Latest news Medical Biochemistry Amsterdam

AGEM awards to Sebastian Hendrix, Klevis Ndoj, and Noam Zelcer

Fri, 24 Apr 2026 10:50:43 GMT

The yearly AGEM awards were announced: Sebastian Hendrix will receive the AGEM Talent grant which will allow him to develop his project on MASLD. The AGEM innovation grant to study regulation of NPC1 was awarded to team ACHILLES consisting of Klevis Ndoj, Marion Brands, Georges Janssens, and Noam Zelcer.

From left to right: Klevis Ndoj, Noam Zelcer and Sebastian Hendrix.

Cytokine specificity in macrophages: JAK-STAT and beyond

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 13:07:04 GMT

Cytokine specificity in macrophages: JAK-STAT and beyond

Our group has published a new review in Trends in Immunology titled “Cytokine specificity in macrophages: JAK–STAT and beyond.” In this article, we discuss how macrophages generate stimulus-specific responses despite sharing common cytokine signaling pathways such as JAK–STAT. We highlight emerging evidence that cytokine specificity is largely encoded at the chromatin level, where stimulus-dependent enhancer activation and transcription factor networks shape distinct inflammatory gene programs.

The article is published open acces and can be accessed through this link .

Discovery of Pathogenic Signaling Cascade Reveals Therapeutic Target for Capillary Malformations

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 10:45:15 GMT

Discovery of Pathogenic Signaling Cascade in Capillary Malformations

New publication ! The Huveneers lab identified the Calcineurin-NFAT-DSCR1.4 signaling pathway as a druggable driver of capillary malformations caused by the GNAQ p.R183Q mutation, which is associated with port-wine stains and Sturge-Weber syndrome.

Our research shows:

• How the Gαq-R183Q mutation in endothelial cells disrupts normal signaling, impairing cell migration and angiogenic sprouting

• That DSCR1.4 is a key mediator of these effects

• That inhibition of Calcineurin with Tacrolimus or depletion of DSCR1.4 can restore normal endothelial function

�� To learn more about our findings, please visit: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10456-026-10029-9

The article also includes a full phosphoproteomic dataset, provided as open-source data, mapping downstream signaling of the GNAQ p.R183Q mutation in endothelial cells.

With Tong Xu , Vera Janssen and Nathalie Reinhard as shared first authors, we would like to thank everyone who contributed!

Paper Mees and Josje accepted in Cell Reports

Mon, 16 Feb 2026 12:45:36 GMT

Our most recent work showing an alternative pathway activated by interferons in macrophages, now published online in Cell Reports:

Great work of the group of Marten Hoeksema, in particular Mees Botman and Josje Huisman with help of lab members and collaborators: Alexandra Drakaki , Sanne Lidewij Maas , Agnieszka Witalisz-Siepracka, Dagmar Stoiber-Sakaguchi , Emiel Van der Vorst and Ricky Siebeler !

The paper is published open-access and can be accessed through this link !

Best AGEM PhD course research proposal for Marijn Bult et al.

Fri, 06 Feb 2026 10:17:17 GMT

Congratulation to Solaiman Ezzafzafi, Yihuan Zhaand and Marijn Bult, who won the best research proposal competition during the AGEM PhD course. They will develop an in vitro cell system to predict the working of sgRNAs in the liver in vivo.

Nieuwe alinea

Paper Ndoj et al. accepted!

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 11:24:00 GMT

Ndoj et al. accepted in PNAS!

New publication from the Zelcer group. Kelvis Ndoj’s article in PNAS is now out. In this collaborative effort with Judith Klumperman 's group, we describe that delivery of NPC1 to lysosomes requires specialized vesicles called LAMP carriers, and that their trafficking relies on VPS41. To read the paper visit:

https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2521979122#acknowledgments

NPC family foundation visited our department

Fri, 05 Dec 2025 10:30:39 GMT

NPC family foundation visits department

We had family and friends from the Bart and Tijn foundation visiting the Zelcer group this week ( https://www.bartentijn.nl / ). We discussed NPC disease and they visited the lab. It turned out to be an interesting and emotional visit.

Post-doc position available in the group of Marten Hoeksema

Wed, 26 Nov 2025 13:14:34 GMT

Post-doc position available in the group of Marten Hoeksema!

Are you interested in immunity and gene regulation? And have you finished your PhD? Are you eager to use genomic approaches to unravel how cytokines activate gene programs in macrophages? Apply now!

https://werkenbij.amsterdamumc.org/en/vacatures/research/postdoc-cytokine-induced-enhancer-activation-in-macrophages

Vidi for Marten Hoeksema

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 11:58:37 GMT

Vidi for Marten Hoeksema!

Marten was awarded the prestigious Vidi grant from NWO-ENW (Science) panel. With this work, Marten will expand his research team to investigate the roles of MAFs in macrophages.

