On October 23rd, a delegation from Utrecht University visited the Vilnius University Life Sciences Center (VU LSC) to explore opportunities for collaboration in research and studies.
The Utrecht delegation included Prof. Elly Hol, Vice-Dean of Research at the University Medical Center Utrecht; Prof. Roos Masereeuw, Vice-Dean of Research of the Faculty of Science; Prof. Paul Coffer, Scientific Director of Life Sciences; and Annemarie Vastenhouw-van der Linden, Strategy and Policy Advisor.
At VU LSC, the guests were welcomed by Dr. Arvydas Lubys, Director of the Center, along with Julius Gagilas, Deputy Director for Business Collaboration and Infrastructure, Prof. Eglė Lastauskienė, Advisor to the Director on International Relations, and Prof. Urtė Neniškytė, EMBL partnership principal investigator.
The visit aimed to strengthen ties between Utrecht University and Vilnius University, with a focus on how the Life Sciences Center could become a part of joint research and educational initiatives. During the meeting, both sides presented overviews of their institutions - highlighting organizational structures, key research areas, and approaches to the study process. Discussions also centred around attracting international MSc and PhD students, funding opportunities, and the similarities between the two universities in their research and academic goals.
Following the discussions, the Utrecht delegation toured several of VU LSC’s laboratories. They visited the Cryo-Electron Microscopy (CryoEM) facility guided by Dr. Giedrė Tamulaitienė, the single-cell analysis laboratory led by Prof. Linas Mažutis, and the neuroscience laboratory of Prof. Urtė Neniškytė.
As the institutions will continue their dialogue, both Vilnius University and Utrecht University look forward to establishing lasting connections that will foster advance research and education in the field of life sciences.
