Koen Reesink

Assistant Professor

Dr Koen Reesink was originally trained in Electrical Engineering and has been active in biomedical research for over 20 years. His interests and specialties are vascular structure and function, ventricular-vascular hemodynamic interaction, system dynamics and signal processing. Dr Reesink’s group has made significant and awarded contributions to quantify and interpret arterial stiffness measurements, especially in clinical settings. Reesink leads his research line ‘Constitutive and system characteristics of large arteries’ within in the CARIM programme 'Complex Arrhythmias' (PI Prof. Tammo Delhaas).

Dr Reesink contributes actively to research organisational development, as initiator/chair of the Vascular Network Group, as steering group member of the CARIM Muroidean Facility, and as chair of the Operational Excellence project MF2BMC around the new Biomedical Center (BMC) for animal research in Maastricht.

Dr Reesink’s current research line ‘Constitutive and system characteristics of large arteries’ is focussed on unravelling the multi-scale structure-function relations that underlie the pathophysiology of accelerated arterial stiffening. Quantitative insights into these relations are of utmost importance to conceive, develop and validate therapeutic approaches for de-stiffening arteries, in order to combat the growing epidemic of ‘old-age’ systolic hypertension and its desastrous cardiovascular and societal sequelae.

Reesink is currently involved in the EU H2020 Demonstrator project CARDIS (as WP co-lead), and in the EU grant proposals MSCA-ITN-EJD2019 MINDSHIFT (as coordinator) and COST VascAge (as participant).

Department of Biomedical Engineering
Universiteitssingel 50, 6229 ER Maastricht
PO Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
Room number: H3.360
T: +31(0)43 388 16 59