Macrophages are key inflammatory cells present in all our tissues. Hoeksema previously discovered that the binding of MAF proteins to DNA is crucial for activating inflammatory genes in macrophages. However, how these inflammatory programs are initiated remains unclear. In this project, Hoeksema aims to identify which MAF proteins drive excessive inflammation. By specifically targeting these MAF proteins, it may become possible to regulate macrophage responses and counteract inflammatory diseases.

Congratulations to dr. Aukie Hooglugt

Fri, 24 Oct 2025 11:55:00 GMT

Congratulations to dr. Aukie Hooglugt for finishing his PhD

On October 23rd, Aukie successfully defended his PhD work "Balancing forces: endothelial mechanobiology in vascular dynamics and disease" at the VU in Amsterdam.

Young investigator award Ilaria

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:58:10 GMT

Paper accepted!

Wed, 06 Aug 2025 14:25:05 GMT

Paper accepted in Current Opinion in Lipidology!

Our review article together with Daniel Kober’s group (UTSW) summarizing recent mechanistic and structural findings on the SPRING-S1P-SREBP axis is now out. If you want to understand how this system works have a look. Congrats to Ilaria Micallo and Ashley Bullington for putting this together!

Nieuwe alinea

Biochemical Bulldogs at AUMC football tournament

Fri, 11 Jul 2025 11:34:15 GMT

Biochemical Bulldogs at the Amsterdam UMC football tournament. The football team of the Medical Biochemistry department joined the yearly football tournament at the football fields of FC Abcoude:

Project MERCURY is taking off!

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 09:05:16 GMT

Project MERCURY is taking off!

Prof Noam Zelcer has been awarded an NWO open competition grant to study hepatic APOB metabolism and VLDL production. To do so, innovative proteomic and genetic approaches coupled to in vivo studies will be used to understand how APOB/VLDL is lipidated, trafficked, and secreted in hepatocytes.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/noam-zelcer-9a12751_twenty-one-innovative-research-projects-awarded-activity-7336422653521457152-ps0a?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAA3hkkBTqQvWkK2iWzaIRg_2NkR8rJBw7w

https://www.nwo.nl/en/news/twenty-one-innovative-research-projects-awarded-through-open-competition-domain-science-m-programme

Presentation awards for Lobke and Ricky at DAS

Wed, 28 May 2025 08:35:09 GMT

At the annual Dutch Atherosclerosis Society (DAS) meeting, Lobke received the award for Best Flash Talk for her presentation on the role of LXR in macrophage immune activation, while Ricky was awarded Best Poster Presentation for his work on the role of IRF1 in macrophage function.

Congratulations to both!

Best presentation award AII symposium for Ricky Siebeler

Fri, 23 May 2025 13:05:31 GMT

Ricky Siebeler won the best presentation award on the annual Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases (AII) symposium for his presentation on Endogenous Retroviral Elements as regulators of macrophage activation. Congratulations!!

AtheroTalk with Noam Zelcer

Mon, 19 May 2025 09:19:09 GMT

AtheroTalk with Noam Zelcer

Noam shares his perspectives on the evolving field of lipid metabolism research. Besides his scientific insights, he encourages us to discuss our failures, which are “a feature of science, not a bug”. Another key message: “Define clear go/no-go milestones for your project”.

If you are interested in his work, he currently has an open position for a PhD student as also discussed during this episode.

Script-prep: Pelin Golforoush and Emiel van der Vorst

Interviewer: Emiel van der Vorst

https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/e13-noam-zelcer/id1780340626?i=1000708428204

Paper accepted on the interaction between SPRING and S1P!

Tue, 06 May 2025 14:02:43 GMT

Another great paper in collaboration on SPRING-S1P with Daniel Kober’s team (UTSW) is bow out in PNAS. Using a neat series of biochemical, structural and cellular studies, Ashley Bullington and Ilaria Micallo studied how the SPRING-S1P complex recognize its substrates and promotes their cleavage. You can get the paper on https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.2426931122 or www.zelcerlab.eu

Best Poster Award for Ilaria

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 13:38:32 GMT

The AGEM PhD retreat was held on the 3 ^rd and 4 ^th of April in Garderen. The theme of the Research Institute was fully centered with interesting presentations by PhDs and guest speakers. Ilaria Micallo, one of our PhD candidates from Noam Zelcer’s group, obtained the Best Poster Award for her research on “Structural basis for substrate selectivity by site-one protease revealed by studies with a small molecule inhibitor” .

Young Talent Fund grants for Karen and Panos

Wed, 26 Mar 2025 08:58:47 GMT

Karen and Panos got awarded the Amsterdam UMC Young Talent Fund . This fund awards young PhD talents a chance to further develop and enhance their skills, with the aim to provide the opportunity for PhD candidates to do an internship or follow a course at top international research institutes.

Panos will be performing a research visit at KU Leuven. He will utilize the grant to gain insights and hands-on training in Spectral Flow Cytometry.

