Projects per year
Personal profile
Research profile
Natal van Riel is Professor of Biomedical Systems Biology at the department of Biomedical Engineering (research group Computational Biology) at Eindhoven University of Technology, where he leads the Systems Biology and Metabolic Diseases research program. He is also part-time Professor of Computational Modelling at Amsterdam University Medical Centers (location AMC, University of Amsterdam's Faculty of Medicine). His research focuses on modelling of metabolic networks and physiology, machine learning for parameter estimation, methods for analysis of dynamic models, and applications in Metabolic Syndrome and associated diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes.
The role of bile acids in the complex interaction between gut microbiome and metabolic health is currently an important research focus in his group (e.g. in the RESOLVE project in collaboration with Amsterdam UMC). Within the NWO program ‘Complexity in Health and Nutrition’, Natal van Riel also focuses on modelling the digestion and metabolism of nutrients in the project ‘Metabolic adaptation, transitions and resilience in overweight individuals’. In cooperation with the Catharina hospital in Eindhoven he has developed the Metabolic Health Index (MHI) to quantify the benefit of bariatric surgery to resolve metabolic diseases (type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia), which is a second important outcome of the surgical treatment in addition to weight reduction. He develops metabolic 'digital twins' of human individuals to enable predictive, preventive, personalized, and participatory medicine. In the DiaGame project digital twins are developed to empower patients with diabetes in self-management of their disease.
Academic background
Natal van Riel studied Electrical Engineering at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e, The Netherlands) where he was trained in system identification and control engineering. After receiving his MSc degree in 1995, he started PhD research in the Biotechnology group of Unilever Research Vlaardingen (The Netherlands) under supervision of Prof. Theo Verrips, on integrating computational modelling and experiments to study cell metabolism. In 2000, he obtained his PhD from Utrecht University (The Netherlands). From 2000 to 2003, he worked in the department of Electrical Engineering of TU/e, investigating the application of system and control theory to understand biological processes. In 2003, he was appointed as Assistant Professor in the department of Biomedical Engineering at TU/e where he initiated Systems Biology research. This was expanded when he joined the group of Prof. Peter Hilbers in 2006, to lead the Computational Systems Biology research program, investigating complex, multi-factorial diseases. In 2014, Natal van Riel was appointed Associate Professor of Systems Biology and Metabolic Diseases. In that same year he was a visiting scholar of the department of Bioengineering at the University of California San Diego (UCSD) in the group of Prof. Bernhard Palsson. In 2015, he was appointed part-time Professor of Computational Modelling at the Academic Medical Center AMC (University of Amsterdam). In 2019, he was appointed full Professor of Biomedical Systems Biology at TU/e.
Quote
In the past decade Systems Biology has become an established methodology for integrative and quantitative life science research. It is our goal to translate Systems Biology to biomedical and medical research and education to understand, cure and prevent diseases.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
External positions
Professor Computational Modelling, Amsterdam University Medical Center
Nov 2015 → …
Associate member of the Maastricht Centre for Systems Biology (MaCSBio), Maastricht University
2015 → …
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Network
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ACACIA TKI2112P08
van Riel, N. A. W., van Riel, N. A. W. & van Mierlo, R.
1/05/21 → 30/04/26
Project: Research direct
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DiaGame: Serious and personalized game for self-management of diabetes
van Riel, N. A. W., de Vries, R., Ferreira de Carvalho, D., Hilbers, P. A. J., Van Gorp, P., Kaymak, U., Haak, H. R., Wouters-van Poppel, P. & Reinders, E.
1/01/19 → 31/12/25
Project: Research direct
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NWO/Complexity/MATRyOSka
van Riel, N. A. W., O'Donovan, S., Arts, I. C. W. & Afman, L.
1/10/17 → 30/06/23
Project: Research direct
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NWO Building Blocks of Life 737.016.001 Yeast 3M
van Riel, N. A. W., Lao Martil, D., Teusink, B., Wahl, S. A. & Schmitz, J. P. J.
