On the 27^th of May was the official opening of the novel MabMine antibody discovery platform at Campus Gasthuisberg in Leuven with the participation of about 60 invited academic and industrial collaborators.

The new facility is dedicated to advancing the MabMine antibody discovery platform and is equipped with state-of-the-art technology for:

• Single B cell screening and isolation;

• B cell receptor (BCR) sequencing;

• Recombinant antibody production

• Antibody characterization.

New Lab Supported by Vlaamse Veerkracht/ NextGenerationEU Grant — PharmAbs

B-specific projects were also highlighted at the event!

B-specific coordinator Amanda Foks, has been selected to join the Dutch CardioVascular Alliance (DCVA) Leadership Program 2025-2026. As part of the program, Amanda will work together with fellow scientists, clinicians and DCVA partners on current challenges in cardiovascular research, care and policy. Amanda is very excited to join this program and to contribute to the mission of the DCVA.

More information about the DCVA can be found via this link: https://dcvalliance.nl/

During the conference Knowledge for Growth (May 8, 2025 Antwerp, Belgium) https://kfg2020.app.swapcard.com/event/knowledge-for-growth-2025 , Nick Geukens (KUL) gave a talk entitled: Translating Academic Science into Solutions: Antibody Innovations for Tomorrow’s Healthcare.

Visit here TTO Flanders elevator pitch session: research to business

On April 14 2025 we launched the first seminar of the Leiden CardioVascular Medicine (LCVM) organization at Leiden University. The LCVM connects cardiovascular scientists from the LUMC, LACDR and Leiden University Campus in the Hague. Bram Slütter kicked off this meeting by introducing the exciting cardiovascular research that is currently being performed at the Faculty of Science of Leiden University. Followed by a very nice presentation of our current advances in understanding B cell immunity in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease by B-specific member Jill de Mol. We closed this successful meeting with some nice drinks and good conversations!

On February 17-18, B-specific representatives Amanda Foks and Bram Slütter, participated in the first annual EIC Pathfinder Cardiogenomics Portfolio meeting, organized by the EIC Pathfinder team in Brussels. It was very exciting to meet the EIC Pathfinder Program Manager Orsolya Symmons, Program Officers Iliana Kostova and Ioannis Amarantos, and the other 6 Cardiogenomics consortia to discuss future collaborations and Portfolio actions. Stay tuned, next year the B-specific team will organize this annual meeting in Leiden!

As part of the BioPharmaceutical Sciences student society ‘Parents’ day’ on Saturday the 22^nd of February, the Leiden team provided multiple labtours for approximately 120 parents and students. Amanda Foks together with her PhD student Roy Snijckers, explained their cardiovascular research projects and organized a walking tour through the cell culture and labspaces. Everyone was particularly impressed by the human atherosclerotic plaque specimens the Leiden team processes with help from their clinical collaborators!

Ilze Bot, member of the B-specific ULEI team, gave her inaugural lecture ‘Vat op stabiele bloedvaten’ on 17 January at the Academy Building of Leiden University. Congratulations with this great achievement!

Link to news article to be added to this news item: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/news/2025/01/greater-understanding-of-specialised-cell-could-prevent-strokes

On January 9 2025, Amanda Foks was invited to present her research on age-associated B cell immunity during the Science Meets Business event at the Leiden BioScience Park. The Science Meets Business Foundation brings together students, scientists, young business professionals and entrepreneurs. Great discussions and new connections were made during this event!