Hubrecht Institute

Brief overview

The Hubrecht Institute is a research institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), encompassing 23 research groups. Research at the Hubrecht Institute is pioneering in developmental and stem cell biology, including signalling in stem cells and early development, regeneration, epigenetics, genome architecture, cell cycle control, gene expression dynamics and quantitative biology of gene expression.

Researchers at the Hubrecht Institute developed and established organoid technology as a field of research. The protocol for establishing human airway organoids enabled labs around the world to shift to a human model that is now widely used in the respiratory field.

Research areas

Cell biology/ COPD/ Cystic fibrosis/ Epithelial cell/ Lung cancer

Host center eligibility

Global fellowships (return phase only)/European fellowships

Research infrastructure/facilities

The Hubrecht Institute provides core facilities for (single-cell) sequencing, transgenesis, histology, fluorescent imaging by confocal and 2-photon technology, FACS-based cell sorting, and a state-of-the-art mouse facility. Furthermore, the institute has direct access to the Netherlands Proteomics Platform (Utrecht University).

As part of the Science Park, a large campus including academic research facilities, hospitals and medical centers, the Utrecht University, commercial biotech, start ups, the Hubrecht Institute is well located.

Research funding/resources

NETRF, funded by the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (1.14 M€, 2017-2021). Aim: generate a ‘living biobank’ of neuroendocrine tumor (NET) organoids for genetic, epigenetic, and drug sensitivity analysis.

Building blocks of life, funded by NOW (0.5 M€, 2020-2024). Aim: reveal the causal cellular dynamics that underlie the formation and pathology of intestinal and lung organoids, using microscopy, quantitative data analysis and mathematical modelling.

BREATH, funded by the Dutch Lung Foundation (0.8M €, 2019-2023), Aim: Study identity and control of human lung epithelial stem cells and the regulation of lung tissue homeostasis and repair, with a focus on COPD pathology.

Links to non-academic sector

The Hubrecht Institute is situated on Utrecht Science Park (USP), which provides a home base for Utrecht University, University Medical Center Utrecht, HU Utrecht University of Applied Sciences and various small and large companies.

Research at the Hubrecht Institute has direct implications for translational and clinical applications. Technology is transferred to society as efficiently as possible. Currently, four private partners distribute technologies developed at the Hubrecht Institute.

Experience hosting international researchers, career development & training programmes, outreach activities

Around 280 people from more than 30 different countries work at the Hubrecht Institute. The Hubrecht Institute is a lively, international research community that is supported by high-quality services. The Hubrecht aims to be a springboard for talent and offers its employees the opportunity for personal and professional development through a wide variety of workshops and courses, including those organized by our mother organization, the KNAW.

In addition to external training, internal training is organized for all employees. The Hubrecht Institute also has a buddy system for PhD students and group leaders, in which senior employees listen to junior employees and offer advice and guidance.