Hanne Meijers-Heijboer is a clinical geneticist specialised in genetic research into hereditary cancer, with other focus areas including prenatal and postnatal genetic research and the psychosocial aspects of genetic research itself. Meijers-Heijboer's research is aimed in particular at improving prospects for patients, their family members and specific population groups by utilising knowledge of the hereditary causes of diseases.

In her work on hereditary cancer, Meijers-Heijboer is looking at methods to improve the identification of individuals with a genetic predisposition to cancer and to diagnose tumours in people through screening. She is also working on the development of a gene-tailored therapy for patients with hereditary tumours based on an investigation of fundamental biological processes. Her prenatal and postnatal research, in turn, is focused on the rollout of responsible preconceptional genetic testing in risk populations and the general public, as well as on improving medical and psychosocial pre- and post-natal care in cases where the infant has a congenital or hereditary condition.

Meijers-Heijboer has been professor of Clinical Genetics at the VU Amsterdam Medical Center (VUmc) since 2006 and head of the Clinical Genetics Department of the VUmc and AMC-UvA since 2011. She is principal investigator at the AMC-UvA and also works as a lecturer and trainer of medical students and PhD students at the VUmc, and teaches refresher courses for doctors. Meijers-Heijboer has published in numerous scientific journals, including Nature Genetics, Journal of the National Cancer Institute and Genome Research.