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Research of Human and Animal Physiology

Our research focus is one of the pillars of physiology: metabolism, which includes energy metabolism, intermediary metabolism, redox metabolism, and mitochondria. We obtain our results by performing experimental research in humans, animal models (including invertebrates), organs/tissues, and cells, using state-of-the-art physiological, functional, biomolecular and related bioanalysis tools in an integrated manner.

We have extensive expertise in performing interventions studies focused on assessment of energy metabolism, integrated with metabolic, functional genomic and immune-histochemical analysis. We perform short term interventions and cross-sectional mechanistic studies in humans, detailed short and long term dietary interventions in model animals (mice and pigs), and detailed mechanistic studies in tissues as well as primary and cultured cells.

Our research focus

We focus on diets, nutrients and compounds that affect mitochondria and intermediary metabolism and study effects of age, sex and physical activity. Our physiological expertise includes human indirect calorimetry, muscle function analysis and non-invasive assessment of mitochondrial function by NIRS; mouse indirect calorimetry extended with H2 and CH4 sensors to measure microbial activity and 12CO2 and 13CO2 sensors to measure substrate oxidation; cell respiration and metabolic flux analysis by seahorse XF96 and Oroboros.

We are well equipped for transcriptome analysis, for a wide array of biological and biochemical techniques and for light- and fluorescence microscopy.

Staff scientists

NameTopic

dr. VCJ (Vincent) de Boer

Cellular metabolism and metabolic regulation (in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo)

dr. S (Sander) Grefte

Muscle-nerve interaction (in vitro, mouse) & redox metabolism, age

prof.dr.ir. J (Jaap) Keijer

Metabolic pathways and mitochondria (in vivo) & nutrients, aging, metabolic disease

dr. WJH (Werner) Koopman

Mitochondria: structure - energy metabolic function (in vitro)

dr. AG (Arie) Nieuwenhuizen

Energy metabolism in health and disease (human) & muscle, nutrition

dr.ir. EM (Evert) van Schothorst

Substrate metabolism and adipose tissue (pre-clinical) & diabetes, carbohydrates

dr. KJ (Katja) Teerds

Male and female reproduction (pig, mouse, human, various animals)

D (Deli) Zhang

Atrial fibrillation (in vitro, drosophila, preclinical, human) & risk factors, prevention

  1. Name

    dr. VCJ (Vincent) de Boer

    Topic

    Cellular metabolism and metabolic regulation (in vitro, ex vivo, in vivo)

  2. Name

    dr. S (Sander) Grefte

    Topic

    Muscle-nerve interaction (in vitro, mouse) & redox metabolism, age

  3. Name

    prof.dr.ir. J (Jaap) Keijer

    Topic

    Metabolic pathways and mitochondria (in vivo) & nutrients, aging, metabolic disease

  4. Name

    dr. WJH (Werner) Koopman

    Topic

    Mitochondria: structure - energy metabolic function (in vitro)

  5. Name

    dr. AG (Arie) Nieuwenhuizen

    Topic

    Energy metabolism in health and disease (human) & muscle, nutrition

  6. Name

    dr.ir. EM (Evert) van Schothorst

    Topic

    Substrate metabolism and adipose tissue (pre-clinical) & diabetes, carbohydrates

  7. Name

    dr. KJ (Katja) Teerds

    Topic

    Male and female reproduction (pig, mouse, human, various animals)

  8. Name

    D (Deli) Zhang

    Topic

    Atrial fibrillation (in vitro, drosophila, preclinical, human) & risk factors, prevention

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