Inaugural Lecture by Monique Haak: Echoes of a Future

When an ultrasound reveals that a fetus has a (cardiac) abnormality, parents are faced with difficult choices. Insight into the future of their child in the short and long term is literally vital. Unjustifiably, the necessary cohort studies on rare diseases score low on the academic scale, according to Prof. Dr. Monique Haak during her inaugural lecture today. "For parents, child, and doctor, this is of invaluable importance."

Monique Haak is one of the Scientific Leaders of the Medical Delta Institute of Fetal & Neonatal Care. The LUMC interviewed her about her inaugural lecture and her research.

"We have had an innovative 20 years, during which echodiagnostics have improved significantly," says Haak. She highlights some milestones, such as the improvement in detecting cardiac abnormalities and research on the development and growth of fetuses during pregnancy.

More appreciation needed for cohort studies

"But a downside of seeing more is that sometimes you come across findings that are so rare that it's difficult to establish the prognosis. Cohort studies, in which you closely follow a number of cases of a disease, are then extremely important. Unfortunately, this type of research is unjustifiably low on the scientific scale, making it very difficult to find funding. Especially when it comes to research on rare diseases." Read the full interview here (NL).