Rob Holtackers

Rob Holtackers is an assistant professor and MRI physicist from the Maastricht University Medical Centre (MUMC+) in the Netherlands, who is currently visiting the Department of Radiology of the Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV) in Switzerland for 12 months. His research focuses mainly on the development and implementation of new myocardial tissue characterization techniques in collaboration with clinicians. Other research interests include real-time MRI-guided cardiac ablation therapy and low-field cardiac MRI.

Rob studied Biomedical Engineering at the Eindhoven University of Technology (NL), where he obtained his master’s degree in Medical Engineering with cum laude distinction in 2015. After a 4-month research internship at King’s College London (UK), he started his doctoral research on improved myocardial scar detection using MRI at the Maastricht University Medical Centre (NL). In 2017, Rob was appointed as permanent research staff member in the Department of Radiology & Nuclear Imaging. Later in 2019, he was also offered a honorary visiting position at the School of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging Sciences at King’s College London. Early 2022, Rob successfully defended his doctoral thesis (link) with cum laude distinction at the Maastricht University (NL). His work led to three magna cum laude awards at international annual meetings and two thesis awards for best PhD thesis.

Rob now continues his work as MRI physicist at Maastricht UMC+, King’s College London, and Lausanne University Hospital. Additionally, he serves as member of the EACVI MRI examination board, treasurer of the ISMRM Benelux Chapter, editor for two international peer-reviewed journals, and as member of the program committees of both the CMR2024 and ECR2024 congresses.