Prof. dr. Jan-Willem M. Beenakker

Professor in ophthalmic physics
Leiden University Medical Center
Depts. of Ophthalmology, Radiology and Radiation Oncology
Website: mreye.nl
E-mail: jwb@mreye.nl
Addresses
Visiting address:
Leiden University Medical Center
C.J. Gorter MRI Center (route 526)
Albinusdreef 2A
Leiden, The Netherlands

Mailing address:
Leiden University Medical Center
t.a.v. Prof. dr. J.W.M. Beenakker
postzone: J3-S
Postbus 9600
2300RC Leiden, The Netherlands

Mission statement

I am an experimental physicist working at the interface of imaging technology and clinical care, translating innovations into the hospital setting. I design, build, and implement MRI-based solutions for ocular imaging, bringing them from concept to routine clinical use. By advancing non-invasive imaging for eye diseases, particularly uveal melanoma, I aim to improve treatment precision, preserve vision, and enhance patient outcomes.

My work focuses on MR-guided ocular treatments, quantitative imaging biomarkers of eye tumours, and the integration of optical and radiological imaging into a unified framework. Looking ahead, I aim to enable clipless, image-based ocular proton therapy, making treatment less invasive and better tailored to individual patient’s preferences.

I am committed to promoting open and collaborative science and to mentoring early-career researchers in both their scientific development and their growth as responsible and engaged academics.

Education and appointments

  • 2026 - present, Full Professor, Leiden UMC, depts. of Ophthalmology, Radiology and Radiation Oncology
  • 2025 - present, Principal Investigator, HollandPTC
  • 2015 - 2026, Principal Investigator, Leiden UMC, depts. of Ophthalmology, Radiology and Radiation Oncology
  • 2008 - 2012, PhD in Physics, Leiden Institute of Physics
    Title: Unravelling the collagen network of the arterial wall
    Promotor: Prof. dr. ir. T. H. Oosterkamp
Detailed list

Academic appointments

  • 2026 - present, Full Professor, Leiden UMC, depts. of Ophthalmology, Radiology and Radiation Oncology
  • 2025 - present, Principal Investigator, HollandPTC
  • 2021 - 2026, Associate Professor, Leiden UMC, depts. of Ophthalmology, Radiology and Radiation Oncology
  • 2019 - 2024, Guest scientist, HollandPTC
  • 2017 - 2020, Assistant Professor, Leiden UMC, depts. of Ophthalmology and Radiology
  • 2015 - 2016, Visiting scientist, University of Murcia, Laboratoria de Optica
  • 2015 - 2017, Senior scientist, Leiden UMC, depts. of Ophthalmology and Radiology
  • 2012 - 2014, Postdoc, Leiden UMC, depts. of Ophthalmology and Radiology

Academic education

  • PhD in Physics, June 2012
    Leiden Institute of Physics, Leiden University
    Track: biophysics and experimental condensed matter physics
    Title: Unravelling the collagen network of the arterial wall
    Promotor: Prof. dr. ir. T. H. Oosterkamp
  • Msc. in Physics, cum laude, August 2008
    Leiden University
    Track: Condensed matter physics; minor: Science Based Business
    Title thesis: Dynamics of Microtubules in an active Actin-Myosin gel
    Thesis supervisor: dr. G. Koenderink (AMOLF, Amsterdam)
  • Bsc. in Physics, August 2006, Leiden University
    Including a propaedeutic diploma in Mathematics (2004)
  • Higher education (VWO), June 2003, Stedelijk Gymnasium Leiden
    Tracks: Natuur en gezondheid; Natuur en techniek

Educational qualifications

  • 2023: Supervision of PhD-candidates (Leiden University)
  • 2020: Basic Teaching Qualification (BKO) (Leiden University)

Distinctions

  • 2026: Appointed full professor in Ophthalmic physics at the Leiden University
  • 2024: One of the three LUMC PhD Supervisors of the year
  • 2022: Dutch Research Council (NWO) VIDI laureate
  • 2021: C.J. Kok Prize for translational research on ocular MRI
  • 2016: ESCRS clinical Research Award
  • 2016: Best oncology MR-research award, ISMRM Singapore

