Dr. Rik L. de Swart graduated as biologist in 1990, obtained his PhD in 1995 and established his own research group at the department of Viroscience at the Erasmus MC in Rotterdam. Since May 2021 he is employed as virologist at Wageningen Bioveterinary Research in Lelystad (0.8 FTE), but also remains affiliated with Erasmus MC (0.2 FTE). His studies at Erasmus MC focus on dissecting the pathogenesis of measles virus, respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus, with particular attention to interactions between these viruses and the host immune system. A recurring research theme of his group is the identification of correlates of protection or disease. He uses recombinant viruses expressing fluorescent reporter proteins in vitro (in cell culture models) and in vivo (in animal models) to identify infected cells with high sensitivity. His group identified the main target cells of measles virus during the early and late stages of disease. In addition, a model was developed that can explain the measles paradox: the virus simultaneously induces immune activation and immune suppression. His research group showed that measles virus preferentially infects and depletes memory cells of the immune system, leading to "Immune amnesia".