www.nanotomy.org
Ben Giepmans is intrigued by how biomolecules act together to control cell fate in health and disease. He is a cell biologist and molecular biochemist/ microscopist. His PhD research at The Netherlands Cancer Institute (WH Moolenaar; 2001) and related work in The Scripps Research Institute (CA, USA; MM Falk) have led to a better molecular understanding of regulation of gap junctions.
In his second post-doc he implemented several new advanced imaging techniques and probes to study protein dynamics in live cells and protein localization at high resolution. These studies have given unexpected new insights in Golgi apparatus reformation during mitosis (MH Ellisman & RY Tsien at NCMIR, University of California, San Diego).
In 2007 he started his research group at the department of Biomedical Science of Cells & Systems, UMC Groningen where he also leads the UMCG microscopy & imaging center. The team develops and/or implements new imaging techniques and probes for large-scale and multimodal microscopy in multiple research projects. Particular focus is on Islets of Langerhans to help to understand trigger(s) and potential new therapies for Type 1 diabetes.
www.nanotomy.org