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Biography Ashley Duits

Prof. dr. A.J. Duits is head of the Department of Immunology of Curacao
Biomedical & Health Research Institute

Ashley Duits obtained his master in Biochemistry and Immunology at the Radboud University in Nijmegen. He obtained his PhD degree at the Department of Immunology of the University Medical Center Utrecht (NL) on the topic of interleukin-6. He then trained as a medical immunologist at the Laboratory of Medical Immunology of the UMCU. Starting 1994 he was appointed director of the Red Cross Blood Bank Foundation in Curacao and as medical immunologist at the Clinical Laboratory of the St. Elisabeth Hospital. The Red Cross Blood Bank Foundation as a PAHO partner for the region with him as advisor.
In a collaborative effort he set up several research projects focusing on relevant diseases for island and region. His work concentrates on the (fundamental) immunological and hematological aspects of sickle cell disease with special focus on angiogenesis. On the topic of HIV a central registry was set up in collaboration with the Stichting HIV Monitoring Netherlands. From the related data several key local aspects of the HIV pandemic have been scientifically characterized and projects for improved HIV care set up.
At this moment a collaborative program is being developed fur studying the local impact on the island (blood supply) and pathogenesis of viral infections like Chikungunya and Zika.
He holds a chair as a professor of medical education at the University Medical Center Groningen (NL).