Twente University-Radboudumc collaboration strengthened

6 July 2017

Radboudumc and Twente University strengthen their scientific collaboration. On 5 July 2017, four project-based grants of 80K€ each were awarded to new collaborations between researchers from both institutes.

The pre-established collaboration between Radboudumc and Twente Universty has been made official by signing of the ‘Twente University Radboudumc Opportunities’ (TURBO) program. The TURBO program is in line with the ‘concepts for a healthy life’ initiative.
 
The aim of the TURBO program is to facilitate research between the institutes that will increase the possibility of collectively obtaining external funding in the fields of ‘health and technology’. Additionally, this agreement will stimulate the exchange of knowledge and expertise between researchers and students. In the first TURBO-grant call 27 proposals for joint research projects were filed. Proposals were evaluated  on scientific quality, feasibility of project and likelihood of obtaining additional funding, innovativeness and (societal) impact.

Artificial Neural network

While the sequencing of a human genome is no longer difficult, predicting functionality and phenotype from a DNA sequence remains a challenge. Wilfred van der Wiel (Twente University) and Mihai Netea (Radboudumc) propose a neural network approach to predict human immune response based on genetic data. Their project – ‘From genetics to immune response: a neural network approach’- aims to unravel the genetic and non-genetic factors that influence the human immune response.

Colon-on-a-chip

Hypomagnesemia is a common side effect of stomach-acid reducing medicines (PPIs). Recently, PPIs were shown to cause disturbances in the composition of the gut microbiome resulting in low serum magnesium levels. In the project ‘COLON-CHIP (Co-culture Of microfLora on eNterocytes in the Complex Host Instestine Physiology), Dimitrios Stamatialis (Twente University) and Joost  Hoenderop (Radboudumc) will develop a novel colon-on-a-chip device that allows co-culturing of anaerobic gut bacteria with intestinal 3D villi-like structures. This device can be used for large-scale compound testing.

Brain-on-a-chip

A critical requirement for drugs to be effective for treatment of brain disorders is that their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Accurate in vitro cellular models of the BB in combination with cellular models of neuronal functions are necessary for personalized drug testing. Jan Eijkel (Twente University) and Kees Albers (Radboudumc) will integrate astrocyte-neuron cultures in the BBB-chip that provide a unique opportunity for drug testing in neurodevelopmental disorders.

Self-healing dental composite

“White fillings” are widely used in restorative dentistry. However, fracture of composite restoration due to microcrack formation remains a major drawback. The development of self-healing composite restorations with the capacity to repair crack in situ would overcome the major shortcoming of the current generation of dental composites. Jos Paulusse (Twente University) and Sander Leeuwenburgh (Radboudumc) will join forces to develop biocompatible microcapsules for the development of truly self-healing and fatigue-resistant dental composites.


 Prof. Thom Palstra, rector magnificus Twenty University (l) and Prof. Jan Smit, acting dean Radboudumc.