What do everyday substances do to our health?
At the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, we conduct a lot of research. In our Science Stories, our researchers explain their work and the tools they use to perform their research for FHML.
Every day, we come into contact with thousands of substances. Think of plastic cups when we drink coffee, or pesticides on fruits we eat. However, we do not really know what these substances do to our health. Some of them can interfere with our hormone system, and eventually even cause diseases such as cancer or diabetes.
How can we test which substances may be harmful to our hormone system? In this video, Stefan Giselbrecht explains how he and his colleagues at MERLN found a way to test lots of different substances at the same time, by creating miniature thyroid models from stem cells in the lab.
More Science Stories? Watch how Veerle Melotte studies the role of our 'second brain' in colorectal cancer.
Also read
-
Cells, pigments or food: looking through the eyes of a microscope
How do you make the tiniest cells visible? At the Microscopy CORE Lab. Kèvin Knoops leads this research platform for light and electron microscopy.
-
Gut bacterium may help maintain weight loss
Researchers at Maastricht University and Wageningen University & Research have made a promising discovery in the fight against obesity. A new clinical study shows that a specific gut bacterium may help limit weight regain after dieting.UM news
-
Collaborative Maastricht University team receives Open Science NL funding
A multidisciplinary team of UM researchers and support staff has been awarded a €250,000 grant from Open Science NL. Their project will highlight an often-overlooked part of academic research: the people who support it behind the scenes.