She studied Biology at the Rijksuniversiteit Utrecht (BSc, MSc with majors in Pathology and Molecular Genetics) and Medicine at the same university (BSc). From 1986 to 1991, she completed her PhD in Cell Biology under Prof. H. Galjaard, focusing on glycogenosis type II and the cloning and characterisation of the human lysosomal α-glucosidase gene. She has been registered and repeatedly re-registered as a clinical molecular geneticist and laboratory specialist in clinical genetics since 2002.

She worked as a postdoctoral researcher in Hematology at Erasmus University Rotterdam (1991–1996), then as a staff member in DNA diagnostics at the Department of Human Genetics in Nijmegen (1996–2011). She became Head of the theme group MENS in Genome Diagnostics Nijmegen (2011–2013), focusing on sensorial disorders. From 2014 to 2024, she led laboratory diagnostics at the Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus MC Rotterdam, and since 2024 she has been Laboratory Specialist in Clinical Genetics there, with focus areas in sensorial, metabolic, and kidney disorders.