Medical Delta professor Arfan Ikram appointed member of the KNAW

The KNAW has appointed Prof. Dr. Arfan Ikram (Erasmus MC, LUMC) as a member. The KNAW (The Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences) has long been a society of outstanding Dutch scientists. Members are selected on the basis of exceptional scientific achievements, and membership is for life.

Ikram is Professor of Epidemiology at Erasmus MC, Chair of ZonMw, board member of Dutch Research Council (NWO), and principal investigator of the Rotterdam Study. Last year, he was appointed Medical Delta Professor with a joint appointment at Leiden University Medical Center.

Research on Dementia

Dementia is one of the most common and also one of the most impactful brain disorders. One of the most prevalent forms is Alzheimer's disease. Ikram studies this disease using a broad range of methods: cognitive testing, genomics and other omics technologies that analyse large volumes of biomolecular data, and advanced imaging techniques using MRI scans.

He is also pioneering innovative techniques such as gait analysis: the automated analysis of the way a person walks. Large-scale epidemiological approaches are central to his research.

Ikram’s research has contributed to a better scientific understanding of this complex condition and to the discovery of several biomarkers, biomedical tests that can help predict the risk of developing the disease.

Rotterdam Study

Large population-based studies, such as the Rotterdam Study, of which Ikram is principal investigator, help identify risk factors for dementia. These include modifiable risk factors such as stress, diet and cardiovascular health (including smoking and physical activity). Ikram was one of the first researchers to observe that the number of new dementia cases is declining, which appears to be linked to improvements in cardiovascular health among the population. It may even be possible to prevent up to one-third of dementia cases through factors that people can influence themselves.

This is changing the perception of Alzheimer's disease from an unavoidable condition to one that is at least partly preventable. Combined with proactive screening, public awareness, lifestyle changes and further scientific research, this offers hope for the future.

During the Rotterdamlezing 2026, Professor Ikram will share more about this research.

Watch the video below on the occasion of Ikram’s appointment as Medical Delta Professor:

Appointments KNAW

The KNAW has selected a total of sixteen new members. All new members -seven women and nine men- are outstanding scientists who also place great importance on their societal role. They were selected by expert committees from a large number of nominations. They will be officially installed on 29 September. Each year, the KNAW elects new members to fill vacant seats. In 2017, an additional 16 female members were selected. These appointments are based on nominations from both within and outside the Academy. Membership of the KNAW is considered a major honour in the Netherlands for an academic career.

See also:

KNAW elects sixteen new members - KNAW

Rotterdamlezing 2026: Hoe Rotterdam helpt dementie wereldwijd op te lossen | Medical Delta (in Dutch)

Portrait and video Arfan Ikram: “Choices are regularly made at the expense of prevention" | Medical Delta