Gert Jan C Veenstra
@gertjanveenstra.bsky.social
650 followers 520 following 21 posts
Professor of Molecular Developmental Biology | Director Radboud Institute Molecular Life Sciences | DevBio, StemCells, Heart, Chromatin, SingleCell, Faith&Science https://veenstralab.nl
Posts Media Videos Starter Packs
gertjanveenstra.bsky.social
With self-deprecating humor, Sir John loved to tell the story of his Biology teacher (1949)
gertjanveenstra.bsky.social
Today it was announced that Sir John Gurdon passed away.
His ground-breaking discovery was that differentiated cells can be reprogrammed. He was a creative and distinguished developmental biologist, a kind person with a great inquisitive mind and original ideas
www.cam.ac.uk/research/new...
Nobel Laureate Professor Sir John Gurdon dies aged 92
It is with great sadness that the University shares the news of the death of Professor Sir John Gurdon, founder of the Gurdon Institute.
www.cam.ac.uk
Reposted by Gert Jan C Veenstra
elife.bsky.social
While academic publishing may not be broken, it isn’t built to serve science either. It runs on a chain of perverse incentives, but everything we need to rebuild it is already in our hands.

#OpenScience #AcademicSky
buff.ly/oSesI1s
Screenshot of article summary of: Toward Science-Led Publishing by Damian Pattinson, George Currie published as an opinion piece, in Learned Publishing Summary The current dynamic of scholarly publishing prioritises the wants of the publishing industry over the needs of the research community. This article explores this theme through the lens of ‘publisher-led science’ as a description of our current status quo, and through ‘science-led publishing’ as an improved future state. We argue that financial motivations central to most publishing distort how research is presented, how it is assessed and even what research is undertaken, leading to a system that hinders, rather than facilitates, scientific progress. We propose three elements of a science-led publishing approach that would accelerate research communication, incentivise collaboration between authors, editors and reviewers, and create a more transparent and equitable research landscape. We believe that research funding and research assessment are two of the primary levers for wider change in research and research culture and consider the future purpose of scholarly publishing in a world where these proposals have been widely adopted.
Reposted by Gert Jan C Veenstra
gertjanveenstra.bsky.social
Did you know that cephalopods (octopus, squid, cuttlefish) have three hearts?
Did you ever wonder how that is possible?
For the first answer to that question, come to the today's afternoon session of #2025ICDB meeting (Saturday 21 June 7PM)
#2025SDB @socdevbio.bsky.social
socdevbio.bsky.social
🔈 Excited to welcome Gert Jan C. Veenstra as an invited speaker at #ICDB2025!
Gert Jan leads research on gene regulation during embryonic and heart development, utilizing stem cells and model organisms to unravel the complexities of pluripotency and differentiation. 🧬❤️🧪
An announcement slide in white and blue colors, with Gert Jan's name, the SDB ISDB and LASDB logos and text that says Plenary 3: Evolution and Development of Organ Systems. Saturday, June 21st 5-7pm.
gertjanveenstra.bsky.social
The 20th International Conference of Developmental Biology kicks off
Looking forward to five days of exciting developmental biology
#2025ICDB #2025SDB @socdevbio.bsky.social
Reposted by Gert Jan C Veenstra
socdevbio.bsky.social
🔈 Excited to welcome Gert Jan C. Veenstra as an invited speaker at #ICDB2025!
Gert Jan leads research on gene regulation during embryonic and heart development, utilizing stem cells and model organisms to unravel the complexities of pluripotency and differentiation. 🧬❤️🧪
An announcement slide in white and blue colors, with Gert Jan's name, the SDB ISDB and LASDB logos and text that says Plenary 3: Evolution and Development of Organ Systems. Saturday, June 21st 5-7pm.
gertjanveenstra.bsky.social
Just concluded three exciting weeks at MBL @mblscience.bsky.social at Woods Hole for work of my team with that of Carrie Albertin's on heart development in cephalopods.
Beautifully located, MBL is a terrific place with an environment conducive to collaborative ground-breaking discovery.
Reposted by Gert Jan C Veenstra
labonnelab.bsky.social
Universities are not passive beneficiaries of government largesse. It is the federal government that depends on universities to conduct the research that keeps our nation healthy, safe and economically competitive.I discuss in the Washington Post.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Universities and the government: Which needs the other more?
From public health to high-tech innovation, universities are the workhorses of national progress.
www.washingtonpost.com
Reposted by Gert Jan C Veenstra
stemcellreports.bsky.social
New study outlines a cardiac #differentiation roadmap, mapping cell states that mimic the human fetal heart. ow.ly/lCkh50V8o2w

@isscr.org @cellpress.bsky.social @gairdnerawards.bsky.social @sickkidsvs.bsky.social
gertjanveenstra.bsky.social
This paper is the capstone of Rebecca's PhD work at
@rimls.bsky.social and signifies the highly productive collaboration with Robert's group at @utwente.bsky.social.
Co-authors Marijke Baltissen and Verena Schwach also made important contributions. #TeamScience.

4/4
gertjanveenstra.bsky.social
... and discover a novel mechanism safeguarding a proper balance of the ventricular cardiomyocyte and epicardial lineages.

3/..
gertjanveenstra.bsky.social
The paper represents a huge amount of work and a public resource for analyses of multi-lineage cardiac organoids.
We uncover substantial plasticity of cardiac progenitors in various differentiation and maturation protocols, assess the gene-regulatory networks controlling lineage choice, ...
2/
Reposted by Gert Jan C Veenstra
moritzmall.bsky.social
#CellPlasticity—the ability of cells to change their identity—is vital for tissue growth and repair. But when it goes unchecked, it can fuel #cancer. Our latest study examines how to block #LiverCancer by actively suppressing plasticity. www.nature.com/articles/s41... #CancerBiology
Reposted by Gert Jan C Veenstra
svobodalab.bsky.social
This thread ... LIFE OF PIs ... is being brought to you by one and only Buster Keaton ... I hope you will enjoy it. #LifeOfPI
gertjanveenstra.bsky.social
All you ever wanted to know about mollusks 🐙🦑🐚🐌 and then some ...
1800 pages of wonderful biology 😍
Arrived yesterday
Reposted by Gert Jan C Veenstra
epimechfc.bsky.social
Is endothelium a type of epithelium?

I am @icfortunato.bsky.social & I would like to discuss this with a short🧵 focused on cell-cell junctions, specifically adherens junctions.
gertjanveenstra.bsky.social
Can you please add me? Thnx!
gertjanveenstra.bsky.social
Can you please add me? Thnx!