Science
Injectable hydrogel that supports the healing of damaged cartilage

New hope for osteoarthritis patients

Marcel Karperien, professor at the department of Developmental Bioengineering, developed an injectable hydrogel to repair damaged cartilage and potentially prevent the onset of osteoarthritis. Together with his colleagues from TechMed Centre, UMC Utrecht and Hy2Care, he optimized the gel to make it suitable for use in humans.
Science

‘Getting the Vidi is about the effort it took to achieve it’

‘Plastic pollution is a tremendous challenge. We are eating and drinking plastics without even realizing it,’ UT scientist Jimmy Faria Albanese explains why his Vidi research revolves around chemical recycling. His goal is to develop new catalytic materials and processes that can ‘upcycle’ plastics into added value chemicals.
Science

Vidi winner Roelof Rietbroek: ‘We can get more done and make larger steps’

‘My Vidi project is related to droughts, an extremely relevant topic - and not just scientifically,’ says Roelof Rietbroek, one of the two UT scientists who were awarded the Vidi grant of 800,000 euros this year. The researcher uses satellite data to investigate water cycle changes.
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Science

De fiets onder de loep

Dat hij ook buiten de deur kan werken, is voor Mario Boot een van de belangrijkste redenen om dit promotieonderzoek naar de impact van nieuwe fietstechnologieën te doen. En als zelfverklaard fietsliefhebber wil Boot graag zijn eigen proefpersoon zijn. ‘Fietsen doe je uiteraard buiten en dus gaan wij, als onderzoekers, ook naar buiten om een beter inzicht in de praktijk te krijgen.’
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Science

Ride along

Being able to work ‘out of office’ was one of the main reasons why Mario Boot decided to start his PhD research, which focuses on measuring the impact of new bike technologies on user experience. And as a self-proclaimed cycling lover, Boot is more than happy to be his own test subject. ‘My research revolves around bicycles. Cycling naturally happens outside, and so we, researchers, also spend time outside to get a better insight into the real-life environment.’
Science
Balancing energy supply and demand

SlimPark on campus: demo-site for energy transition

By better matching the consumer demand with energy supply from solar and wind, Johann Hurink, Professor of Applied Mathematics, develops smart solutions for an optimal use of these forms of energy. The first demo-site, SlimPark on campus, shows how solar energy can be utilized most efficiently.
Science

Improved cell cultures for medical applications

To alleviate the shortage of tissue donors, Assistant Professor Julieta Paez is developing improved in vitro cell cultures to eventually grow complete tissues. Her research theme, Biological Molecules & Networks, is part of Mesa+ institute’s new Molecules Centre. Paez: ‘I am inspired by natural biochemical processes, but also by my colleagues from the Centre.’
Science

‘Coronapandemie benadrukt belang goede wetenschapsjournalistiek’

Anne Dijkstra, assistant professor Science Communication aan de UT, doet binnen het Europese project ENJOI onderzoek naar wetenschapsjournalistiek. Samen met burgers, journalisten en onderzoekers wil ze een manifest opstellen voor goede wetenschapscommunicatie- en journalistiek. ‘Maar ik vertel journalisten niet wat ze moeten doen.’
Science

Emotions as a food lie detector

Customers often decide which product to buy based on ‘feelings’. Daisuke Kaneko, PhD researcher at the UT, studied how emotions could be used to predict food choices – and how this differs across cultures. The doctoral candidate in the Human Media Interaction group is defending his thesis tomorrow.
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Science
UT-onderzoek op Bonaire

Hoe belangrijk is het mangrovebos voor kustbescherming?

In tropische regio’s kunnen mangrovebossen bescherming bieden tegen overstromingen, en dat is mede door de klimaatverandering geen overbodige luxe. Op Bonaire probeert UT-promovendus Rik Gijsman van de vakgroep Marine and Fluvial Systems te berekenen wat de beschermende waarde van zo’n bos precies is, maar dit blijkt geen gemakkelijke opgave.
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News

How important is the mangrove forest for coastal protection?

In tropical regions, mangrove forests can offer protection against flooding. Partly because of climate change, this is not just a luxury. UT PhD candidate Rik Gijsman of the Marine and Fluvial Systems department is trying to calculate the exact protective value of such a forest on Bonaire, but that is easier said than done.
Science

Inspired by nature: new method to separate proteins

UT scientist Saskia Lindhoud and PhD researcher Jéré van Lente from the Faculty of Science and Technology developed a ground-breaking method to separate and isolate proteins in complex chemical mixtures. Their method, inspired by living cells, may have important applications in recycling, wastewater treatment as well as in the chemical and food industries.
Science

Turning nanodroplets into microbubbles

University of Twente researchers have developed an ultrasound-based method to turn nano-sized liquid droplets into gas-filled microbubbles. The technology can have important implications for therapeutic drug delivery and the treatment of tumors.
Science

UT research: ‘EU needs an integrated approach to travel measures’

‘Should I stay or should I go?’ That was the working title of a paper by UT researchers focused on travel in Europe during the pandemic. The research, recently published in Journal of Travel Medicine, highlights the need for a standard set of travel measures in the EU. ‘Now it’s time to reflect and see what we can do better in the future.’
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