Professional activities

Responsibilities

  • 2025 - present: Board member of the LUMC NeuroScience research theme
  • 2024 - present: Member of the scientific board of the HollandPTC
  • 2024 - present: Member of the science committee of the Dutch Ophthalmologist’s Association (NOG)
  • 2021 - 2026: Chair of Pathology and Oncology section of the European Vision and Eye Research Association (EVER)
  • 2021 - present: Member of the Ocular Proton Therapy Committee of the PTCOG
  • 2021 - 2026: Board member of European Vision and Eye Research Association (EVER)
  • 2021, 2025: Jury member of NWO TTW Open Technology Program
  • 2017 - present: Grant reviewer for various national and international organizations
Selected local activities
  • 2025 - present: Board member of the LUMC NeuroScience research theme
  • 2021 - present: Member of the management team of Ophthalmology responsible for research within the department
  • 2022 - 2026: Vice-chair of the interdepartmental tumour working group Uveal Melanoma
  • 2025 - present: Vice-chair of the departmental science committee
  • 2020 - 2025: Chair of the departmental science committee
  • 2013 - present: Member of the departmental science committee
  • 2023 - present: Member of the PPP grant evaluation committee
  • 2021 - 2025: Ambassador within the LUMC NeuroScience research theme responsible for the sub-theme “Sensory system disorders” (2021-2022) and “Neuro-oncology” (2023 - 2025)
  • 2021 - 2023: Member of the data stewardship committee

Graduated PhD students

Conference activities

  • 2025: Organizer of the “Physics in state-of-the-art imaging” symposium at NWO Physics
  • 2024: Co-organizer of the 2nd international symposium on Ocular Proton Therapy
  • 2023: Chair of the ocular oncology session at the Asia Pacific Academy of Ophthalmology conference in Kuala Lumpur
  • 2023: Chair of the Oncology and Pathology session at the 2023 EVER congress in Valencia
  • 2023: Organizer of a Negative Dysphotopsia symposium at the 2023 EVER congress in Valencia
  • 2022 and 2023: Chair of the oncology and pathology sessions of the European Vision and Eye Research conference in Valencia
  • 2021: Co-organizer and imaging session chair of first international ocular proton therapy course
  • 2020: Coordinator and co-chair of European Vision Institute symposium on “New technologies for outcome measures in uveal melanoma” (Basel)
  • 2015: Chair the scientific session on MR hardware development at the 7th annual ISMRM Benelux in Gent (Belgium)

Personal activities

  • Since 2005 various responsibilities in national and international committees of the Emmanuel Community, a Catholic association with over 12.000 members in 72 countries. I’m currently part of the Dutch national governance and a member of the international advisory council (since 2018, re-elected in 2021 and 2026).
    Two examples of responsibilities that shaped my leadership and mentoring skills
    • I've set-up the Dutch version of the Zacchaeus Course, a programme which helps the participants discover how to achieve unity and coherence in their lives, between their Christian faith and their day to day actions.
    • I have been in charge of the national youth team for 2008-2012. Together with my wife, I was a mentor for the youth, guided the local youth teams and (co-)organized over ten journeys in- and outside of Europe (impression). After our service in the youth team, we were responsible for the community in the West of the Netherlands (until 2020).
  • Since 2015 a board member of the Dutch chapter of Aid to the Church in Need, a charity with approximately 4-6 million Euro of donations annually.

Publications

Open Science

General public

  • 2025: Interview for the Patient’s Association Oogfonds on a new project to develop an ocular cone-beam CT

  • 2024: Article in the Dutch Physics Magazine (NTVN) on the physics of developing ocular MRI

  • 2024: Article/interview in Medisch Contact: “PAROS: innovatieve methode voor het corrigeren van oogfoto's”

  • 2024: Interview in Resultaat, the annual magazine of the Dutch Research Council [Dutch]/[English]

  • 2023: Lecture on MRI for uveal melanoma at the annual patient day of Stichting Melanoom

  • 2022: Lecture on “Working as a physicist in a hospital” at the annual gathering of the Dutch physics high-school teachers.

