Some cancers, such as colon cancer and lung cancer, are especially common in older people. They often arise in part due to DNA damage, which can be caused by outside influences such as smoking, alcohol or exposure to UV radiation from the sun - for example, in skin cancer. They occur due to DNA damage, which can be caused in part by outside influences such as smoking and alcohol or exposure to UV radiation from the sun related to skin cancer.
Nevertheless, some children and young adults also develop these “adult cancers” every year. However, little is still known about exactly why and how these diseases emerge at a young age, let alone why they are becoming more common at a young age.
'I want to understand how these cancers can arise so early,' Snippert says. 'In adults these forms are intensively studied, but similarities and differences with children and young adults we do not yet know. By studying the onset of the disease with different technologies and models, we want to discover exactly what goes wrong in the cells, what factors accelerate the step from benign to malignant, and whether those factors are affected by outside influences.'
Research community
The Snippert group is the 44th research group to settle in the Máxima. Prof. Dr. René Medema, Chief Scientific Officer at the Princess Máxima Center, is delighted with their arrival: 'At the Máxima, each research group focuses on its own subject from specific knowledge and expertise. The Snippert group strengthens the Máxima research community with a large dose of creativity and new knowledge in the field of fundamental research. By working together, we are taking new steps towards our mission: to cure every child with cancer, with optimal quality of life.'
Creative and solution-oriented
Before coming to the Máxima Center, Snippert worked at the Hubrecht Institute and UMC Utrecht. He was part of prof. dr. Hans Clevers' research group when organoids, lab-grown mini-tumors, were discovered and for which he developed microscopy applications. In recent years, he has focused on research on patients with the earliest stages of cancer. About the impact of this research, Snippert says, 'Although most of these patients heal, we want to provide tailored treatment and reduce overtreatment rates.'
Snippert continues to focus on basic research. 'From a young age, I've been fascinated with how a body grows and works. I want to know how things can go so wrong in cancer. Wanting to understand such an unsolved puzzle keeps driving me. Besides, basic research is hugely important to keep making progress in our fight against cancer. After all, basic science is the main source of new knowledge, and knowledge is 'power'.'
At the Máxima, Snippert is starting a new line of research. Researching pediatric cancer does differ from his previous work with adults. 'You're dealing with smaller patient groups, so you have to be extra creative in your approach,' he says. 'I start with an open mind. I have the overall research question in mind, and we will use the coming time to explore how we will answer it. In such a leap of faith lies precisely our strength. My group is creative, thinks out of the box and we want to get away from beaten paths. Ideally, we develop technology or build new disease models needed to answer our research questions.'
The right time
The move to the Princess Máxima Center feels like a natural moment for Snippert. 'A new environment creates new ideas. The research facilities here are very good and I was already working very pleasantly with the single cell genomics facility. Also, I already know several research groups working here at the Máxima. Their scientific success is inspiring and it is nice to join this research community.