform into tumours. She has built successful research groups in Australia and at VUB, where she gave cancer research a strong boost through the establishment of VSTA (Visual and Spatial Tissue Analysis), a high‑tech infrastructure for tissue analysis. Rooman also plays a key role in BruPaCT, the Brussels network for pancreatic cancer research.
