Six Medical Delta professors for Leiden

On April 8, 2025, six academics from Leiden University were officially appointed as Medical Delta Professors during the Medical Delta Conference in Delft. This recognition highlights their commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration in developing technological solutions for sustainable healthcare.​

Medical Delta is a collaborative alliance comprising Leiden University, the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), TU Delft, Erasmus University, Erasmus MC, four universities of applied sciences in Zuid-Holland, governmental bodies, healthcare institutions, and businesses. The initiative aims to promote innovations at the intersection of technology and healthcare.​

The newly appointed Medical Delta professors are:​

• ​Machiel van Dorst (TU Delft – Architecture; Leiden University – Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences): Professor of Environment, Behaviour and Design, focusing on the interaction between environment, behaviour, urban design, and landscape design.​
• ​Ineke van der Ham (Leiden University – Faculty of Social Sciences; TU Delft – Architecture): Professor of Technological Innovations in Neuropsychology, researching spatial thinking in physical and virtual environments.​
• ​Arfan Ikram (Erasmus MC; LUMC): Professor of Epidemiology, specializing in neurological disorders such as dementia and promoting healthy brain ageing.​
• ​Daniël Pijnappels (LUMC; TU Delft – EWI): Professor of Cellular Electrophysiology and Head of the Laboratory for Experimental Cardiology, integrating biology with technology to understand and treat heart diseases.​
• ​Judith Rietjens (TU Delft – Industrial Design; Erasmus MC; Leiden University – Faculty of Social and Behavioural Sciences): Professor of Design for Public Health, focusing on person-centered and sustainable care.​
• ​Suzan van der Pas (Leiden University of Applied Sciences; LUMC): Lecturer in Social Innovation and Associate Professor at LUMC, working on social innovation and governance of health and well-being, particularly concerning the elderly.​

These appointments are not only a recognition of their achievements but also a commitment to serve as ambassadors for transdisciplinary collaboration in health, innovation, and implementation over the next five years.​

For more information about the professors and their research, visit the Medical Delta website.