Marlies Gijs’ research has shown that Alzheimer’s can be diagnosed using tear fluid. However, this method is not yet available for use in clinical settings. The Smart Tears Fund aims to promote the development and application of tears in medical science to improve people’s health and wellbeing. The Fund specifically focuses on the 3 Ps of modern medicine: personalised, predictive, and preventive. This means using tear fluid to detect diseases early, forecast their progression, and tailor treatments to each patient’s personal situation. This is achieved by supporting research into substances (so-called biomarkers) in tears that can reveal information about eye diseases, brain disorders, and other health issues. Tears, it turns out, are cleverer than you might think.
In 2024, Marlies launched a crowdfunding campaign, including an art auction, to raise awareness and donations for her pioneering research. Owing to the campaign’s success and strong interest from various societal partners, a Named Fund was established to secure long-term support. The Limburg University Fund looks forward to continued collaboration with Marlies and her supporting partners.
Smart tears deserve a smart researcher – and fortunately, there’s Marlies. Dr Marlies Gijs is a biochemist and a university lecturer at the University Eye Clinic of Maastricht UMC+ and Maastricht University. She is fascinated by tears, which she believes are not only a valuable source of disease-specific substances, but also offer unique insights in other ways. For instance, newborn babies cry without producing tears.
Gijs is also the founder of the Tear Research Network, which brings together ophthalmologists and scientists from around the world who are involved in tear fluid research. Her particular interest lies in what the eye can reveal about brain disorders. She was the first researcher in the world to detect Alzheimer’s biomarkers in tear fluid.
Would you like more information about this fund or to make a donation? Visit UMCrowd.
The Spending Committee consists of:
At the first meeting of the Named Fund, F. van den Biggelaar will act as Chair of the Spending Committee.
Would you like to support the Smart Tears Fund, part of the University Fund Limburg (ANBI), in its mission?
We would greatly appreciate your support. You can easily contribute via the donate button below or by transferring your donation to the bank account of the University Fund Limburg:
IBAN: NL21 INGB 0653 6632 42
for the attention of the Smart Tears Fund.
