Utrecht Cancer
With its consistent rise in incidence, cancer increasingly poses a burden on patients, their family and society. It is one of the most complex diseases, involving a variety of factors including intracellular processes, tissue-specific mechanisms, and tumor microenvironmental influences that contribute to its origin and dissemination.
Within one square mile, the Utrecht Science Park harbors a unique combination of various public and private partners in cancer research and care.
To unravel this complexity of cancer in humans (children, adolescents and adults) as well as in animals, a multidisciplinary approach at all levels is required. The Utrecht Science Park, with partners located within walking distance, offers the ultimate and unique environment for new initiatives and extensive collaborations in cancer research. These collaborations extend from laboratory science to human- and animal clinical research (and vice versa) as well as in education and training of the next generation of scientists and clinicians.
Our mission
Almost 2000 cancer researchers of the Hubrecht Institute, Princess Máxima Center, UMC Utrecht, the faculties of Science and Veterinary Medicine, the ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ of Applied Sciences Utrecht and the Westerdijk Institute share their knowledge and expertise to deliver a significant contribution to a better understanding of the disease and improve the outcome of pediatric, adult and veterinary cancer patients.
As a Comprehensive Cancer Platform, Utrecht Cancer connects the largest and most multidisciplinary cancer research community in the Netherlands. It supports and promotes internal and external collaborations, multi-institutional and overarching, leading to impactful pre- and clinical research with societal implications.
Research innovations
Six main focus areas have been selected based on expertise, scientific excellence and educational programs for which cancer research at Utrecht Science Park is renowned.
Connected partners & research groups Utrecht Cancer
Any relevant public and/or private partner is invited to collaborate.
Hubrecht Institute
Research at the Hubrecht Institute focuses on developmental biology and stem cells at the organismal, cellular, and molecular level. A variety of biological processes are being studied, mainly concerning embryonic development and development and homeostasis of organs.
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Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology
More than 30 independent research groups in our science division perform pre-clinical and clinical research on childhood cancer. Together, these groups cover a broad area of expertise, disease types, and technologies.
ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ Medical Center Utrecht
The Strategic Program Cancer is a world leading platform at UMC Utrecht for cancer research and innovation. Their research groups focus on improving the outcome of cancer patients, and those at risk of cancer.
Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ â€“ Faculty of Science
Working towards a better world is a strong driver behind the research of the Faculty of Science. In order to have impact, they are asking fundamental questions and finding out how things work in detail.
- Abeln: AI technology for life
- Janssen: Structural cell biology
- ​â¶Ä‹â¶Ä‹â€‹
- Leopold: Pharmaceutical policy and regulation
- Marino: Antigen discovery and immuno biology
- Pieters: Chemical biology and drug discovery towards glycodrugs
- Vlaming: ​Genome biology and epigenetics to decipher regulation and misregulation in disease
Utrecht ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ â€“ Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
Performing fundamental and strategic research focused on the health, disease and welfare of animals and on related public and environmental health aspects.
- Berkers & Helms: Cancer Metabolism
- De Bruin: Targeting cell cycle pathologies in cancer
- Exposome research group (IRAS)
- Immunology section, Veterinary Medicine
- IRAS Veterinary and Comparative Pharmacology
- Nolte-t Hoen: Extracellular Vesicles as cancer biomarkers
- Salvatori: Malignancy of stem cells
- Strijbis: Impact of bacteria on carcinogenesis
- Wauben: Extracellular vesicle-mediated communication in cancer
- Westendorp: DNA Replication & Genome Protection
ľ¹Ï¸£ÀûÓ°ÊÓ of Applied Sciences
- Barten:
- Van der Lugt:
- Van Turnhout:
- Bleijenberg:
- Pieters&Krul:
Westerdijk Institute
Research infrastructures
By the end of 2025, we aim to have a searchable interface available for our facilities.
Ambassadors
Official representatives of the values and mission of Utrecht Cancer.
- Alain de Bruin, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
- , Princess Máxima Center
- , Hubrecht Institute
- , Faculty of Science
- , UMC Utrecht
- , Utrecht Life Sciences
- , UMC Utrecht, support
Council
, UMC Utrecht
, UMC Utrecht
, Prinses Máxima Center
, Prinses Máxima Center
, Hubrecht Institute
Saskia Suijkerbuijk, UU Faculty of Science
Maurice Zandvliet, UU Faculty Veterinary Medicine
Do you have any questions about Utrecht Cancer? Don't hesitate to contact us at strategicprogramcancer@umcutrecht.nl.
