Dr. Wim H. de Jong serves as Chief Science Officer at the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, RIVM) in Bilthoven, Netherlands, where he provides strategic scientific leadership across the institute's comprehensive research portfolio. With decades of experience in toxicological sciences, Dr. de Jong has established himself as a leading authority in immunotoxicology and risk assessment methodologies, bringing rigorous scientific standards to complex public health challenges. His career at RIVM has spanned multiple progressive leadership roles, culminating in his current position where he oversees the scientific integrity and strategic direction of the institute's research programs that directly inform national and European public health policies. Dr. de Jong's expertise in translating complex toxicological data into actionable public health guidance has made him a respected figure within both Dutch and international scientific communities.
Dr. de Jong's seminal contributions to immunotoxicology include the development and refinement of tiered testing strategies for assessing direct immunotoxic effects of xenobiotics, which have become foundational approaches in regulatory toxicology worldwide. His 2013 research on the systemic and immunotoxicity of silver nanoparticles, cited over 340 times, provided critical insights into the biological impacts of nanomaterials and established methodological frameworks now widely adopted in nanotoxicology research. His earlier work in 2007 outlined systematic approaches for screening xenobiotics for direct immunotoxicity, emphasizing comprehensive evaluation of immune organs and functionality in toxicity testing protocols. These methodological innovations have significantly advanced the field's ability to identify and characterize potential immunotoxic hazards, thereby enhancing population protection from emerging environmental threats.
As a member of the Working Group of the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety, Dr. de Jong has played a pivotal role in shaping European scientific advice on consumer product safety and risk assessment methodologies. His leadership extends to environmental health risk signaling, where he has contributed to frameworks for early identification and assessment of emerging environmental health risks, as evidenced by his involvement in RIVM reports on systematic risk signaling approaches. Dr. de Jong continues to guide the scientific direction of RIVM's research on novel toxicological challenges, including the assessment of complex mixtures and emerging contaminants in the environment. His ongoing commitment to strengthening the scientific basis of public health decision-making ensures that his work remains at the forefront of protecting population health in an increasingly complex chemical landscape.