2024
- Parikh, S., Giudici, A., Huberts, W., Delhaas, T., Bidar, E., Spronck, B., & Reesink, K. (2024). Significance of Dynamic Axial Stretching on Estimating Biomechanical Behavior and Properties of the Human Ascending Aorta. Annals of Biomedical Engineering, 52(9), 2485-2495. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-024-03537-6
- van der Bruggen, M., Spronck, B., Bos, S., Heusinkveld, M. H. G., Taddei, S., Ghiadoni, L., Delhaas, T., Maria Bruno, R., & Reesink, K. D. (2024). Correction to: Pressure-Corrected Carotid Stiffness and Young's Modulus. American Journal of Hypertension, 37(7), 541-542. Article hpae037. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpae037
- van der Laan, K. W. F., Reesink, K. D., Lambrichts, S., Bitsch, N. J. J. E., van der Taelen, L., Foulquier, S., Delhaas, T., Spronck, B., & Giudici, A. (2024). Effect of rapid cooling, frozen storage, and thawing on the passive viscoelastic properties and structure of the rat aorta. Journal of Biomechanics, 171, Article 112190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2024.112190
- Ganizada, B. H., J. A. Veltrop, R., Akbulut, A. C., Koenen, R. R., Accord, R., Lorusso, R., Maessen, J. G., Reesink, K., Bidar, E., & Schurgers, L. J. (2024). Unveiling cellular and molecular aspects of ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections. Basic Research in Cardiology, 119(3), 371-395. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00395-024-01053-1
- Steegh, F. M. E. G., Keijbeck, A. A., de Hoogt, P. A., Rademakers, T., Houben, A. J. H. M., Reesink, K. D., Stehouwer, C. D. A., Daemen, M. J. A. P., & Peutz-Kootstra, C. J. (2024). Capillary rarefaction: a missing link in renal and cardiovascular disease?Angiogenesis, 27(1), 23-35. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10456-023-09883-8
2023
- Giudici, A., van der Laan, K. W. F., van der Bruggen, M. M., Parikh, S., Berends, E., Foulquier, S., Delhaas, T., Reesink, K. D., & Spronck, B. (2023). Constituent-based quasi-linear viscoelasticity: a revised quasi-linear modelling framework to capture nonlinear viscoelasticity in arteries. Biomechanics and modeling in mechanobiology, 22(5), 1607–1623. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10237-023-01711-8
- Bianchini, E., Guala, A., Golemati, S., Alastruey, J., Climie, R. E., Dalakleidi, K., Francesconi, M., Fuchs, D., Hartman, Y., Malik, A. E. F., Makunaite, M., Nikita, K. S., Park, C., Pugh, C. J. A., Satrauskiene, A., Terentes-Printizios, D., Teynor, A., Thijssen, D., Schmidt-Trucksaess, A., ... Reesink, K. D. (2023). The Ultrasound Window Into Vascular Ageing A Technology Review by the VascAgeNet COST Action. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, 42(10), 2183 - 2213. https://doi.org/10.1002/jum.16243
- van der Sluijs, K. M., Thannhauser, J., Visser, I. M., Nabeel, P. M., Raj, K. V., Malik, A. E. F., Reesink, K. D., Eijsvogels, T. M. H., Bakker, E. A., Kaur, P., Joseph, J., & Thijssen, D. H. J. (2023). Central and local arterial stiffness in White Europeans compared to age-, sex-, and BMI-matched South Asians. PLOS ONE, 18(8), Article e0290118. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0290118
- Debeij, G. P., Parikh, S., Delhaas, T., Bidar, E., & Reesink, K. D. (2023). Evidence in Clinical Studies for the Role of Wall Thickness in Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms: A Scoping Review. Bioengineering, 10(8), Article 882. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10080882
- Ganizada, B. H., Reesink, K. D., Parikh, S., Ramaekers, M. J. F. G., Akbulut, A. C., Saraber, P. J. M. H., Debeij, G. P., Jaminon, A. M., Natour, E., Lorusso, R., Wildberger, J. E., Mees, B., Schurink, G. W., Jacobs, M. J., Cleutjens, J., Krapels, I., Gombert, A., Maessen, J. G., Accord, R., ... MUMC TAA Student Team (2023). The Maastricht Acquisition Platform for Studying Mechanisms of Cell-Matrix Crosstalk (MAPEX): An Interdisciplinary and Systems Approach towards Understanding Thoracic Aortic Disease. Biomedicines, 11(8), Article 2095. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines11082095
- Parikh, S., Moerman, K. M., Ramaekers, M. J. F. G., Schalla, S., Bidar, E., Delhaas, T., Reesink, K., & Huberts, W. (2023). Biomechanical Characterisation of Thoracic Ascending Aorta with Preserved Pre-Stresses. Bioengineering, 10(7), Article 846. https://doi.org/10.3390/bioengineering10070846
- Malik, A. E. F., Giudici, A., van der Laan, K. W. F., Op 't Roodt, J., Mess, W. H., Delhaas, T., Spronck, B., & Reesink, K. D. (2023). Detectable Bias between Vascular Ultrasound Echo-Tracking Systems: Relevance Depends on Application. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 12(1), Article 69. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12010069
2022
- Jin, S., Reesink, K. D., Kroon, A. A., de Galan, B., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Wesselius, A., Schalkwijk, C. G., Stehouwer, C. D. A., & van Greevenbroek, M. M. J. (2022). Complement factors D and C3 cross-sectionally associate with arterial stiffness, but not independently of metabolic risk factors: The Maastricht Study. Journal of Hypertension, 40(11), 2161-2170. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000003237
