Technohal

dr.ir. L. Alic (Lejla)

Associate Professor
TNW-BIS-MDI
Technohal 2186
l.alic@utwente.nl
+31534898731
Business card

Lejla currently holds the position of Associate Professor at the Department of Magnetic Detection and Imaging. Her expertise lies in the fields of medical imaging, computer vision, medical devices, and laparoscopy, as evidenced by her (co-)authorship of over 70 publications (excluding conference abstracts).

Lejla pursued her studies in Electrical Engineering at Delft University of Technology. Under the guidance of Prof. Babuska, she successfully completed her undergraduate program focusing on fuzzy clustering of medical signals. She also worked alongside Dr. ir. van Wijk van Brievingh, Prof. Ince, and Prof. Lelieveldt exploring the analysis of colonoscopy images. In 2013 she obtained het PhD from Erasmus Universiteit Rotterdam (Biomedical imaging Group Rotterdam) supervised by Prof. Niessen. Her research in this period encompassed a wide range of methods for assessing cancer treatment outcomes using pre-clinical and clinical data. Her doctoral thesis, titled ‘Quantification of tumour heterogeneity in MRI’, was defended within two graduate schools: Advanced School for Computing and Imaging and Molecular Medicine.

Throughout her academic journey, Lejla has held research fellowships at esteemed institutions, including Leiden University Medical Center (Division of Image Processing), Academic Medical Center University of Amsterdam (Experimental Anaesthesiology), Engineering Science at the University of Oxford (Robotics Research Group, led by Sir. Brady), Texas A&M University at Qatar (Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering). Additionally, she served as a scientific researcher and project leader at TNO, a renowned Dutch contract research institute. In 2019, she assumed the role of Assistant Professor at the Department of Magnetic Detection and Imaging at the University of Twente.

Expertise

  • Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

    • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
    • Magnetism
    • Iron
    • Contrast

  • Medicine and Dentistry

    • Sentinel Lymph Node
    • Radioactive Tracer
    • Tissues
    • Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticle

Organisations

Lejla currently holds the position of Associate Professor at the Department of Magnetic Detection and Imaging. Her expertise lies in the fields of medical imaging, computer vision, medical devices, and laparoscopy, as evidenced by her (co-)authorship of over 70 publications (excluding conference abstracts).

Publications

Jump to: 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022

2025

Head-to-head comparison of fibroblast activation protein inhibitors (FAPI) radiopharmaceuticals and [18F]FDG in gynaecological malignancies: systematic literature review and meta-analysis (2025)European journal of nuclear medicine and molecular imaging (E-pub ahead of print/First online). Florit, A., de Koster, E. J., Sassano, S., Alic, L., Pisano, G., van Velden, F. H. P., Annunziata, S., Primac, I., Ruggiero, M. R., Müller, C., Sala, E., Fendler, W. P., Scambia, G., de Geus-Oei, L.-F., Fagotti, A., Rufini, V. & Collarino, A.https://doi.org/10.1007/s00259-025-07277-0ASO Visual Abstract: Magnetic Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Early Breast Cancer Patients: An Individual Patient Data Meta-Analysis of Tracer Uptake (2025)Annals of surgical oncology, 32(4), 2614-2615. Christenhusz, A., Mirzaei, N., Karakatsanis, A., Eriksson, S., Wärnberg, F., Olofsson Bagge, R., van der Palen, J., Simanowski, J., Salamzadeh, S., Ten Haken, B., Dassen, A. & Alic, L.https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-024-16780-xASO Author Reflections: Redefining Precision–Insights into Magnetic Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy for Early Breast Cancer (2025)Annals of surgical oncology, 32(3), 2106-2107. Christenhusz, A., Mirzaei, N., Wärnberg, F. & Alic, L.https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-024-16725-4Magnetic Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy in Early Breast Cancer Patients: An Individual Patient Data Meta-analysis of Tracer Uptake (2025)Annals of surgical oncology, 32(3), 2079-2091. Christenhusz, A., Mirzaei, N., Karakatsanis, A., Eriksson, S., Wärnberg, F., Olofsson Bagge, R., van der Palen, J., Simanowski, J., Salamzadeh, S., ten Haken, B., Dassen, A. E. & Alic, L.https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-024-16626-6A Machine Learning Model Based on Radiomic Features as a Tool to Identify Active Giant Cell Arteritis on [18F]FDG-PET Images During Follow-Up (2025)Diagnostics, 15(3). Article 367. Vries, H. S., van Praagh, G. D., Nienhuis, P. H., Alic, L. & Slart, R. H. J. A.https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15030367