The goal of the PhD of Karen is to identify suppressors of mitochondrial stress induced by proteotoxic damage which is relevant to neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s disease. Therefore, I will use the grant to visit Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York to follow the course: “Advanced Techniques in Molecular Neuroscience”. This specific CSHL program is an intensive two-week course that will provide me with hands-on experience in cutting-edge techniques and knowledge essential for my PhD project. Karen: "I am looking forward to further enhance my knowledge to study and control the effects of protein aggregation on mitochondrial function in neuronal cells."

PhD defense Winnie Vos

duda-wsm@mijndomein.nl — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 13:03:38 GMT

On Thursday 20th of March, Winnie Vos successfully defended her PhD thesis: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Immune Checkpoint Modulation in Preclinical Models of Inflammatory Diseases.

ZonMW grant for Noam Zelcer to study how liver cells handle cholesterol

Tue, 25 Mar 2025 12:30:08 GMT

ZonMW project: How Do Liver Cells Process Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is essential for the body, but its disrupted processing can contribute to diseases such as fatty liver disease, cancer, and neurodegeneration. As part of the ZonMW project ODYSSEUS, Noam Zelcer, Professor of Molecular Regulation of Metabolism, will be investigating how liver cells process cholesterol. Special attention is given to lysosomes—small compartments that function as distribution hubs. The release of cholesterol from lysosomes and its transport to other parts of the cell remains poorly understood. By mapping this process, researchers aim to identify new targets for treating cholesterol-related disorders.

PhD defense Suzanne van Wouw

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 12:21:55 GMT

PhD defense Suzanne van Wouw

On Tuesday 18/3/25 Suzanne van Wouw defended her PhD thesis. The thesis, titled “LXR-regulated proteins: The key to unlocking cholesterol homeostasis”, describes her work on studying LXR targets genes using a comprehensive set of experimental methodologies spanning biochemical assays to genetically-modified mouse models.

Deletion of EEPD1 reveals macrophage-specific changes in lipid metabolism and cholesterol efflux

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 12:25:16 GMT

Deletion of EEPD1 reveals macrophage-specific changes in lipid metabolism and cholesterol efflux

Just in before the PhD defence, Suzanne latest publication on EEPD1 was accepted for publication in “Atherosclerosis” ( https://www.atherosclerosis-journal.com/article/S0021-9150(25)00060-7/fulltext) . This study describes the metabolic phenotype of mice and macrophages lacking EEPD1. This study reveals that mice lacking EEPD1 are susceptible to weight gain when challenged with a fat containing diet, cements the role of EEPD1 in cholesterol efflux, and identifies marked lipidomic changes in macrophages in the absence of EEPD1.

NHS Dekker afternoon with awarded fellowship and consortia grants

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 09:40:06 GMT

NHS Dekker afternoon with awarded fellowship and consortia grants

A joyful and successful day for the Medical Biochemistry department, on the Dekker afternoon of the Dutch Heart Foundation:

Marten Hoeksema was awarded the Dekker Senior Scientist fellowship on his work on inflammatory lipid-associated macrophages in atherosclerosis.
Menno de Winther , as consortium leader, received the cheque for the Athero-Neth consortium
Vivian de Waard , consortium member of Aneurysm-NL, received funding for her aneurysm work.

For an impression, check this video !

Vacancy PhD student Huveneers Lab

Tue, 04 Feb 2025 14:26:15 GMT

The Huveneers lab is recruiting a PhD student

Are you a motivated researcher with a passion for cell biology and blood vessels? Do you want to uncover the molecular mechanisms that drive vascular function? Join our team and apply now!

https://werkenbij.amsterdamumc.org/en/vacatures/research/phd-vascular-cell-biology

Successful MBIOC Science Day 2025

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 13:10:00 GMT

Our recent Science Day with insightful talks and a great atmosphere was a fantastic success, bringing together all our researchers, students, and invited professionals for a day of inspiring discussions and lots of fun:

Best presentation at ACS

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 19:01:49 GMT

Daan gave the best presentation at the yearly ACS meeting!

Congratulations on your talk on MRI imaging of the Marfan aorta!

PhD defense Carmen

Thu, 12 Dec 2024 17:06:07 GMT

PhD defense Carmen Yap. Congratulations!

Time for a party! Thx for all the hard work over the years.

EMDS travel grants for Ricky and Alexandra

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 14:16:56 GMT

Both Alexandra and Ricky received travel grant awards to join the EMDS in beautiful Vienna! Here they presented their research to dozens of macrophage experts!

Bertus Kemp Stipendium for Marten Hoeksema

Wed, 06 Nov 2024 15:45:00 GMT

Marten Hoeksema received a Bertus Kemp Stipendium from the " Genootschap ter bevordering van Natuur-, Genees- en Heelkunde ". The aim is to study kinase activity differences in macrophages activated with various cytokines. The grant will be used for this research as well as a work visit to the lab of collaborator dr. Emiel van der Vorst at the university of Aachen.

Bertus Kemp was a biochemist at the University of Amsterdam, who was well known for his work on the biochemistry of connective tissue. He held a keen interest in prolyl hydroxylases and ATP synthase and incorporated azido-labelled substrate analogues in his research.

