Science

‘Skin hunger is wired into our body’

The lockdown and months of limited physical contact have led many people to experience so called ‘skin hunger’. This touch starvation is no trivial matter, explains UT professor Jan van Erp. ‘Many people didn’t realize how important social touch is. It is embedded in our bodies.’

COVID-19 research at UT

Delays in cancer treatments due to corona crisis

‘Everyone has focused on treating COVID-19, not its collateral damage - which includes delay in cancer diagnosis and treatment,’ says UT professor Maarten IJzerman. He and UT alumnus Koen Degeling have developed a model to show the impact of the pandemic on cancer patients.

COVID-19 research at UT
Ventilators, snorkel masks and the ‘beekeeper hat’

‘Sitting at home wasn’t an option’

Many UT scientists have paused existing projects to focus on coronavirus related research. Such as Ruud Verdaasdonk and Frans de Jongh from the TechMed Center. After dedicating their time to new types of ventilators and masks for COVID-19 patients, they now created a ‘beekeeper hat’, a facemask alternative to protect us against coronavirus.

COVID-19 research at UT
‘We plan to have the device on the market in one year’

Device to detect coronavirus within minutes

In the midst of the lockdown, we talk to UT scientists who have paused existing projects to focus on coronavirus related research. Pepijn Beekman and Dilu Mathew just received a grant to develop a fast (corona)virus detection system. ‘Our goal is to have a small device that can be easily used anywhere. You put a sample in and within minutes you know if you have coronavirus.’

COVID-19 research at UT
‘It’s great to see that our results our helping’

Helping hospitals through the pandemic

In the midst of the lockdown, we talk to UT scientists who have paused existing projects to focus on coronavirus related research. Richard Boucherie, Professor of Stochastic Operations Research, leads a team dedicated to solving logistical problems in the healthcare sector caused by the pandemic.

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Over a pint
Over a pint with... Marieke Huisman

'Marieke, can you solve my Windows problem?'

‘Over a pint’ is a series about science. UT researchers talk to science journalist Enith Vlooswijk about their field and the misconceptions that exist about it. Enith turns their input into writing and drawings. This fifth episode: Marieke Huisman, professor of Software Reliability.

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Aan de borreltafel

‘Marieke, kun jij mijn Windows-probleem oplossen?’

‘Aan de borreltafel’ is een rubriek over wetenschap. Wetenschapsjournalist Enith Vlooswijk praat met én tekent over UT-onderzoekers, die vertellen over hun vakgebied en de misvattingen die hierover bestaan. In deze vijfde aflevering: Marieke Huisman, hoogleraar Software Reliability.

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Aan de borreltafel

‘Marieke, kun jij mijn Windows-probleem oplossen?’

‘Aan de borreltafel’ is een rubriek over wetenschap. Wetenschapsjournalist Enith Vlooswijk praat met én tekent over UT-onderzoekers, die vertellen over hun vakgebied en de misvattingen die hierover bestaan. In deze vijfde aflevering: Marieke Huisman, hoogleraar Software Reliability.

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  • NL
Over a pint
Over a pint with... Marieke Huisman

'Marieke, can you solve my Windows problem?'

‘Over a pint’ is a series about science. UT researchers talk to science journalist Enith Vlooswijk about their field and the misconceptions that exist about it. Enith turns their input into writing and drawings. This fifth episode: Marieke Huisman, professor of Software Reliability.

COVID-19 research at UT
Test for measuring immune response of COVID-19 patients

Stopping the storm

In the midst of the lockdown, we talk to UT scientists who have paused existing projects to focus on coronavirus related research. Professor Marcel Karperien’s team is developing a test for measuring immune response of severely ill COVID-19 patients. Their goal: ‘catching’ cytokine storm, which leads to fast deterioration of the patient, before it happens.

Out of Office

Door weer en wind

Niet zelden komt promovendus Daan Poppema buiten het kantoor of lab. Een aanzienlijk deel van zijn onderzoek bij de vakgroep Water Engineering Management bestaat uit veldwerk, de laatste tijd onder de rook van het vermaarde Huis ter Duin op het strand van Noordwijk. Tussen het honk van de plaatselijke zeilclub en een strandpaviljoen staan twee zeecontainers naast elkaar, ogenschijnlijk ingegraven, met in een hoefijzervorm eromheen opgehoopt zand.

COVID-19 research at UT
Optical sensor for detecting COVID-19

‘If we manage, it can really help people’

In the midst of the lockdown, we talk to UT scientists who have paused existing projects to focus on coronavirus related research. Sonia Garcia Blanco and her team are making an optical sensor to detect COVID-19. ‘We all feel the importance of this. Everyone is very motivated.’

COVID-19 research at UT
Test to measure the stage of COVID-19

‘If I couldn’t do it, nobody could’

In the midst of the lockdown, we talk to UT scientists who have paused existing projects to focus on coronavirus related research. Such as Richard Schasfoort. Since March, the UT researcher has spent nearly every day in the MST hospital in Enschede, working with COVID-19 patients. He has developed a test that determines the exact stage of the disease within an hour. ‘I’ve worked day and night to make this test work.’

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Over a pint
Over a pint with... Stefan Kuhlmann

'Where is the power, when we make decisions?'

‘Over a pint’ is a series about science. UT researchers talk to science journalist Enith Vlooswijk about their field and the misconceptions that exist about it. Enith turns their input into writing and drawings. This fourth episode: Stefan Kuhlmann, full professor of Science, Technology and Society at research group STEPS.

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Aan de borreltafel
Aan de borreltafel met... Stefan Kuhlmann

‘Als we beslissingen nemen, waar zit dan de macht?’

‘Aan de borreltafel’ is een rubriek over wetenschap. Wetenschapsjournalist Enith Vlooswijk praat met én tekent over UT-onderzoekers, die vertellen over hun vakgebied en de misvattingen die hierover bestaan. In deze vierde aflevering: Stefan Kuhlmann, hoogleraar Wetenschap, Technologie en Samenleving bij de vakgroep STEPS.

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