Dr. Jeroen Van Der Laak

Biography

Jeroen van der Laak is a Visiting Professor at Linköping University, focusing on advancing cancer diagnostics and prognostics through the application of machine learning techniques to large data sets in the field of Pathology. His research prominently features deep learning methods that are applied to digitized tissue slides, aiming to enhance computational pathology by demonstrating that computer systems can perform tasks at a level comparable to human pathologists for well-defined applications. His work involves extensive experience with histopathology images, targeting areas such as the counting of mitoses in breast cancer, grading, detection of lymph node metastases, and tumor staging. Van der Laak is particularly interested in developing deep learning algorithms that not only support the efficiency of pathologists but also seek out new prognostic and predictive biomarkers to facilitate personalized treatment approaches. He recognizes the challenges inherent in creating effective deep learning models, which hinge on the availability of high-quality clinical data and collaborations with expert pathologists. Furthermore, the models he develops are subjected to validation within routine clinical settings, ensuring their safety and usability in practice. Through this comprehensive approach, he aims to significantly improve the capabilities of cancer diagnostics and prognostics.

Research Interests