"Chemische innovatie door biologische inspiratie"
 

Nature is an important source of pharmacologically relevant molecules. Research into natural substances reveals new structures that can serve as a starting point for the development of medicines. In my lecture, I will explain how we can develop innovative medicines by peeking at nature.

My team's research focuses on polypeptides that play a role in the development of cardiovascular disease. Various organisms, such as ticks and snakes, have a wide variety of anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory proteins in their saliva and venom. We produce these proteins chemically, elucidate their three-dimensional structure and determine their biological activity. These proteins can be conjugated to a label and used for molecular imaging techniques to unravel molecular mechanisms and thus provide more insight into the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease.

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