van der Plas, Ellen Institution-verified

OverviewAI-generated summary

Ellen van der Plas studies the developing brain in children undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. Her research aims to understand the impact of cancer treatment on neurodevelopment by collecting data on neuroimaging, neurocognitive testing, and brain proteins from blood and cerebrospinal fluid. This work is informed by existing research on childhood cancer survivors, who often experience difficulties with cognitive tasks.

The overarching goal of van der Plas's research is to identify strategies that can improve the quality of life for the growing population of childhood cancer survivors, enabling them to achieve outcomes comparable to their cancer-free peers. She investigates how the brain changes during critical developmental periods when intensive medical interventions are necessary.

Research Overview

The brain is a dynamic organ that undergoes tremendous changes throughout a person's lifetime. Some of the most notable post-natal changes occur in early childhood, which can be measured using neuroimaging. My research interest boils down to this question: What happens to the developing brain if a child requires intense chemotherapy treatment for cancer? The interest in brain development and cancer is informed by research in childhood cancer survivors, which has shown that survivors often struggle with cognitive tasks. To address the question of brain developmental change, we collect brain-related data in young children with and without cancer, including: neuroimaging, neurocognitive testing, and brain proteins that can be measured from blood and cerebrospinal fluid. The ultimate goal of this research is to help identify ways to ensure that the growing number of childhood cancer survivors enjoy the same quality of life as their cancer-free peers.