First pile signals start of future-proof Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital
On Thursday 28 November the first pile has been driven, marking the start of the renovation of the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital (WKZ). With this renovation the WKZ/UMC Utrecht takes a big step towards a future-proof children’s hospital, where innovative and sustainable care is provided to the patients and their families. A common thread of the renovation is the creation of space, tranquility and privacy for both child and parent or caregiver.
The renovation will begin with the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and High Care and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), which will transition from inpatient wards to single rooms. This will allow parents or caregivers to stay and stay overnight with their sick child. This contributes to family-oriented care, where parents or caregivers are closely involved in their child’s care. In this way, they have more control and privacy together.
In addition to these departments, the Pregnancy and Triage Departments are also being remodeled, and the Medium Care Neonatology and Maternity Departments are being merged into family rooms, where parents and newborns can stay together in a personalized environment. All is expected to be completed by mid-2027.
Josefien Kursten, member of the Executive Board of the UMC Utrecht: “With this renovation, we are focusing on the care of tomorrow. By transforming the hospital into a place where patients with their families and colleagues are central. In the new and renovated departments we will work differently to provide better family-oriented care. We will ensure that our working environment and the healthcare technologies we use are ready for the future.”
Keep an eye on the website for up-to-date information.
New exit for construction traffic at the Utrecht Science Park
Various construction works are taking place in the north-west cluster of Utrecht Science Park. This is the area where the Minnaert Building and the Buys Ballot Building, amongst others, are located. To ensure that construction traffic flows more safely and efficiently through the area, a new exit is being constructed from Sorbonnelaan to Leuvenlaan.
Eliminating cancer with light
Killing tumors with light. Is that something for the distant future? Certainly not! UMC Utrecht and start-up Lumox are now going to test an innovative therapy in a first patient study.
Three Dekker grants for UMC Utrecht researchers
Can damaged brain functions be restored after a stroke? How can we make more donor hearts suitable for transplantation? And how can we prevent someone from having another ischemic stroke? These are the three questions that researchers Jord Vink, Veronique Meijborg, and Michiel Poorthuis from UMC Utrecht will be exploring over the coming years. All three have been awarded a personal Dekker Grant by the Dutch Heart Foundation to help improve care for people with cardiovascular disease.
Opening Utrecht Science Week with keynote by Juliette Legler on the hidden influence of environmental chemicals
On Friday, September 25, the annual science festival ‘Utrecht Science Week’ kicks off once again at Utrecht Science Park. We are pleased to announce that this year, Prof. Dr. Ir. Juliette Legler will deliver the Utrecht Science Lecture. Juliette Legler is Professor of Toxicology at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Utrecht University and leads the ‘One Health Toxicology’ group at the Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS).