Page 189 - Comprehensive treatment of patients with glucocorticoid-dependent severe asthma

I would like to express my appreciation to the members of the doctoral committee. Dear Prof. Anke-Hilse Maitland-van der Zee, Prof. Mirjam A.G. Sprangers, Prof. Katrien Grünberg, prof. Wim van Aalderen, Dr. Gerben ter Riet and Dr. Gert-Jan. Braunstahl, thank you for accepting to read and for evaluate my thesis. I am looking forward to exchange thoughts about my research with you.
This thesis would not have been possible without financial support and I therefore express my gratitude to the ZonmW and the Nederlands Astmacentrum Davos for sponsoring the studies hereby described.
My acknowledgments to the enormous help provided by doctors, lung function technicians, nurses and secretaries from all the hospitals where my studies took place: Haga ziekenhuis, Franciscus gasthuis & Vlietland, LUMC, Medisch Centrum Leeuwarden, Medisch Spectrum Twente and Spaarne gasthuis. Special thanks to Anneke ten Brink, Bert Roldaan, Christian Melissant, Michael van Hengstum, Paul van Spiegel, Renske van der Meer, Gerrit-Jan Braunstahl, Ilonka van Veen, Jaap Sont, Klaus Rabe and Trudeke Möller. Petra Hirmann, many thanks for the recruitment of MONOSA patients at the MCL. Johanna van Gaalen, it was a pleasure to write a review with you.
At a certain point in my PhD trajectory I was introduced to the concept of high altitude asthma treatment and to the Nederlands Astmacentrum Davos. I am very glad for this opportunity of expanding my knowledge on treatment of patients with asthma, which was also explored in this thesis. Moreover, I am happy to be presented to these great professionals from the NAD. Dr. Rijssenbeek-Nouwens, dear Lous, no words to describe your gentle and friendly character. You received me, the other researchers and even my family in your life in the most natural way, like a mother shelters her children. Karin Fieten and dr. Aad Bron, thank you for the collaboration work. Dr. Tim Roldaan, once more my gratitude for the financial support to print this thesis.
Another remarkable event in my researcher carrier was the participation at the U-BIOPRED consortium. It was a privilege to learn the principles of systems biology and work together with patients, academia and industry in such a complex project. Thank you once more Peter for the opportunity. Thank you
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