  • 2022: Educational lectures on the technical and clinical aspects MRI for ocular proton therapy

  • 2020: Article on “MRI for uvea melanoma” in De Oogarts

  • 2020: Podcast on Ocular MRI of the Oogvereniging

Invited lectures

  • 2024: Imaging for ocular proton therapy; OCULAR symposium, Villigen (Switzerland)
  • 2023: Optical Ray tracing for Negative Dysphotopsia; European Society for Vision and Eye Research; Valencia (Spain)
  • 2023: MRI for ocular proton therapy; European Ocular Oncology Group; Berlin (Germany);
  • 2023: MRI for ocular radiotherapy planning; Asia Pacific Ophthalmic Academy; Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia)
  • 2022: MRI of the eye; Brighton university; Brighton (UK)
  • 2022: Imaging in Uveal Melanoma; International Society for Ocular Oncology; Leiden
  • 2022: How can MRI help to optimise the treatment for Uveal Melanoma; Bebig; Leiden
  • 2022: Is MRI useful to diagnose intra-ocular tumours?; International Society for Ocular Oncology; Leiden
  • 2022: MRI for ocular proton therapy planning; International Ocular Proton Therapy Committee; Online/Villigen (Switzerland)
  • 2021: MRI for ocular oncology; Asia Pacific Vitreo-Retina Society; originally in Hong Kong but online due to COVID
  • 2021: MRI for Uveal Melanoma; European Vision Institute; originally in Basel (Switzerland) but online due to COVID
  • 2020: Development of MRI-based proton therapy planning, European Society Magnetic Resonance in Medicine and Biology; Barcelona (Spain)
  • 2020: MRI for ophthalmic conditions; German ophthalmic society (DOG), Berlin (Germany)
  • 2020: The role of MRI in the care for Uveal Melanoma, World of Ophthalmology; Cape Town (South Africa)
  • 2020: Quantitative MRI for Ocular Oncology, World of Ophthalmology; Cape Town (South Africa)
  • 2019: The vRESPOND study; European Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons Society; Paris (France)
  • 2017: Clinical Evaluation of UHF MRI for Uveal Melanoma; Asia-Pacific Congress of Ophthalmology; Singapore
  • 2015: High resolution imaging of the eye; Laboratoria de Optica; Murcia (Spain)
  • 2015: Ocular MRI; International Society of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Medicine; Toronto (Canada)

Scientific Publications

2026

  1. Mortimer, Slopsema, Mazal, Beenakker, Dendale, Denker, Fleury, Groulier, Kacperek, Mishra, Saini, Trofimov, Thariat, Trnková, Vidal, Shih, Hrbacek and Heufelder
    International journal of particle therapy (2026), doi: 10.1016/j.ijpt.2026.101300 

2025

  1. Kneepkens, Vught, Polling, Klaver, Tideman and Beenakker
    American Journal of Ophthalmology (2025), doi: 10.1016/j.ajo.2025.06.013 
  2. Hol, Spruijt, Rodrigues, Klaver, Kouwenberg, Bakker, Luyten, Kiliç, Beenakker, Astreinidou and Rasch
    PLOS One (2025), doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0333294 
  3. Pors, Marinkovic, Deuzeman, Vu, Kerkhof, Wieringen-Warmenhoven, Rasch, Bleeker, Koetsier, Beenakker, Luyten, Creutzberg and Horeweg
    Clinical and Translational Radiation Oncology (2025), doi: 10.1016/j.ctro.2025.100939 
  4. Klaassen, Ferreira, Luyten and Beenakker
    Acta Ophthalmologica (2025), doi: 10.1111/aos.17492 
  5. Tang, Klaassen, Marinkovic, Vu, Luyten, Creutzberg, Ketelaars and Beenakker
    Ocular Oncology and Pathology (2025), doi: 10.1159/000542712 

2024

  1. Pors, Haasjes, Vught, Hoes, Luyten, Rijn, Vu, Rasch, Horeweg and Beenakker
    Investigative Opthalmology & Visual Science (2024), doi: 10.1167/iovs.65.1.43 
  2. Klaassen, Haasjes, Hol, Lopes, Spruijt, Steeg-Henzen, Vu, Bakker, Rasch, Verbist and Beenakker
    Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology (2024), doi: 10.1016/j.phro.2024.100598 
  3. Makhotkina, Nijkamp, Berendschot, Borne, Kruchten, Vught, Beenakker, Krijgh, Aslam, Pesudovs and Nuijts
    Acta Ophthalmologica (2024), doi: 10.1111/aos.15762 
  4. Hrbacek, Kacperek, Beenakker, Mortimer, Denker, Mazal, Shih, Dendale, Slopsema, Heufelder and Mishra
    International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics (2024), doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2024.06.017 
  5. Klaassen, Jaarsma-Coes, Marinkovic, Luyten, Rasch, Ferreira and Beenakker
    Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (2024), doi: 10.1167/iovs.65.11.17 
  6. Vught, Haasjes and Beenakker
    Journal of Open Source Software (2024), doi: 10.21105/joss.05756 

