Hans Clevers (1957) was a member of the board of directors of the Princess Máxima Center and is now one of the group leaders of the center's research department. He is also a professor at Utrecht University and a group leader at the Hubrecht Institute
He discovered how derailed cell production in the intestines leads to a precancerous stage of cancer and identified the intestinal stem cell. Clevers and his team developed a method to grow intestinal stem cells in the lab into 'mini intestines' (organoids), which can be used to investigate diseases and test drugs. Organoids are now also being made from other organs, such as kidney and liver, which contribute to better treatments. Hans Clevers' insights are widely applicable and have received many awards.