Research UMC Utrecht on rare lung diseases with biotechnology and AI
Health-Holland has awarded a three-million-euro grant to Kors van der Ent, professor of paediatric lung diseases (UMC Utrecht) for the PRO-Long research. Kors and his team are investigating how to use biotechnology to develop innovative therapies. They focus on patients with rare lung diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia.
In the Netherlands, more than 1.2 million people have chronic lung disease. Hereditary factors play a role in almost all lung diseases, and some lung diseases (such as Cystic Fibrosis and Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia) are even completely determined by genetic defects. People with these conditions are often ill and often hospitalised. The associated annual healthcare costs amount to about EUR 4 billion. Moreover, these people often die at a younger age.
The aim of this PRO-Long research is to develop mRNA and gene therapy in human stem cells, using biotechnology and artificial intelligence. This will allow people with lung diseases to be treated faster and more effectively. UMC Utrecht is not conducting this research alone, but together with Amsterdam UMC, two health funds and Lung Alliance Netherlands.
Kors van der Ent: ‘In the laboratory, we test new drugs directly on the cells of patients with rare hereditary lung diseases. We accelerate that process and make it better and better. But we also make sure, together with patient organisations, that patients are well informed as soon as a drug is very promising. In this way, we make the road from laboratory to the consulting room much shorter.’
With this programme, UMC Utrecht also encourages scientists and companies to keep the Netherlands at the forefront of these developments and make the Netherlands a magnet for new knowledge and economic activity.
About Health-Holland
Health-Holland promotes scientific discoveries and technological innovations that contribute to healthcare and life sciences (e.g. food production). Health-Holland also stimulates scientific discoveries and technological innovations that contribute to sustainable and structural economic growth.
Utrecht Science Week: René van Westen on a colder Netherlands in a warmer world
The Earth is warming, yet the Netherlands could face much colder winters in the future. It may sound contradictory, but the explanation lies in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a large system of ocean currents that transports heat and salt through the Atlantic Ocean. This circulation plays an important role in the mild climate that we are accustomed to in the Netherlands.
Utrecht Science week: The Future of Veterinary Medicine Requires New Ways of Working Together
Veterinary medicine is changing rapidly. New technologies and AI are entering the field, issues surrounding animal health and welfare are becoming increasingly complex, and the labour market is under pressure. At the same time, there is a growing need for professionals who not only have up-to-date expertise, but who can continue to develop throughout their careers and collaborate across disciplines.
Interview with Michiel van der Stelt: Water dialogue during Utrecht Science Week: Dive into the Future of Our Water
Water affects everything from our health and nature to the way we design our cities and shape our economy. But how can we ensure that our water system remains resilient to climate change and other challenges in the future?
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).