Theo van den Broek is trained as a medical specialist (medical microbiology) and immunologist (Center for Translational Immunology), and is a translational researcher at heart. He obtained his PhD on the dynamics of T cell reconsitution following lymphopenia at the Utrecht University in 2015. During his clinical training he obtained a Marie Curie Global Fellowship for a postdoc in the lab of Prof. M.C. Carroll (Boston Children's Hospital & Harvard Medical School) in Boston (USA) to investigate the dynamics of loss of B cell tolerance in autoimmunity. Following his clinical training he combined his research with clinical microbiology. In 2023 he was awarded a VENI personal fellowship to investigate the interaction between T and B cells in the pediatric immune system.

Since 2023, he leads his own research group at the Center for Translational Immunology (CTI). Van den Broek’s team investigates the intricate interactions between T and B cells, focusing on their implications for disease, protective immunity, and immune reconstitution. Using both patient-derived material and experimental models such as tonsil organoids, the group aims to dissect cellular crosstalk, characterize the behavior and function of tissue-resident immune cells, and identify pathways that can be targeted for therapeutic intervention.

In recent years, he has been actively involved in supporting the career development and training of early career researchers (ECRs). He served as chair of the Young Dutch Society of Immunology (youngNVVI) and as a board member of the UMC Utrecht Young Academy. He co-founded the international open-access journal Journal of Life Sciences (JoLS) and an associated postdoctoral community designed to train ECRs in peer review. This initiative received national and international recognition and led to his appointment as Alumnus of the Month at Utrecht University. He currently coordinates the European Study Group Lymphoid Structures, Orchestrators of Immunity (EFIS), which advances research on lymphoid structures, fosters collaborations, and supports young researchers through networking, internships, and mentoring.

www.TheovandenBroek.com