Ferdows Atiq
Advancing the understanding, diagnosis, and classification of von Willebrand disease
Ferdows Atiq obtained his Medical Degree from Erasmus University Rotterdam in 2017, after which he completed a PhD on von Willebrand disease at the same institution in 2022. During his doctoral training, he also graduated cum laude from the Master’s program in Clinical Epidemiology (NIHES) at Erasmus University. In 2022, he began his specialist training in Internal Medicine and Hematology, which he paused for 2.5 years to undertake a postdoctoral fellowship at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) in Dublin. He currently combines the completion of his Internal Medicine-Hematology training with his role as a Research Group Leader.
Our research
Unraveling the Biology of von Willebrand Factor and the Mechanisms Underlying von Willebrand Disease
Von Willebrand disease (VWD), the most common inherited bleeding disorder, is caused by quantitative and/or qualitative defects of the hemostatic protein von Willebrand factor (VWF). The laboratory and clinical phenotype of affected individuals varies depending on the nature and location of the underlying variant in the VWF gene. Our research aims to elucidate how these variants alter VWF function, synthesis, secretion, and clearance, ultimately leading to the diverse manifestations of VWD.
Redefining the Diagnosis and Classification of von Willebrand Disease
The complex biology of VWF (Atiq & O’Donnell, Blood 2024) makes the diagnosis and classification of VWD challenging in clinical practice. Accurate (sub)classification is of direct clinical importance, as treatments that are beneficial in certain VWD subtypes may be ineffective or even contraindicated in others. By leveraging large international VWD cohorts, we aim to refine and improve the diagnosis and classification of VWD. Using this approach, we recently identified a previously overlooked subgroup of patients who should be recognized as having VWD (Atiq et al., Blood 2025). In addition, we demonstrated that age-related changes in VWF levels can have a significant impact on the diagnosis of VWD (Atiq et al., Blood 2024).
Our team
Robin Blok, PhD student
Emily Somohardjo, PhD student
Seyam Alemyar, BSc student
Key publications
Ferdows Atiq, R. Blok, C. van Kwawegen, D. Doherty, M. Lavin, J.G. van der Bom, N.M. O'Connell, J. de Meris, K. Ryan, S.E.M. Schols, M.B. Byrne, F.C.J.I. Heubel-Moenen, K.P.M. van Galen, R.J.S. Preston, M.H. Cnossen, K. Fijnvandraat, R.I. Baker, K. Meijer, P.D. James, J. Di Paola, H.C.J. Eikenboom, F.W.G. Leebeek, J.S. O'Donnell. Type 1 VWD classification revisited - novel insights from combined analysis of the LoVIC and WiN studies. Blood. 2024 April 4. Vol 143. No 14. Page 1414-1424.
Ferdows Atiq, R. Blok, C. van Kwawegen, D. Doherty, M. Lavin, J.G. van der Bom, N.M. O'Connell, J. de Meris, K. Ryan, S.E.M. Schols, M.B. Byrne, F.C.J.I. Heubel-Moenen, K.P.M. van Galen, R.J.S. Preston, M.H. Cnossen, K. Fijnvandraat, R.I. Baker, K. Meijer, P.D. James, J. Di Paola, H.C.J. Eikenboom, F.W.G. Leebeek, J.S. O'Donnell. Clinical phenotype and pathophysiological mechanisms underlying qualitative low VWF. Blood. 2025 Jul 17. Vol 146. No 3. Page 369-381.
Ferdows Atiq and J.S. O’Donnell. Novel Functions for Von Willebrand Factor. Blood. 2024 Sep 19. Vol 144. No 12. Page 1247-1256.
Ferdows Atiq, J.L. Saes, M.C. Punt, K.P.M. van Galen, R.E.G. Schutgens, K. Meijer, M.H. Cnossen, B.A.P. Laros-Van Gorkom, M. Peters, L. Nieuwenhuizen, M.J.H.A. Kruip, J. de Meris, J.G. van der Bom, F.J.M. van der Meer, K. Fijnvandraat, I.C. Kruis, W.L. van Heerde, H.C.J. Eikenboom, F.W.G. Leebeek and S.E.M. Schols. Major differences in clinical presentation, diagnosis and management of men and women with autosomal inherited bleeding disorders. Lancet EClinicalMedicine. 2021 Jan. Vol 32.
Byrne C, Ward S, O'Sullivan JM, Chan Kwo Chion A, Lopes P, Baci B, Dowd C, Jordan D, Baker RI, Preston R, Monopoli M, Turecek PL, Kotsias M, Cheeseman J, Moran A, Gardner RA, Spencer DIR, Ferdows Atiq, O'Donnell JS. Enhanced α2-3 linked sialylation determines the extended half-life of CHO-rVWF. Blood. 2025 Jun 5;145(23):2768-2773.
Ferdows Atiq, J. Heijdra, F. Snijders, J. Boender, E. Kempers, W.L. van Heerde, S. Krouwel, S.C. Schoormans, J. de Meris, D.M.S.M. Maas, S.E.M. Schols, K.P.M. van Galen, J.G. van der bom, M.H. Cnossen, K. Meijer, K. Fijnvandraat, H.C.J. Eikenboom, F.W.G. Leebeek, for the WiN study group. Desmopressin response depends on the presence and type of genetic variants in type 1 and type 2 von Willebrand disease patients. Blood Advances. 2022 Sep. Vol 27. No 6(18). Page 5317-5326.
Ferdows Atiq, L.M. Schütte, A.E.M. Looijen, J. Boender, M.H. Cnossen, J. Eikenboom, M.P.M. de Maat, M.J.H.A. Kruip and F.W.G. Leebeek. VWF and factor VIII levels after desmopressin are associated with bleeding phenotype in type 1 VWD. Blood Advances. 2019 Dec. Vol 3. No 24. Page 4147-4154.
O. Seidizadeh, Ferdows Atiq, N.T. Connell, P. Alavi, G. Castaman, D. Lillicrap, F. Peyvandi. Von Willebrand factor and von Willebrand disease in ageing: mechanisms, evolving phenotypes, and clinical implications. Lancet Haematology. 2025 Nov. Vol 12. No 11. E908-917.
J.S. O'Donnell, R.I. Baker, Ferdows Atiq. Low von Willebrand factor-unraveling an enigma wrapped in a conundrum. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 2024 Dec. Vol 22. No 12. Page 3383-3388.
Ferdows Atiq, E. Wuijster, M.P.M. de Maat, M.J.H.A. Kruip, M.H. Cnossen and F.W.G. Leebeek. Criteria for low von Willebrand factor diagnosis and risk score to predict future bleeding. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. 2021 March. Vol 19. No 3. Page 719-731.