The ‘Stipendium Bertus Kemp’ of € 20.000 is awarded to an early-stage scientist in The Netherlands working at a university or research institute in Amsterdam, who needs financial support to extend her/his network and initiate novel or strengthen existing (inter)national collaborations for future applications for consortium grants, all aimed at making new discoveries in the field of biochemistry.

Source: https://gngh.nl/beurzen-en-bijdragen/

PhD defense Sebastian Hendrix

duda-wsm@mijndomein.nl — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 15:35:33 GMT

On Friday, 1st of November, Sebastian Hendrix defended his PhD thesis cum laude describing his work on the role of SPRING in regulating the SREBP pathway and lipid metabolism. The work included in the thesis describes how SREBP is required to promote the maturation of S1P, a protease that is required for the first cleavage-activation event of SREBPs. When SPRING is absent, SREBP cleavage cannot occur and as a consequence the SREBP pathway cannot be activated. The thesis positions SPRING as a core component of the SREBP activation machinery, the only new determinant added in the last 2 decades.

PhD defense Sanne Lith

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 15:28:29 GMT

Congratulations to Dr. Sanne Lith on successfully defending her PhD thesis last Friday! Wishing Sanne all the best in her next chapter!

Graduation Mees at Inholland

Thu, 10 Oct 2024 14:57:49 GMT

Mees graduated from the University of Applied Sciences (HBO) Inholland in Amsterdam. Congratulations!!! He performed his final internship in the Hoeksema lab and will now continue there as research technician!

Job opening PhD student Hoeksema lab

duda-wsm@mijndomein.nl — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 12:23:08 GMT

The Hoeksema lab is looking for a PhD student to join their team!

The PhD student would study the most common underlying problem of cardiovascular disease: atherosclerosis.

It has recently become known that, during the process of atherosclerosis, foam cells can also become active inflammatory cells. These inflammatory foam cells create more inflammation and a weaker plaque that is more likely to rupture and as a consequence can cause a heart or brain attack more quickly. The future PhD student will investigate exactly what transcription factors are responsible for the foam cells to become inflammatory foam cells.

This project is funded by the Dutch Heart Foundation.

Marten Hoeksema receives Dutch Heart Foundation Dekker grant

Thu, 01 Aug 2024 09:48:27 GMT

The Dutch Heart Foundation has awarded a Senior Scientist Dekker grant to Marten Hoeksema. Dekker grants are personal research grants for talented scientists that are awarded annually. With the grants, the Heart Foundation enables researchers to take the next step in their careers. The Dekker grant helps them to set up and expand their own research line in the field of cardiovascular research

Hoeksema studies the most common underlying problem of cardiovascular disease: atherosclerosis.

It has recently become known that, during the process of atherosclerosis, foam cells can also become active inflammatory cells. These inflammatory foam cells create more inflammation and a weaker plaque that is more likely to rupture and as a consequence can cause a heart or brain attack more quickly. Hoeksema will investigate exactly what transcription factors are responsible for the foam cells to become inflammatory foam cells.

If Hoeksema can answer this question, the next step is to develop drugs aimed at inhibiting the culprit transcription factors. This will prevent foam cell from becoming inflammatory and lower the risk of a plaque rupturing. Hoeksema: "In this way, I want to develop well-functioning anti-inflammatory drugs that specifically target arterial calcification. I hope that with these drugs we can prevent many heart and brain attacks in the future."

For more information on the awarded Dekker Grants, you can visit this page.

Paper on the structure of SPRING accepted!

Thu, 11 Jul 2024 11:13:09 GMT

The Zelcer lab's study describing the structure of SPRING and S1P is out. This was a great collaboration with Daniel Kober (UTSW) who is a biochemsitry and CryoEM wizard. This study provides th structural basis for the role SPRING has in proteolytic maturation of the S1P zymogen, and why SPRING is required for S1P-mediated cleavage of the SREBP transcription factors. Enjoy the reading and let us know what you think of this:

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-50068-8

Best presentation award for Sanne!

Fri, 05 Jul 2024 08:20:59 GMT

At the latest AII annual meeting, Sanne Lith was awarded the best presentation award in the Immunology session for her excellent talk on the role of Nur77 regulating inflammation through cis and trans regulation of AP-1 target genes!

Internships

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 13:28:08 GMT

We are looking for an enthusiastic MSc student in the group of Marten Hoeksema interested in innate immunity en gene regulation!

Contact Marten Hoeksema for more information!

Best flash talk for Winnie Vos at the DAS!

Thu, 20 Jun 2024 08:22:34 GMT

At the annual symposium of the Dutch Atherosclerosis Society, Winnie won the prize for best flash talk. Congratulations!

Amber's paper accepted

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 10:40:08 GMT

Apolipoprotein B (APOB)-containing very LDL (VLDL) production, secretion, and clearance by hepatocytes is a central determinant of hepatic and circulating lipid levels. Impairment of any of the aforementioned processes is associated with the development of multiple diseases. Despite the discovery of genes and processes that govern hepatic VLDL metabolism, our understanding of the different mechanistic steps involved is far from complete. An impediment to these studies is the lack of tractable hepatocyte-based systems to interrogate and follow APOB in cells, which the current study addresses.

