Publication overview

Research center

University Medical Center Utrecht

Utrecht, Netherlands

University Medical Center Utrecht

About the center

The Netherlands ALS Centre is located in the University Medical Center (UMC) Utrecht. The goals of the ALS Centre are to optimize and accelerate the diagnosis of ALS, to improve the quality of care and treatment that ALS patients receive, and to initiate, encourage, and facilitate research into the cause and a possible cure for ALS. The centre is headed by Professor Leonard van den Berg and works together closely with several ALS centres throughout Europe and the rest of the world.Project MinE research in The Netherlands started officially in the third quarter of 2013. In 2016 3,000 Dutch DNA samples of ALS patients were sequenced.

Funding to map the Dutch DNA profiles is raised by the Netherlands ALS Foundation and several other local initiatives which are organised throughout the year, such as the Amsterdam City Swim (swimming through the canals in Amsterdam), the Tour du ALS (cycling the Mont Ventoux in France), Cycle2themusic (spinning sessions with famous DJs), and many smaller campaigns such as charity dinners, cycling club sponsoring, car racing, etc.

Jan Veldink

Professor of Human Neurogenetics

University Medical Center Utrecht

Jan Veldink

Professor of Human Neurogenetics

I am the head of the human neurogenetics unit at the UMC Utrecht with recent infrastructural investments (next generation sequencing and computational hardware (high-performance clustering computing)) and state of the art bioinformatics support. I have established a research line on ALS genetics, epidemiology and transcriptomics with a proven track record in both array-based and sequencing technology. In addition, I have established an international biobanking register and patient database specifically for ALS, which is essential to be able to carry out Project MinE.

Leonard van den Berg

Prof. of Neurology, Director of the Netherlands ALS Centre

University Medical Center Utrecht

Leonard van den Berg

Prof. of Neurology, Director of the Netherlands ALS Centre

As the director of the Netherlands ALS Centre and Professor of Experimental Neurology at the University Medical Centre (UMC) Utrecht, I am searching for the best possible treatment for people with ALS. I encourage international cooperation in the field of ALS through my position as President of the European Network for the Cure for ALS (ENCALS). Furthermore, our centre coordinates several ALS research projects with European partners.