1/01/18 → 31/12/22
Project: Research direct
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A wearable patch based remote early warning score (REWS) in major abdominal cancer surgery patients
van der Stam, J. A., Mestrom, E. H. J., Nienhuijs, S. W., de Hingh, I. H. J. T., Boer, A-K., van Riel, N. A. W., de Groot, K. T. J., Verhaegh, W., Scharnhorst, V. & Bouwman, R. A., Jan 2023, In: European Journal of Surgical Oncology. 49, p. 278-284 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile7 Downloads (Pure) -
E-DES-PROT: A novel computational model to describe the effects of amino acids and protein on postprandial glucose and insulin dynamics in humans
van Sloun, B., Goossens, G. H., Erdõs, B., O'Donovan, S. D., Singh-Povel, C. M., Geurts, J. M. W., van Riel, N. A. W. & Arts, I. C. W., 17 Mar 2023, In: iScience. 26, 3, 14 p., 106218.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile7 Downloads (Pure) -
Elucidating yeast glycolytic dynamics at steady state growth and glucose pulses through kinetic metabolic modeling
Lao-Martil, D., Schmitz, J. P. J., Teusink, B. & van Riel, N. A. W., May 2023, In: Metabolic Engineering. 77, p. 128-142 15 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
From Population to Personalized Physiological Models: Parameter Estimation Approaches in a Physiology-Constrained Simulation Study
de Vries, R., O'Donovan, S. & van Riel, N. A. W., 2023.Research output: Contribution to conference › Poster
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Machine Learning for Postoperative Continuous Recovery Scores of Oncology Patients in Perioperative Care with Data from Wearables
van den Eijnden, M. A. C., van der Stam, J. A., Bouwman, R. A., Mestrom, E. H. J., Verhaegh, W. F. J., van Riel, N. A. W. & Cox, L. G. E., 2 May 2023, In: Sensors. 23, 9, 15 p., 4455.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Academic › peer-review
Open AccessFile1 Downloads (Pure)
Datasets
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Database for "The impact of amino acids on postprandial glucose and insulin kinetics in humans: a quantitative overview"
van Sloun, B. (Creator), Goossens, G. H. (Creator), Erdos, B. (Creator), Lenz, M. (Creator), van Riel, N. A. W. (Creator), Arts, I. C. W. (Creator) & Wauters, F. (Contributor), DataverseNL, 21 Oct 2020
DOI: 10.34894/rnzi0a
Dataset
Prizes
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AMC Principal Investigator
van Riel, Natal A.W. (Recipient), 1 May 2016
Prize: Other › Career, activity or publication related prizes (lifetime, best paper, poster etc.) › Scientific
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COST Action BM1402: Development of a European network for preclinical testing of interventions in mouse models of age and age-related diseases (MouseAGE)
van Riel, Natal A.W. (Recipient), 1 Dec 2014
Prize: Other › Discipline related › Scientific
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Koninklijke Onderscheiding; Lid in de Orde van Oranje-Nassau/ Recipient of Dutch Royal Order of Chivalry, Order of Orange-Nassau
van Riel, Natal A.W. (Recipient), 27 Mar 2014
Prize: Other › Career, activity or publication related prizes (lifetime, best paper, poster etc.) › Scientific
Activities
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Personalized modelling of bile acid metabolism: predicting metabolic effects of bariatric surgery
Natal van Riel (Speaker)
6 Jul 2018Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk › Scientific
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A physiology based glucose-insulin-GLP-1 model: explaining changes observed after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass
L.C.P. Thijssen (Speaker) & Natal van Riel (Member)
15 May 2018Activity: Talk or presentation types › Contributed talk › Scientific
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4th Dutch Bioinformatics & Systems Biology Conference
Natal van Riel (Organiser)
15 May 2018 → 16 May 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Conference › Scientific
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Systems Medicine of Metabolic Syndrome; metabolic benefits of bariatric surgery
Natal van Riel (Speaker)
2 Mar 2018Activity: Talk or presentation types › Invited talk › Scientific
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Modeling of postprandial metabolic dynamics in human individuals
Natal van Riel (Organiser)
22 Jan 2018Activity: Participating in or organising an event types › Workshop, seminar, course or exhibition › Scientific
Courses
Press/Media
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New computational tool predicts progression of metabolic syndrome in mice
Natal van Riel & Y.J.W. Rozendaal
7/06/18
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Research
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PANINI Public Engagement Event
Andrea Cabbia & N.A.W. van Riel
29/01/17
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Public Engagement Activities
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Thesis
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Algorithms for estimation of model errors and uncertainties arising in black box system identification
Author: van Riel, N. A. W., 31 Oct 1995Supervisor: van den Bosch, P. P. J. (Supervisor 1)
Student thesis: Master
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