You can read the full story here !

Interview with Noam Zelcer on Niemann Pick type C (NPC) disease

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 09:07:42 GMT

Read how Noam takes us through his fascinating research into Niemann Pick type C (NPC) and discover how this could support Niemann Pick type C (NPC) patients in the future. Click on the following link for the full story (in Dutch):

https://www.wisselstof.nl/magazine/1111/nieuw-magazine/1664/de-code-kraken

Paper accepted: SPRING is a Dedicated Licensing Factor for SREBP-Specific Activation by S1P

Wed, 15 May 2024 15:25:33 GMT

Sebastian Hendrix (group Zelcer) et al. demonstrate in this Molecular and Cellular Biology paper that activity of SPRING is specific for S1P-mediated activation of SREBP and not of other transcription factors like Atf6!

New job opening PhD Student

Wed, 01 May 2024 13:28:13 GMT

We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD student in the group of Marten Hoeksema:

Click here for more information or to apply!

PhD defense Max Grönloh

duda-wsm@mijndomein.nl — Tue, 02 Apr 2024 08:05:54 GMT

After an excellent layman's talk and great discussions with the PhD committee, Max Grönloh was awarded a PhD in the UvA aula this last Wednesday March 27th! Congratulations, Max!

Presenting results of the resveratrol trial to Marfan patients

Sat, 30 Mar 2024 16:13:23 GMT

Sharing the results of the resveratrol trial with Marfan patients

Daan presented the data of our Resveratrol trial to the Marfan patients on their yearly meeting.

Vici for Stephan Huveneers!

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 16:11:00 GMT

After previously already obtaining the Veni and Vidi awards, Stephan is now awarded the prestigious Vici award from ZonMW: 1.5 million euros for excellent research from the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). He will receive this Vici grant to develop an innovative research line over the next 5 years and to further expand his own research group.

With this Vici grant, Stephan aims to find ways to prevent blood vessel leakage during illness. Endothelial cells in the blood vessel wall are closely connected to each other via molecular connections. It has recently been discovered that so-called 'signals' ensure that these compounds maintain their strength, even if, for example, blood pressure changes. These cohesion-strengthening proteins protect the blood vessels, because the cells in the blood vessel wall remain connected to each other even under pressure.

However, in patients with vascular diseases, such as high blood pressure, these connections between the cells of the blood vessel wall become damaged and the blood vessels start to leak. Stephan and his team will study how endothelial cells respond to tension and stiffness. The knowledge gained is then used to look for ways to prevent blood vessel leakage during disease.

We are hiring a lab coordinator!

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 13:41:26 GMT

Please check out our vacancy .

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First research technician's retreat!

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 13:38:50 GMT

Our wonderful team of research technicians had a great first retreat in which they worked on team building and at the same time had a lot of fun!

Marten appointed as PI

Wed, 24 Jan 2024 13:34:02 GMT

The Amsterdam UMC board appointed Marten Hoeksema as principal investigator!

We are hiring!

Mon, 08 Jan 2024 12:43:09 GMT

PhD position available in Sorrentino/Zelcer lab!

For an NWO Vidi fellowship, we are looking to hire a PhD student to study novel regulators of mitochondrial homeostasis in Alzheimer's disease. If you are interested please follow this link:

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/336218/phd-mitochondrial-homeostasis-in-alzheimers-disease/

Menno de Winther appointed as new ACS director

Wed, 13 Dec 2023 16:13:24 GMT

Menno de Winther and Ronak Delewi will become the new directors of Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences starting from January 2024. Menno and Ronak will be able to cover both preclinical and clinical vascular and cardiac research. They will take over from Jolanda van der Velden and Arthur de Wilde

Menno, Ronak, Jolanda and Arthur at the 2023 ACS symposium

Successful Rembrandt meeting

duda-wsm@mijndomein.nl — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 10:46:39 GMT

Last Friday, on the Rembrandt meeting, Max won the best presentation award for his beautiful talk on how neutrophils can enhance CD8+ T cell recruitment to the inflamed endothelium. Merel won the HeArt in Science Award for most beautiful image/art piece, which she named: Cellestial map!

PhD defense Bram van Os

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 16:02:37 GMT

Bram successfully defended his PhD thesis on Thursday November 2nd at 13:00:

Successful EMDS meeting in Gent

duda-wsm@mijndomein.nl — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 15:58:21 GMT

Excellent research discussed in Gent at the EMDS!

With poster presentations of Sanne Lith, Koen Prange and Ricky Siebeler! And also ex-MBIOC employees Duco Koenis, Jan Van de Bossche and Saskia van der Velden!

PhD position available in Zelcer lab

duda-wsm@mijndomein.nl — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 09:20:02 GMT

The Zelcer lab ( www.zelcerlab.eu) is recruiting a PhD student to study novel regulators of lipid metabolism.

