UMC Utrecht Brain Center

That’s a wrap! Today, the UMC Utrecht Brain Center held its annual Research Day, bringing together the latest in neuroscience research under the theme “Science: From Dream to Reality.” The program was rich and varied, with topics spanning from ethical challenges in neuroscience to the gut-brain axis. A special congratulations to our award winners! Remi Stevelink received the PhD Thesis Prize, Jordi van Unnik the Publication Prize, and Dorien van Blooijs the Outreach Prize. Chair Jeroen Pasterkamp had the honor of presenting these awards, recognizing the impact of each winner’s contributions. We would also like to extend our gratitude to the dedicated organizing team— Akke Bakker, Elena Daoutsali, Mark Bakker, and (again) Remi Stevelink—whose hard work made this inspiring day possible. Here’s to another year of great science at the UMC Utrecht Brain Center! 🔬 🧠

This afternoon, Elbert Geuze will give his inaugural lecture, titled 'Insight' at Utrecht University. The lecture will be presented in Dutch. Professor Geuze was appointed to the Faculty of Medicine on November 1, 2023, specializing in the “Neuroscience of Stress and Psychotrauma.” His professorship is supported by a unique collaboration between UMC Utrecht and MINDEF (NL), the Dutch Ministry of Defence. Read more about his plans here: https://lnkd.in/eQ-A6hi4 The inaugural lecture will begin at 16:15 and will be available via livestream: https://lnkd.in/ePc42bZk

📢 Last call to register for the UMC Utrecht Brain Center Research Day! On Friday, November 8th, 2024, we will gather at the Anatomiegebouw in Utrecht for a full day of knowledge exchange and inspiration, focusing on the theme ‘Science: From Dream to Reality’. This year’s program includes keynotes by the following experts in brain research: - David Ray, Professor of Endocrinology (Oxford University), on circadian rhythms and their impact on metabolism and inflammation. - Yvonne Nolan, Professor of Anatomy and Neuroscience (University College Cork), discussing the gut-brain axis and its link to Alzheimer’s disease. PhD students will also take the stage with Blitz presentations - 2-minute pitches of their research. Check out the full program and register now 👉 https://lnkd.in/exAKwKXf

Congratulations to all the winners of the NWO (Dutch Research Council) and ZonMw Vidi grants at UMC Utrecht! 🎉 We are, of course, especially proud of our very own Chantal Tax. With this Vidi grant, she will advance diffusion MRI, a technique that provides insights into diseases and treatment effects by imaging cellular properties without the need for a biopsy. Chantal's goal is to enhance the accuracy of these measurements by integrating diffusion MRI with electron microscopy and computer simulations. By utilizing state-of-the-art MRI machines, studying organoid models, and developing efficient computational methods, she aims to deepen our understanding of brain tumors in children and ultimately improve the treatment options for these young patients. Congratulations Chantal! We are excited to see the impact your research will make and look forward to following your journey. Read more about this year's Vidi laureates 👉 https://lnkd.in/ewJzsvqy #ResearchExcellence #UMCUtrecht #BrainCenter #VidiGrant #NWO #InnovationInHealthcare

And the winners are... 🏆 Team Neo-BRAIN! During the UMC Utrecht Research Days, Manon Benders and Cora Nijboer received the Team Science Award 2024 for their outstanding interdisciplinary research. Congratulations to the entire team for this well-deserved recognition! The Neo-BRAIN research group is making incredible strides towards preventing and treating brain damage in newborns at the NICU. After 14 years of collaboration between the Department of Developmental Origins of Disease and the Department of Neonatology, a new therapy using stem cells is now within reach – offering hope for these vulnerable babies and their families. Want to know more? We spoke with Manon and Cora about this potential new therapy and the amazing team behind it. Read the full story below. https://lnkd.in/eJXYA-9N #TeamScience #UMCUtrecht #NeoBRAIN #Research

📢 Join us at the UMC Utrecht Brain Center Research Day! On Friday, November 8th, 2024, we’re excited to gather at the Anatomiegebouw in Utrecht for a full day of knowledge exchange and inspiration, focusing on the theme ‘Science: From Dream to Reality’. This year’s program includes keynotes by the following experts in brain research: - David Ray, Professor of Endocrinology (Oxford University), on circadian rhythms and their impact on metabolism and inflammation. - Yvonne Nolan, Professor of Anatomy and Neuroscience (University College Cork), discussing the gut-brain axis and its link to Alzheimer’s disease. PhD students will also take the stage with Blitz presentations - 2-minute pitches of their research. Check out the full program and register now 👉 https://lnkd.in/exAKwKXf

Congratulations Inge Winter-van Rossum for being awarded the Dr. Peter Moleman Penning 2024!