2024

Engineered SPIONs functionalized with endothelin a receptor antagonist ameliorate liver fibrosis by inhibiting hepatic stellate cell activation (2024)Bioactive Materials, 39, 406-426. ten Hove, M., Smyris, A., Booijink, R., Wachsmuth, L., Hansen, U., Alic, L., Faber, C., Hӧltke, C. & Bansal, R.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioactmat.2024.05.034Sentinel Lymph Node Mapping in Prostate Cancer: Magnetic Route (2024)JU Open Plus, 2(8). Article e00081. Molenaar, L., Roelink, H. J. H., Stomps, S., Haken, B. t., Hulsbergen-van de Kaa, C., Braak, S., Veltman, J., Alic, L. & Broeders, I. A. M. J.https://doi.org/10.1097/JU9.0000000000000183Amide proton transfer weighted imaging in pediatric neuro-oncology: initial experience (2024)NMR in biomedicine, 37(6). Article e5122. Obdeijn, I. V., Wiegers, E. C., Alic, L., Plasschaert, S. L. A., Kranendonk, M. E. G., Hoogduin, H. M., Klomp, D. W. J., Wijnen, J. P. & Lequin, M. H.https://doi.org/10.1002/nbm.5122Technical innovations in breast cancer surgery (2024)[Thesis › PhD Thesis - Research external, graduation UT]. University of Twente. Christenhusz, A.https://doi.org/10.3990/1.9789036561556

2023

Influence of Nanoparticle Coating on the Differential Magnetometry and Wireless Actuation of Biohybrid Microrobots (2023)In 2023 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) (pp. 2653-2658) (Proceedings IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS); Vol. 2023). IEEE. Magdanz, V., Cumming, J. R., Salamzadeh, S., Tesselaar, S., Alic, L., Abelmann, L. & S.M. Khalil, I.https://doi.org/10.1109/IROS55552.2023.10341258Performance of a Nonlinear Magnetic Handheld Probe for Intraoperative Sentinel Lymph Node Detection: A Phantom Study (2023)Annals of surgical oncology, 30(13), 8735-8742. Nieuwenhuis, E. R., Mir, N., Horstman-van de Loosdrecht, M. M., Meeuwis, A. P. W., de Bakker, M. G. J., Scheenen, T. W. J. & Alic, L.https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-023-14166-zRecovery of dilute (bio-based) volatile fatty acids by adsorption with magnetic hyperthermal swing desorption (2023)Separation and purification technology, 323. Article 124273. Elhami, V., Hempenius, M. A., Vancso, G. J., Krooshoop, E. J. G., Alic, L., Qian, X., Jebur, M., Wickramasinghe, R. & Schuur, B.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2023.124273Look-up table for assessment of iron content in Magtrace® samples based on Sentimag® (2023)[Dataset Types › Dataset]. 4TU.Centre for Research Data. Salamzadeh, S., Christenhusz, A. & Alic, L.https://doi.org/10.4121/2ad11693-4d07-488f-936e-a3d4d9430ae0Resolving power phantom for nanoparticles (2023)[Dataset Types › Dataset]. 4TU.Centre for Research Data. Alic, L., Horstman - van de Loosdrecht, M. & Mocking-Nieuwenhuis, E.https://doi.org/10.4121/20193302Radiofrequency localization of nonpalpable breast cancer in a multicentre prospective cohort study: feasibility, clinical acceptability, and safety (2023)Breast cancer research and treatment, 201, 67-75. Christenhusz, A., den Dekker, B. M., van Dalen, T., Jongen, L., van der Schaaf, M. C., Alic, L., ten Haken, B., Pijnappel, R. M. & Dassen, A. E.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-023-07006-xDifferentiating between giant cell arteritis and atherosclerosis on [18F]FDG-PET: An explainable machine learning approach (2023)In 2023 IEEE 36th International Symposium on Computer-Based Medical Systems (CBMS) (pp. 870-875) (Proceedings - IEEE Symposium on Computer-Based Medical Systems; Vol. 2023-June). IEEE. Vries, H. S., Van Praagh, G. D., Nienhuis, P. H., Bouhali, O., Slart, R. H. J. A. & Alic, L.https://doi.org/10.1109/CBMS58004.2023.00334Differential Magnetometry: Selective Magnetometry for In Vivo Use (2023)[Thesis › PhD Thesis - Research UT, graduation UT]. University of Twente. Waanders, S.https://doi.org/10.3990/1.9789036556934Settings of DiffMag handheld probe for maximal detection depth aiming perioperative lymph node harvesting (2023)International Journal on Magnetic Particle Imaging, 9(1, suppl. 1). Article 2303052. Salamzadeh, S., Krooshoop, H. J. G., ten Haken, B. & Alic, L.https://doi.org/10.18416/IJMPI.2023.2303052Near-Infrared Spectral Similarity between Ex Vivo Porcine and In Vivo Human Tissue (2023)Life, 13(2). Article 357. Vries, E. d., Alic, L., Schols, R. M., Emanuel, K. S., Wieringa, F. P., Bouvy, N. D. & Tuijthof, G. J. M.https://doi.org/10.3390/life13020357Intracerebral Hemorrhage Segmentation on Noncontrast Computed Tomography Using a Masked Loss Function U-Net Approach (2023)Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography, 47(1), 93-101. Coorens, N. A., Lipman, K. G., Krishnam, S. P., Tan, C. O., Alic, L. & Gupta, R.https://doi.org/10.1097/RCT.0000000000001380

