Martien Kas

Contact Information

Location:
Department Translational Neuroscience
Brain Center Rudolf Magnus
University Medical Center Utrecht
Universiteitsweg 100
3584 CG Utrecht
The Netherlands

E-mail: m.j.h.kas@umcutrecht.nl

The research of my group focuses on determinants of behavior, especially of behavioral phenotypes that are relevant across species and that are affected in various psychiatric disorders (e.g., social interaction and behavioral flexibility).  By means of interspecies genetic analysis of neurobehavioral traits (of mice and men) we aim to identify genotype-phenotype relationships relevant to the development and treatment of autism spectrum disorders, eating disorders, and schizophrenia. Following his PhD research at Stanford University (USA) on circadian rhythms and sleep/wake regulation and a post-doc of molecular genetics of feeding behavior in Utrecht, Martien Kas is currently appointed as an associate professor at the Department of Translational Neuroscience of the Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, University Medical Center Utrecht.  In addition to being a member of the Executive Committee of the European Congress of Neuropsychopharmacology (ECNP), he is the President of the Dutch Behavioural Genetics Contact group, board member of the Dutch Neurofederation, a selected member of Faculty of 1000 Medicine, and member of SYSGENET; an European network for systems genetics.

Publications

• Brandys, M. K., de Kovel, C. G., Kas, M. J., van Elburg, A. A. & Adan, R. A. (2015). Overview of genetic research in anorexia nervosa: The past, the present and the future. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 48(7), 814–825. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.22400
• Kostrzewa, E., van Elburg, A. A., Sanders, N., Sternheim, L., Adan, R. A. H. & Kas, M. J. H. (2013). Longitudinal Changes in the Physical Activity of Adolescents with Anorexia Nervosa and Their Influence on Body Composition and Leptin Serum Levels after Recovery. PLoS ONE, 8(10), e78251. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0078251
• Brandys, M. K., Kas, M. J. H., van Elburg, A. A., Ophoff, R., Slof-Op’t Landt, M. C. T., Middeldorp, C. M., Boomsma, D. I., van Furth, E. F., Slagboom, P. E. & Adan, R. A. H. (2011). The Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene in anorexia nervosa: New data and a meta-analysis. The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 14(6), 441–451. https://doi.org/10.3109/15622975.2011.605470
• Carrera, O., Adan, R. A. H., Gutierrez, E., Danner, U. N., Hoek, H. W., van Elburg, A. A. & Kas, M. J. H. (2012). Hyperactivity in Anorexia Nervosa: Warming Up Not Just Burning-Off Calories. PLoS ONE, 7(7), e41851. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0041851
• Brandys, M. K., Slof-Op’t Landt, M. C., van Elburg, A. A., Ophoff, R., Verduijn, W., Meulenbelt, I., Middeldorp, C. M., Boomsma, D. I., van Furth, E. F., Slagboom, E., Kas, M. J. H. & Adan, R. A. (2012). Anorexia nervosa and the Val158Met polymorphism of the COMT gene. Psychiatric Genetics, 22(3), 130–136. https://doi.org/10.1097/ypg.0b013e328351859e
• van Elburg, A. A., Hillebrand, J. J., Huyser, C., Snoek, M., Kas, M. J., Hoek, H. W. & Adan, R. A. (2011). Mandometer treatment not superior to treatment as usual for anorexia nervosa. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 45(2), 193–201. https://doi.org/10.1002/eat.20918
• Brandys, M. K., Kas, M. J. H., van Elburg, A. A., Campbell, I. C. & Adan, R. A. H. (2011). A meta-analysis of circulating BDNF concentrations in anorexia nervosa. The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 12(6), 444–454. https://doi.org/10.3109/15622975.2011.562244
• van Elburg, A. A., Hoek, H. W., Kas, M. J. & van Engeland, H. (2007). Nurse evaluation of hyperactivity in anorexia nervosa: a comparative study. European Eating Disorders Review, 15(6), 425–429. https://doi.org/10.1002/erv.803
• Hillebrand, J. J., van Elburg, A. A., Kas, M. J., van Engeland, H. & Adan, R. A. (2005). Olanzapine Reduces Physical Activity in Rats Exposed to Activity-Based Anorexia: Possible Implications for Treatment of Anorexia Nervosa? Biological Psychiatry, 58(8), 651–657. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2005.04.008
• Kas, M. J., Van Elburg, A. A., Van Engeland, H. & Adan, R. A. (2003). Refinement of behavioural traits in animals for the genetic dissection of eating disorders. European Journal of Pharmacology, 480(1–3), 13–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2003.08.088

Click here to view my articles on pubmed.