Plasminogen Activation in Fibrinolysis, in Tissue Remodeling, and in Development [antikvár]

Preface Twenty-five Years of the Gaubius Institute The Gaubius Institute was established by the University of Leiden in 1965 to provide a center for multidisciplinary research. The aim was to develop a research group that could apply its knowledge in physical chemistry to medical research. Since its early days, the Gaubius Institute was affiliated with both the University of Leiden and the Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). The majority of the Institute's staff were permanently attached to TNO's Health Research Division. In 1973, however, the Institute became fully integrated with TNO, but retained its premises in the old city of Leiden. Many guests from other countries have visited the Gaubius Institute and have seen the c|uaint, picturesque but practical facilities. In April 1991 the Institute became a part of the new TNO Institute of Ageing and Vascular Research and was re-housed in a new building, known as the Gaubius Laboratory, close to the University's Hospitál and Science Faculties. At the time of its establishment, the principal role of the Institute was to investigate chemical aspects of arteriosclerosis and thrombosis. New methods and analytical techniques were developed-notably physicochemical separation and detection methods for the study of the constituents of the diseased arterial wall. For those studies substantial support from the National Institutes of Health was received. In the early seventies, Biochemistry, Protein Chemistry, and Immunology were added as research tools. These were followed by Cell Culture (endothelial- and liver cells) and Hybridoma Technology. Later Molecular Biology and Molecular Genetics were added. Animál experimentation is carried out to a limited extent. Both research on fundamental mechanisms and clinical research are essential for the solution of medical problems. Therefore, the Institute closely cooperates in a substantial number of projects with Leiden University Hospitál and with several other hospitals in the Netherlands and abroad. Many of the results are obtained in close cooperation with other research groups as can be seen from the many joint publications. At the 25th anniversary there were over 1800 publications and the graduate staff consisted of 40 of whom 15 had a permanent assignment. Presently the research focus is on biochemical and pathophysiological aspects of cardiovascular medicine and rheumatoid arthritis. Research areas include: lipid metabolism and atherosclerosis fibrinolysis and proteolysis pathophysiology of endothelial cells Fibrinolysis became a focus of the Institute's research in the early 1970s. At that time a generál outline of the mechanism of fibrinolysis was known, but a great deal of the system as well as its role in health and disease remained obscure. Over the years, a program was established to study the activating and inhibiting pro-