2022

Excitation coil for sentinel lymph node harvesting: design, digital twin and prototype (2022)Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society. Annual International Conference, 2022, 4402-4406. Molenaar, L., Horstman-van de Loosdrecht, M. M., Krooshoop, H. J. G., Wesselink, R. J. H., Ten Haken, B., Broeders, I. A. M. J. & Alic, L.https://doi.org/10.1109/EMBC48229.2022.9871415Quantification of Magnetic Nanoparticles in ex vivo Colorectal Lymph Nodes (2022)Nano LIFE, 12(03). Article 2250006. Molenaar, L., Loosdrecht, M. M. H. v. d., Alic, L., Baarlen, J. v., Meijerink, J. J. H. J., Haken, B. t., Broeders, I. A. M. J. & Lips, D. J.https://doi.org/10.1142/S1793984422500064Magnetic identification of sentinel lymph nodes in the head and neck: Reaching leaves (2022)[Thesis › PhD Thesis - Research UT, graduation UT]. University of Twente. Nieuwenhuis, E. R.https://doi.org/10.3990/1.9789036554114Tuning Excitation Field Frequency for Magnetic Particle Sensing using Superparamagnetic Quantifier (2022)Journal of biomedical nanotechnology, 18(8), 1994-2000. Horstman - van de Loosdrecht, M. M., Kahmann, T., Ludwig, F. & Alic, L.https://doi.org/10.1166/jbn.2022.3406A Comprehensive Grading System for a Magnetic Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Procedure in Head and Neck Cancer Patients (2022)Cancers, 14(3). Article 678. Nieuwenhuis, E. R., Kolenaar, B., Hof, J. J., Baarlen, J. v., van Bemmel, A. J. M., Christenhusz, A., Scheenen, T. W. J., ten Haken, B., de Bree, R. & Alic, L.https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers14030678

Research profiles

nexMPI       Magnetic Particle Imaging (MPI) is a novel technique offering unique clinical opportunities for diagnosis, therapy, and treatment monitoring. It uses non-toxic magnetic nanoparticles and non-ionizing radiation for real-time, quantitative imaging. The NexMPI Action is Europe’s first MPI research network, bringing together scientists to advance MPI access, collaboration, and development.

melaDIFF is a multi-centre clinical trial evaluating the feasibility and usability of the handheld DiffMag magnetometer for localizing sentinel lymph nodes in melanoma patients during SLNB procedures. The study also explores the potential of lymph node mapping and staging through preoperative SPION-enhanced MRI.

MAGNETICS

LowMag trial

InMediValue

Address

University of Twente

Technohal (building no. 18), room 2186
Hallenweg 5
7522 NH Enschede
Netherlands

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