18 FROM CHAMPOST TO NEXT GEN SEQUENCING: RESEARCH PROJECTS HIGHLIGHTS In 20 years, HAN BioCentre has worked on different research projects. It all started with champost and in the meantime many projects in the field of fermentation, analytical chemistry and data science are finished. Some of them were groundbreaking, sometimes the results were not what was expected, but even those projects could be called successful because they marked the start of a new project and were part of the learning curve. On the next 2 pages projects are highlighted that HAN BioCentre is proud to have been collaborating on. More projects can be found on the biocentre webpage hanuniversity.com/biocentre. CONNECTING FIBERS (Partners HAN, Boerboom, Hendriks, Hooijer, Pantanova, Radboud University, Saba, Miscancell, Bamboologic, MyQB) One of the industries which recognizes the need for transition towards the biobased economy is the building industry. The current resins and adhesives (used to produce panel boards) are all produced synthetically. Therefore, one of the missing links for the building industry to become 100% biobased are biobased resins, adhesives, and binders. In literature, there are several solutions described which are based on side streams with the biomolecules lignin and cellulose which are abundantly present in lignocellulosic biomass, but these products are not (yet) available on the market. In the SIA RAAK project ‘’Connecting fibers’’ researchers and students of the research group Biobased Innovations are looking into the development of a biobased resin, adhesive or binder for panel boards based on the side streams of lignocellulosic biomass. The new materials should meet the requirements of the building industry with respect to VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) emissions, so that it contributes to a healthy living environment. KIDNEY ORGANOIDS: PRECLINICAL TESTING EFFICACY AND SAFETY OF DRUGS (Partners HAN, Radboud UMC, Radboud University) The Drug Discovery research group is dedicated to advanced drug testing and discovery by developing more physiologically relevant models that better reflect human biology. Traditional cell-based and animal models often fail to fully predict how drugs will behave in humans. To address this challenge, the focus is on organoid technology, which allows researchers to create mi- niature versions of human organs in the laboratory. Currently, the research is centered on developing and optimizing 3D induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived kidney organoids. These models provide a powerful platform to study the beneficial effects and potential toxicity of new and existing drug candidates on kidney tissue. By improving the predictive value of preclinical testing, the aim is to enhance both the efficiency and safety of drug development, ultimately contributing to more effective therapies and a reduction in the reliance on animal testing.
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