Dr. Mark Bakker is a geneticist specializing in the genomics of intracranial aneurysm (IA) and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (ASAH). He plays a leading role in the largest genetic studies ever conducted in the IA field and works at the interface of human genetics, neurology, and translational cerebrovascular research.

Based in the Department of Neurology at the University Medical Center Utrecht, he collaborates daily with neurologists, neurosurgeons, radiologists, data scientists, and researchers in imaging, mathematical modelling, and molecular biology. His research focuses on gene discovery, risk prediction, and translating genetic insights into prevention strategies for catastrophic stroke.

Dr. Bakker obtained his PhD cum laude and has received several early career awards, including from the European Stroke Organisation and the Dutch Society for Human Genetics. He is recipient of multiple competitive research grants, including from the Dutch Heart Foundation (e.g. Dekker Fellowship) and UMC Utrecht.

He serves as Vice Chair of the International Stroke Genetics Consortium (ISGC), helping to coordinate global collaborative efforts in stroke genomics and shape the future of the field.

Research highlights

• Leading role in the largest intracranial aneurysm genetics study to date, and currently assembling an expanded cohort: >40,000 IA cases and ~3 million controls

• Developed the first large-scale polygenic risk score for IA and ASAH

• Contributor to the largest ALS genetics study

• Conducted translational research to uncover causal risk factors and identify drug targets for IA/ASAH through Mendelian randomization and integrative genomics

• Expertise in GWAS, polygenic risk prediction, rare variant analysis, functional genomics, and multi-omic data integration

• Embedded in Neurology at UMC Utrecht, collaborating closely with neurosurgery, image siences, mathematical modelling, and molecular biology groups worldwide

• Funded by the Dutch Heart Foundation (including a Dekker Postdoc Fellowship) and UMC Utrecht Young Talent grants

• Recipient of multiple early career awards, including from the European Stroke Organisation and the Dutch Society for Human Genetics

• Vice Chair of the International Stroke Genetics Consortium (ISGC)