Jan Schouten (geneticist)

Last updated

Johannes Petrus Schouten (born 17 May 1956, in Schoorl) is a Dutch scientist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. [1] He is the inventor of Multiplex-Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA), a method for the research of genetic disorders. [2] [3] [4] [5] He founded the biotech company MRC Holland, based in Amsterdam [6] and the MRC Holland Foundation. [7]

Contents

Early life and education

Schouten was born in Schoorl Noord-Holland. He studied cell biology at Wageningen University. After earning his PhD he became an entrepreneur. [8]

Career

In 1985 he founded the company MRC Holland, which was based in the buildings of the Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam. The company first focused on the production of restriction enzymes. [6] In 2002, Schouten invented MLPA, [2] a method for genetic testing. The method detects copy number variation in genes or parts of genes, an important cause for hereditary disorders or the development of tumours. [9] [10] The method is considered simple, reliable and relatively cheap, and therefore a popular choice in laboratories worldwide, including in developing countries. [11] [10]

In 2019, Schouten was awarded for his work with the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands, a royal distinction that recognizes merit in art and science. [1] [12] [13]

Publications

His most cited papers are

Philanthropy

In 2011, Schouten and his wife started the MRC Holland Foundation whose mission is to improve educational facilities in The Gambia and as such they work closely with the country's Ministry of Education. [15] [1] [16] [17]

References

  1. 1 2 3 Parool, Het (2019-03-17). "Echtpaar onderscheiden voor ontwikkeling gezondheidszorg". Het Parool (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  2. 1 2 Schouten, JP; McElgunn, CJ; Waaijer, R; Zwijnenburg; Diepvens, F; Pals, G (June 2002). "Relative quantification of 40 nucleic acid sequences by multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification". Nucleic Acids Research. 30 (12): e57. doi: 10.1093/nar/gnf056 . ISSN   1362-4962. PMC   117299 . PMID   12060695.
  3. EP 1255871,Schouten, Johannes Petrus,"Multiplex ligatable probe amplification",issued 2001-02-15
  4. "Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA)". Bitesize Bio. 2018-12-27. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  5. "BMedia - Wetenschapsjournalistiek". www.bmedia.nl. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
  6. 1 2 "About MRC Holland - MRC Holland". www.mrcholland.com. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  7. "MRC Holland Foundation". Heroes Awards. 2020-03-02. Archived from the original on 2021-05-14. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  8. "Kennisuitwisseling" (PDF).
  9. Stuppia, L; Antonucci, I; Palka, G; Gatta, V (March 2012). "Use of the MLPA Assay in the Molecular Diagnosis of Gene Copy Number Alterations in Human Genetic Diseases". International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 13 (3): 3245–76. doi: 10.3390/ijms13033245 . ISSN   1422-0067. PMC   3317712 . PMID   22489151.
  10. 1 2 Vorstman, JS; Jalali, GR; Rappaport, EF; Hacker, AM; Scott, C; Emanuel, BS (August 2006). "MLPA: a rapid, reliable, and sensitive method for detection and analysis of abnormalities of 22q". Human Mutation. 27 (8): 14–821. doi:10.1002/humu.20330. ISSN   1098-1004. PMC   2814414 . PMID   16791841.
  11. Jehee, Fernanda Sarquis; Takamori, Jean Tetsuo; Medeiros, Paula F. Vasconcelos; Pordeus, Ana Carolina B.; Latini, Flavia Roche M.; Bertola, Débora Romeo; Kim, Chong Ae; Passos-Bueno, Maria Rita (July 2011). "Using a combination of MLPA kits to detect chromosomal imbalances in patients with multiple congenital anomalies and mental retardation is a valuable choice for developing countries". European Journal of Medical Genetics. 54 (4): e425–432. doi: 10.1016/j.ejmg.2011.03.007 . ISSN   1878-0849. PMID   21457803.
  12. "Koninklijke onderscheiding voor echtpaar dat bijdraagt aan de ontwikkeling van de gezondheidszorg". www.amsterdamsdagblad.nl/ (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  13. Twitter https://twitter.com/amsterdamnl/status/1106580730958745609 . Retrieved 2021-05-21.{{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  14. 1 2 3 4 Google Scholar Author page, Accessed May 21, 2021
  15. "MRC Holland Foundation - MRC Holland". www.mrcholland.com. Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  16. "MRC-Holland Foundation" (in Dutch). Retrieved 2021-05-14.
  17. MRC Holland Foundation Documentary Part 1 , retrieved 2021-05-14