Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research

At LACDR, we are committed to equipping our PhD candidates and postdocs in the best possible way for their future careers. Yesterday, we hosted the annual PhD-Postdoc event focused on career prospects. The afternoon was kicked off with an inspiring lecture of Isabelle Kohler of NextMinds, entitled 'Beyond the PhD – Postdoc: What’s next?’, offering valuable insights into career pathways both within and beyond academia. Afterwards we had a nice line-up of alumni representing a diverse range of potential employers, including: Miranda van Beers (Johnson & Johnson), Jara Bouma (ZonMw), Jantine Brussee (qPharmetra), Tineke van Eijk-Berkers (Medpace Netherlands), Gera Goverse (Crown Bioscience), Sebastiaan (Bas) Goulooze (LAP&P Consultants), Arnout Mieremet (TNO), Huub Sijben (Artica-tx), Bram Slütter (LACDR - Leiden University), Varsha Thakoersing (IMcoMET). Each of them shared their personal career journeys, providing valuable insights into different career opportunities available to PhDs and postdocs. The day ended with a networking dinner. We look back on a successful event, in which the PhD candidates and postdocs were able to get inspired and network with alumni and colleagues. A big thank you to all participants who made this day a great success!

Proud to share that Esmeralda Hemme and Koen van Rhee successfully defended their PhD theses today! 🎓 🔬 Esmeralda Hemme explored the role of mast cells in advanced atherosclerosis, under the supervision of Ilze Bot, Johan Kuiper, and Amanda Foks. 💊 Koen van Rhee investigated the drivers of antimicrobial pharmacokinetic variability in individuals with obesity and hospitalized patients with multimorbidity, His supervisor at LACDR was Catherijne A.J. Knibbe. You can read more about his work here: https://lnkd.in/e42aBqg5 Congratulations to both on this achievement! 👏

The team of Alireza Mashaghi has developed a revolutionary technique to study how tiny droplets inside our cells transition from liquid to solid—a key process linked to diseases like Alzheimer’s and muscular dystrophy. Using scanning probe microscopy (SPM), they can now track these changes in unprecedented detail, opening new doors for drug development aimed at reversing harmful protein solidification. 📖 Read more in Cell Reports Physical Science: https://lnkd.in/eXj-De-c https://lnkd.in/edee27ZZ

Sebastian Pomplun awarded ERC Proof of Concept grant to advance cancer treatment with HeloMYC With his MYSTIC project, he aims to transform cancer treatment by advancing the development of HeloMYC, a pioneering therapeutic designed to target MYC—a critical driver in many human cancers. MYC has long been considered "undruggable" due to its lack of clear binding sites for conventional small-molecule therapies. HeloMYC overcomes this challenge as a synthetically enhanced protein drug capable of penetrating cancer cells and effectively blocking MYC function. 🔬 The next 18 months will focus on three key objectives: ✅ Advancing the development and testing of HeloMYC ✅ Securing patents to protect this innovative breakthrough ✅ Strategizing a path to bring HeloMYC to market MYSTIC has the potential to not only introduce a novel treatment for MYC-driven cancers but also pioneer a new approach to tackle previously untreatable diseases. It has the potential to change the future of precision medicine! #CancerResearch #PrecisionMedicine #DrugDiscovery https://lnkd.in/ebt8hA5e

LACDR congratulates Leiden University with its 450th anniversary! We are proud that for the past 40 years, our institute has been able to make major contributions with innovative drug research and shaping future generations of drug researchers. Douwe Breimer, Elizabeth (Liesbeth) De Lange, Gerard JP Van Westen, Miranda Van Eck, Gerard Mulder, Ad IJzerman, Ilze Bot, Hubertus Irth and all other LACDR employees #450jaar #diesnatalis #LeidenLeiden University

Our laboratories have been awarded the Silver LEAF Certification, a fantastic achievement recognizing our commitment to sustainable lab practices!  It is a great example of community-driven change, initiated by our people involved in the Green Lab Initiative. Some of the key accomplishments: ✅ 3D-printed pipette tip organizers to reduce waste ✅ 1,800 kg of hard plastics collected for recycling (for the Faculty as a whole) ✅ Optimized flow cabinet usage, cutting high-flow time from 50% to 20% and hence reduce energy consumption Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this success! More information about sustainability at LACDR: https://lnkd.in/exVG3XYc Bert Beerkens, Cas van der Horst, Elsa Neubert, Stefan Romeijn, Peter van Santbrink, Sabine de Winter, Heleen Duijs, Laura Hetzel, Marlies Nijemeisland #SustainableScience #LEAFCertification #GreenLabs #FutureOfHealth #Leiden University Green Office

Our laboratories have been awarded the Silver LEAF Certification, a fantastic achievement recognizing our commitment to sustainable lab practices!  It is a great example of community-driven change, initiated by our people involved in the Green Lab Initiative. Some of the key accomplishments: ✅ 3D-printed pipette tip organizers to reduce waste ✅ 1,800 kg of hard plastics collected for recycling (for the Faculty as a whole) ✅ Optimized flow cabinet usage, cutting high-flow time from 50% to 20% and hence reduce energy consumption Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this success! More information about sustainability at LACDR: https://lnkd.in/exVG3XYc Bert Beerkens, Cas van der Horst, Elsa Neubert, Stefan Romeijn, Peter van Santbrink, Sabine de Winter, Heleen Duijs, Laura Hetzel, Marlies Nijemeisland #SustainableScience #LEAFCertification #GreenLabs #FutureOfHealth #Leiden University Green Office

Congratulations Ilze Bot!

Today Ilze Bot delivered her inaugural lecture, entitled ‘Vat op stabiele bloedvaten’. Ilze started as a student in our bachelor programme Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences and has developed into an inspiring leader within the international cardiovascular community and a highly valued colleague within our institute. The importance of having more female role models in these positions cannot be overstated. You show the next generation of students what is possible! We are extremely proud and look forward to the impact you will undoubtedly continue to have in the cardiovascular field as well as on our students, and our institute. Congratulations! https://lnkd.in/ep3qmy_2

We are incredibly proud to share that during today's Faculty New Year's Reception, LACDR members received 2 out of the 3 prestigious Faculty awards for 2024! Rob van Wijk was honored as the Faculty Teacher of the Year, recognizing his outstanding dedication to education. Marie Depuydt received the C.J. Kok Jury Award for the most impressive dissertation of 2024. These achievements highlight the exceptional commitment of our members to both research and education. Congratulations to Rob and Marie on this well-deserved recognition!