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We are pleased to announce that Dr. Jelte van der Vaart, a postdoctoral researcher in the lab, has been honoured with the Unique High Risk Grant from KWF Kankerbestrijding for his project “Adrenal Cortical Organoids as Disease Models and Patient Avatars.” This grant facilitates his study into adrenocortical carcinoma organoids, with a particular focus on studying the Wnt signalling pathway’s dysregulation.

This project represents a collaborative effort as part of the Dutch Adrenal Network, with a shared goal of advancing our understanding of adrenal cancer and exploring new possibilities for treatment.

We proudly welcome this new line of research in our laboratory. The expertise within our team in the field of Wnt signalling and organoid culture has enabled us to secure this opportunity, marking a significant moment for both Jelte and the lab. Looking to the future, we are optimistic about the potential findings and contributions this research will bring to the scientific community.

The Maurice lab is proud to announce that Laigo Bio has launched their website!

Madelon is the co-founder and scientific lead of this startup that aims to develop SureTACs technology. Laigo Bio sprouted from the research of the Maurice lab, focused on degradation of target proteins at the cell surface, via redirection of transmembrane E3 ligases. How the induced proximity between target and E3 leads to ubiquitination, endocytosis and degradation of the target is actively being researched within the group.

Laigo Bio is dedicated to developing first-in-class therapeutics for patients with severe or life-threatening diseases by removing and degrading any cell surface targets with precision. Visit the website to learn how Laigo Bio is pioneering life-changing solutions in biotechnology: www.laigobio.com.

SureTACs (Surface Removal Targeting Chimeras) are heterobispecific molecules that target undesired cell surface proteins for degradation. The project is a collaboration of our lab at UMCU with Oncode and Laigo Bio.

Oncode Investigator @MadelonMaurice (@UMCUtrecht) received funding from @kwf_nl and @HealthHolland to further study the innovative SureTAC technology, designed in collaboration with @argobio and Oncode to break down cancer-specific proteins. Read more: https://t.co/UVV2qtfFTY pic.twitter.com/dUCKSoOpDY

— Oncode Institute (@oncodeinstitute) July 28, 2022

https://www.umcutrecht.nl/nl/over-ons/nieuws/algemeen/grote-subsidies-voor-publiek-privaat-kankeronderzoek

https://www.oncode.nl/news/oncode-investigator-madelon-maurice-receives-kwf-funding-for-innovative-suretac-technology

https://www.kwf.nl/onderzoek/dit-onderzoek-maken-we-mogelijk/PPS-toekenningen-2022-1

On the 8^th and 9^th of June, the Maurice lab went on a lab retreat in the beautiful surroundings of Gun located in Limburg. We stayed at an old farm where we spend two days talking about science, getting to know each other better and doing fun activities. We made a nice overview of all the projects within the lab and brainstormed about new future projects. We also learned a lot during the workshops that were given by our colleagues about sustainability, computational analysis and entrepreneurship. Finally we had a lot of fun during the pubquiz, karaoke and treasure hunt.

After more than 40 years (!) employed by the UMC Utrecht, our lab manager Peter van Kerkhof retired. We are very happy that he joined us in the Maurice team for the last years of his career. Working at UMC Utrecht for such a long time is of course something very special. Therefore we decided to name the bridge to the lab after him! Now we always remember him when we walk over the Peter van Kerkhof bridge to the lab. He is greatly missed by all of us, take care Peter!

Our lab published a new review in Cell Death and Differentiation with the title “Organoid-based modeling of intestinal development, regeneration, and repair”. We discuss how Wnt and YAP signaling are involved in intestinal regeneration and compare the regenerative process with intestinal development. We focus on how organoid-based research contributed to a better understanding of these regenerative and developmental processes.

The publication can be found here.