About the authors

Bas de Laat

Dr Bas de Laat is a postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Plasma Proteins at Sanquin Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. He graduated in Medicine at the University of Utrecht, The Netherlands and successfully finished his PhD period in the Department of Haematology at the University of Utrecht. Von Willebrand factor-mediated hemostasis and autoimmune-related thrombosis are his major areas of research. Over the years, Dr de Laat has received several national and international awards for his research on antiphospholipid syndrome.

Koen Mertens

Professor Koen Mertens studied biochemistry at Utrecht University, The Netherlands. In 1985 he obtained his PhD degree from the University of Leiden on blood coagulation factor X. He continued his research career in the field of thrombosis and hemostasis at the Central Laboratory of the Blood Transfusion Service (CLB) in Amsterdam, which is currently part of the Sanquin Blood Supply Foundation. Within Sanquin he is currently Head of the Department of Plasma Proteins. His main interest concerns the proteins of the hemostatic system, the interaction of these proteins with cellular receptors, and the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of hemostatic disorders. Since 1999 he has also been a part-time Professor of Pharmaceutical Plasma Proteins at Utrecht University.

Philip G de Groot

Professor Philip de Groot is Professor of Biochemistry at the University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands. He graduated in chemistry from the University of Groningen, and gained his PhD in biochemistry from the University of Amsterdam. He is a Council Member of the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasis. His major research areas are the interaction between platelets and the vessel wall and thrombotic risk in patients with auto-immune diseases. His publications include 300 peer-reviewed articles and 70 review articles/book chapters.