Together with the groups of Jurian Schuijers (UMC Utrecht), Matilde Galli (Hubrecht Institute) and Aniek Janssen (UMC Utrecht), we went on a lab retreat in Rijs, Friesland. We had exciting discussions on metabolism, polyploidy, protein condensates and heterochromatin biology, and also went on a boat tour through the beautiful lakes in Friesland.

On November 8, 2022, Maria Rodriguez Colman gave the following lecture, as part of her new appointment as an associate professor at the UMC Utrecht.

.Applicant and co-applicants: Maria Rodriguez Colman, Professor Dr. Saskia van Mil (https://www.vanmil-lab.org/) and Professor Dr. Boudewijn Burgering (https://www.umcutrecht.nl/en/group-burgering). Affiliation: Center for Moelcular Medicine (CMM), UMC Utrecht.

Diet has an important role in the development of colorectal cancer (CRC). In fact, the links between diet, weight, and CRC risk are of the strongest for any type of cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms as how diet affects CRC remain ill defined, limiting the development of dietary-based (adjuvant) therapeutic strategies.

In this proposal in collaboration with DSM-HIB*, and insights of the Julius Center, Cancer Epidemiology (UMCU), we will investigate the impact of specific dietary conditions on intestinal health, tumor growth and chemotherapy response. Importantly, our reductionist approach makes use of human derived organoids to define the molecular mechanisms behind the metabolic effects on intestinal health.

*DSM-HIB, has a longstanding expertise in animal and human nutrition. DSM supports healthier living and diets for all by addressing divers topics, e.g. malnutrition, sugar reduction in dairy products, healthy aging.

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