Mihai Netea receives the Reinier de Graaf Medal for his work in the field of trained immunity 

Professor of Experimental Internal Medicine and internist Mihai Netea from Radboud university medical center has received the Reinier de Graaf Medal for his groundbreaking work in the field of trained immunity. He was awarded this prize, which is given once every ten years, by the Society for the Advancement of Natural Sciences, Medicine, and Surgery. 

Mihai Netea is trained as an internist and obtained his PhD in Nijmegen for research on sepsis. In 2008, he was appointed as a professor and head of the Department of Experimental Internal Medicine at Radboudumc. His research has provided crucial insights into the pathophysiology of fungal infections, where he unraveled the pattern recognition pathways that lead to immune responses (Th17) from immune-regulatory T-helper cells. 

Netea’s work has contributed to a better understanding of inflammatory responses in various immune-regulatory cell types, particularly in the context of fungal infections. Using an immunogenetic approach, Netea has gained new insights into the role of innate immunity in infections and the development of innovative treatments for severe inflammation. 

In recent years, his research has delved deeper into immune deficiencies that cause specific susceptibility to fungal infections. His group was the first to identify a C-type lectin receptor deficiency and the genetic defect underlying autosomal-dominant chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis. 

Trained immunity 

Recently, his group described the concept of 'trained immunity', a form of innate immune memory and epigenetic regulation induced by infections and vaccinations. This groundbreaking discovery has significant consequences for our understanding of immune responses. In addition to his research, he is the coordinator of the research theme Infectious Diseases and Global Health at Radboudumc and a member of the Vaccination Committee of the Health Council. In 2016, he received the Spinoza Prize. Based on his pioneering work, the jury of the Society for the Advancement of Natural Sciences, Medicine, and Surgery decided to award him the Reinier de Graaf Medal on March 14th. 

In this photo: Mihai Netea during the award ceremony of the Reinier de Graaf Medal.

About the Reinier de Graaf Medal

The Reinier de Graaf Medal has been awarded every ten years since 1952 for exceptional work in the field of clinical medicine. The commemorative medal is named after Reinier de Graaf (1641 – 1673), a Dutch physician and anatomist. He was one of the pioneers in the field of reproductive medicine and is credited with the discovery of the 'Graafian follicles', later named after him. 

In the first photo: Prof. dr. Mihai Netea (r) receives the Reinier de Graaf Medal from Prof. dr. Reinier Schlingemann (l), head of the jury, and Prof. dr. Ton van Leeuwen (m), head of the Society.