PLAN Research Day June 6 2008
From NIER
PLAN Research Day Leiden 6th June 2008
On June 6, 2008 the PLAN research day or “PLAN dag” was held at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). This PLAN research day was the 13th of a series of national PLAN research days in the field of Nephrology. The day started with an informal reception in the morning. Dr. Cees van Kooten, head of the Nephrology lab at the LUMC opened the day with a nice overview of research conducted in the field of Nephrology at different departments in the LUMC. Thereafter, the researchers presented their projects. The presentations were not focused on a specific theme but moreover tried to touch the different aspects involved in Nephrology research. The morning session started of with presentations from the Nephrology department about the role of dendritic cells in the human kidney with a special focus on the presence and function of these cells before and after transplantation. After this talk there were two presentations about the role of the complement system during ischemia/reperfusion injury after transplantation and the role of complement, autoantibodies and nucleosomes in the setting of the kidney disease lupus nephrites. The morning session closed with a presentation of our sponsor company, Baxter about the development of new peritoneal dialysis solutions.
After this nice presentation all researchers enjoyed the lunch at the LUMC. There was a tour organized to the new anatomic museum of the LUMC. The museum reopened in January this year after a migration to the complete new education building. The arrangement of the museum has been completely changed. Instead of arrangement per organ system the specimens have been arranged around the theme “Health and disease” in the five phases of human life, resulting in five extensive exhibition cases. Every case resembles a specific phase in human life (fetus, child, adolescent, adult, elderly) and each consists of one panel with healthy specimens and seven racks of specimens with a physical disorders. We enjoyed a guided tour to this museum and it was thrilling to experience how complex the human body is and what can go wrong during human development and lifetime.
The afternoon session started with a presentation about the impact of chronic renal failure on vascular progenitor cells followed by a presentation from the department of Immunohematology about the impact of heterologous immunity on the alloimmune response in kidney transplantation. The next talk was from the department of Human Genetics and dealt with cyst formation triggered by renal damage in an inducible Pkd1-deletion model. The afternoon session was closed of with two presentations about the function of microRNAs in vascular research and during endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition occurring after transplantation
At the end of this intensive scientific day, there was time and space for socializing and having some drinks. Finally we had a cosy and delicious dinner at the restaurant “de Bruine Boon” at the center of the city.
In conclusion it was a fascinating PLAN day with interesting presentations, nice discussions and questions, an excited guided tour and again a nice opportunity to broaden your scientific and social network. Therefore, special thanks go to all the speakers and attendees that joined this inspiring day.
On behalf of PLAN,
Pieter van der Pol
