prof.dr. Mark de Boer, MD

Curriculum Vitae

Markus G.J. de Boer, MD, PhD is Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). He is a clinician-scientist specializing in antimicrobial resistance (AMR), antimicrobial stewardship, and the optimization of antimicrobial therapy in patients with severe and complex infections.

Professor de Boer has played a leading role in the development and implementation of antimicrobial stewardship strategies at both institutional and national levels. From 2018 to 2025, he served as President of the Dutch Working Party on Antibiotic Policy (SWAB), the national organization responsible for antimicrobial policy, guideline development, and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in the Netherlands. In this role, he coordinated multidisciplinary collaboration between infectious diseases specialists, microbiologists, pharmacists, and public health stakeholders.

In addition to his clinical and research activities, Professor de Boer is actively involved in postgraduate education and training and has supervised numerous PhD candidates and residents. He serves on several national and international committees related to antimicrobial resistance, guideline development, and clinical research, including roles within ESCMID.

Through his combined clinical, research, and policy activities, Professor de Boer aims to improve the rational use of antimicrobial therapy and to mitigate the impact of antimicrobial resistance on patient care and public health.

Research

Professor de Boer's work focuses on the intersection of clinical infectious diseases, clinical epidemiology, and health policy. A central theme is the evolving epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in clinically relevant micro-organisms and its impact on patient outcomes and healthcare systems. In particular, his research addresses the consequences of increasing AMR for the management of severe infections, including bloodstream infections such as Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, as well as complex biofilm-associated infections, including prosthetic joint infections.

His research program integrates clinical epidemiology, translational research, and clinical trials, and makes use of large clinical datasets to inform treatment strategies and policy decisions. A specific focus lies on translational research into biofilm-associated infections, combining experimental models with clinical data to develop new therapeutic approaches and improve outcomes in difficult-to-treat infections.

He has been principal investigator or co-investigator in multiple national and international research initiatives, including multicenter clinical trials and projects funded by ZonMw and other funding bodies. His work is embedded in national and international collaborations, including partnerships with institutions such as Duke University and the Karolinska Institute.