Oncode Institute invests 4 million euros in new technology for cancer research in the Netherlands
Oncode Institute invests 4 million euros in unique, state-of-the-art technology for cancer research. Five projects in the field of Single Cell protein measurements and DNA sequencing, Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning amongst others, have been awarded within the Infrastructure & Technologies Programme. These technologies will not only become available for the twelve institutes that are affiliated with Oncode Institute but will also be made available to the wider research community in the Netherlands.
Geert Kops, Scientific Director of Oncode Institute, explains: “The goal of Oncode Institute is to translate the results of ground-breaking fundamental research into the clinic faster, in order to improve the chances of cancer patients. Instead of competition between scientists, Oncode encourages collaboration. Investing in new technologies - which can be used by various researchers and institutions and that were previously unavailable in the Netherlands - is one of the ways that Oncode wants to contribute to breakthroughs in cancer research.”
The overview of the approved projects is as follows:
Oncode single-cell (epi) genome sequencing facility
Main applicant: Alexander van Oudenaarden, Hubrecht Institute
Goal: Setting up a facility for DNA analysis at the level of individual cells, both for genomic DNA sequencing as well as epigenetic measurements.
Oncode Single cell proteomics facility
Main applicant: Boudewijn Burgering, UMC Utrecht
Goal: Setting up a facility to measure proteins in individual cells with state-of-the-art protein mass spectrometry.
Oncode GPU infrastructure to enable Artificial Intelligence and Deep Learning applications
Main applicants: Anastassis Perrakis, NKI; Jeroen de Ridder, UMC Utrecht and Lude Franke, UMC Groningen
Goal: Research is making more and more use of large and complex data sets that require artificial intelligence for the analysis. With this application, a GPU cluster to be used by researchers is being realised.
Oncode 3D orbital tracking imaging
Main applicant: Tineke Lenstra, NKI
Goal: Microscope with which the area of interest in a cell can be selected and followed in 3D. With this technology the location of a specific molecule can be followed in time.
Oncode platform for clinical colorectal cancer samples
Main applicant: Louis Vermeulen, Amsterdam UMC
Goal: Set up an online platform of all available materials (tissue, blood, residual material) from clinical studies in the field of colorectal cancer that can be used for research purposes. The development of this platform will be completed together with the Prospective National CRC cohort (PLCRC).
Source: Oncode Institute