For more information and to apply please visit Academic Transfer or the AUMC website .

Seminar by Chris Glass (UCSD)

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 11:48:09 GMT

The Medical Biochemistry department is hosting Chris Glass (UCSD) on October 23rd. He will give a lecture at 4PM (lecture hall 4, AMC) and we are organizing a master class from 1 to 3PM, registration is needed for the masterclass. See the flyer for more info:

Best oral presentation award for Sebastian Hendrix!

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 11:17:38 GMT

Sebastian Hendrix wins the best oral presentation award at the European Lipoprotein Club (ECL) in Tutzing , Germany.

Here, he presented his recently published work (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40943-1) on the role of SPRING in SREBP signaling and systemic lipid metabolism.

Fun at the Marfan meeting

Fri, 01 Sep 2023 16:40:48 GMT

Fun at the international Marfan meeting in Paris

With a large delegation of Dutch Marfan specialists at the meeting!

Looking for volunteers for our study on intermittent fasting

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 14:23:04 GMT

We are looking for volunteers with a BMI>30 that are willing to partcipate in our study

To study the health benefits of intermittent fasting on the immune system, we are looking for volunteers with a BMI >30 to participate in our study.
Please check the website of the Dutch Heart Foundation for more information:

https://www.hartstichting.nl/wetenschappelijk-onderzoek/meedoen-aan-wetenschappelijk-onderzoek/periodiek-vasten

Internship

Thu, 24 Aug 2023 13:15:55 GMT

We have a project available for an enthusiastic MSc student!

We study the role of monocytes and macrophages in atherosclerosis, ranging from cardiovascular clinical trials to fundamental research on the epigenetic control of macrophages. The currently available fundamental research project aims to investigate how the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2, which acts on the repressive H3K27Me3 modification, regulates macrophage activation.

Objectives:

I) Generation of CRISPR-Cas9 knock-out cell lines

II) Functional assessment of the effect of the knock-outs on macrophage characteristics.

You will generate knock-out cell lines by cloning, sequencing, genome editing, transduction, transfection, cell culture, and flow cytometry-assisted cell sorting. Once the knock-out cell lines are obtained, various techniques will be at your disposal to functionally assess the knock-out effect on macrophage characteristics, including but not limited to RT-qPCR, ELISA, flow cytometry, and Western blot.

As part of our group, you will join departmental seminars, journal clubs, weekly work meetings, group discussions, and regular social events.

If you would like to acquire molecular biology skills during a 5+ months internship or want more information, please contact r.w.m.kempkes@amsterdamumc.nl or a.e.neele@amsterdamumc.nl

Veni award for Annette Neele

duda-wsm@mijndomein.nl — Fri, 04 Aug 2023 08:14:03 GMT

Annette received a prestigious Veni award from NWO. With her grant she will study a hidden identity: macrophage-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation in atherosclerosis

Macrophages are key immune regulators of atherosclerosis. Annette will study a novel mechanism by which macrophages contribute to disease, via transdifferentiation into myofibroblast-like cells. These transdifferentiated cells acquire characteristics that contribute to atherosclerotic plaque stability, an undescribed feature for macrophages. Applying cell-culture systems, the researcher will identify regulators and mechanisms that contribute to transdifferentiation of macrophages in atherosclerosis.

Job opening research technician

Tue, 27 Jun 2023 15:58:04 GMT

We are looking for a research technician in the group of Marten Hoeksema, find the details and how to apply here !

https://werkenbij.amsterdamumc.org/nl/vacatures/research/research-analist-gen-regulatie

Vascular Discovery meeting 2023 in Boston

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 20:52:03 GMT

A great meeting in a special city!

Nieuwe alinea

Best Poster Award Laura Bosmans

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:25:15 GMT

Laura Bosmans received the Best Poster Award at the annual Dutch Atherosclerosis Society (DAS) symposium for her poster on macrophage CD40 in atherosclerosis. Congrats!!

Excellent MBIOC lab day 2023!

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:18:12 GMT

We all had a blast on our annual lab day, this last Tuesday! After trying to beat each other first in Expedition Robinson (Survivor) games, we had a great Italian lunch, played games and swam in and kayaked on the lake. We ended the day with drinks and BBQ!

Young investigator Award Ricky Siebeler

Fri, 16 Jun 2023 12:06:48 GMT

Ricky Siebeler was awarded a Young Investigator Award at the 18th International Conference on Innate Immunity in Crete, Greece! Of course this was celebrated with Ouzo and the traditional Greek dance Sirtaki afterwards. Congratulations, Ricky!

