Third edition TRACER lab tour at Sanquin

On 22 December, the TRACER consortium hosted the third edition of the lab tour at Sanquin. After a previous tour in April and the first edition in December 2024, it was once again a pleasure to welcome patients involved in the Responsible Research & Innovation (RRI) research, together with representatives from Stichting OSCAR and Stichting Zeldzame Bloedziekten. The continued enthusiasm for these lab visits shows just how much interest there is in seeing what happens behind the scenes of research.

During the tour, participants were invited straight into the lab to take a closer look at the research process. The PhD students and group leaders demonstrated different laboratory techniques, showed cell cultures under the microscope, and explained how donated materials are used in ongoing research. From the very first moment, the atmosphere was open and curious. Participants asked thoughtful and sometimes very detailed questions, leading to lively conversations that extended far beyond the original schedule. In fact, the tour ran almost an hour longer than planned, simply because no one was ready to stop the discussion.

Afterwards, everyone came together for a shared lunch and an open conversation about the TRACER research and its broader goals. Patients shared their experiences, researchers reflected on their work, and there was plenty of room for dialogue in both directions. Once again, the lab tour showed how valuable it is to bring researchers and patients together in an informal setting. TRACER looks back on a joyful and inspiring afternoon and are already looking forward to organizing the fourth edition.

PhD students Lou van Hooff, Oyishee Ahmad, Teun Slijkerman, and Helena Kooi conduct their research in the groups of Eva-Maria Merz, Emile van den Akker, Eszter Varga, and Gerald de Haan.