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Ellen van der Plas

TitleAssociate Professor
InstitutionUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
DepartmentCOM | Peds Hematology
Address4301 W Markham
Little Rock AR 72205
ORCID ORCID Icon0000-0002-7490-6636 Additional info
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    Collapse Overview 
    Collapse overview
    The brain is a dynamic organ that undergoes tremendous changes throughout a person's lifetime. Some of the most notable post-natal changes occur in early childhood, which can be measured using neuroimaging. My research interest boils down to this question: What happens to the developing brain if a child requires intense chemotherapy treatment for cancer? The interest in brain development and cancer is informed by research in childhood cancer survivors, which has shown that survivors often struggle with cognitive tasks.

    To address the question of brain developmental change, we collect brain-related data in young children with and without cancer, including: neuroimaging, neurocognitive testing, and brain proteins that can be measured from blood and cerebrospinal fluid. The ultimate goal of this research is to help identify ways to ensure that the growing number of childhood cancer survivors enjoy the same quality of life as their cancer-free peers.


    Collapse Biography 
    Collapse education and training
    Leiden University, Leiden, NetherlandsBsc07/2005Psychology
    Leiden University, Leiden, NetherlandsMSc07/2007Developmental Psychology
    University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics, Iowa City, USAPhD07/2011Neuroscience
    The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, CanadaPostdoctoral fellowship10/2017Childhood cancer survivorship

    Collapse Research 
    Collapse research activities and funding
    R37CA266135-01A1     (Ellen van der Plas)Sep 1, 2022 - Aug 31, 2027
    NIH
    Identifying markers of abnormal neurocognitive trajectories during chemotherapy treatment of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia
    Role: Principle Investigator
    GR034209     (VAN DER PLAS, ELLEN)Sep 1, 2022 - Aug 31, 2023
    UAMS ACHRI Flow Through
    Identifying Markers of Abnormal Neurocognitive Trajectories During Chemotherapy Treatment of Childhood Acute Lumphoblastic Leukemia (R01CA266135)
    Role: Principal Investigator

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    The links below are provided by the researcher to provide access to external online bibliographies that they keep independently from the Profiles System.
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    Publications listed below are automatically derived from MEDLINE/PubMed and other sources, which might result in incorrect or missing publications. Faculty can login to make corrections and additions. Don't see publications published under other names? Login to add alternative names.
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    1. Gandy K, Koscik TR, Alexander T, Steinberg JD, Krull KR, van der Plas E. Characterization of brain development with neuroimaging in a female mouse model of chemotherapy treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Transl Pediatr. 2024 Mar 27; 13(3):408-416. PMID: 38590373.
      View in: PubMed
    2. Barrett LDG, Ryckman KK, Goedken AM, Steinbach EJ, van der Plas E, Beasley G, Khan RS, Exil V, Axelrod DA, Harshman LA. Subsequent kidney transplant after pediatric heart transplant: Prevalence and risk factors. Am J Transplant. 2024 Jul; 24(7):1267-1278. PMID: 38431077.
      View in: PubMed
    3. van der Plas E, Darji H, Srivastava DK, Schapiro M, Jeffe D, Perkins S, Howell R, Leisenring W, Armstrong GT, Oeffinger K, Krull K, Edelstein K, Hayashi RJ. Risk factors for neurocognitive impairment, emotional distress, and poor quality of life in survivors of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Cancer. 2024 Jun 15; 130(12):2224-2236. PMID: 38373075.
      View in: PubMed
    4. Lullmann O, van der Plas E, Harshman LA. Understanding the impact of pediatric kidney transplantation on cognition: A review of the literature. Pediatr Transplant. 2023 12; 27(8):e14597. PMID: 37664967.
      View in: PubMed
    5. Gandy K, Sapkota Y, Scoggins MA, Jacola LM, Koscik TR, Hudson MM, Pui CH, Krull KR, van der Plas E. Genetic variants, neurocognitive outcomes, and functional neuroimaging in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2023 07 03; 7(4). PMID: 37285328.
      View in: PubMed
    6. Koscik TR, van der Plas E, Long JD, Cross S, Gutmann L, Cumming SA, Monckton DG, Shields RK, Magnotta V, Nopoulos PC. Longitudinal changes in white matter as measured with diffusion tensor imaging in adult-onset myotonic dystrophy type 1. Neuromuscul Disord. 2023 08; 33(8):660-669. PMID: 37419717.
