Profile
Roland Kanaar is the Project Leader of the Collaborative Research Project 'Spatio-temporal organisation of genome surveillance in live cells'
1. You are a Project Leader in the EUROCORES Programme EuroDYNA, which focuses on nuclear architecture and chromatin function. Why did you become involved in this area of research?
Within our research group we aim to understand the complete molecular mechanisms of genome maintenance and the biological consequences of its failure. Since genomes are nuclear entities that need to undergo dynamic reorganizations to properly express and maintain the information contained in them, our studies fit perfectly within the EuroDYNA program. However, our approach is not limited to the application of cell biology. To understand molecular mechanisms and biological consequences completely we apply the broadest possible range of experimental systems, ranging from single molecule biochemistry, structural biology, molecular biophysics, cell biology and mammalian genetics.
2. Do you think cell biology research is getting the attention and respect that it deserves in Europe? Why or why not? If not, what needs to be done?
I do not like to divide life science research into sub-disciplines. What is important is that the best science gets supported.
3. What, in your opinion, is the added value of the EuroDYNA Programme to cell biology research in general and to you and your CRP members specifically? How do you think EuroDYNA differs from other collaborative projects?
One of the added values is that it improves the mobility of (young) researchers. Within a CRP, this is not too different from other collaborative projects. However, in the context of the whole program, it exposes the younger people to a broad range of cell biological research, much more so than within other collaborative projects, because they tend to be focused around one specific topic.
4. As an expert in your field, what do you think is the potential impact of the EuroDYNA Programme and its projects?
Given the modest level of funding, I think it greatest value is in getting EU labs to collaborate more closely and giving young researcher the chance to be exposed to different research environments.
5. How do you see the future of scientific collaboration?
Scientific collaboration is the future. I think there is no other option. Biology is technology driven. The current rapid progress in technology development requires increasing capital investment. In addition, collaborations between researcher with different scientific backgrounds and expertise allow new questions to be addressed.
6. Any motto you could share with us on how you do your job? What are your passions in life? What ambition would you still like to fulfill?
Always look for the newest technology that allow you to answer new questions with regard to the mechanism of the process that you are interested in, but do not forget to learn from the past. One of my ambitions is to uncover the relationship between individual biochemical activities of genome maintenance proteins and their coordinated action in the context of the living cell.
