Jan van de Winkel to deliver the Utrecht Science Lecture during the opening of Utrecht Science Week 2025

We are thrilled to announce that Prof. Dr. Jan van de Winkel, President & CEO of Genmab, will present the keynote opening Utrecht Science Lecture during the 2025 Utrecht Science Week on September 26. As a pioneering scientist and industry leader in antibody-based therapies, Jan van de Winkel has been at the forefront of groundbreaking advancements in immunotherapy, shaping the future of cancer treatment and beyond.
With more than 30 years of experience in therapeutic antibodies, Jan van de Winkel has played a pivotal role in translating cutting-edge science into life-changing medicines. As a co-founder of Genmab, he has led the company’s journey from an ambitious startup to a global end-to-end biotech powerhouse. In addition to his executive role, he holds a professorship in immunotherapy at Utrecht University, contributing to academic research and fostering the next generation of scientific leaders.
In his lecture, titled “Cracking the Code on Cancer and Other Serious Diseases: The Past, Present, and Future of Immunotherapy”, he will explore how immunotherapy is revolutionizing medicine. From early discoveries to today’s breakthroughs in cancer care, he will offer insights into the evolving role of antibody therapies, the next frontiers in biotechnology, and the power of collaboration and AI in driving innovation.
As Utrecht Science Week celebrates its fifth edition, this keynote lecture will highlight Utrecht’s ambition as the “Heart of Health” and the Utrecht Science Park as a unique life sciences ecosystem for cutting-edge research and medical innovation. Join us to gain a front-row perspective on the future of immunotherapy and how partnerships between academia, industry, and healthcare can accelerate progress for patients worldwide.
You can register here.

New Year’s promotion: all-in sports with a generous discount at Sportcentrum Olympos
Employees of Utrecht University, Utrecht University of Applied Sciences (HU), UMCU, Hubrecht Institute and Westerdijk Institute can temporarily enjoy an extra 20% discount on all-in sports at Olympos!

Running courses at Sportcentrum Olympos for various distances
Want to be well prepared for your distance in the Utrecht Marathon on 31 May 2026? The Olympos Sports Centre at Utrecht Science Park offers 10-week running training programmes for different levels and distances.

Karin Gerritsen receives grant for kidney-on-a-chip
Nephrologist Karin Gerritsen of UMC Utrecht receives a grant of 1.8 million euros for the research NanoKid from NWO. In this research she is working on an innovative kidney-on-a-chip: a miniature model in which the most important kidney functions are imitated. The ultimate goal is to use this kidney-on-a-chip as a fundamental building block for a bioartificial kidney and improving kidney replacement therapies.

Wennink plan: Life Sciences and biotechnology are important growth drivers for the earning capacity of the Netherlands
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