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About

Marco van Vulpen is a leading figure in the development of MRI-guided robotic systems for prostate cancer interventions. His pioneering work focuses on creating precise, minimally invasive treatment platforms that operate within the confined workspace of closed-bore MRI scanners. His most cited study, "MRI-guided robotic system for transperineal prostate interventions: proof of principle" (2010, 113 citations), demonstrated the UMCU robot—constructed entirely from polymers and non-ferromagnetic materials—establishing the feasibility of MR-guided prostate procedures. Van Vulpen further advanced the field by developing a novel robotic needle insertion method to minimize prostate motion during intervention (57 citations) and creating an automated optimization tool for high-dose-rate (HDR) prostate brachytherapy with divergent needle patterns. His adaptive planning strategy for HDR brachytherapy addresses needle positioning errors, enhancing treatment accuracy. Beyond prostate work, van Vulpen has applied artificial intelligence to ocular melanoma treatment, developing a clinical decision-making tool that predicts dosimetric outcomes for stereotactic radiation therapy versus protons. His contributions have significantly improved the precision and safety of image-guided cancer interventions, bridging robotics, imaging, and treatment planning.