Not all DNA looks like the familiar twisted ladder. Sometimes, parts of our genetic code fold into unusual shapes. One such structure, the G-quadruplex (G4), looks like a knot. These knots can play important roles in turning genes on or off. But if not untangled in time, they can harm our genome. Now, researchers from the Knipscheer Group, in collaboration with the Karolinska Institutet, have uncovered a surprising mechanism that keeps these knots in check. Their work, published in Science on June 12th, could lead to new ways to treat diseases like cancer.
On Sunday 18 May, Utrecht was all about sports. The HiPRO Utrecht Marathon experienced a special edition with a full lap at the marathon distance and a record number of participants of over 18,500. In the morning, thousands of runners started their run. Traditionally, the start and finish took place at the Utrecht Science Park, which was the vibrant heart of this sports event.
The number of animal experiments conducted by Utrecht University and UMC Utrecht has declined again over the past year. The numbers dropped from 14,192 in 2023 to 12,584 in 2024. This is evident from the joint 2024 Annual Report on Animal Experiments.
On 1st October 2024, Professor Paul Coffer stepped into his role as Scientific Director of Utrecht University’s Strategic Theme Life Sciences. More than six months in, the honeymoon period is over and the course ahead is clear. What did he encounter, and where is he heading next?
How can we make the Utrecht region more sustainable, inclusive, and innovative—together? HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht offers a clear answer with its new brand campaign How? HU! Starting June 5, HU is actively positioning itself as a partner for regional collaboration and social impact.
Scientists from the Princess Máxima Center, together with international partners, discovered that a form of kidney cancer in children, Wilms tumor, contains many more genetic changes than previously thought. This discovery could lead to new, more targeted treatment options in the future, including immunotherapy.
From Friday 26 September to Sunday 5 October, the Utrecht Science Park will be alive with curiosity and exploration during the annual Utrecht Science Week. For over a week, the Utrecht Science Park opens its doors to everyone interested in both applied and fundamental science. In close collaboration with various partners, a diverse programme is put together, with special focus on themes such as sustainability and health.
Oxygen deprivation around birth is a major cause of mortality and developmental problems in newborns worldwide. It can lead to problems in motoric development, behaviour and cognition. These problems are not always apparent in early development, and the consequences of oxygen deprivation in adolescence and adulthood are currently largely unknown. It is therefore important to continue monitoring children who have experienced severe oxygen deprivation around birth into adolescence. This is one of the main recommendations of physician-researcher neonatology Corline Parmentier (UMC Utrecht), who received her PhD on 27th of May.
Especially for children with cancer, it is important to be careful with highly increased protein intake in view of their health. Researchers from the Hoeijmakers group at the Prinses Máxima Center draw this conclusion after research in mice studying the influence of nutrition on DNA damage. To learn more about the exact mechanisms and effects, follow-up research is taking place at the Máxima Center.
The new Evolution garden at the Utrecht University Botanic Gardens will officially open in June. As visitors walk through the Evolution garden, they will embark on a journey through more than 900 million years of plant evolution: from the earliest Algae to the Flowering plants, the most diverse group of plants on Earth today. Gijs Steur, curator at the Botanic Gardens: “An evolution garden of this scale and completeness is something I have not yet seen in any other botanical garden.”
The Utrecht Science Park has a large number of laboratories containing a large amount of equipment, chemicals and disposables, which are used intensively. But when that is not (or no longer) the case, because a project has been completed, for example, those equipment and materials can still be very useful to fellow researchers or partners. In order to bring supply and demand together to encourage a more circular use of laboratory materials, the Laboratory Exchange Platform for the Utrecht Science Park (LABEXUSP) has been developed: a digital platform for equipment, chemicals and disposables. Currently, the platform is still in its pilot phase. Debóra van Ekeris and Judith Hendriks were one of the first with a match on the platform and are happy to share their experience.
On Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 October, leading organisations will open their doors for everyone during the Weekend van de Wetenschap (Weekend of Science), which takes place as part of the Utrecht Science Week. Visitors will get a unique look behind the scenes at, among others, HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht University, the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital (WKZ) and the Princess Máxima Center.