Joëlle
Vergroesen

I am committed to advancing ophthalmology by combining rigorous research, innovation, and patient-centered approaches. During my PhD, completed in 4.5 years, I published eight papers, led collaborative projects, and received awards including the Bayer Ophthalmology Research Award and the Oogfonds Mieps Fontein Prijs. A key accomplishment was establishing a patient cohort at Erasmus MC, where I designed a study that gained national attention and highlighted my ability to connect scientific research with patient impact. Moving forward, my research will focus on identifying personalized biomarkers from blood and the gut microbiome to predict disease risk and monitor the effects of lifestyle changes in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma. By integrating genetic, lifestyle, and environmental factors with imaging and patient-reported outcomes, I aim to develop tools for earlier intervention and tailored care. My ultimate goal is to shift the focus in eye care from disease management to prevention, empowering patients and clinicians with actionable insights to reduce vision loss.