The lab: Beets-Tan group
Lab's research themes:
The research ambition of the department is to establish and expand research lines in oncologic imaging and interventional oncology addressing various cancer types. The lines will follow the priorities of the research themes in our institute (personalised medicine, immunotherapy, image-guided treatment, and fundamental research). Hence, the research priorities of the institute and will focus on the following 6 main streams:
MRI and organ preservation
Multi-parametric imaging for personalized medicine and
image-guided treatment
Whole-body MRI
Artificial Intelligence
Radiomics and immunology
Interventional Oncology
Merits of the lab:
Our lab stands at the forefront of oncologic imaging, driven by an interdisciplinary team of experts who integrate clinical insights with advanced imaging technologies. With a deep commitment to personalized medicine, we emphasize translating imaging innovations into clinical practice, ensuring our research has real-world impact.
We also have a strong collaborative network, working with global institutions and leading clinical teams to ensure that our discoveries are not only innovative but also immediately applicable in clinical settings. Our ability to merge state-of-the-art technology with patient-centered care has positioned us as leaders in the field.
Why do we train medical doctors in our team?
Training medical doctors in our team is pivotal to bridging the gap between imaging research and clinical application. Medical doctors bring essential clinical insights that inform our imaging research, ensuring that our innovations are directly aligned with patient needs. By involving them in cutting-edge oncologic imaging research, we empower them to better understand the potential of imaging technologies in improving diagnosis, treatment, and personalized patient care. This integrated approach fosters a symbiotic relationship between research and practice, advancing both fields and enhancing patient outcomes.
The position
Meet Ivonne!
Biosketch
Ivonne Rodriguez was born and grew up in Mexico City. She studied Medicine at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). As a sophomore, she became a teaching assistant in the Physiology lab. Later on, she did her medical internship in the General Hospital “Dr. Manuel Gea Gonzalez”, and her social service at the Faculty of Medicine, as a teaching assistant. During her leisure time, she did research about the Zika virus in the Public Health department, under the guidance of Dr. Malaquías López Cervantes. After obtaining her medical degree, Ivonne was motivated and determined to be part of the new generation of physicians who could contribute to research while still being involved in the clinical field. However, she knew that at the beginning she couldn´t be able to do both at the same time. Therefore, she bet on research first. She studied a double master’s degree in Europe, and gained some experience at the international level in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), where she did an internship of one year, at the division of human health in the nuclear medicine and diagnostic imaging department. There she learned to appreciate the need of physicians that could be able to speak and understand two languages, the programming and the clinical one. As part of her duties at the IAEA, she was involved in one project that aimed to explore the potential of radiomics, applied to zoonotic diseases, such as COVID-19. After that, she had the determination to find a program that could provide her with knowledge and expertise on that topic. Luckily, there is a fitting program that encourages MD-PhD trajectories, the EMERALD initiative. Ivonne is currently working at the Radiology department, in the Beets-Tan group, under the guidance of Zuhir Bodalal.
University awarding the PhD
Ivonne is currently enrolled in the Maastricht University.
I decided to become a physician because…
From a young age, I realized that I wanted to help vulnerable people. I thought that by studying medicine, I could find a way to do it. Public health and research have helped me to think from a macro perspective level. Both disciplines provide me with the insight that I need to achieve the goal to help people, not only from my hometown, but also from different parts of the world.
But also, I wanted to become a scientist because…
Through research we can actively contribute to the development of new technologies and methods that will improve diagnosis and treatment of different diseases.
What I am working on?
In the era of precision medicine and personalized therapy, medical imaging is playing an important role due to its ubiquitous use in clinical practice. Radiogenomics is a rapidly evolving field that has the potential to match imaging characteristics (i.e. the tumor phenotype) with gene mutations to facilitate a deeper understanding of tumor biology. My project aims to identify imaging biomarkers through machine learning to improve the diagnosis and prognosis of cancer patients.
Why is this important to me as a medical doctor?
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Each of us knows someone close who has lost their life in a cancer battle. Therefore, I would like to be part of the workforce that contributes to improving diagnosis and treatment in a non-invasive way. I am convinced that my project can contribute to doing so.
Who am I besides a future physician-scientist?
I usually spend my leisure time outdoors. I also enjoy having a good cup of coffee in a local cafeteria while reading a book. Does anyone else have the goal to visit all continents? and becoming a polyglot? Well, that’s me. I value diversity and enjoy meeting different cultures and customs.
