Dr. Jorke Kamstra is an associate professor at the Division of Toxicology, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, where he leads the endocrine toxicology team. His team is dedicated to understanding how endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) interfere with molecular pathways that regulate energy metabolism and cellular differentiation, particularly in the context of metabolic diseases such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Central to his work is the investigation of how metabolic disruptors act on transcriptional and epigenetic regulatory networks, and influence gene expression programs and shape phenotypes. He is especially interested in the role of epigenetic reprogramming in mediating persistent or transgenerational effects of EDCs. By combining mechanistic toxicology with systems-level approaches, his teams aims to uncover critical pathways and molecular initiating events underlying EDC-induced metabolic dysfunction.
As part of this research, his team develops and applies in vitro models or new approach methdologies (NAM) to study effects on adipocyte, liver and pancreas to identify chemical stressors with metabolism-disrupting potential. These models are also being advanced toward regulatory acceptance through assay (pre)validation and standardization, facilitating their broader application in risk assessment.
Current topics include:
Influence of EDCs on the progression of fatty liver disease (
Effects of BPA alternatives on adiposity via adipogenesis and PPAR gamma, and in interaction with the immune system (
Effects of PFAS on PPAR gamma and their effects on adipogenesis and pancreas (AFARA)
Under his leadership, the endocrine toxicology team also contributes to the development and application of innovative, animal-free approaches for chemical safety assessment. This includes advancing human-relevant in vitro models for studying reproductive and developmental toxicity. The team plays an active role in promoting new approach methodologies (NAMs) to support regulatory uptake.
Academic career
Dr. Kamstra received his PhD from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU) in 2017, where he studied the transgenerational effects of environmental stress via epigenetic inheritance in zebrafish. He continued this line of research during a postdoctoral fellowship. Before his PhD, he worked for over a decade as a research technician at the Institute for Environmental Studies, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. In 2014, he earned his MSc in Molecular Cell Biology cum laude.