2023

  1. Jaarsma-Coes, Ferreira, Marinkovic, Vu, Vught, Haren, Rodrigues, Klaver, Verbist, Luyten, Rasch and Beenakker
    Ophthalmology Retina (2023), doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2022.06.019 
  2. Keene, Nie, Brink, Notting, Verschuuren, Kan, Beenakker and Tannemaat
    Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry (2023), doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2022-329859 
  3. Keene, Notting, Verschuuren, Voermans, Keizer, Beenakker, Tannemaat and Kan
    Journal of Neuromuscular Diseases (2023), doi: 10.3233/jnd-230023 
  4. Jaarsma-Coes, Klaassen, Verbist, Vu, Klaver, Rodrigues, Nabarro, Luyten, Rasch, Herk and Beenakker
    Advances in Radiation Oncology (2023), doi: 10.1016/j.adro.2022.101149 
  5. Grzybowski and Beenakker
    Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (2023), doi: 10.1007/s00417-023-06029-w 
  6. Tang, Ferreira, Marinkovic, Jaarsma-Coes, Klaassen, Vu, Creutzberg, Rodrigues, Horeweg, Klaver, Rasch, Luyten and Beenakker
    Neuroradiology (2023), doi: 10.1007/s00234-023-03166-1 
  7. Vught, Luyten and Beenakker
    Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery (2023), doi: 10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000001299 
  8. Tong, Bastiaannet, Speetjens, Blank, Luyten, Jager, Marinkovic, Vu, Rasch, Creutzberg, Beenakker, Hartgrink, Bosch, Kiliç, Naus, Yavuzyigitoglu, Rij, Burgmans and Kapiteijn
    Cancers (2023), doi: 10.3390/cancers15225419 

2022

  1. Tang, Jaarsma‐Coes, Ferreira, Fonk, Marinkovic, Luyten and Beenakker
    Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (2022), doi: 10.1002/jmri.27939 
  2. Klaassen, Jaarsma-Coes, Verbist, Vu, Marinkovic, Rasch, Luyten and Beenakker
    Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology (2022), doi: 10.1016/j.phro.2022.11.001 
  3. Keene, Kan, Meeren, Verbist, Tannemaat, Beenakker and Verschuuren
    Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle (2022), doi: 10.1002/jcsm.13089 
  4. Vught, Que, Luyten and Beenakker
    Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery (2022), doi: 10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000001054 
  5. Jaarsma-Coes, Ferreira, Houdt, Heide, Luyten and Beenakker
    Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine (2022), doi: 10.1007/s10334-021-00961-w 
  6. Islamaj, Vught, Jordaan-Kuip, Vermeer, Ferreira, Waard, Lemij and Beenakker
    PLoS ONE (2022), doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276527 
  7. Ferreira, Jaarsma-Coes, Marinkovic, Verbist, Verdijk, Jager, Luyten and Beenakker
    Neuroradiology (2022), doi: 10.1007/s00234-021-02825-5 
  8. Beenakker, Brouwer, Chau, Coupland, Fiorentzis, Heimann, Heufelder, Joussen, Kiilgaard, Kivelä, Piperno-Neumann, Rantala, Romanowska-Dixon, Shields, Willerding, Wheeler-Schilling, Scholl, Jager, Damato and Oncology, European Ocular Oncology Group and the International Society of Ocular
    Ophthalmic Research (2022), doi: 10.1159/000524372 
  9. Gaurisankar, Rijn, Cheng, Luyten and Beenakker
    Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology (2022), doi: 10.1007/s00417-021-05442-3 

