Ron Heeren

Ron Heeren is a pioneer in mass spectrometry, a technique for identifying isotopes and molecules. Thanks to methods he has developed, it is now possible to take a wide variety of samples and rapidly and precisely analyse and localise them down to the molecular level. Researchers can, for example, use a single hair to determine the chemicals to which a person has been exposed on a given day, view a single cancer cell, or analyse the pigment in an old painting. Heeren’s work is of immense importance to innovative, personalised patient care and molecular pathology. It comes as no surprise that he has nine patents to his name, several of which have already been used in commercial products.