Prof. Dr. Hanneke Hulst

 

 

 

 

 

 

Professor Hanneke Hulst is the Scientific Director of the Institute of Psychology at Leiden University,  where she also holds the Chair of Neuropsychology in Health and Disease.

She earned her Bachelor and Master’s degrees in Health Sciences, as well as a Master’s in Neuroscience, from VU University Amsterdam in 2005 and 2008, respectively. She then pursued her PhD at Amsterdam UMC (VUmc location), which she completed in 2014. In 2020, she further expanded her expertise by obtaining a Master of Philosophy in Bioethics and Health. With this diverse academic background, she seamlessly bridges multiple disciplines, fostering connections that transcend traditional boundaries.

Professor Hulst’s research centers on cognitive impairments in individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS). Using advanced MRI techniques, she explores the neurobiological underpinnings of these impairments while also working to enhance care and treatment through amongst others digital innovations such as the Multiple Screener.

Her team further investigates preventive, non-pharmacological interventions, inspired by findings that a brain network resembling that of healthy individuals—measured via functional MRI—predicts treatment success. These insights suggest that early intervention may be key to improving outcomes.

Beyond her research, Professor Hulst is deeply committed to science communication. She regularly writes popular science columns for platforms such as the Dutch MS Society and Mindslab.nl. Additionally, she serves as the General Manager of Stichting Brein in Beeld, an organization dedicated to making (neuro)scientific knowledge accessible to the public.