I’m proud to share my 100th scientific publication: a review paper on an incredibly important yet still underexposed topic: miscarriage.

I still vividly remember how long it took me, as a PhD student, to write and submit my very first paper. The excitement, the nerves… and the blood, sweat and tears of the submission process. Hard to believe that that one was an invited paper 😊

Over the years, I’ve become much more confident and have learned my way around the many hoops you need to jump through to get a manuscript into a journal. Still, every acceptance feels like a small celebration; sharing your research with the world never gets old.

Looking back at these 100 publications: 11 as first author 11 as second author 43 as middle author, contributing through the Fetal Biobank or imaging 35 as last author, with the bulk of the work done by the many talented (PhD) students in my team.

The paper I’m most proud of? Without doubt the 3D Embryo Atlas, the crown jewel of my PhD research and the solid foundation on which I built my research group.

But behind every paper lies a story. A seed of an idea born during drinks at a bar, a casual chat at a poster session, or an unexpected email from a new collaborator from the other side of the world. Some studies were entirely in-house, others high-impact collaborations across continents. Every author brought their own unique expertise: from detailed embryology and complex genetics to beautiful imaging and rare case reports.

What unites them all? Curiosity. That curiosity is what drives me most as a scientist.

I feel incredibly privileged to have access to the materials, tools, networks, funding, and expertise needed to truly make a difference. I’m already looking forward to the next 100, and I’ll be sure to occasionally carve out time in my agenda to write as first author again, because let’s be honest: those are the papers you’re most proud of.

A heartfelt thank you to all colleagues, students, and co-authors for the wonderful collaborations. 🙏