Research laboratories Campus Venlo opened
The research laboratories at the Villa Flora in Venlo were officially opened on 31 May. Within Campus Venlo, research into the effects of nutrition takes place at the Center for Healthy Eating and Food Innovation (HEFI) and the Food Claims Center Venlo (FCCV). With these labs, the Brightlands Campus Greenport Venlo can be considered a fully-fledged academic community, where both research and education have a place.
The connection between UM and Venlo
Maastricht University (UM) offers education in Venlo since 2009; first two master's programmes and since 2015 also the bachelor programme of University College Venlo. From the beginning, education connects to nutrition and logistics, themes vital to Venlo’s success. This ties in neatly with the research that is taking place there, e.g. the psychology of food, microbiology and digestion, as well as the HEFI and FCCV centres.
What will be investigated in the new lab?
The new laboratories offer unique, advanced equipment that mimics the human intestinal system in great detail. For example, the degradation of nutrients in combination with the micro-organisms in the intestines can be traced. There is research into taste perception and eating behaviour, as well as health effects in test subjects. All of which is of interest to scientists, but also to the food industry. Health claims can be proven or rejected through controlled testing. Entrepreneurs are therefore welcome to have products tested. That can be done quickly; sometimes results are known within a few days.
The UM Executive Board applauds this campus development
On the right: Nick Bos, vice-president of UM's Executive Board during the opening ceremony
Nick Bos, vice-president of UM’s Executive Board, participated in the opening ceremony. He emphasized the importance of Campus Venlo, which, like the other three Brightlands campuses, is seen as a 'flywheel' of the economic development of Limburg. "On these campuses, we focus on the themes the region excels in and which are aligned with our education and research. These types of initiatives form the basis for a Euregio with a healthy, mobile and well-educated population, including highly educated knowledge workers. "
Also read
-
From instrumentation physicist to socially engaged scientist
Gerard van Rooij, professor of Plasma Chemistry, was the first PhD candidate of Ron Heeren, university professor and director of the M4I institute. Together they reflect on a pioneering period in which they took the first tentative steps in the development of imaging mass spectrometry.
-
Multi-million euro grant for the development of in vitro kidney models by MERLN
Multi-million euro grant for the development of in vitro kidney models by MERLN
-
