Dr. Maarten Smits

Maarten Smits is a clinical scientist and interventional radiologist at UMC Utrecht, where he specializes in interventional oncology and minimally invasive, image-guided cancer therapies. Appointed Clinical Scientist in 2025, he founded and leads the Interventional Oncology Research Team, which has grown into a multidisciplinary group of 19 researchers, including PhD candidates and postdoctoral fellows, and participates in several EU-funded collaborations. His clinical and research work focuses on tumor ablation and radioembolization, where he has driven innovation in liver-directed therapies. Notably, he pioneered the Hepatic Arteriography and C-arm CT Guided Ablation (HepACAGA) technique for liver tumors, which has become the standard approach at UMC Utrecht and has been adopted internationally across more than 20 centers.

In the field of radioembolization, Smits has contributed to leading studies involving holmium microspheres, including HEPAR, SIM, and CAIRO7, with ongoing efforts to improve tumor targeting and streamline treatment pathways. His work is closely integrated with industry collaborations involving companies such as Philips, Terumo, Medtronic, and Boston Scientific, helping translate research innovations into clinical practice. In addition to his research, he serves as Program Director for Interventional Radiology training at UMC Utrecht, where he mentors trainees and fosters a collaborative learning environment. With more than 80 peer-reviewed publications, international presentations at conferences such as CIRSE and ECIO, and editorial contributions to Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology (CVIR), Smits continues to play a key role in advancing the field and improving outcomes for patients with cancer.