Management team

Effective June 1, 2025, Hayo Schultink has taken on the position of Managing Director of the European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA). Hayo brings a broad background in chemical engineering, quality management, and business administration. His professional journey began with 14 years in the plastics industry, followed by 10 years in occupational health and safety services. He has been part of the UMCG since late 2010. In 2010, Hayo succeeded Henk Heidekamp at the Department of Genetics. From 2015 to 2022, he served as Director of Sector A (contemplative subjects), and in 2023, he became Manager of UMCG’s internal management consultancy. Hayo is deeply aligned with the core values of the UMCG: We see people We take responsibility We move forward Together we are agile These principles guide his leadership style, which is grounded in equality, open dialogue, collaboration, and a strong focus on continuous improvement.

Folkert Kuipers PhD (1957) is the Scientific Director of ERIBA and head of the Department of the Biology of Ageing at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) from August 1st, 2022. Folkert studied biology/biochemistry at the University of Groningen (UoG) and received his PhD degree in Medical Sciences at UoG in 1987. After a research fellowship from the Royal Netherlands Academy for Arts and Sciences and an Established Investigatorship from the Netherlands Heart Foundation, he was appointed as Professor of Pediatrics in 2000 and was Head of the Laboratory of Pediatrics at UMCG from 2000-2008 and 2016-2022. His research program deals with molecular (dys) regulation of cholesterol, bile acid and lipid metabolism and transport in liver and intestine in inherited and age-related metabolic diseases, including roles of the gut microbiome. He is (co-)author of >350 peer-reviewed publications and has supervised >40 PhD theses. From 2008-2016 he served as Dean of the Faculty of Medical Sciences/UMCG and was involved in initiation and implementation of the Healthy Ageing program at UMCG, with population cohort Lifelines and ERIBA as scientific flagship projects. He is member of the External Adivisory Boards of the Robert and Arlene Kogod Center for Aging Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA, the Interdisciplinary Research Center on Longevity, Institut Pasteur de Lille, Lille, France, and the Multidisciplinary Institute for Ageing (MIA), University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.

Marnix Labberte is Cluster Manager of Biomedical Science & Technology and, as business manager, responsible for ERIBA and Biomaterials and Biomedical Technology. As cluster manager, Marnix oversees cluster-wide themes from both within the UMCG and in collaboration with external environments and partners. As departmental manager, he is responsible for optimal operations, particularly from a financial and human research management perspective. Marnix has a background in commercial economics and worked in the private sector for 18 years. In 2018, he joined the UMCG as manager of the Information Management department, which implements, optimizes, and manages the Electronic Medical Records (EPD - EPIC). After graduating cum laude with an Executive MBA in Health from the University of Groningen in 2024, he joined the cluster on March 1st, 2025.

Ria Ubels joined the staff of ERIBA/BSCS/BME (as of March 1 2023: Cluster Biomedical Science & Technology) in September 2022. Her role is to assist the management in various areas. She mainly takes on the role of quality and safety coordinator within the Cluster, but she also supports employees in the field of ICT as a functional manager.  

Wytse joined the department of Ageing Biology (ERIBA) from the start in 2012. Originally employed as a research technician, he gradually shifted towards management support. After several years working as a research technician in various departments of the UMCG, he obtained a degree in Business Administration in 2014. He is currently part-time employed by the departments of Ageing Biology and BSCS as Staff Assistent, assisting departmental management and employees in a range of activities, and partly employed as business manager of the department of BME.

Mallik Gurram joined Research Development Office (RDO) in September 2018. His primary role is to assist scientists and other research personnel with securing research grants to pursue their scientific activities at the departments of Biomedical Sciences of Cells and Systems (BSCS) and the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA). This includes drafting, editing, and management of grant proposals. Further he takes part in the departmental outreach activities. Before joining ERIBA, he obtained a PhD degree in Applied Physics at the University of Groningen. His previous research focused on spintronics in two-dimensional materials.

Megha Upadhyay is employed at the European Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA), Groningen, The Netherlands. Being a research coordinator, she serves as an administrative liaison between UMCG support offices, funding agencies and ERIBA for various (inter)national projects.  Her main tasks include providing administrative (organizational and management) support to various scientific activities at the institute. She is involved in assisting principal investigators and students with pre/post grant applications. She also manages the preparation of documents for various events (scientific advisory board meetings, institute evaluation, annual report etc.). She is actively involved in organizing and managing events (conferences, meetings etc.), website management, and outreach events to promote various programs being held at the institute.