Ruud Toonen installed as Professor of Neuroscience and Knowledge Utilization
07 February 2025
Ruud Toonen, co-founder of Neurospector, has officially delivered his inaugural lecture as Professor of Neuroscience and Knowledge Utilization at VU Amsterdam. His lecture, held on January 31, 2025, was part of the symposium Perspectives on Knowledge Utilization in Life Sciences at VU Amsterdam.
With the title of his inaugural lecture ‘Faltering nerve cells, from defective communication to recovery from brain diseases’ Ruud Toonen has been appointed as Professor of Neuroscience and Knowledge Utilization at VU Amsterdam. In his oration, Ruud Toonen discusses how advanced technologies can be used to treat brain diseases more effectively.
Disrupted communication between nerve cells is at the root of many brain diseases. Complex nanomachines control the release of signaling substances for nerve cell communication. Genetic defects can disrupt these processes, leading to severe brain disorders with major consequences for patients, their families, and society.
With advanced technology, skin cells from patients are converted into nerve cells without the need for a brain biopsy. In the laboratory, these cells grow into networks on which, together with pharmaceutical companies, innovative therapies are being tested. These promising treatments are about to be used in clinical trials. This approach applies to a variety of brain disorders. The goal is to accelerate therapies and improve patient well-being.