
Introduce
The board of the foundation has stood at the cradle of the development and implementation of modern molecular diagnostics in the Netherlands. Cees Oudejans is the founder of the NIPT test in the Netherlands. Erik Sistermans has subsequently been the driving force for the national implementation. Thanks to further efforts by Erik and colleagues, the NIPT test is currently standard in prenatal diagnosis in the Netherlands (https://meerovernipt.nl). The NIPT test is a safe and reliable blood test during pregnancy that analyzes the genetic material (DNA) of the placenta (ie child) for the presence of genetic abnormalities. The NIPT test is the biggest diagnostic breakthrough of the past decade and was invented by Dennis Lo (see committee of recommendation). The foundation wants to take the next step: instead of investigating the code (DNA), analyze the printout (RNA), because RNA is a better reflection of the actual situation of a disease (process), the course, the outcome and the possibilities for therapy and prevention. With this approach, the foundation aims to reduce the death rates of pregnant women and newborns in Indonesia.