Sputum is a world-renowned and respected immunologist. In 1983 he graduated in Medical Sciences from the University of Amsterdam. In 2002 he was appointed Professor of Cell Biology at the Academic Medical Center (AMC), having previously worked at the Netherlands Cancer Institute and Schering Plow in France and the United States. From 2006 to 2009, he was a senior director of the immunology division at biotech company Genentech in San Francisco. He later returned to AMC where he supervised PhD students.
Thanks to his knowledge of basic biology, Mr. Spets has been able to develop unique new treatments for serious diseases. He was one of the founders of the so-called PDL1 antibody. This antibody is a very important addition to treatment options for serious infectious diseases and is used to treat various types of metastatic cancer.
Spits’ international scientific career is very special because he can’t hear and relies on lip reading. This makes him an example for other deaf and hard of hearing. He has also trained many foreign students, doctoral students and doctors. Due to the special social significance and the image of the activities of Mr. Spetses, he was appointed a Knight of the Order of the Dutch Lion.
The Order of the Dutch Lion The Order of the Dutch Lion is one of the oldest and highest civil (knight) rank in the Netherlands. King William I established the Order on September 29, 1815. A person qualifies for an award in this order when a special service of an extremely exceptional nature is rendered to the community.
