11 Once he gets talking, it quickly becomes clear that the subject is close to Löwik’s heart. But with his new position he has entered a different educational world than the one he is used to: that of the university of applied sciences. The research conducted at HAN is much more ‘demand-driven’, with companies playing an important role. “For example, I am currently working on a grant application for a public–private partnership with TropIQ to help combat malaria. We aim to develop a substance that repels mosquitoes and works better than DEET, which smells unpleasant, is not very effective, and is not particularly healthy. The first results achieved by our students are already promising.” It is a different approach from what he is used to in the university environment. “If you approached such a topic academically, you might first study how mosquitoes’ noses work. At HAN, the research is more applied, and the goal is to develop solutions more quickly. These two worlds could complement each other very well. Three of our students are already working at Pivot Park in Oss on a project for Radboud University. I see many more opportunities for collaboration in that regard.” han.nl/drug-discovery Dennis Löwik
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