Dr Ir Michiel Adriaens, Ph.D. (M.E.)

Michiel Adriaens is a bioinformatician and Assistant Professor at the Maastricht Centre for Systems Biology and Bioinformatics, with expertise in systems genomics. His team develops tools for molecular subtyping: identifying biologically meaningful subgroups within complex molecular data, and building computational models that explain why those subgroups differ. His work spans precision medicine, precision nutrition and digital twinning, often as part of broader collaborations across disciplines.

A key focus is metabolic dysfunction in cardiomyopathies. In cardiomyopathy patients, metabolic impairments can exhaust the heart and lead to severe complications. His team integrates multi-omics data into personalized, mechanistic models of human metabolism to uncover distinct metabolic subtypes, with the goal of detecting problems early and identifying targets for prevention and patient-specific recovery.

In precision nutrition, his team develops machine learning frameworks to design and evaluate targeted dietary interventions. In the PERSON study, this approach was used to address tissue-specific insulin resistance in overweight and obese adults. The PRECINUT study takes this further, tailoring dietary recommendations monitored through wearables and food diaries.

Michiel is an active member of the research community, nationally through BioSB, and internationally as the chair of the European NuGO Bioinformatics and Systems Biology working group. He is also an enthusiastic educator with teaching roles across Bachelor and Master programmes at the FSE, FHML and FPN faculties.