Early Career Researchers

Dr Blokland graduated with a dual-awarded PhD degree from the University of Newcastle and the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, in the field of immunology and microbiology, and medical sciences. The focus of his thesis was on “The ECM as a driver of fibroblast senescence and disrupted epithelial repair in IPF”. He joined the Woolcock Institute of Medical Research in early 2022 as a post-doctoral research fellow in the Airway Physiology and Imaging Group.

Dr Blokland has research interests in cell biology, airway physiology, chronic lung disease and early detection of lung disease following bone marrow transplantation. His expertise includes complex measures of lung function, 3D imaging and molecular biology.

Dr Blokland is a member of the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand, European Respiratory Society, Netherlands Respiratory Society, and Dutch Society for Matrix Biology, and is co-coordinator of the weekly respiratory seminar meetings at the Woolcock.