9 mei 2022, AMOLF

First study of CRISPR-Cas defense in individual cells shows remarkable variability
Specialists in single cell dynamics of research institute AMOLF together with CRISPR-Cas researchers of TU Delft were able to measure for the first time how quickly a single cell can build new memory and remove invading DNA using the CRISPR Cas system. Remarkably, they noted a large variability between individual cells in different populations. The results were published on April 25, 2022 in the open access scientific journal Molecular Systems Biology.

7 maart 2022, AMOLF

A magic top hat for protein folding
Following a single protein inside the cavity of a GroEL chaperone for the first time, researchers at AMOLF led by professor Sander Tans discovered how protein folding can be accelerated. Amino acid chains are pulled inside the open cavity of the chaperone, where they collapse on top of themselves and fold. The findings have implications for our understanding of cellular protein control and folding diseases. The research was published in Science Advances on March 4th.


Quiz - Beginner's Guide to Paragliding
How much do you know about paragliding? Bastienne Wentzel, Erwin Voogt and Cross Country developed a quiz to find out. There is a quiz for everyone: newbies, beginners and experienced pilots.

Find the quizzes at beginnersguidetoparagliding.com/quiz

The web engine behind the quiz (developed by Erwin Voogt) is fully functional examination software used in schools. Send us an email (info@bmedia.nl) to find out more.


Naked pilot: Robin Friess
"I always knew I wanted to fly. My parents are both hang glider and paraglider pilots. We lived in Frankfurt in Germany and all our holidays were flying holidays. I first flew when I was six but my mother did not really want me to fly. She told me if I wanted to fly I would have to make my own money, so I delivered newspapers until I had enough. At 13 years old I did my first course in Wildschönau in Austria."


Review: Swing Helios RS
All Swing paragliders are now equipped with a RAST partition, which causes parts of the glider to inflate or deflate slower or quicker depending on the situation. This gives for example remarkably easy launching behaviour and dampens the adverse effects of collapses. But such a complex internal structure would surely result in a heavier glider, right? Swing now proves that it doesn't have to be with the new lightweight hike&fly performance glider Helios RS.

12 december 2019, Cross Country magazine

Review: U-Turn Morpheus NG
A little over a decade ago, U-Turn launched the Morpheus, an acro glider which was developed together with Mike Küng. He wanted a dynamic glider capable of all manoeuvres but with a safety margin for performing shows. After many customers' requests, U-Turn now launches the Morpheus Next Generation based on this popular 'legend' as they call it. Just as the old Morpheus was a mild version of their professional acro wing G-Force, the Morpheus NG is the little brother of the very popular Blackout+ and Joker. It will replace the freestyler RedOut.

15 juli 2019, Diversen

15 juli 2019, NWO

Molecular design for nanolithography: The difference is in the details
”For the first time, I feel I am doing research that has an impact. It is very rewarding. I am confident that we are developing materials that can be used in industry.” Sonia Castellanos, group leader of the EUV Photoresists group of ARCNL, unravels the working mechanisms of new classes of photoresists and developes new materials that will make future chips for phones and computers much smaller. Recently, she published results from this research in the Journal of Materials Chemistry C.

19 april 2017, ECN

New joint venture MOJI to fast track Dutch gasification technology commercialisation
ECN and partner Dahlman Renewable Technology (DRT) have launched a new joint venture to fast track the commercialisation of their gasification technology. MOJI technology efficiently converts a wide range of sustainable feedstocks to electricity, green gas, chemicals and even sustainable fuels. This is an exciting next step in enabling the transition to a sustainable energy system worldwide.

1 maart 2016, Diversen

The challenge to bring medicines to the market
Many IMM graduates pursue a career in academia. But just as many of them venture out into an industrial career to contribute to the valorization of scientific research. Silvie Meeuwissen is one of those scientists. After a successful but fundamental PhD project she preferred the more applied research at ChemConnection, a contract research and manufacturing company. From the state of the art laboratory of the company in Oss she tells us why.
This interview appeared in the 2015 annual report of the Nijmegen Institute of Molecules and Materials (IMM).

22 november 2012, NPC Highlights

Good to hear what is out there
Many NPC projects are coming to an end. The PhD students involved are about to be released onto the career market. Many of them are not sure about what to do after their graduation, as became clear when the application was opened of the BioBusiness Summerschool 2012. The summerschool introduces the students to 'the business world of Life Sciences'. As many as 70 PhDs attended the week long summerschool in Amsterdam to hear about opportunities in large companies, the possibilities to start a business and to have opportunities to extend their network.

1 april 2011, IOP

The quest for a cure for mitochondrial diseases
Jan Smeitink's purpose in life is finding a cure for mitochondrial diseases. Every year he sees hundreds of children with genetic mitochondrial defects in his clinic. The majority of the kids do not live to be adults. The energy factories of their cells, the mitochondria, fail to produce enough energy for other cellular processes. The result is a plethora of multisystem diseases. The IOP Genomics project has resulted in the development of a high-throughput screening platform for live cells using state-of-the-art imaging techniques. Hundreds of potential drugs for mitochondrial disorders can be tested using this platform. In the near future, this will lead to a cure for some of the mitochondrial diseases.
 

30 april 2009, Interface

Construction and data mining of chemical and biological databases
Predicting biological activity of compounds accurately is of great importance in the development of new drugs. Not only bioinformatics methods are used to predict for example receptor interaction with a drug, but also cheminformatics methods to predict the possible toxicity of a potential drug molecule. Jeroen Kazius constructed extensive databases and designed new data mining methods which can more accurately predict such activities.

1 maart 2009, IOP

Cell wall dynamics of Aspergillus Niger
Aspergillus niger, well known as the fungus that produces black mold on old bread, forms an extended network of interconnected hyphae. This mycelium has an enormous capacity to secrete proteins and other compounds. Its productivity has led the food and pharmaceutical industry to use A. niger  as the preferred biological production factories for, among others, enzymes. New information about genetic signalling in the fungus cells has urged Marc van der Maarel to study the dynamics of the A. niger mycelium in more detail.

1 februari 2009, IOP

Why some people live longer than others
Not all old people are equally old. That is, their chronological age - the number of years they have lived - is not the same as their biological age - their life expectancy and health. Some people appear to have a hereditary taint for longevity. By studying a large group of very old people, who are obviously protected from ageing and disease, researchers are trying to find these genetic variations and the biomarkers by which they are expressed.

1 februari 2009, IOP

A screening platform to understand energy metabolism
Mitochondrial disorders are a group of serious, often fatal diseases. Due to a genetic defect, the powerhouses of our cells are unable to produce enough energy from food. The mechanisms are poorly understood, let alone a therapy being available for patients. Jan Smeitink works to understand the energy metabolism in mitochondria by setting up a screening platform. This platform should generate enough knowledge to influence the energy metabolism and eventually cure disorders associated with it.