Frank van Bel1, Jin Ye Yeo2
1Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands; 2PM Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company
Correspondence to: Jin Ye Yeo. PM Editorial Office, AME Publishing Company. Email: pm@amegroups.com
This interview can be cited as: van Bel F, Yeo JY. Meeting the Editorial Board Member of PM: Prof. Frank van Bel. Pediatr Med. 2024. Available from: https://pm.amegroups.org/post/view/meeting-the-editorial-board-member-of-pm-prof-frank-van-bel.
Expert introduction
Prof. Frank van Bel (Figure 1) is a full professor of Neonatology EM. He was the chairman of the Perinatal Center of the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMCU), The Netherlands (Depts of Obstetrics and Neonatology), a member of the Management Team of the Division of Woman & Baby, and had various teaching tasks. In 2015 he retired, but was “ad interim” director of the Department of Neonatology, Free University Medical Center (VUmc) Amsterdam (1-4-16 to 1-1-2017). Prof. van Bel is continuing his research and teaching activities as a Research Professor at the UMCU. His research activities are concentrated on experimental and clinical research of the perinatal brain, and he is currently involved in 2 large European research projects on Pharmacologic Neuroprotection and Cell Therapy. He published more than 300 papers in international peer-reviewed journals. He was (chief)-editor of the “Dutch Ultrasonoor Bulletin”, the “European Journal of Ultrasound” and the “Dutch Journal of Paediatrics”. Currently, he is a member of the Editorial Board of “Neonatology”.
He is a senior member of the European and American Societies of Pediatric Research and the European Neonatal Brain Club and has various professional connections with other European and American research groups. He is frequently invited to give presentations worldwide on perinatal neonatal neurology.
Figure 1 Prof. Frank van Bel
Interview
PM: What initially inspired you to specialize in pediatrics and perinatal and neonatal brain research?
Prof. van Bel: Treatment and especially prevention is probably most effective when performed at a very early age, and can positively change and improve quality of life. Research in this field is, therefore, very relevant, especially in relation to the preservation of the immature brain.
PM: Can you provide an overview of the recent findings surrounding neuroprotection? What have been the most promising advances in this area?
Prof. van Bel: Besides the proven therapeutic effect of therapeutic hypothermia after moderate and severe perinatal asphyxia and the subsequent hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, pharmacological therapy starting in the first hours up to weeks after birth asphyxia (BA) was (and still is) an important research field. Up to now, the pharmacological approach has not yet really delivered. Large trials with free radical scavengers, anti-inflammatory compounds, and trophic substances did not yet show a robust positive effect although at this moment melatonin may be still attractive in reducing brain injury after BA.
Our most recent research in relation to brain injury in extremely/very preterm and asphyxiated newborns >35 weeks of gestation or newborns with perinatal arterial ischemic stroke (PAIS) is now focused on stem cell therapy with autologous and especially allogeneic mesenchymal stem (stromal) cells (MSCs) with exciting preliminary results (1). A large phase II/III trial with allogeneic MSCs after moderate/severe HIE is underway.
PM: How do you envision these therapies impacting the treatment of perinatal brain injury, and what are the major challenges in bringing these therapies from the lab to clinical practice?
Prof. van Bel: Up till now, our pharmacological (European) research project has not been very successful with respect to the prevention and reduction of birth asphyxia-related brain damage. However, we have robust indications that cell therapy in relation to the newborn and immature brain can completely change the treatment of brain injury in the newborn. After initial reservations about stem cell therapy because of the fear of inducing tumorous growth, MSCs could potentially be used to prevent and even “repair” immature brain tissue in clinical care.
PM: Having worked at the intersection between obstetrics and neonatology, how have you seen the collaboration between these two fields evolve over the years?
Prof. van Bel: There is a crucial need for more intense clinical and research collaboration between Obstetrics (Perinatology) and Neonatology since treatment of the fetus ideally should often start during pregnancy and tentatively be continued after birth. This is the reason for the merger of Obstetrics and Neonatology at our University Medical Center (Utrecht, The Netherlands), to allow a better collaboration for clinical care.
PM: With your extensive experience in both clinical care and research, what do you believe are the most pressing unmet needs in neonatal care today?
Prof. van Bel: Important is, as stated already above, an optimal collaboration in the research setting (including the preclinical Labs) and eventually clinical care of the Departments of Obstetrics and Neonatology. This is most important for the optimal and timely treatment/(prevention) of brain injury/(brain function).
PM: Looking ahead, what are the key areas of research that you believe should be prioritized in neonatal medicine, and what are your upcoming research priorities?
Prof. van Bel: First, it is important to prevent brain injury, especially in the very immature baby and the sick mature baby, via appropriate multimodal brain monitoring with an EEG, brain oxygenation (with near-infrared spectroscopy), and other means. The further development of cell therapy is probably a key factor in the prevention and reduction of neonatal brain injuries.
PM: How has your experience been as an Editorial Board Member of PM?
Prof. van Bel: I am happy to be included in the review process of papers sent to the journal and also in stimulating young and senior researchers and pediatricians to write review papers in my field of expertise.
PM: As an Editorial Board Member, what are your aspirations for PM?
Prof. van Bel: I hope and expect further importance of this particular journal for the fields of Neonatology and Pediatrics in China and the World.
Reference
- Baak LM, Wagenaar N, van der Aa NE, et al. Feasibility and safety of intranasally administered mesenchymal stromal cells after perinatal arterial ischaemic stroke in the Netherlands (PASSIoN): a first-in-human, open-label intervention study. Lancet Neurol 2022;21(6):528-536.