- Janssen, E. B. N. J., Hooijschuur, M. C. E., Lopes van Balen, V. A., Morina-Shijaku, E., Spaan, J. J., Mulder, E. G., Hoeks, A. P., Reesink, K. D., van Kuijk, S. M. J., Van't Hof, A., van Bussel, B. C. T., Spaanderman, M. E. A., & Ghossein-Doha, C. (2022). No accelerated arterial aging in relatively young women after preeclampsia as compared to normotensive pregnancy. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 9, Article 911603. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2022.911603
- Veugen, M. G. J., Onete, V. G., Henry, R. M. A., Brunner-La Rocca, H.-P., Koster, A., Dagnelie, P. C., Schaper, N. C., Sep, S. J. S., van der Kallen, C. J. H., van Boxtel, M. P. J., Reesink, K. D., Schouten, J. S., Savelberg, H. H. C. M., Köhler, S., Verhey, F. R., van den Bergh, J. P. W., Schram, M. T., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2022). Health burden in type 2 diabetes and prediabetes in The Maastricht Study. Scientific Reports, 12(1), 1-11. Article 7337. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-11136-5
- van der Laan, K. W. F., Reesink, K. D., van der Bruggen, M. M., Jaminon, A. M. G., Schurgers, L. J., Megens, R. T. A., Huberts, W., Delhaas, T., & Spronck, B. (2022). Improved Quantification of Cell Density in the Arterial Wall-A Novel Nucleus Splitting Approach Applied to 3D Two-Photon Laser-Scanning Microscopy. Frontiers in physiology, 12, Article 814434. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.814434
2021
- Malik, A. E. F., Delhaas, T., Spronck, B., Henry, R. M. A., Joseph, J., Stehouwer, C. D. A., Mess, W. H., & Reesink, K. D. (2021). Single M-Line Is as Reliable as Multiple M-Line Ultrasound for Carotid Artery Screening. Frontiers in physiology, 12, Article 787083. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2021.787083
- Giudici, A., Khir, A. W., Reesink, K. D., Delhaas, T., & Spronck, B. (2021). Five years of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and CAVI0: how close are we to a pressure-independent index of arterial stiffness?Journal of Hypertension, 39(11), 2128-2138. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000002928
- van der Bruggen, M. M., Spronck, B., Delhaas, T., Reesink, K. D., & Schalkwijk, C. G. (2021). The Putative Role of Methylglyoxal in Arterial Stiffening: A Review. Heart Lung and Circulation, 30(11), 1681-1693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hlc.2021.06.527
- Beutel, F., Van Hoof, C., Rottenberg, X., Reesink, K., & Hermeling, E. (2021). Pulse Arrival Time Segmentation Into Cardiac and Vascular Intervals - Implications for Pulse Wave Velocity and Blood Pressure Estimation. Ieee Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, 68(9), 2810-2820. https://doi.org/10.1109/TBME.2021.3055154
- De Clerck, E. E. B., Schouten, J. S. A. G., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Goezinne, F., Liesenborghs, I., Dagnelie, P. C., Schaper, N. C., Kroon, A. A., Henry, R. M. A., Reesink, K. D., Schram, M. T., Stehouwer, C. D. A., & Webers, C. A. B. (2021). Vascular risk factors for optical coherence tomography-detected macular cysts: The Maastricht Study. Acta Ophthalmologica, 99(6), e860-e868. https://doi.org/10.1111/aos.14677
- Lisan, Q., van Sloten, T., Boutouyrie, P., Laurent, S., Danchin, N., Thomas, F., Guibout, C., Perier, M.-C., Dagnelie, P., Henry, R. M., Schram, M. T., Heinzer, R., Marques-Vidal, P., van der Kallen, C. J., Crijns, H. J., van Greevenbroek, M., Reesink, K., Köhler, S., Sastry, M., ... Empana, J.-P. (2021). Sleep Apnea is Associated With Accelerated Vascular Aging: Results From 2 European Community-Based Cohort Studies. Journal of the American Heart Association, 10(15), Article 021318. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.120.021318
- van der Heide, F. C. T., Zhou, T. L., Henry, R. M. A., Houben, A. J. H. M., Kroon, A. A., Dagnelie, P. C., van Dongen, M. C. J. M., Eussen, S. J. P. M., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Schouten, J. S. A. G., Webers, C. A. B., Schram, M. T., van Greevenbroek, M. M. J., Wesselius, A., Schalkwijk, C. G., Koster, A., Savelberg, H. H. C. M., Schaper, N. C., Reesink, K. D., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2021). Carotid stiffness is associated with retinal microvascular dysfunction- The Maastricht Study. Microcirculation, 28(6), Article e12702. https://doi.org/10.1111/micc.12702
- Foreman, Y. D., van Doorn, W. P. T. M., Schaper, N. C., van Greevenbroek, M. M. J., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Henry, R. M. A., Koster, A., Eussen, S. J. P. M., Wesselius, A., Reesink, K. D., Schram, M. T., Dagnelie, P. C., Kroon, A. A., Brouwers, M. C. G. J., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2021). Greater daily glucose variability and lower time in range assessed with continuous glucose monitoring are associated with greater aortic stiffness: The Maastricht Study. Diabetologia, 64(8), 1880-1892. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00125-021-05474-8
