Organisational unit profile

The W.J. Kolff Institute for Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science was established on October 8th, 1997. The institute is named after Willem Johan Kolff, who as a resident in Groningen, developed the first functioning artificial kidney in the 1940th and saved lives of millions of patients ever since.

The use of biomaterials implants has become an integral part of modern health care in the Western world. Modern health care could not even exist without biomaterials and the restoration of function after oncological surgery, trauma or simply wear due to advanced age would be impossible. With the average life expectancy approaching 80 years, the use of biomaterials will increase due to the demands of the ageing population for a high quality of life.

The mission statement of the W.J. Kolff Institute is to establish a center of expertise for the entire stage of biomedical materials science and its application involving basic materials science, medical product development and clinical evaluation that will contribute to the long-lasting well-being of patients in need of biomaterials implants and extra-corporal support systems.

Research Focus and Strategy

• Man, Biomaterials and Microbes​: Focuses on the prevention of biofilm formation on all biomaterials implants and devices, its aims are formulated with respect to the infection prevention of temporarily and permanent implants and devices.
• Nanotechnology and Biophysics in Medicine: Employs tools from nanotechnology and biophysics to fabricate new nanobiomaterials and to gain better understanding on how to interact with biological systems at the nanoscale.
• Restoring organ function by means of regenerative medicine: Focuses on various aspects of tissue (re) generation, repair and remodelling, including inflammation.
• Personalized Healthcare Technology: Strives to deliver innovative and personalized health technology to tackle clinical problems in medicine and dentistry and to enhance health self-management for independent living and improvement of quality of life.
• Basic and Translational Research and Imaging Methodology Development in Groningen: Focuses on the development and translational application of new imaging methodologies in the UMCG with collaboration of partners at the RUG.
• Robotics and Image-guided minimally-invasive surgery: To establish a high-quality center of expertise for (micro​-)robotic and image-duided minimally invasive surgery.

Scientific Director

Prof. dr. Y. Ren
E-mail: y.ren@umcg.nl
Phone: +31 50 3610111