Previously, she studied theology and political science at Leiden University and obtained her PhD at Maastricht University. Her research, consultancy and teaching is focused on the ethical issues raised by the rapid developments in regenerative medicine, stem cell research, genetics/genomics, biobanking and novel reproductive technology. She published widely in this field and is member of several (inter)national committees among which the Ethics Working Party of the International Stem Cell Forum, the Young Health Council of the Netherlands, the Dutch National Indication Committee Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis and UMC Utrecht's Research Ethics Committee.