Jochem Bernink

Jochem Bernink is focused on how the human immune system is involved in controlling, maintaining and restoring mucosal homeostasis. He conducted research in the laboratory of prof. Carla Rothlin at Yale University, thereafter in the laboratory of prof. Hergen Spits at the Amsterdam UMC, and as a postdoctoral researcher in the laboratory of prof. Hans Clevers at the Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht.

During his PhD, Bernink’s work led to the identification of several subsets of human innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and revealed their plastic behavior, significantly enhancing the understanding of ILC biology. In his postdoctoral research, he shifted focus to epithelial biology, where he discovered that specific immune-derived signals activate a newly identified population of human intestinal reserve stem cells with non-redundant regenerative properties.

Currently, as group leader at the Amsterdam UMC, Bernink integrates his expertise in both immune and epithelial biology to explore the mechanisms underlying mechanisms of mucosal-tissue associated diseases.