UT researcher Kim Wijlens (EEMCS/TechMed Centre) is one of the winners of the Jacqueline van Berkum Awards. This prize of ¤1,000 per person is awarded to young researchers who conduct innovative research or develop impactful innovations in the field of women’s health. The prize was presented during the celebration of the first anniversary of the Netherlands Women’s Health Research & Innovation Centre (NL WHRIC) event. The meeting focused on women’s health, International Women’s Day, innovation and the future of gender-aware research.
Wijlens received the award for her article: A holistic profile for cancer-related fatigue for women with breast cancer - a qualitative study. Fatigue is by far the most common complaint after (breast) cancer. Her research focuses on monitoring fatigue after breast cancer and developing personalised treatment advice to provide appropriate care. Her most important findings so far are: fatigue is complex and multidimensional, fatigue requires a holistic approach, and fatigue is still under-recognised and under-treated. Wijlens is still looking for participants for her study. You can register here: fatigue after breast cancer (Dutch website). Kim Wijlens is a postdoctoral researcher in the Biomedical Signals and Systems group.
The Jacqueline van Berkum Awards are intended for researchers who are doing groundbreaking work in the field of women’s health. Thanks to the generous support of her partner, each award comes with a grant of ¤1,000.
Kim Wijlens’ work is used in teaching the minor "Technology for Women’s Health in a Lifespan Perspective" . This minor at the University of Twente is the only minor worldwide in the field of multidisciplinary design of technology for women’s health. Students from the Netherlands and abroad can register for the next edition, which starts in November 2026. For UT students: the minor fair for first-semester minors will be held on Tuesday, 24 March 2026, from 10:00 to 14:00 @DesignLab.