Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research
Organisation
The Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research (LACDR) is responsible for the research and education in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences carried out at Leiden University.
- About LACDR
- LACDR Institute Board
- Management Team
- Institute Council
- PhD Association
- Scientific Advisory Board
About LACDR
LACDR as a research institute works at the leading edge of drug-design and fundamental research of new drugs, improvements and optimisation of existing drugs, and new developments in personalised medicine. Within Leiden University we participate in the research profile area of "Collaborative and effective drug development".
As an academic centre, we are also very strongly involved in education on several levels:
- Training of undergraduate students, to become theoretically and experimentally trained in all relevant aspects of drug research and to gain hands-on experience in specialized research projects, leading to a Masters Degree in Bio-Pharmaceutical Sciences;
- Training of graduate students, to become highly skilled and independent in experimental drug research through a specific 4-year project, leading to publications in international scientific literature and the PhD degree;
- Collaboration with the (pharmaceutical) industry, in joint research projects and consultancies, and by offering specialized courses and symposia in relevant areas of drug research.
Read more about our vision, mission and lines of research
LACDR Institute Board
The institute board (IB) of the LACDR is responsible for all matters regarding research, education and operational management of the institute.
The board members are:
Scientific director: Prof.dr. Miranda van Eck (chair)
Director of education: Dr. Rawi Ramautar,
Director of operations: Thomas Klompmaker MSc MA.
LACDR Management Team
The institute is led by the Institute Board in collaboration with the Management Team (MT). The MT is responsible for the daily management of the institute, and develops and implements research and education policies.
The MT has regular contact with the Institute Council, the External Scientific Advisory Board, the Research Divisions and the Staff.
The members of the LACDR Management team:
- Scientific Director, Prof. dr. Miranda van Eck
- Director of Education and BSc Programme Director, Assoc. Prof. dr. Rawi Ramautar
- Director of Operations, Thomas Klompmaker MSc MA
- MSc Programme Director, Dr. Daan van der Es
- MSc Pharmacy liaison, Dr. Martijn Manson
- Manager of the Division of BioTherapeutics, Prof. dr. Matthias Barz
- Manager of the Metabolomics and Analytics Centre, Prof. dr. Thomas Hankemeier
- Manager of the Division of Cell Systems and Drug Safety, Prof. dr. Bob van de Water
- Manager of the Division of Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Prof. dr. Coen van Hasselt
- Manager of the Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Prof.dr. Laura Heitman
LACDR Institute Council
The LACDR Institute Council (IR) offers the LACDR Management Team solicited and unsolicited advice on various matters of policy. If you have any matters you would like to bring to the attention of the Institute Council, do not hesitate to contact one of their members.
The IR of the LACDR is composed of people from all divisions, from all layers of the organisation (including students). The IR aims to serve as a bridge between the ‘working floor’ and the management team of the LACDR. During regular meetings (once every month), the IR advices the management team of the LACDR and brings points to their attention. Topics that are frequently discussed are: work pressure, education, student numbers, sustainability, diversity, etc.
Meet us every first Tuesday of the month
Every first Tuesday of the month we hold a walk-in/pre-meeting. Please do not hesistate to visit and to discuss any topic or matter you wish! On behalf of all of the IR members.
The current LACDR Institute Council members and their contact details are:
- Willem Jespers (chair) - Assistant professor - Division of Drug Discovery & Safety
- Alireza Mashaghi Tabari - Assistant Professor - Division of Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacy
- Tahmina Fariaby - PhD candidate - Division of BioTherapeutics
- Tingjie Guo - Assistant professor - Division of Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacy
- Gerwin Spijksma - Analyst - Metabolomics and Analytics Centre
- Joachim van Guyse - Assistant professor - Division of BioTherapeutics
- Annaloes Fokkelman - Research Analyst - Division of Drug Discovery & Safety
- Nicole van Zaal - Management assistant - Division of Drug Discovery & Safety
- Marinda van de Kreeke - PhD candidate - Division of Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacy
- Vera van der Noord - PhD candidate - Division of Drug Discovery & Safety
Notes from these meetings are available for all LACDR employees, please mail chair Willem Jespers via ir@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl if you would like to request a copy.
Paragraph 47 and 48 from "facultair reglement" decribe the responsibilities of the Institute Council in more detail. Below you can find these paragraphs as well as an English Translation.
Reglement IR + Translation (pdf)
LACDR PhD Association
PhD candidates make up a significant community within the LACDR. It is important that we are represented well, therefore the PhD Association LACDR (PAL) was initiated. “PAL” represents the interests of PhD candidates in the decision-making processes of the university and fosters a sense of community among PhD candidates. The Association is comprised of representatives from various divisions who convene regularly to discuss important PhD-related matters.
We aim to provide clarity to PhD candidates regarding general concerns within different divisions or any changes implemented by the LACDR.
As part of the Institute council, PAL effectively communicates issues, ideas, and solutions to the Institute Council and daily board, the University PhD Council, and other relevant bodies. Once issues or ideas are brought forward, they will be discussed with the Institute council, who provides advice to the management team and usually addresses various topics, such as workload, education, student enrollment, facility changes, diversity, and more.
PhD candidates can reach out to us for advice or to report any concerns via pal@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl. Additionally, individual members can be contacted directly using the contact details provided in the Members section below
The current LACDR PhD Association members and their contact details are:
- Tahmina Fariaby - PhD candidate - Division of BioTherapeutics
- Catherine Mergen - PhD candidate - Division of Drug Delivery Technology
- Sabrina De Oliveira - PhD candidate - Metabolomics and Analytics Centre
- Dirk Wevers - PhD candidate - Metabolomics and Analytics Centre
- Kim Elbertse - PhD candidate - Drug Discovery & Safety
- Andisyah Sekar - PhD candidate - Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacy
- Lalitya Sudarsono - PhD candidate - Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacy
- Joey Zuijdervelt - PhD candidate - Cell Systems and Drug Safety
- Lisa de Koning - PhD candidate - Medicinal Chemistry
LACDR Scientific Advisory Board
The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) of LACDR advises the management team in all strategic matters concerning the core tasks of the institute. In bi-annual meetings the research strategy of the institute, new developments regarding the LACDR teaching program and organizational topics are discussed. SAB members together are representative for LACDR's key stakeholders in academia including medical centers, governmental organization and pharma/biotech industry.
According to faculty regulations, the LACDR SAB has five members, with one member acting as chair. Currently the following SAB members have been appointed:
Frans Russel (Radboud Medical Center, Chair)
Carmen van Vilsteren (Chair Topsector Life Science & Health, Director Health at TU/e and Chair of e/MTIC Board)
Bert Leufkens (Pharmaceutical Policy and Regulatory Science at Utrecht University)
Ton Rijnders (Consultant pharma & life sciences, former director of Oncode and Lygature
Bert Tuk (Tuk Consultancy Interim Management)