This is a 3D sphere of cancer cells created in the lab for studying the effect of radiotherapy. Cancer cells grown on a flat surface, which is often done in laboratories, behave differently than cells in real patient tumors. To study the effect of irradiation our researchers create cancer cell spheroids. In this image red dots are formed in cells that have been damaged by radiotherapy. Green dots show low oxygen cells, orange multiplying cells.

Our Science

Science that expands what is possible

At the Netherlands Cancer Institute, science provides the foundation for everything we do. Our researchers and clinicians work to understand cancer at every level. From its biological mechanisms to its clinical behavior, and use that knowledge to improve the prospects of patients.

Our science spans fundamental, translational and clinical research. By connecting insights from the lab to questions from the clinic, we create an environment where discovery can move faster towards better diagnosis, treatment and care.

Faces of the NKI: meet Leila Akkari

Hundreds of scientists at the NKI dedicate their lives to the discovery of new ways to outsmart cancer. But who are they? Meet junior group leader Leila Akkari, whose scientific curiosity stems from various corners of the globe, and drives her to hijack the ‘hijackers’. “What I find both intriguing and worrisome about cancer is that it exploits and utilizes your own body against you.”

From science to patient care

Fundamental discoveries about (cancer) cells are essential for breakthroughs in cancer therapy. But the road from lab to patient can be long. To speed up this process, our scientists, clinicians, and other medical professionals work closely together. Being in the same building, near one another, facilitates this important interaction.