Real-Time view of DNA repair
Tuncay Baubec and Richard Cardoso da Silva have developed a fluorescent probe that lets researchers watch DNA damage and repair unfold in real time inside living cells and even in whole organisms. The tool offers a much clearer view of how cells maintain their genomes and enables experiments that were not possible before. Their paper was recently […]
BioBeyond_NL consortium secures grant
The research consortium BioBeyond_NL has secured 17 million euros from NWO’s National Roadmap for Large-Scale Research Infrastructure, with over half of the funding going to Utrecht. BioBeyond_NL, led by prof. Ron Heeren from Maastricht University, is a collaboration between Maastricht University, Utrecht University, Leiden University Medical center and Radboud Medical Center. The consortium will develop cutting-edge infrastructure to study how sugars […]
Message from the Executive Committee
Dear UBC,
As the year draws to a close, we look back with pride and appreciation on a truly memorable edition of our annual symposium. The lively discussions, the exchange of ideas and the warm sense of connection once again highlighted the strength and ambition of our community. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this day!
Looking ahead, we are excited to deepen our involvement in the Multi-scale Spatial Omics Platform in close collaboration with Kristof van Avondt and the Strategic Theme Life Sciences (STLS) community. Spatial transcriptomics and related technologies are developing quickly, and we see a clear need for bioinformatics methods that are both powerful and accessible to researchers across the Utrecht Science Park. By addressing this need, we can position Utrecht even more firmly at the forefront of data-driven life sciences.
We also extend our warm congratulations to Albert Heck and the BioBeyond_NL team, as well as to Daniel Tamarit , for securing new funding that will help advance their research.
We wish you a wonderful holiday season and an inspiring start to the new year!
Ronnie de Jonge
On behalf of the UBC Daily Board
Review of the UBC Annual Symposium 2025: Bioinformatics in the age of AI
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the field of bioinformatics, and this development took centre stage at the 11th UBC Annual Symposium. The event brought together a vibrant community of researchers, students, and other professionals to meet and deepen our understanding of bioinformatics. The symposium, held on 7 November 2025 at the Princess Máxima Center, explored […]
NTR Focus episode: Superplant
In a recent NTR Focus episode titled Superplant NPEC biologists explain how harnessing the plant-microbiome can make our crops more resilient. The show is produced by the Dutch public broadcaster NTR, Dutch-spoken and without English subtitles.