- Linkens, A. M. A., Eussen, S. J. M. P., Houben, A. J. H. M., Kroon, A. A., Schram, M. T., Reesink, K. D., Dagnelie, P. C., Henry, R. M. A., van Greevenbroek, M., Wesselius, A., Stehouwer, C. D. A., & Schalkwijk, C. G. (2021). Habitual Intake of Dietary Advanced Glycation End Products Is Not Associated with Arterial Stiffness of the Aorta and Carotid Artery in Adults: The Maastricht Study. Journal of Nutrition, 151(7), 1886-1893. https://doi.org/10.1093/jn/nxab097
- van der Bruggen, M., Spronck, B., Bos, S., Heusinkveld, M. H. G., Taddei, S., Ghiadoni, L., Delhaas, T., Bruno, R. M., & Reesink, K. D. (2021). Pressure-corrected carotid stiffness and Young's modulus: evaluation in an outpatient clinic setting. American Journal of Hypertension, 34(7), 737-743. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajh/hpab028
- Parikh, S., Ganizada, B., Debeij, G., Natour, E., Maessen, J., Spronck, B., Schurgers, L., Delhaas, T., Huberts, W., Bidar, E., & Reesink, K. (2021). Intra-Operative Video-Based Measurement of Biaxial Strains of the Ascending Thoracic Aorta. Biomedicines, 9(6), Article 670. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines9060670
- Tanghe, A., Celie, B., Shadid, S., Rietzschel, E., Op't Roodt, J., Reesink, K. D., Heyman, E., & Calders, P. (2021). Acute Effects of Cocoa Flavanols on Blood Pressure and Peripheral Vascular Reactivity in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Essential Hypertension: A Protocol for an Acute, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Cross-Over Trial. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine, 8, Article 602086. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcvm.2021.602086
- Heusinkveld, M. H. G., Holtackers, R. J., Adriaans, B. P., Op't Roodt, J., Arts, T., Delhaas, T., Reesink, K. D., & Huberts, W. (2021). Complementing sparse vascular imaging data by physiological adaptation rules. Journal of Applied Physiology, 130(3), 571-588. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00250.2019
- Zhou, T. L., Kroon, A. A., Henry, R. M. A., Koster, A., Dagnelie, P. C., Bosma, H., van Greevenbroek, M. M. J., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Schalkwijk, C. G., Wesselius, A., Reesink, K. D., Köhler, S., Schram, M. T., Stehouwer, C. D. A., & van Sloten, T. T. (2021). Exercise SBP response and incident depressive symptoms: The Maastricht Study. Journal of Hypertension, 39(3), 494-502. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000002657
- Hulman, A., Foreman, Y. D., Brouwers, M. C. G. J., Kroon, A. A., Reesink, K. D., Dagnelie, P. C., van der Kallen, C. J. H., van Greevenbroek, M. M. J., Faerch, K., Vistisen, D., Jorgensen, M. E., Stehouwer, C. D. A., & Witte, D. R. (2021). Towards precision medicine in diabetes? A critical review of glucotypes. Plos Biology, 19(3), Article 3000890. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3000890
- Panteleev, M. A., Korin, N., Reesink, K. D., Bark, D. L., Cosemans, J. M. E. M., Gardiner, E. E., & Mangin, P. H. (2021). Wall shear rates in human and mouse arteries: Standardization of hemodynamics for in vitro blood flow assays: Communication from the ISTH SSC subcommittee on biorheology. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 19(2), 588-595. https://doi.org/10.1111/jth.15174
- Hanssen, N. M. J., Scheijen, J. L. J. M., Houben, A. J. H. M., van de Waarenburg, M., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Webers, C. A. B., Reesink, K. D., van Greevenbroek, M. M. J., van der Kallen, C., Schaper, N. C., Schram, M. T., Henry, R. M. A., Stehouwer, C. D. A., & Schalkwijk, C. G. (2021). Fasting and post-oral-glucose-load levels of methylglyoxal are associated with microvascular, but not macrovascular, disease in individuals with and without (pre)diabetes: The Maastricht Study. Diabetes & Metabolism, 47(1), Article 101148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabet.2020.02.002
- van der Bruggen, M. M., Reesink, K. D., Spronck, P. J. M., Bitsch, N., Hameleers, J., Megens, R. T. A., Schalkwijk, C. G., Delhaas, T., & Spronck, B. (2021). An integrated set-up for ex vivo characterisation of biaxial murine artery biomechanics under pulsatile conditions. Scientific Reports, 11(1), Article 2671. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-81151-5
- Spronck, B., Tan, I., Reesink, K. D., Georgevsky, D., Delhaas, T., Avolio, A. P., & Butlin, M. (2021). Heart rate and blood pressure dependence of aortic distensibility in rats: comparison of measured and calculated pulse wave velocity. Journal of Hypertension, 39(1), 117-126. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000002608
2020