      View in: PubMed
    7. Lullmann O, Conrad AL, Steinbach EJ, Wilgenbusch T, Harshman LA, van der Plas E. Neurocognitive deficits may not resolve following pediatric kidney transplantation. Pediatr Transplant. 2023 06; 27(4):e14505. PMID: 36932049.
      View in: PubMed
    8. Zhang L, Guo Z, Zhang H, van der Plas E, Koscik TR, Nopoulos PC, Sonka M. Assisted annotation in Deep LOGISMOS: Simultaneous multi-compartment 3D MRI segmentation of calf muscles. Med Phys. 2023 Aug; 50(8):4916-4929. PMID: 36750977.
      View in: PubMed
    9. Cheung YT, Charalambous A, Grootenhuis M, van der Plas E. Editorial: Psychosocial aspects of adolescents and young adults with cancer. Front Psychol. 2023; 14:1126571. PMID: 36760437.
      View in: PubMed
    10. Schultz JL, Langbehn DR, Al-Kaylani HM, van der Plas E, Koscik TR, Epping EA, Espe-Pfeifer PB, Martin EP, Moser DJ, Magnotta VA, Nopoulos PC. Longitudinal Clinical and Biological Characteristics in Juvenile-Onset Huntington's Disease. Mov Disord. 2023 01; 38(1):113-122. PMID: 36318082.
      View in: PubMed
    11. Schultz JL, Epping EA, van der Plas E, Magnotta VA, Nopoulos PC. Striatal Development in Early-Onset Huntington's Disease. Mov Disord. 2022 12; 37(12):2459-2460. PMID: 36177602.
      View in: PubMed
    12. Reasoner EE, van der Plas E, Al-Kaylani HM, Langbehn DR, Conrad AL, Schultz JL, Epping EA, Magnotta VA, Nopoulos PC. Behavioral features in child and adolescent huntingtin gene-mutation carriers. Brain Behav. 2022 07; 12(7):e2630. PMID: 35604958.
      View in: PubMed
    13. Al-Kaylani HM, Loeffler BT, Mott SL, Curry M, Phadke S, van der Plas E. Characterizing Early Changes in Quality of Life in Young Women With Breast Cancer. Front Psychol. 2022; 13:871194. PMID: 35645920.
      View in: PubMed
    14. Byrne LM, Schultz JL, Rodrigues FB, van der Plas E, Langbehn D, Nopoulos PC, Wild EJ. Neurofilament Light Protein as a Potential Blood Biomarker for Huntington's Disease in Children. Mov Disord. 2022 07; 37(7):1526-1531. PMID: 35437792.
      View in: PubMed
    15. Gandy K, Scoggins MA, Phillips N, van der Plas E, Fellah S, Jacola LM, Pui CH, Hudson MM, Reddick WE, Sitaram R, Krull KR. Sex-Based Differences in Functional Brain Activity During Working Memory in Survivors of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. JNCI Cancer Spectr. 2022 03 02; 6(2). PMID: 35603857.
      View in: PubMed
    16. Hamilton MJ, Atalaia A, McLean J, Cumming SA, Evans JJ, Ballantyne B, Jampana R, Longman C, Livingston E, van der Plas E, Koscik T, Nopoulos P, Farrugia ME, Monckton DG. Clinical and neuroradiological correlates of sleep in myotonic dystrophy type 1. Neuromuscul Disord. 2022 05; 32(5):377-389. PMID: 35361525.
      View in: PubMed
    17. van der Plas E, Long JD, Koscik TR, Magnotta V, Monckton DG, Cumming SA, Gottschalk AC, Hefti M, Gutmann L, Nopoulos PC. Blood-Based Markers of Neuronal Injury in Adult-Onset Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Front Neurol. 2021; 12:791065. PMID: 35126292.
      View in: PubMed
    18. Reasoner EE, van der Plas E, Langbehn DR, Conrad AL, Koscik TR, Epping EA, Magnotta VA, Nopoulos PC. Cortical Features in Child and Adolescent Carriers of Mutant Huntingtin (mHTT). J Huntingtons Dis. 2022; 11(2):173-178. PMID: 35275555.
      View in: PubMed
    19. van der Plas E, Solomon MA, Hopkins L, Koscik T, Schultz J, Brophy PD, Nopoulos PC, Harshman LA. Global and Regional White Matter Fractional Anisotropy in Children with Chronic Kidney Disease. J Pediatr. 2022 03; 242:166-173.e3. PMID: 34758354.
      View in: PubMed
    20. van der Plas E, Harshman L. Leveraging neuroimaging to understand the impact of chronic kidney disease on the brain. Pediatr Nephrol. 2022 05; 37(5):921-925. PMID: 34731310.
