Scientists From the Netherlands and ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ Join Forces to Shape the Future of Advanced Medicine
ÃÛ¶¹ÊÓƵ (VU) is strengthening its international collaboration with Utrecht University and University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht, the Netherlands) in the field of advanced medicine. These institutions are key partners in the establishment of the international Center for Advanced Disease Modeling – a joint initiative between VU and Santaros Klinikos (VU Hospital), aiming to become a globally competitive platform for translational science.
From 22 to 24 October 2025, a delegation of Utrecht University senior representatives and researchers visited VU, including Prof. Elly Hol, Vice-Dean of Research at UMC Utrecht, Prof. Roos Masereeuw, Vice-Dean of Research at the Faculty of Science of Utrecht University, Prof. Paul Coffer, Scientific Director of Utrecht University’s Life Sciences, and Annemarie Vastenhouw-Van der Linden, Strategy and Policy Advisor.
During the visit, the Dutch delegation met with VU Rector Prof. Rimvydas Petrauskas, Pro-Rector for Research Prof. Gintaras Valušis, and Pro-Rector for Partnerships Dr Artūras Vasiliauskas. The guests also visited several VU units and partner institutions related to the Center for Advanced Disease Modeling: the VU Medical Science Centre, VU Hospital Santaros Klinikos, the Life Sciences Center, and the National Center for Pathology. In addition, the delegation held discussions with representatives from various VU faculties: Medicine, Physics, Chemistry and Geosciences, and Mathematics and Informatics.
The primary purpose of the visit was to discuss the development strategy of the Center for Advanced Disease Modeling, its governance structure, mechanisms for attracting top research talent, and plans for joint scientific projects.
Meetings with VU scientists and research groups focused on the Center’s priority areas: organoid technologies, regenerative medicine, spatial omics, translational oncology, neuroscience, immunology, and cardiology. The discussions also explored opportunities for developing joint research programmes and strengthening collaboration regarding infrastructure and knowledge exchange.
In discussions with the leadership of VU, its faculties, and Santaros Klinikos (VU Hospital), both sides emphasised their mutual motivation to establish a long-term strategic partnership.
‘It was very important that we had the opportunity to present VU and its broad range of capabilities to our guests in such depth. This visit further strengthened the trust in our growing partnership and reinforced the shared determination to take the next steps in developing the Center for Advanced Disease Modeling – a globally significant centre of excellence focused on creating and applying non-animal-based disease models,’ said Assoc. Prof. Dr Karolis Ažukaitis, Vice-Dean for Research and Innovation at the VU Faculty of Medicine.
The Center for Advanced Disease Modeling is one of the five international competence centres approved by the Ministry of Education, Science and Sport of the Republic of Lithuania, designed to enhance the international visibility and innovation capacity of Lithuanian science in the fields of advanced medicine and high technologies. The total planned investment in these centres amounts to up to €40 million.
International research teams will be established at the Center, attracting highly qualified scientists from Lithuania and abroad. One of the Center’s key areas of focus will be the development of alternative disease modelling technologies aimed at reducing or even eliminating the use of laboratory animals, while enabling the creation of personalised diagnostic and therapeutic solutions.