Dr. Bert Janssen

Biography

Bert Janssen is a Professor of Biomolecular Sciences with a focus on Structural Biochemistry at Utrecht University. He received his MSc in Molecular Sciences from Wageningen University in 2002 and completed his PhD on structural biology at Utrecht University in 2007, addressing pivotal questions in human immunology. His doctoral research elucidated complex crystal structures of complement component C3 activation products, detailing the intricate architecture and conformational changes critical to complement activation. From 2008 to 2011, he was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Oxford under the supervision of Prof. Yvonne Jones, studying the molecular mechanisms of semaphorin-plexin function in neuronal connectivity. In July 2011, he returned to Utrecht University to establish his own research group focused on molecular signaling processes in the central nervous system. He has received multiple grants, including the VIDI from the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research in 2012 and the Starting Grant from the European Research Council in 2015, as well as the 2023 VICI grant to enhance his research team. His group emphasizes the understanding of intercellular signaling, the development and function of the nervous system, and the molecular interactions impacting tissue health and disease. His research employs hybrid methodologies, including protein crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy, to uncover the detailed mechanisms behind signaling pathways and cell interactions, crucial for therapeutic advancements in diseases such as cancer and neurological disorders.

Research Interests

Experience