      View in: PubMed
    21. Al-Kaylani HM, Reasoner EE, Loeffler BT, Mott SL, Madasu S, Liu A, Langbehn K, Conrad AL, Dickens D, Grafft A, Harshman L, Modi AJ, van der Plas E. Characterizing academic performance in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia with population-based achievement tests. Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2022 09; 5(9):e1560. PMID: 34596316.
      View in: PubMed
    22. Kuhlmann E, van der Plas E, Axelson E, Conrad AL. Brain Developmental Trajectories in Children and Young Adults with Isolated Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate. Dev Neuropsychol. 2021 07; 46(4):314-326. PMID: 34348063.
      View in: PubMed
    23. van der Plas E, Lullmann O, Hopkins L, Schultz JL, Nopoulos PC, Harshman LA. Associations between neurofilament light-chain protein, brain structure, and chronic kidney disease. Pediatr Res. 2022 06; 91(7):1735-1740. PMID: 34274959.
      View in: PubMed
    24. Miller JN, Kruger A, Moser DJ, Gutmann L, van der Plas E, Koscik TR, Cumming SA, Monckton DG, Nopoulos PC. Cognitive Deficits, Apathy, and Hypersomnolence Represent the Core Brain Symptoms of Adult-Onset Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Front Neurol. 2021; 12:700796. PMID: 34276551.
      View in: PubMed
    25. van der Plas E, Qiu W, Nieman BJ, Yasui Y, Liu Q, Dixon SB, Kadan-Lottick NS, Weldon CB, Weil BR, Jacola LM, Gibson TM, Leisenring W, Oeffinger K, Hudson MM, Robison LL, Armstrong GT, Krull KR. Sex-Specific Associations Between Chemotherapy, Chronic Conditions, and Neurocognitive Impairment in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Survivors: A Report From the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2021 05 04; 113(5):588-596. PMID: 32882041.
      View in: PubMed
    26. van der Plas E, Modi AJ, Li CK, Krull KR, Cheung YT. Cognitive Impairment in Survivors of Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Treated With Chemotherapy Only. J Clin Oncol. 2021 06 01; 39(16):1705-1717. PMID: 33886368.
      View in: PubMed
    27. Kesler SR, Sleurs C, McDonald BC, Deprez S, van der Plas E, Nieman BJ. Brain Imaging in Pediatric Cancer Survivors: Correlates of Cognitive Impairment. J Clin Oncol. 2021 06 01; 39(16):1775-1785. PMID: 33886371.
      View in: PubMed
    28. van der Plas E, Koscik TR, Magnotta V, Cumming SA, Monckton D, Gutmann L, Nopoulos P. Neurocognitive Features of Motor Premanifest Individuals With Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Neurol Genet. 2021 Apr; 7(2):e577. PMID: 33912661.
      View in: PubMed
    29. Koscik TR, van der Plas E, Gutmann L, Cumming SA, Monckton DG, Magnotta V, Shields RK, Nopoulos PC. White matter microstructure relates to motor outcomes in myotonic dystrophy type 1 independently of disease duration and genetic burden. Sci Rep. 2021 03 01; 11(1):4886. PMID: 33649422.
      View in: PubMed
    30. Schultz JL, van der Plas E, Langbehn DR, Conrad AL, Nopoulos PC. Age-Related Cognitive Changes as a Function of CAG Repeat in Child and Adolescent Carriers of Mutant Huntingtin. Ann Neurol. 2021 05; 89(5):1036-1040. PMID: 33521985.
      View in: PubMed
    31. Conrad AL, Kuhlmann E, van der Plas E, Axelson E. Brain structure and neural activity related to reading in boys with isolated oral clefts. Child Neuropsychol. 2021 07; 27(5):621-640. PMID: 33557685.
      View in: PubMed
    32. van der Plas E, Gutmann L, Thedens D, Shields RK, Langbehn K, Guo Z, Sonka M, Nopoulos P. Quantitative muscle MRI as a sensitive marker of early muscle pathology in myotonic dystrophy type 1. Muscle Nerve. 2021 04; 63(4):553-562. PMID: 33462896.
      View in: PubMed
    33. Langbehn KE, Carlson-Stadler Z, van der Plas E, Hefti MM, Dawson JD, Moser DJ, Nopoulos PC. DMPK mRNA Expression in Human Brain Tissue Throughout the Lifespan. Neurol Genet. 2021 Feb; 7(1):e537. PMID: 33575482.
