In Memoriam Petra Peeters – Julius Center Research Program Cancer

Julius Center Research Program Cancer posted on LinkedIn:

“In Memoriam Petra Peeters.

Last Friday March 21, we celebrated the profoundly rich life of Professor Petra Peeters and had to bid her a final farewell. On a beautiful sunny day.

Rays of warm light in the face of true loss: so typically Petra.

It is difficult to grasp the full scope of her impactful academic career. She went to medical school in Nijmegen where she spent six months in Tanzania as part of a tropical medicine internship and vaccination research program. After medical school, she stayed in Nijmegen as a PhD student and studied the side effects of population breast cancer screening before its actual nationwide implementation.

In 1989, Petra went to Utrecht where she focused on breast cancer epidemiology as an associate professor. Here, she played a fundamental role in founding the Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care at the UMC Utrecht, and contributed enthusiastically to teaching. Since 2007, she held a chair in Chronic Disease Epidemiology as full professor with a shared appointment in Utrecht and at the Imperial College London, UK, until her premature retirement in 2020.

Petra was principal investigator of the Prospect-EPIC study, part of the large ongoing European Prospective Investigation of Cancer and Nutrition. A global cornerstone of research into opportunities for prevention and early detection of cancer. Petra was at the forefront of studying genetic polymorphisms and gene-environment interactions in relation to cancer occurrence.

She also contributed to clinical studies such as COBRA and MONET, showing that large core needle biopsies are equally effective compared to surgical biopsies for breast cancer diagnosis, and that preoperative breast MRI should not be used routinely for work-up of patients with non-palpable breast cancer.

With 800+ scientific publications Petra has left a huge scientific legacy, amplified by the fact that she was a wonderful mentor and played a fundamental role in still ongoing projects at the Julius Center. These include research into the effects of lifestyle and physical activity for patients with cancer and improving early detection of breast cancer in women with dense breasts. She mentored young researchers with kindness and true interest combined with selflessness, but also with an honest and constructive critical to-the-point attitude fueled by a razor-sharp intellect. She was very diplomatic, always open to other people’s views and willing to really put effort in making collaborations work – which they did.

Petra was a very loved colleague and friend, and she will be missed by many. She truly touched the lives of the people she worked with and met. Even in a fleeting encounter she was able to invoke warmth. She had a wonderful sense of humor, and despite her increasingly disabling condition was able to find meaning and joy in her life with unparalleled mental strength. Petra was a role model in countless ways, and she will live on in the hearts of many.”

Nirmala Bhoo Pathy, Professor of Epidemiology in the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine at University Malaya, shared this post on LinkedIn, adding:

“I first saw Petra Peeters in September 2008, during my first few weeks as a Master’s student in Epidemiology at Utrecht. She was teaching us study designs, and I must admit that it was a rather intimidating experience. She seemed stern and spoke with such seriousness that when I later learned she would be my PhD promotor (lead supervisor), I was scared stiff.

How wrong I was!

Petra turned out to be the gentlest and kindest soul. She became my role model… steadily guiding me, always encouraging and deeply invested in my growth. She even funded my first ever trip to London to attend a summer course at Imperial College, opening doors I never imagined would be within reach.

Her dry wit and sense of humor always made me feel at ease, and her quiet strength left a lasting impression.

Petra, here’s a big cheers to you. I hope you’re very proud of me, just as I feel so proud to have been mentored and shaped by you. I’ll always treasure our quiet tea moments and I’ll never forget how you told me I was one of your best students. It really meant the world to me and still does!!

With my head held high, I will continue your tradition of practicing and promoting good science. Thank you, Petra… for everything!!”