New skills for entrepreneurial researchers

Knowledge exchange between universities and business in collaborative/ contractual research and public-private partnerships has become far more significant. These developments instigate new mind-sets and skills for academic researchers, that should be able to translate their new technological concepts into new (business) developments. Using the two entrepreneurial functions—identification and exploitation— Park (Technovation 25: 739-752, 2005); Wright et al. (J. Technol. Transfer 29: 235-246, 2004) as well as the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (www.vitae.ac.uk) and Entrepreneurial competency framework (Int. J. Entrepreneur. Behav. Res. 6(2): 92-111, 2010), this chapter looks at the new, entrepreneurial skills that any academic researcher needs to make commercial exploitation of research a success. The purpose of this article is to investigate which (i.e. entrepreneurial) skills academic researchers need to facilitate to be more effective in exploiting their research. We especially focus on the academic researcher with a beta-scientific background

Renal function in cancer patients treated with hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion with recombinant tumor necrosis factor-α and melphalan

Hyperthermic isolated limb perfusion (HILP) with recombinant tumor necrosis factor-α (r-TNFα) and melphalan has been shown to result in a sepsis-like syndrome due to leakage of r-TNFα from the perfusion system to the systemic circulation. We have studied renal function parameters in 11 cancer patients, who underwent 12 perfusions. Three patients, perfused with melphalan only, served as controls. All patients treated with r-TNFα developed a sepsis syndrome and needed volume replacement and inotropes to remain normotensive; controls had an uneventful postoperative course. Creatinine clearance decreased transiently on the day of perfusion in both groups (mean preperfusion clearance 118 ml/min, mean post-perfusion clearance 68 ml/min, p < 0.02, n = 15). Follow-up measurements of renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate in 9 r-TNFα-treated patients did not suggest permanent damage. One patient became hypotensive and developed transient multiple organ dysfunction with renal failure needing hemofiltration. In r-TNFα-treated patients, but not in controls, a transient increase in clearance of β2-microglobulin (0.05 vs. 8 ml/min, p < 0.001) and urinary excretion of phosphate (12 vs. 48 mmol/l, p < 0.05) was seen, compatible with proximal tubular dysfunction. These data suggest that HILP with melphalan decreases glomerular function, whether or not r-TNFα is added to the perfusion circuit. Extension of the treatment regimen with r-TNFα may result in additional proximal tubular dysfunction. If hypotension can be avoided, this deterioration in renal function seems to be transient, with full recovery within weeks

84 tomato accessions - Exploring genetic variation in the tomato (Solanum section Lycopersicon) clade by whole-genome sequencing

84 tomato accessions - Genetic variation in the tomato clade was explored by sequencing a selection of 84 tomato accessions and related wild species representative for the Lycopersicon, Arcanum, Eriopersicon and Neolycopersicon group. In addition, we present a reconstruction of three new reference genomes in support of our comparative genome analyses. This comparative analysis elucidates species specific chromosome structural differences. Furthermore, sequence diversity in commercial breeding lines appears extremely low, indicating the dramatic genetic erosion of crop tomatoes. For wild species the SNP frequency increases 20 folds to more than 10 million SNPs. Our study unequivocally illustrates the need for multiple reference genomes in support of tomato comparative genomics and Solanum genome evolution studies. Comparative sequence alignment reveals group, species, and accession specific polymorphisms within domestication syndrome genes, which are explanatory for characteristic fruit traits and growth habit in tomato accessions. Using gene models from the annotated Heinz reference genome, we observe a bias in dN/dS ratio in domestication syndrome genes compared to a random set of genes which probably is the result of a positive selection. Based on whole genome SNP information, we unambiguously resolved the phylogenetic placement for each accession in the four main groups in the Lycopersicon clade using Maximum Likelihood analyses. Phylogenetic relationships appear correlated with habitat and mating type and point to the occurrence of geographical races within these groups and thus are of practical importance for introgressive hybridization breeding

84 tomato accessions - Exploring genetic variation in the tomato (Solanum section Lycopersicon) clade by whole-genome sequencing

84 tomato accessions - Genetic variation in the tomato clade was explored by sequencing a selection of 84 tomato accessions and related wild species representative for the Lycopersicon, Arcanum, Eriopersicon and Neolycopersicon group. In addition, we present a reconstruction of three new reference genomes in support of our comparative genome analyses. This comparative analysis elucidates species specific chromosome structural differences. Furthermore, sequence diversity in commercial breeding lines appears extremely low, indicating the dramatic genetic erosion of crop tomatoes. For wild species the SNP frequency increases 20 folds to more than 10 million SNPs. Our study unequivocally illustrates the need for multiple reference genomes in support of tomato comparative genomics and Solanum genome evolution studies. Comparative sequence alignment reveals group, species, and accession specific polymorphisms within domestication syndrome genes, which are explanatory for characteristic fruit traits and growth habit in tomato accessions. Using gene models from the annotated Heinz reference genome, we observe a bias in dN/dS ratio in domestication syndrome genes compared to a random set of genes which probably is the result of a positive selection. Based on whole genome SNP information, we unambiguously resolved the phylogenetic placement for each accession in the four main groups in the Lycopersicon clade using Maximum Likelihood analyses. Phylogenetic relationships appear correlated with habitat and mating type and point to the occurrence of geographical races within these groups and thus are of practical importance for introgressive hybridization breeding

Early recognition and rapid action in zoonotic emergencies : A framework document for the proposed contribution of Wageningen University & Research to a global response for early recognition and rapid action in zoonotic emergencies

The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and resulting health and economic crisis has caused major disruptions in the functioning of food systems and revived the discussion on what forms balanced, effective and responsible crisis management. As part of its thought leadership and its social responsibility in times of crisis, WUR is uniquely placed to contribute to the scientific knowledge base and data collection mechanisms required for early recognition and rapid response. In addition, WUR takes on the challenge to generate timely insights into the possible scenarios for the prevention of a crisis and during and after emergencies to enable our clients and stakeholders to make informed decisions. Lastly, WUR can provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of spillover, and tangible and practical tools to help reduce the risk of spillover events from occurring, prevent pathogen spread, or mitigate the impacts of a future pandemic. In its research institutes and university, WUR brings together expertise in human, animal, plant and environmental health, the global agri-food system, economics, social sciences, food safety and security, ethics, and policy. Here, in the knowledge that COVID-19 will not be the last pandemic, we present WUR’s ambition and capabilities towards an integrated global multi-stakeholder approach to the prevention and management of potentially pandemic diseases, across the four phases of crisis management; prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery and learning