prof. dr. F.A.E. (Frank ) Kruyt

FAEK did his PhD research in the area of developmental biology at the Hubrecht Laboratory in Utrecht, studying the molecular mechanism underlying the retinoic acid-induced differentiation of embryonal carcinoma cells. His postdoctoral research was aimed at cloning and elucidating the function of genes causing the genomic instability and cancer prone disorder Fanconi Anemia in particular in relation to the activation of apoptosis, which was performed  at the VU University in Amsterdam and Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Tx. Back in the Netherlands in 1999 he decided to apply his knowledge obtained in molecular biology and genetics in the field of oncology research and explored the possibility to use the Fanconi Anemia pathway as a potential target for developing anti-cancer strategies at the department of Medical Oncology at the VUMC, Amsterdam employing dominant negative approaches in gene therapeutic strategies. At the same time research in the field of experimental oncology was further extended, focussing on apoptosis-inducing strategies as experimental treatments for solid tumors, in particular lung cancer, and mechanisms of cell death regulation were explored also using proteomic and kinomic strategies. Currently at the UMCG in Groningen, recognizing the cellular heterogeneity within tumors and the high plasticity of tumor cells, he is including preclinical models of cancer stem cells, particularly of glioblastoma and breast cancer, in his research to explore treatment efficacy and relevant molecular mechanisms in this cellular compartment.