Paper accepted

duda-wsm@mijndomein.nl — Fri, 05 May 2023 13:33:46 GMT

Van Steen et al

Abstract

The endothelial lining of blood vessels is covered with a thin polysaccharide coat called the glycocalyx. This layer of polysaccharides contains hyaluronan that forms a protective coat on the endothelial surface. Upon inflammation, leukocytes leave the circulation and enter inflamed tissue by crossing inflamed endothelial cells, mediated by adhesion molecules such as ICAM-1/CD54. To what extent the glycocalyx participates in the regulation of leukocyte transmigration is not clear. During extravasation, leukocyte integrins cluster ICAM-1, resulting in the recruitment of a number of intracellular proteins and subsequent downstream effects in the endothelial cells. For our studies, we used primary human endothelial and immune cells. With an unbiased proteomics approach, we identified the full ICAM-1 adhesome and identified 93 new subunits of the ICAM-1 adhesome. Interestingly, we found the glycoprotein CD44 as part of the glycocalyx to be recruited to clustered ICAM-1 specifically. Our data demonstrate that CD44 binds hyaluronan to the endothelial surface, where it locally concentrates and presents chemokines that are essential for leukocytes to cross the endothelial lining. Together, we discover a link between ICAM-1 clustering and hyaluronan-mediated chemokine presentation by recruiting hyaluronan to sites of leukocyte adhesion via CD44.

Paper accepted!

duda-wsm@mijndomein.nl — Fri, 05 May 2023 12:44:06 GMT

Bram's work on the role of CD44 and the glycocalyx is accepted in JI

Abstract

Job opening PhD Student

Mon, 01 May 2023 13:24:06 GMT

We are looking for an enthusiastic PhD student in the group of Marten Hoeksema:

Click here for more information or to apply!

Thesis defense Mitzi van Andel

Thu, 20 Apr 2023 12:12:19 GMT

Thesis defense of Mitzi van Andel on Friday March 24, 2023 in the Agnietenkapel in Amsterdam

Nieuwe alinea

Huveneers lab publishes about angiogenesis in Nature Communications

Wed, 08 Mar 2023 15:53:46 GMT

Researchers from the Huveneers lab at Amsterdam UMC, together with international collaborators from the Universities of Cologne and Barcelona, published their latests findings on dedicated molecular signals in angiogenesis in Nature Communications.

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is an essential physiological process for development, wound healing and tumorigenesis. To make new blood vessels, endothelial cells move as a collective. The movement of endothelial cells is triggered by so-called leaders that connect to followers. Researchers from the Huveneers lab at Amsterdam UMC, together with international collaborators from the Universities of Cologne and Barcelona, have now discovered dedicated molecular signals that originate at the contact interface between the leader and follower cells. By using fluorescence microscopy those signals were captured during endothelial cell migration, which revealed that they guide follower cells. The results of this study offer important insights and new perspectives that may help to develop approaches that target angiogenesis in patients. The findings were published in Nature Communications. Visit the Nature Communications website for the full article.

Marten Hoeksema start his own research group

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:22:45 GMT

Marten Hoeksema was awarded the prestigious ERC Starting grant to start his own research group! With this grant Marten will study how cytokines, small secreted signaling molecules with immune-modulatory function, shape the phenotype of macrophages, thereby affecting chronic inflammatory diseases.

Read more: https://www.amsterdamumc.org/nl/vandaag/erc-starting-grant-voor-twee-amsterdam-umc-onderzoekers-.htm

Publication in the Journal Of Lipid Research

Wed, 01 Mar 2023 14:22:08 GMT

Suzanne van Wouw published on the role of LXR and TMEM86a in the signaling of lysoplasmalogens in macrophages in the Journal Of Lipid Research. Congrats for Suzanne!

Nieuwsbericht 2

Mon, 20 Feb 2023 14:34:11 GMT

Dit is nieuwsbericht 2

Dit is ook een interessant nieuwsbericht. Dit is ook een interessant nieuwsbericht. Dit is ook een interessant nieuwsbericht. Dit is ook een interessant nieuwsbericht. Dit is ook een interessant nieuwsbericht. Dit is ook een interessant nieuwsbericht. Dit is ook een interessant nieuwsbericht. Dit is ook een interessant nieuwsbericht.

Latest news Medical Biochemistry Amsterdam

AGEM awards to Sebastian Hendrix, Klevis Ndoj, and Noam Zelcer

Cytokine specificity in macrophages: JAK-STAT and beyond

Cytokine specificity in macrophages: JAK-STAT and beyond

Discovery of Pathogenic Signaling Cascade Reveals Therapeutic Target for Capillary Malformations

Discovery of Pathogenic Signaling Cascade in ﻿ Capillary Malformations

Paper Mees and Josje accepted in Cell Reports

Our most recent work showing an alternative pathway activated by interferons in macrophages, now published online in Cell Reports:

Best AGEM PhD course research proposal for Marijn Bult et al.

Congratulation to Solaiman Ezzafzafi, Yihuan Zhaand and Marijn Bult, who won the best research proposal competition during the AGEM PhD course. They will develop an in vitro cell system to predict the working of sgRNAs in the liver in vivo.

Paper Ndoj et al. accepted!

Ndoj et al. accepted in PNAS!

NPC family foundation visited our department

NPC family foundation visits department

Post-doc position available in the group of Marten Hoeksema

Post-doc position available in the group of Marten Hoeksema!