Week van de Wetenschap: ”Patiënten weten heel goed wat relevant onderzoek is en waar zij echt iets aan hebben.” In het project “Gepersonaliseerde voedingszorg voor mensen met ALS, PSMA en PLS” dat wordt uitgevoerd in het UMC Utrecht en het ALS Centrum, staat partnerschap centraal. Al vanaf de opzet wordt er nauw samengewerkt met ervaringsdeskundigen. Patiëntenvereniging Spierziekten Nederland speelt hierbij een grote rol. ‘Veel mensen met ALS, PSMA en PLS ervaren voedingsproblemen naarmate hun ziekte vordert. Dit kan komen door verschillende factoren die horen bij de ziekte. Hoewel voeding vaak besproken wordt in de spreekkamer, is er nog veel onbekend. Richtlijnen benadrukken het belang van goede voeding, maar bieden geen praktische handvatten. Het doel van het project is om meer inzicht te krijgen in de huidige voedingszorg voor mensen met ALS, PSMA en PLS en welke knelpunten en behoeften er worden ervaren’. Partnerschap is in dit project erg belangrijk. Vanaf het eerste idee was er contact met Spierziekten Nederland. Charlotte van Esch, projectmanager kwaliteit van zorg bij Spierziekten Nederland, vertelt in deze video meer over de rol van een patiëntenorganisatie in onderzoek. “Partnerschap in onderzoek gaat over samenwerking tussen onderzoekers en ervaringsdeskundigen in alle fasen van het onderzoek. Een patiëntenorganisatie kan daarin een cruciale rol spelen, patiënten weten heel goed wat relevant onderzoek is en waar zij echt iets aan hebben”. Spierziekten Nederland speelde onder andere een rol bij het ontwikkelen van vragenlijsten voor het project. Hierdoor sloten vragenlijsten beter aan bij de doelgroep. Daarnaast hielp Spierziekten Nederland bij de werving van patiënten en naasten voor de projectgroep. Door de waardevolle inzichten en ervaringen van patiënten en naasten in de projectgroep sluit het project beter aan bij de praktijk. Naast Spierziekten Nederland, wordt er ook nauw samengewerkt met de ALS patiëntenvereniging. Meer informatie over dit onderzoek is te vinden via https://lnkd.in/eSz8H-Es #WvdW #partnerschap #revalidatie Merle Kuiper ALS Centrum Nederland Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht Het KCRU is het onderzoeks- en innovatiecentrum van UMC Utrecht Hersencentrum (UMC Utrecht Brain Center) en De Hoogstraat Revalidatie.

Highlighting team science at Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht! 🏆 From 19 strong submissions, the top three nominees for the UMC Utrecht Team Science Award 2024 are all part of the UMC Utrecht Brain Center. Congratulations to: - MRI Gradient Team - Team Neo-BRAIN - Utrecht BCI Lab These teams all showcase impressive research and collaboration. Watch their videos and cast your vote by October 3rd, 12:00! https://lnkd.in/ehSNZV9d The winner will be announced during the Team Science Award Ceremony on October 3rd in the Blauwe Collegezaal. #UMCUtrecht #TeamScience #Research #BrainCenter #Collaboration

📢 Save the date! 📢 On behalf of the CONNECT Research Consortium (headed by Elly Hol (UMC Utrecht) and Elga de Vries (Amsterdam UMC)), we are thrilled to announce the CONNECT Symposium on January 10th, 2025! This full-day program details recent advances in bioengineering, in vitro BBB modeling and brain organoids, with emphasis on connecting the BBB to cortical organoids. The CONNECT Symposium provides a platform for established and junior scientists from academia and private industry to share their latest discoveries, challenges, and perspectives. Our keynote speakers of the day are Prof. Dr. Adrian Ranga (KU Leuven, BE) and Dr. Roberto Villaseñor Solorio (Roche, CH). Prof. Dr. Ranga will share methods for vascularizing cerebral organoids. Dr. Villaseñor will share techniques to generate high throughput in vitro models of the BBB. Come and see what is possible. Sign up and submit your registration fee here: https://lnkd.in/dG_YKrZD The CONNECT Symposium is an initiative of the CONNECT Research Consortium, including researchers from UMC Utrecht, Amsterdam UMC, Danone, Nutricia, BG.legal, PimBio B.V., Eyesiu Medicines BV, Confocal.nl, funded by NWO (Dutch Research Council), Proefdiervrij and Hersenstichting.