The department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology (MCBI) of Amsterdam UMC performs fundamental and preclinical research in the field of Cancer Immunology, Mucosal Immunology, Neuroimmunology, Skin Immunology and Immunodeficiencies and disorders of immune dysregulation.

About us

The department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology of Amsterdam UMC performs innovative, cutting-edge and excellent research with translational character. Additionally, the MCBI department provides both theoretical and hands-on education of the highest quality in topics such as in immunology, cell biology and biochemistry to biomedical and medicine students.

The main goals of the department are to 1) perform innovative, cutting-edge and excellent fundamental research with translational character and 2) to provide education of the highest quality level both theoretical and hand-on in topics such as in immunology, cell biology and biochemistry.

The department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology (MCBI), consists of around 120 researchers and 12 research groups supervised by principle investigators. MCBI  is a preclinical department with outstanding facilities to perform state-of-the-art research fundamental and translational research. Clinical research questions are approached in experimental models, and new fundamental research results are translated into potential clinical applications.

Research

The research performed in the department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology covers a wide variety of topics in the field of cell biology and immunology. The research of the department is characterized by a focus on cell biological and immunological processes on molecular and cellular level.

Various approaches are being applied to answer the research questions, varying from biochemical and molecular methods, cell biological techniques and animal models, to translational approaches, in order to apply the generated knowledge for clinical (diagnostic or therapeutic) application. In particular basic questions relevant for cancer, inflammatory bowel diseases, kidney diseases and CAPD, multiple sclerosis and vascular diseases are being addressed. In vitro and in vivo models for these diseases are operational within the department.

The department receives research funding from major national and international organizations and institutes, such as the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), the European Union (EU), AgentschapNL, Dutch MS Research Foundation, Dutch Kidney Foundation, Dutch Burn wound foundation, Lung foundation, KWF and others.

The research is embedded in Amsterdam Research: www.amsterdamresearch.org.

For more information about research, visit amsterdamumc.org/research

For more information about research output registration, visit researchinformation.amsterdamumc.org

Education

The department offers academic courses in both the undergraduate and graduate tracks in Medicine, Earth and Life Sciences and at the Amsterdam University College.
Furthermore, our research groups host around 20 PhD-students providing advanced research training to boost their (research) careers. Opportunities for (international) internships and thesis supervision are offered by the department.

PhD Programme

PhD students follow an educational programme within their VUmc/AMC research institutes.
See www.amsterdamresearch.org for further information.

Internships

Within MCBI, internships are regularly available for students. The themes that can be distinguished are: Tumor Immunology, Neuroimmunology and Actute Inflammation.

During their internship students will receive training in various aspects required for performing high quality research, including access to various techniques and models necessary for their research, and documenting and presentation of their data. Students receive not only specific education performing excellent research but are trained in critically reading literature through journal clubs organized for students. Moreover, at the end of the internship students are invited to present their research data on the special symposium organized for and by students.

Because of the complexity of the research at MCBI, we have in general more opportunities for master students than for bachelor students and some for HLO-students.

For more information about education, visit amsterdamumc.org/education

Patient Care

For more information about patient care, visit amsterdamumc.nl

Team

MCBI consists of thirteen principal investigators with his or her own topic:

  • Elga de Vries

  • Febe van Maldegem

  • Gijs Kooij

  • Jack van Horssen

  • Jan Van den Bossche

  • Joke den Haan

  • Juan J. Garcia Vallejo

  • Maarten Witte

  • Marjolein van Egmond

  • Reina Mebius

  • Sandra van Vliet

  • Sergey Nejentsev

  • Sue Gibbs

  • Yvette van Kooyk

    For information about our researchers, visit amsterdamumc.org/researchers

    Career

    We are always on the lookout for talented and passionate people to join our growing team. You will have the opportunity to develop any aspects you are interested in.

    See all our vacancies (in Dutch): werkenbij.amsterdamumc.org

    Contact

    Visiting address

    De Boelelaan 1108
    1081 HZ Amsterdam

    Postal address

    Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc
    Department of Molecular Cell Biology and Immunology
    OI2 building Postbox 7057
    1007 MB Amsterdam

    Email address and telephone number

    secretariaat.mcbi@vumc.nl
    +31 (20) 444 80 80