2021

  1. Hassan, Fleury, Shamonin, Fonk, Marinkovic, Jaarsma-Coes, Luyten, Webb, Beenakker and Stoel
    Advances in Radiation Oncology (2021), doi: 10.1016/j.adro.2021.100697 
  2. Rijn, Gaurisankar, Saxena, Gibbes, Jongman, Haasnoot, Cheng, Beenakker and Luyten
    Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery (2021), doi: 10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000000532 
  3. Gaurisankar, Rijn, Haasnoot, Verhoeven, Klaver, Luyten and Beenakker
    Acta Ophthalmologica (2021), doi: 10.1111/aos.14647 
  4. Vught, Shamonin, Luyten, Stoel and Beenakker
    BMJ Open Ophthalmology (2021), doi: 10.1136/bmjophth-2021-000855 
  5. Niendorf, Beenakker, Langner, Erb-Eigner, Cuadra, Beller, Millward, Niendorf and Stachs
    Current Eye Research (2021), doi: 10.1080/02713683.2021.1874021 
  6. Velde, Hooijmans, Mishre, Keene, Koeks, Veeger, Alleman, Zwet, Beenakker, Verschuuren, Kan and Niks
    Neurology (2021), doi: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000012233 
  7. Keene, Vught, Velde, Ciggaar, Notting, Genders, Verschuuren, Tannemaat, Kan and Beenakker
    NMR in Biomedicine (2021), doi: 10.1002/nbm.4407 
  8. Fleury, Trnková, Erdal, Hassan, Stoel, Jaarma‐Coes, Luyten, Herault, Webb, Beenakker, Pignol and Hoogeman
    Medical Physics (2021), doi: 10.1002/mp.14665 

2020

  1. Jaarsma-Coes, Marinkovic, Astreinidou, Schuurmans, Peters, Luyten, Rasch and Beenakker
    Physics and Imaging in Radiation Oncology (2020), doi: 10.1016/j.phro.2020.09.010 
  2. Rijn, Gaurisankar, Ilgenfritz, Lima, Haasnoot, Beenakker, Cheng and Luyten
    Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (2020), doi: 10.1097/j.jcrs.0000000000000002 
  3. Ferreira, Pinheiro, Saraiva, Jaarsma-Coes, Duinen, Genders, Marinkovic and Beenakker
    Cancers (2020), doi: 10.3390/cancers12030658 
  4. Keene, Beenakker, Hooijmans, Naarding, Niks, Otto, Pol, Tannemaat, Kan and Froeling
    Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (2020), doi: 10.1002/mrm.28290 
  5. Fonk, Ferreira, Webb, Luyten and Beenakker
    Clinical Ophthalmology (2020), doi: 10.2147/opth.s238405 

2019

  1. Gaurisankar, Rijn, Lima, Ilgenfritz, Cheng, Haasnoot, Luyten and Beenakker
    Acta Ophthalmologica (2019), doi: 10.1111/aos.14208 
  2. Jaarsma-Coes, Ferreira, Haren, Marinkovic and Beenakker
    Melanoma Research (2019), doi: 10.1097/cmr.0000000000000568 
  3. Ferreira, Fonk, Jaarsma-Coes, Haren, Marinkovic and Beenakker
    Cancers (2019), doi: 10.3390/cancers11030377 

2018

  1. Jong, Graaf, Pouwels, Beenakker, Jansen, Geurts, Moll, Castelijns, Valk and Weerd
    Journal of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (2018), doi: 10.1002/jmri.25913 
  2. Ferreira, Saraiva, Genders, Buchem, Luyten and Beenakker
    Neuroradiology (2018), doi: 10.1007/s00234-018-2103-4 

2017

  1. Wezel, Garpebring, Webb, Osch and Beenakker
    Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (2017), doi: 10.1002/mrm.26355 
  2. Isakova, Pralits, Romano, Beenakker, Shamonin and Repetto
    Modeling and Artificial Intelligence in Ophthalmology (2017), doi: 10.35119/maio.v1i3.36 

2016

  1. Beenakker, Ferreira, Soemarwoto, Genders, Teeuwisse, Webb and Luyten
    Magnetic Resonance Materials in Physics, Biology and Medicine (2016), doi: 10.1007/s10334-016-0529-4 

2015

  1. Beenakker, Shamonin, Webb, Luyten and Stoel
    Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science (2015), doi: 10.1167/iovs.14-15161 

2014

  1. Ruytenberg, Webb and Beenakker
    Journal of Magnetic Resonance (2014), doi: 10.1016/j.jmr.2014.08.009 

2013

2012

  1. He, Lamers, Beenakker, Cui, Ghotra, Danen, Meijer, Spaink and Snaar‐Jagalska
    The Journal of Pathology (2012), doi: 10.1002/path.4013 

2010

  1. Lindeman, Ashcroft, Beenakker, Es, Koekkoek, Prins, Tielemans, Abdul-Hussien, Bank and Oosterkamp
    Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2010), doi: 10.1073/pnas.0910312107