Universities in times of corona How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis #connectuniversitiesNL Foreword Dutch universities are actively taking collaboration with scientists all over the steps to combat coronavirus and to world, on new knowledge in this uncertain continue their research, education and time. Together with the fourteen universities, active role in society during this crisis. the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific This takes many different forms, from Research (NWO), the Royal Netherlands current research to voluntary work and Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and from disseminating digital knowledge many other institutions and companies, we to the donation of equipment and have joined ResilientSociety. This cocreation materials. It is not just researchers but platform for the COVID-19 crisis allows us to also students who demonstrate in many work together to make this knowledge even areas that they can achieve a great deal more accessible globally. by pooling their knowledge, strength and flexibility. By collaborating with companies, It is hard work, and there are still significant government organisations and other challenges when it comes to research knowledge institutions in the Netherlands projects at this time of working from home and with European and international and the ‘1.5-metre society’. There is still a partners, we show how this time is great deal of uncertainty about education challenging people and inviting people to in the coming academic year and the work together to come up with creative introduction weeks. But as far as we are solutions. The speed and creativity are concerned, the motto in every scenario is inspiring; it shows what drives us and what as follows: ‘On campus, if we can, online, we can do with our free talents. because we can’. This flexibility will continue to be necessary. Together, we can do it. It only took a few weeks to move our teaching online, with over 90% online at I am proud to present a selection of this point. Lecturers are working extremely examples from research, education and hard on this, and students are also adapting other projects in the e-zine ‘Universities quickly. This situation is calling upon us in times of corona’. This is just a small all, as responsible and active participants selection. Meanwhile, the studies continue in today’s society and – certainly when and new projects are being added every day. it comes to the students – as shapers of Let us be sure to hold on to this energy and the society of the future. As pioneers with continue to support each other. passion for our profession, for each other and for society. We see scientists we are Pieter Duisenberg proud of, every evening on television. President of the Association of Universities In the background, there are many others in the Netherlands (VSNU) who are working directly or indirectly, in #connectuniversitiesNL Contents 1 2 3 Understanding The pandemic is Our education and combating affecting us all. continues. coronavirus It affects our lives, On campus, if we together well-being and future can, online, because we can. And with a focus on the well- being of our students 4 5 Contributing to Donating equipment, healthcare issues manpower and brainpower Introduction Projects that make all the difference The global coronavirus outbreak is having a huge impact on our society and severely disrupting public life. The consequences are also far-reaching for universities. Since the lockdown came into force on 12 March 2020, academic research and education institutions in the Netherlands have rapidly adapted to the situation. Under various themes, this e-zine offers insight into the many distinctive projects, studies, adaptations to education and other initiatives through which universities are contributing to the joint challenge of combating the coronavirus epidemic. This provides an idea of the solutions, help and support offered by the universities. For today, and for the future. 4 How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis Understanding and combating coronavirus together Universities are closely involved in the leading international research into coronavirus (COVID-19). To understand the virus, and to contribute to laying the foundation for a treatment or vaccine. They also actively contribute to the sharing and dissemination of research data. The crisis makes it particularly important for scientific information to be available without barriers. The University of Groningen is At the Netherlands Centre for One carrying out large-scale research in Health, scientists from Utrecht the northern Netherlands into the University are collaborating with risk factors for the coronavirus. University Medical Center Utrecht, Research data is linked to data from Amsterdam UMC, AMC location, the Lifelines Biobank, to detect both Leiden University, Wageningen genetic and environmental factors University & Research, Radboudumc that help to determine whether and Leiden University Medical Center. someone will become seriously ill or develop only mild complaints. Utrecht University and Erasmus MC are conducting research into European scientists, including several an antibody against COVID-19 in from Maastricht University, have the context of One Health. This established a consortium and are recently led to a breakthrough that working with partners in China and could contribute to a medication Iran to find biomarkers for COVID-19 for treatment. diagnostics. The GEFACOVID project is intended to lead to new diagnostics and treatments. Human health is closely linked to animal health and the COVID-19 outbreak is a consequence of this. How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis 5 This research builds on the work our groups have done in the past on antibodies targeting the SARS-CoV that emerged in 2002/2003 Berend-Jan Bosch research leader coronavirus Utrecht University 6 How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis In this context, Wageningen Utrecht University, Tilburg University, University & Research is involved Leiden University and Erasmus in research into the spread of University Rotterdam have created an disease among animals, such as at expertise portal for Social Sciences mink farms in North Brabant, where and Humanities (SSH), in which researchers are examining how the they are making their knowledge disease was passed from human of coronavirus available (the SSH to animal. COVID-19 portal). Leiden University Medical Center took Wageningen Bioveterinary Research the initiative to launch the SCORE (WBVR) and Coalition for Epidemic project, in which scientists from Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) European countries are researching are working intensively together to treatments and ways to limit the combat and prevent coronavirus. spread of coronaviruses. CEPI is a collaboration between public, private and philanthropic Radboud University is participating in organisations that was launched COVIDSEARCH, a search engine for in Davos in 2017 with the aim of coronavirus research, and is helping developing vaccines to stop future researchers and doctors to quickly epidemics. WBVR is developing find up-to-date and relevant scientific preclinical models for coronavirus, sources in the multitude of studies allowing vaccines against the virus available. to be tested for efficacy and safety in humans. Scientists from the fields of social sciences, economics, law and Utrecht University supplies epidemic humanities at the University of models to organisations such as the Amsterdam, Vrije Universiteit RIVM to provide information on Amsterdam, Radboud University, the spread of the virus, differences Maastricht University, University between countries and the usefulness of Groningen, Open University, and necessity of measures to contain Wageningen University & Research, the spread of the virus. How Dutch universities are working together and offering solutions during the corona crisis 7 Medical microbiologists from TU Delft is simulating the interaction Leiden University Medical Center, in between the density of the population collaboration with a pharmaceutical and the percentage of infectious company, are investigating the people present in the population in effect of a new experimental vaccine an easily understandable way. against coronavirus. Tests are being developed to demonstrate Where does the 1.5-metre distance whether vaccine-induced antibodies standard come from and what do can prevent the virus that causes we actually know about the droplets COVID-19 from entering the cells. in our breath or in a sneeze as A crowdfunding campaign for this potential transporters of coronavirus? study has already raised more than The University of Twente is 700,000 euros. investigating the fluid physics of sneezing, coughing, speaking and The first ten patients in the simply exhaling. ConCoViD study were treated at the Erasmus MC, in collaboration with Researchers at Universiteit Maastricht 15 other centres in the Netherlands. are working on a model that uses In this study, blood plasma is algorithms to predict whether or not administered to coronavirus patients. a patient infected with coronavirus The plasma comes from donors who will require ventilation. To this end, have recovered from COVID-19 and they are collaborating with specialists produced virus-killing antibodies in from Amsterdam UMC and all Dutch their blood. hospitals.