Institutions

The knowledge institutions with life science research and study facilities in Leiden are:

• Leiden University, Faculty of Science
• Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC)
• TNO, the Netherlands organization of applied research
• Top Institute Pharma
• Naturalis, the National Natural History Museum
• Hogeschool Leiden, the university of applied sciences
• ROC Leiden, vocational education and training
• the Leiden Instrument Makers School

Leiden University

Leiden University is the oldest university in The Netherlands and has nine faculties: Archaeology, Arts, Creative and Performing Arts, Law, LUMC (Leiden University Medical Centre), Science, Philosophy, Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Theology.

The faculties together offer some 50 bachelor’s and 70 master’s degree programs. The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and LUMC are located within Leiden’s Bio Science Park.
 

Faculty of Science

The following programms are available at the Faculty of science: bio-pharmaceutical sciences, biology, chemistry, physics, computer science, astronomy and mathematics. With the Delft University of Technology a bachelors and masters program Life Science & Technolgy is provided. 
The Science Based Business (SBB) program is a specially designed business program for science students studying for a Master’s degree.
The Lorentz Centre at the Science Faculty is an international center for workshops in the Sciences for scientists of different nationalities, areas of expertise and levels of seniority.
Life sciences research in the Faculty of Science is performed at several research institutes, such as the Leiden/Amsterdam Centre for Drug Research (LACDR) and the Centre for Medical Systems Biology (CMSB).
 

Leiden/Amsterdam Centre for Drug Research (LACDR)

Centre for Medical Systems Biology (CMSB)

Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC)

LUMC is one of eight university medical centres in the Netherlands. Its core tasks are: patient care, research, education for the faculties of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, and specialist medical training. LUMC employs approximately 9000 people. LUMC research focuses on:
- Genetic epidemiology and bioinformatics
- Immunotherapy of cancer
- Infectious diseases and Immunology
- Neuroscience
- Oncogenetics
- Regenerative medicine
- Vascular medicine
- Ageing
 

Medical Delta

Delft University of Technology, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam (Erasmus MC), Leiden University and Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC) have formed a consortium with a range of industrial partners to establish a Medical Delta in the west of the Netherlands. Medical scientists and engineers join forces to push forward the state-of-the-art in health sciences and medical technology.The Medical Delta’s primary mission is to realize breakthroughs in health care and medical sciences, to develop novel technologies and to fuel related economic opportunities. Upgraded and renewed training and education in the Medical Delta will assist the creation of new generations of doctors, engineers and industry leaders.

Activities in the Medical Delta are to be divided into three research programs:
- Molecular medicine
- Imaging and Image guided Medicine and
- Interventions and care
- and one education program

TNO, the innovative research partner

TNO carries out research providing concrete solutions to problems encountered by industry and government bodies. TNO develops knowledge for important national and international markets such as ‘Food and Nutrition’ and ‘Chemistry’ and ‘Pharma’. Additionally TNO is an important partner for the government and public sectors in the area of (health) care and employment issues.
In the Pharma market, TNO supports pharmaceutical and biotech companies by providing practical, innovative solutions and knowledge.

TNO Pharma offers:
- Disease Models & Knowledge
- Kinetics & Metabolism
- Bioanalysis
- Drug Safety
- Clinical
- Drug Delivery & Formulation Testing

Areas of expertise:
- Cardiovascular & Metabolic
- Inflammation
- Tissue Repair
- Dermal
- Biopharmaceutical
 

Top Institute Pharma

Top Institute Pharma was founded in 2006 by the Dutch government, the bio-pharmaceutical industry and research universities. It is a collaboration between industrial and academic research teams who carry out groundbreaking, cross-disciplinary research to improve the efficiency of the entire drug development process.

Through so-called 'translational' research, in which basic findings are translated into concepts for innovative products, their research programs aim to reduce the cost and lead time of the development of novel medicines. Research is carried out in five fields:
- (Auto-)Immune diseases
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Cancer
- Infections/Vaccines and
- Brain diseases.
 
 

Naturalis

Naturalis is the national natural history museum of the Netherlands and an internationally renowned research institution. The museum has a permanent exhibition on biotechnology and a priceless collection of scientific specimens. Scientific research focuses on:
- Bio-diversity
- Land and sea fauna in South-East Asia
- Fauna of the Netherlands
- Geology of the west Mediterranean region
- Research of the museum collection
- Scientists at Naturalis 
 

Hogeschool Leiden

Hogeschool Leiden is a medium-sized University of Applied Sciences with some 6.000 students and 20 bachelor degree programs. With support and supervision, students are motivated and encouraged to develop their knowledge and skills and, by doing so, prepare for their future careers. The learning environment at Hogeschool Leiden is modern and the Hogeschool's key values are personal attention, openness and confidence. The bachelor degree programmes offered by Hogeschool Leiden are grouped into four departments. All programmes are taught in Dutch, except the Community Health programme.

Hogeschool Leiden offers two life science related bachelor programs: “Chemical Laboratory Science” and “Biology and Medical Laboratory Science”. The Centrum Bioscience en Diagnostiek (Centre for Bioscience and Diagnostics) of the Hogeschool Leiden also offers Dutch postgraduate programs in life sciences.
 

ROC Leiden

The ROC Leiden is a rapidly expanding school for vocational training. It has more than 10.000 students in over 200 professional education programs and employs 700 people. ROC Leiden also provides language training and adult education courses. In 2010 The ROC leiden will open its new building at Leiden‘s Bio Science Park.

ROC Leiden offers three life science related laboratory courses at vocational level (Middelbare Laboratorium Onderzoek, MLO) in chemical, biotechnological and medical laboratory practices.

Leiden Instrument Makers school

This professional school for precision technology is the only school in the Netherlands where one can be trained to become a (research) instrument maker. The School has been well-known for more than a hundred years, especially to those who are involved in physical scientific research.

Much of the scientific research, as carried out by TNO, NLR or even hospital laboratories, would be impossible without the tools or measuring apparatus made by instrumentmakers. Large industries, such as Akzo-Nobel, Philips and smaller companies, which continuously search for new products and ways of production often call on instrumentmakers for their skill and expertise.

Throughout the complete course theoretical instruction is combined with practical instruction and work.