The LACDR Spring Symposium, organized in Amsterdam on May 7th, 2009, was a great succes!

There were presentations by Professor Kevin Park (University of Liverpool), Professor Amin Rostami-Hodjegan (University of Sheffield), and 10 LACDR PhDs! There was also a poster session where all LACDR PhDs were able to present their research. 

From each Division, a PhD Student was selected for a 12 minute presentation on his/her research. The two best presentations were selected from both the VU Amsterdam and Leiden University candidates. These will represent the LACDR at the National PhD Competition at the FIGON Dutch Medicine Days 2009, to be held in Lunteren, October 12th-14th, 2009.

The winners of the LACDR PhD Competition 2009 were:

• For Amsterdam: Jolanda van Leeuwen, Division of Molecular Toxicology, with her presentation: "Diclofenac toxicity in yeast: metabolites, mitochondrial damage and adaptation"

• For Leiden: Miriam Peeters, Division of Medicinal Chemistry, with her presentation: “An essential role for the first extracellular loop in activating the A2B receptor”

During the lunch break, all LACDR PhDs presented a poster on their research. Five expert juries, consisting of external researchers and LACDR Staff members have selected the five best posters:

• "The adjuvant effect of TMC in dermal vaccination" - Suzanne Bal, Division of Drug Delivery Technology
• "Single-cell analysis: vision or fiction?" - Kjeld Janssen, Division of Analytical BioSciences
• "An essential role for the first extracellular loop in activating the A2B receptor" - Miriam Peeters, Division of Medicinal Chemistry Leiden
• "Genome-wide identification of GR binding sites: targets for epigenetic modification by early life stress?" - Annelies Polman, Division of Medical Pharmacology
• "Exploring a new therapy for Neuroblastoma: silencing of doublecortin-like kinase using RNA-interference" - Carla Verissimo, Division of Medical Pharmacology

The day was concluded with the presentation of the LACDR Progress Report 2008.

The Spring Symposium Book 2009, with all presentation and poster abstracts, is now available for download under the Spring Symposium Abstract Books section.