Italian ambassador to the Netherlands meets synthetic cell researchers in Delft
On 5 July 2024, the European Synthetic Cell Initiative, based at Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) in the Netherlands, welcomed H. E. Ambassador Giorgio Novello and his delegation. They had the opportunity to meet and discuss with Italian researchers and hear more about synthetic cell research by visiting the research laboratories of Marileen Dogterom and Gijsje Koenderink.
H. E. Ambassador Giorgio Novello and his delegation were welcomed by Ena Voûte, Pro Vice Rector of International Affairs for TU Delft, Marileen Dogterom, Chair of the European Synthetic Cell Initiative and the BaSyC programme, and Martin Depken, Chair of the Bionanoscience department at TU Delft.
After Ena Voûte highlighted the collaboration between Italy and Delft University of Technology, Marileen Dogterom gave an introduction to the building of synthetic cells and invited several researchers to present their own work: Luca Buccolieri and Leonardo Morini, two Italian doctoral students from BaSyC, Lotte Asveld who presented the work she will be doing on ethics for the EVOLF programme and Liedewij Laan who gave an overview of her group’s work on evolution.
“It was an exceptional day of discovery. I had the opportunity to meet Ena Voûte, Pro Vice Rector of International Affairs for TU Delft and her colleagues and to listen with great interest to the objectives and progress of the initiative and the groundbreaking research into synthetic cells,” said H. E. Ambassador Giorgio Novello.
“I was particularly delighted to meet numerous Italian researchers who are contributing significantly to this research in the Netherlands, showcasing the excellence of Italian talent in this field.”
After this introduction, our guests headed to the laboratory of Marileen Dogterom and Gijsje Koenderink, where PhD students Federico Ramirez Gomez and Beatriz Orozco Monroy presented a more in-depth insight into the different approaches for understanding how cells work and replicating some of their natural processes, such as cell constriction and DNA segregation.
“We gained a deep appreciation for the fascinating and complex world of synthetic cells while visiting the laboratories of Marileen Dogterom and Gijsje Koenderink. The dedication and passion demonstrated by the teams left a lasting impression on me,” added the ambassador.
He concluded: “I bring home two fundamental messages: the first is that I have once again seen the scientific, technological, and organizational excellence of the Netherlands. This is also due to the country’s extensive internationalization. The second message is that Italy and the Netherlands are similar and complementary because both are leading players on the European and international stage, especially in cutting-edge fields such as this one. Much has been accomplished, much is being done, and together we will continue to achieve a great deal.”