      View in: PubMed
    34. Koscik TR, Sloat L, van der Plas E, Joers JM, Deelchand DK, Lenglet C, ?z G, Nopoulos PC. Brainstem and striatal volume changes are detectable in under 1 year and predict motor decline in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1. Brain Commun. 2020; 2(2):fcaa184. PMID: 33409488.
      View in: PubMed
    35. Guo Z, Zhang H, Chen Z, van der Plas E, Gutmann L, Thedens D, Nopoulos P, Sonka M. Fully automated 3D segmentation of MR-imaged calf muscle compartments: Neighborhood relationship enhanced fully convolutional network. Comput Med Imaging Graph. 2021 01; 87:101835. PMID: 33373972.
      View in: PubMed
    36. van der Plas E, Spencer Noakes TL, Butcher DT, Weksberg R, Galin-Corini L, Wanstall EA, Te P, Hopf L, Guger S, Hitzler J, Schachar RJ, Ito S, Nieman BJ. Cognitive and behavioral risk factors for low quality of life in survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Pediatr Res. 2021 08; 90(2):419-426. PMID: 33203967.
      View in: PubMed
    37. Solomon MA, van der Plas E, Langbehn KE, Novak M, Schultz JL, Koscik TR, Conrad AL, Brophy PD, Furth SL, Nopoulos PC, Harshman LA. Early pediatric chronic kidney disease is associated with brain volumetric gray matter abnormalities. Pediatr Res. 2021 02; 89(3):526-532. PMID: 33069166.
      View in: PubMed
    38. Johnson C, Langbehn KE, Long JD, Moser D, Cross S, Gutmann L, Nopoulos PC, van der Plas E. Encoding of facial expressions in individuals with adult-onset myotonic dystrophy type 1. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2020 11; 42(9):932-940. PMID: 33028165.
      View in: PubMed
    39. van der Plas E, Spencer Noakes TL, Butcher DT, Weksberg R, Galin-Corini L, Wanstall EA, Te P, Hopf L, Guger S, Spiegler BJ, Hitzler J, Schachar RJ, Ito S, Nieman BJ. Quantitative MRI outcomes in child and adolescent leukemia survivors: Evidence for global alterations in gray and white matter. Neuroimage Clin. 2020; 28:102428. PMID: 32980598.
      View in: PubMed
    40. Miller JN, van der Plas E, Hamilton M, Koscik TR, Gutmann L, Cumming SA, Monckton DG, Nopoulos PC. Variant repeats within the DMPK CTG expansion protect function in myotonic dystrophy type 1. Neurol Genet. 2020 Oct; 6(5):e504. PMID: 32851192.
      View in: PubMed
    41. Langbehn KE, Cochran AM, van der Plas E, Conrad AL, Epping E, Martin E, Espe-Pfeifer P, Nopoulos P. Behavioral Deficits in Juvenile Onset Huntington's Disease. Brain Sci. 2020 Aug 11; 10(8). PMID: 32796698.
      View in: PubMed
    42. Langbehn KE, van der Plas E, Moser DJ, Long JD, Gutmann L, Nopoulos PC. Cognitive function and its relationship with brain structure in myotonic dystrophy type 1. J Neurosci Res. 2021 01; 99(1):190-199. PMID: 32056295.
      View in: PubMed
    43. Tereshchenko A, van der Plas E, Mathews KD, Epping E, Conrad AL, Langbehn DR, Nopoulos P. Developmental Trajectory of Height, Weight, and BMI in Children and Adolescents at Risk for Huntington's Disease: Effect of mHTT on Growth. J Huntingtons Dis. 2020; 9(3):245-251. PMID: 32894247.
      View in: PubMed
    44. van der Plas E, Schultz JL, Nopoulos PC. The Neurodevelopmental Hypothesis of Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis. 2020; 9(3):217-229. PMID: 32925079.
      View in: PubMed
    45. van der Plas E, Langbehn DR, Conrad AL, Koscik TR, Tereshchenko A, Epping EA, Magnotta VA, Nopoulos PC. Abnormal brain development in child and adolescent carriers of mutant huntingtin. Neurology. 2019 Sep 03; 93(10):e1021-e1030. PMID: 31371571.
      View in: PubMed
    46. van der Plas E, Hamilton MJ, Miller JN, Koscik TR, Long JD, Cumming S, Povilaikaite J, Farrugia ME, McLean J, Jampana R, Magnotta VA, Gutmann L, Monckton DG, Nopoulos PC. Brain Structural Features of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1 and their Relationship with CTG Repeats. J Neuromuscul Dis. 2019; 6(3):321-332. PMID: 31306140.
