Contact details

Prof. Dr. Barbro N. Melgert
University of Groningen
Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy
Department of Molecular Pharmacology
Antonius Deusinglaan 1
9713 AV Groningen
The Netherlands

Phone: +31 6 31921664
Email: b.n.melgert@rug.nl
Website: www.rug.nl/staff/b.n.melgert/
Bluesky: @bnmelgert.bsky.social
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/barbro-melgert-34089432

Short biography

Barbro N. Melgert is Professor of Respiratory Immunology at the University of Groningen and trained as a pharmacist. Her research focuses on the effects of allergens and pollutants on the immune system in the lung, with the goal of developing better treatments for chronic lung diseases like asthma, COPD, and pulmonary fibrosis. She is PI or co-PI on several national and European projects on the health effects of microplastics and on immunomodulation in lung disease, and is involved in science communication on air pollution and plastic health risks. She is an award-winning educator and course coordinator for Pharmacy students, and has a strong focus on innovative teaching tools and public engagement. According to Google scholar(May 2025), she has 101 publications, >6900 citations, and an h-index of 44.

Selected projects

• Interrogating microplastics as an environmental driver of lung cancer origin
  ZonMW open competition, The Netherlands
  PI | Duration: 2025-2029

• Fate and Impact of Plastics - from Macro to Nano - on Planetary Health (PLASTIMPACT)
  ENLIGHT Thematic Network ETN, European University Alliance, European Commission´s Education and Audiovisual Executive Agency. Referencia: INT-ERASMUS+23/07
  Co-PI | Duration: 2024-2027

• MOMENTUM: Human health effects of microplastics
  ZonMW Microplastics & Health, The Netherlands
  Co-PI | Duration: 2021–2025

• Microplastics and Citizens
  ZonMW Microplastics & Health Breakthrough project
  Co-PI | Duration 2023-2025

• EMISSION: Role of environmental microplastics in sarcoidosis and lung inflammation
  Erasmus MC Research Innovation Grant
  Co-PI | Duration: 2023–2025

• Nylon dust: A lungful of trouble?
  Noordelijke CARA Stichting, The Netherlands
  PI | Duration: 2023–2025

• Microplastics macroproblem: Serious gaming to increase awareness of inhalable microplastics
  Young Academy Groningen
  Co-PI | Duration: 2022–2023

• What is the impact of microplastic fibers on our lungs?
  ZonMW Microplastics & Health Breakthrough project
  PI | Duration 2019-2021