Vidi for Marten Hoeksema

Vidi for Marten Hoeksema!

Congratulations to dr. Aukie Hooglugt

Congratulations to dr. Aukie Hooglugt for finishing his PhD

Young investigator award Ilaria

Paper accepted!

Paper accepted in Current Opinion in Lipidology!

Biochemical Bulldogs at AUMC football tournament

Biochemical Bulldogs at the Amsterdam UMC football tournament. The football team of the Medical Biochemistry department joined the yearly football tournament at the football fields of FC Abcoude:

Project MERCURY is taking off!

Presentation awards for Lobke and Ricky at DAS

Best presentation award AII symposium for Ricky Siebeler

Ricky Siebeler won the best presentation award on the annual Amsterdam institute for Immunology and Infectious diseases (AII) symposium for his presentation on Endogenous Retroviral Elements as regulators of macrophage activation. Congratulations!!

AtheroTalk with Noam Zelcer

https://podcasts.apple.com/nl/podcast/e13-noam-zelcer/id1780340626?i=1000708428204

Paper accepted on the interaction between SPRING and S1P!

Best Poster Award for Ilaria

Young Talent Fund grants for Karen and Panos

Karen and Panos got awarded the Amsterdam UMC Young Talent Fund . This fund awards young PhD talents a chance to further develop and enhance their skills, with the aim to provide the opportunity for PhD candidates to do an internship or follow a course at top international research institutes.

Panos will be performing a research visit at KU Leuven. He will utilize the grant to gain insights and hands-on training in Spectral Flow Cytometry.

PhD defense Winnie Vos

On Thursday 20th of March, Winnie Vos successfully defended her PhD thesis: Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Immune Checkpoint Modulation in Preclinical Models of Inflammatory Diseases.

ZonMW grant for Noam Zelcer to study how liver cells handle cholesterol

ZonMW project: How Do Liver Cells Process Cholesterol?

PhD defense Suzanne van Wouw

PhD defense Suzanne van Wouw

Deletion of EEPD1 reveals macrophage-specific changes in lipid metabolism and cholesterol efflux

Deletion of EEPD1 reveals macrophage-specific changes in lipid metabolism and cholesterol efflux

NHS Dekker afternoon with awarded fellowship and consortia grants

NHS Dekker afternoon with awarded fellowship and consortia grants

A joyful and successful day for the Medical Biochemistry department, on the Dekker afternoon of the Dutch Heart Foundation:

Vacancy PhD student Huveneers Lab

The Huveneers lab is recruiting a PhD student

Successful MBIOC Science Day 2025

Our recent Science Day with insightful talks and a great atmosphere was a fantastic success, bringing together all our researchers, students, and invited professionals for a day of inspiring discussions and lots of fun:

Best presentation at ACS

Daan gave the best presentation at the yearly ACS meeting!

PhD defense Carmen

PhD defense Carmen Yap. Congratulations!

EMDS travel grants for Ricky and Alexandra

Both Alexandra and Ricky received travel grant awards to join the EMDS in beautiful Vienna! Here they presented their research to dozens of macrophage experts!

Bertus Kemp Stipendium for Marten Hoeksema

PhD defense Sebastian Hendrix

PhD defense Sanne Lith

Congratulations to Dr. Sanne Lith on successfully defending her PhD thesis last Friday! Wishing Sanne all the best in her next chapter!

Graduation Mees at Inholland

Job opening PhD student Hoeksema lab

The Hoeksema lab is looking for a PhD student to join their team!

Marten Hoeksema receives Dutch Heart Foundation Dekker grant

Paper on the structure of SPRING accepted!

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-50068-8

Best presentation award for Sanne!

At the latest AII annual meeting, Sanne Lith was awarded the best presentation award in the Immunology session for her excellent talk on the role of Nur77 regulating inflammation through cis and trans regulation of AP-1 target genes!

Internships

We are looking for an enthusiastic MSc student in the group of Marten Hoeksema interested in innate immunity en gene regulation!

Best flash talk for Winnie Vos at the DAS!

At the annual symposium of the Dutch Atherosclerosis Society, Winnie won the prize for best flash talk. Congratulations!

Amber's paper accepted

Interview with Noam Zelcer on Niemann Pick type C (NPC) disease

Read how Noam takes us through his fascinating research into Niemann Pick type C (NPC) and discover how this could support Niemann Pick type C (NPC) patients in the future. Click on the following link for the full story (in Dutch):

https://www.wisselstof.nl/magazine/1111/nieuw-magazine/1664/de-code-kraken

Paper accepted: SPRING is a Dedicated Licensing Factor for SREBP-Specific Activation by S1P

Sebastian Hendrix (group Zelcer) et al. demonstrate in this Molecular and Cellular Biology paper that activity of SPRING is specific for S1P-mediated activation of SREBP and not of other transcription factors like Atf6!

New job opening PhD Student

Discovery of Pathogenic Signaling Cascade in Capillary Malformations