- Vandercappellen, E. J., Henry, R. M. A., Savelberg, H. H. C. M., van der Berg, J. D., Reesink, K. D., Schaper, N. C., Eussen, S. J. P. M., van Dongen, M. C. J. M., Dagnelie, P. C., Schram, M. T., van Greevenbroek, M. M. J., Wesselius, A., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Kohler, S., Stehouwer, C. D. A., & Koster, A. (2020). Association of the Amount and Pattern of Physical Activity With Arterial Stiffness: The Maastricht Study. Journal of the American Heart Association, 9(20), Article 017502. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.120.017502
- Rensma, S. P., Stehouwer, C. D. A., Van Boxtel, M. P. J., Houben, A. J. H. M., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., Jansen, J. F. A., Schalkwijk, C. G., Verhey, F. R. J., Kroon, A. A., Henry, R. M. A., Backes, W. H., Dagnelie, P. C., van Dongen, M. C. J. M., Eussen, S. J. P. M., Bosma, H., Köhler, S., Reesink, K. D., Schram, M. T., & van Sloten, T. T. (2020). Associations of Arterial Stiffness With Cognitive Performance, and the Role of Microvascular Dysfunction: The Maastricht Study. Hypertension, 75(6), 1607-1614. https://doi.org/10.1161/hypertensionaha.119.14307
- van Loon, T., Knackstedt, C., Cornelussen, R., Reesink, K., Brunner-La Rocca, H., Delhaas, T., van Empel, V., & Lumens, J. (2020). Increased myocardial stiffness more than impaired relaxation function limits cardiac performance during exercise in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: a virtual patient study. European Heart Journal - Digital Health, 1(1), 40-50. https://doi.org/10.1093/ehjdh/ztaa009
2019
- Foreman, Y. D., Brouwers, M. C. G. J., Berendschot, T. T. J. M., van Dongen, M. C. J. M., Eussen, S. J. P. M., van Greevenbroek, M. M. J., Henry, R. M. A., Houben, A. J. H. M., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Kroon, A. A., Reesink, K. D., Schram, M. T., Schaper, N. C., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2019). The oral glucose tolerance test-derived incremental glucose peak is associated with greater arterial stiffness and maladaptive arterial remodeling: The Maastricht Study. Cardiovascular Diabetology, 18(1), Article 152. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-019-0950-x
- Jaminon, A., Reesink, K., Kroon, A., & Schurgers, L. (2019). The Role of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Arterial Remodeling: Focus on Calcification-Related Processes. International journal of molecular sciences, 20(22), Article 5694. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms20225694
- Heusinkveld, M. H. G., Delhaas, ET., Lumens, J., Huberts, W., Spronck, B., Hughes, A. D., & Reesink, K. D. (2019). Augmentation index is not a proxy for wave reflection magnitude: mechanistic analysis using a computational model. Journal of Applied Physiology, 127(2), 491-500. https://doi.org/10.1152/japplphysiol.00769.2018
- Heusinkveld, M. H. G., Huberts, W., Lumens, J., Arts, T., Delhaas, T., & Reesink, K. D. (2019). Large vessels as a tree of transmission lines incorporated in the CircAdapt whole-heart model: A computational tool to examine heart-vessel interaction. PLoS Computational Biology, 15(7), Article 1007173. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1007173
- Reesink, K. D., & Spronck, B. (2019). Constitutive interpretation of arterial stiffness in clinical studies: a methodological review. American Journal of Physiology-heart and Circulatory Physiology, 316(3), H693-H709. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajpheart.00388.2018
- van der Waaij, K. M., Heusinkveld, M. H. G., Delhaas, T., Kroon, A. A., & Reesink, K. D. (2019). Do treatment-induced changes in arterial stiffness affect left ventricular structure? A meta-analysis. Journal of Hypertension, 37(2), 253-263. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001918
- Driessen, J. H. M., de Vries, F., van Onzenoort, H. A. W., Schram, M. T., van der Kallen, C., Reesink, K. D., Sep, S., Stehouwer, C. D. A., Schaper, N., Kroon, A. A., Schalkwijk, C., van den Bergh, J. P. W., & Henry, R. M. A. (2019). Metformin use in type 2 diabetic patients is not associated with lower arterial stiffness: the Maastricht Study. Journal of Hypertension, 37(2), 365-371. https://doi.org/10.1097/HJH.0000000000001892
2018
- Zhou, T. L., Henry, R. M. A., Stehouwer, C. D. A., van Sloten, T. T., Reesink, K. D., & Kroon, A. A. (2018). Blood Pressure Variability, Arterial Stiffness, and Arterial Remodeling: The Maastricht Study. Hypertension, 72(4), 1002-1010. https://doi.org/10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.118.11325
- Geijselaers, S. L. C., Sep, S. J. S., Schram, M. T., van Boxtel, M. P. J., van Sloten, T. T., Roodt, J. O. H., Henry, R. M. A., Reesink, K. D., Schaper, N. C., Dagnelie, P. C., van der Kallen, C. J. H., Biessels, G. J., & Stehouwer, C. D. A. (2018). Carotid circumferential wall stress is not associated with cognitive performance among individuals in late middle age: The Maastricht Study. Atherosclerosis, 276, 15-22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2018.07.003

Overview

Latest news & events

MLDS grant Sabine Daemen

15 November 2024

Our new Division Leaders

3 October 2024

Koen Reesink

Assistant Professor