      View in: PubMed
    47. van der Plas E, Schubert R, Reilmann R, Nopoulos PC. A Feasibility Study of Quantitative Motor Assessments in Children Using the Q-Motor Suite. J Huntingtons Dis. 2019; 8(3):333-338. PMID: 31256146.
      View in: PubMed
    48. Spencer Noakes TL, Przybycien TS, Forwell A, Nicholls C, Zhou YQ, Butcher DT, Weksberg R, Guger SL, Spiegler BJ, Schachar RJ, Hitzler J, Ito S, van der Plas E, Nieman BJ. Brain Development and Heart Function after Systemic Single-Agent Chemotherapy in a Mouse Model of Childhood Leukemia Treatment. Clin Cancer Res. 2018 12 01; 24(23):6040-6052. PMID: 30054283.
      View in: PubMed
    49. Langie SAS, Moisse M, Szarc Vel Szic K, Van Der Plas E, Koppen G, De Prins S, Louwies T, Nelen V, Van Camp G, Lambrechts D, Schoeters G, Vanden Berghe W, De Boever P. GLI2 promoter hypermethylation in saliva of children with a respiratory allergy. Clin Epigenetics. 2018; 10:50. PMID: 29682088.
      View in: PubMed
    50. Van Der Plas E, Erdman L, Nieman BJ, Weksberg R, Butcher DT, O'connor DL, Aufreiter S, Hitzler J, Guger SL, Schachar RJ, Ito S, Spiegler BJ. Characterizing neurocognitive late effects in childhood leukemia survivors using a combination of neuropsychological and cognitive neuroscience measures. Child Neuropsychol. 2018 11; 24(8):999-1014. PMID: 29017430.
      View in: PubMed
    51. van der Plas E, Schachar RJ, Hitzler J, Crosbie J, Guger SL, Spiegler BJ, Ito S, Nieman BJ. Brain structure, working memory and response inhibition in childhood leukemia survivors. Brain Behav. 2017 02; 7(2):e00621. PMID: 28239531.
      View in: PubMed
    52. van der Plas E, Dupuis A, Arnold P, Crosbie J, Schachar R. Association of Autism Spectrum Disorder with Obsessive-Compulsive and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Traits and Response Inhibition in a Community Sample. J Autism Dev Disord. 2016 Sep; 46(9):3115-25. PMID: 27401994.
      View in: PubMed
    53. van der Plas E, Nieman BJ, Butcher DT, Hitzler JK, Weksberg R, Ito S, Schachar R. Neurocognitive Late Effects of Chemotherapy in Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Focus on Methotrexate. J Can Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2015; 24(1):25-32. PMID: 26336377.
      View in: PubMed
    54. van der Plas E, Koscik TR, Conrad AL, Moser DJ, Nopoulos P. Social motivation in individuals with isolated cleft lip and palate. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2013; 35(5):489-500. PMID: 23634967.
      View in: PubMed
    55. van der Plas E, Caspell CJ, Aerts AM, Tsalikian E, Richman LC, Dawson JD, Nopoulos P. Height, BMI, and pituitary volume in individuals with and without isolated cleft lip and/or palate. Pediatr Res. 2012 May; 71(5):612-8. PMID: 22322386.
      View in: PubMed
    56. Boes AD, Mehta S, Rudrauf D, Van Der Plas E, Grabowski T, Adolphs R, Nopoulos P. Changes in cortical morphology resulting from long-term amygdala damage. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2012 Jun; 7(5):588-95. PMID: 21896493.
      View in: PubMed
    57. van der Plas E, Conrad A, Canady J, Richman L, Nopoulos P. Effects of unilateral clefts on brain structure. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2010 Aug; 164(8):763-8. PMID: 20679168.
      View in: PubMed
    58. van der Plas EA, Boes AD, Wemmie JA, Tranel D, Nopoulos P. Amygdala volume correlates positively with fearfulness in normal healthy girls. Soc Cogn Affect Neurosci. 2010 Dec; 5(4):424-31. PMID: 20150341.
      View in: PubMed
    59. van der Plas EA, Crone EA, van den Wildenberg WP, Tranel D, Bechara A. Executive control deficits in substance-dependent individuals: a comparison of alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine and of men and women. J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2009 Aug; 31(6):706-19. PMID: 19037812.
      View in: PubMed
    60. Crone EA, Bullens L, van der Plas EA, Kijkuit EJ, Zelazo PD. Developmental changes and individual differences in risk and perspective taking in adolescence. Dev Psychopathol. 2008; 20(4):1213-29. PMID: 18838039.
      View in: PubMed
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