Leiden institute of chemistry

Leiden Institute of Chemistry The Leiden Institute of Chemistry (LIC) comprises ten internationally renowned research teams. Besides research, which often shows a multidisciplinary character, the institute provides high-level education programmes. Students become true members of the research teams and are guided by a young and enthusiastic staff. The LIC plays a bridging role in the Faculty of Science as it combines both theoretical and practical aspects of molecular and life sciences.

The research of the LIC contributes fundamental knowledge

Bio-organic Synthesis

to important issues like sustainable energy, health and disease.

This team studies the design and synthesis of carbohydrates, pep-

While such knowledge in general does not directly lead to appli-

tides and nucleic acids as they are found in nature and analogues

cations, fundamental understanding is the only route toward real

thereof. Novel compounds are evaluated with regard to their

innovation. Members of the LIC participate in many national and

biological function as enzyme inhibitors or receptor ligands.

international initiatives including the National Proteomic Centre and BBasic.

Solid State NMR/Biophysical Organic Chemistry

Graduate School of Science P.O. Box 9502 2300 RA Leiden www.science.leidenuniv.nl/graduateschool

The long-term goal of this team is to reach an understanding of

Metals in Catalysis, Biomimetics and Inorganic Materials

structure, dynamics and functional mechanisms of membrane

The major theme of this research team involves chemistry taking

proteins and self-organized biological assemblies and to translate

place within the coordination sphere of metal ions.

this knowledge into practical applications including medicine

Topics include the synthesis and application of metal-containing

and nano-devices.

complexes in catalysis, materials and medicine.

Graduate School of Science

Leiden Institute of Chemistry Gorlaeus Laboratorium Einsteinweg 55 2333 CC Leiden www.chem.leidenuniv.nl

Biophysical Structural Chemistry

focus of this team. In the long term the aim is to develop drug

This group focuses on the determination of the atomic struc-

delivery tools and polymeric mimics of natural processes.

ture of large bio-molecules and their complexes. Fundamental aspects of macromolecular structure determination are studied

Catalysis & Surface Chemistry

and applied in collaborative research to understand and predict

This research team studies chemical reactions on well-defined

structural changes.

surfaces at the molecular level. The aim is to unravel mechanistic and kinetic aspects of important catalytic reactions used in

Molecular Genetics

industrial processes, fuel cells and environmental catalysis.

The research of Herman Overkleeft comprises the development of organic compound libraries to

The central theme of this research cluster is ‘control of genetic stability’. The focus is on two aspects: error avoidance by nucleo-

Theoretical Chemistry

elucidate specific biological processes.

tide excision repair and the effects of non-repaired DNA damage

The main goal is to achieve the ability to predict the outcome

The libraries include activity-based probes that react

on the regulation of the processes that control the choice between

of chemical reactions involving hydrogen from first principles.

with enzymes (proteases, glycosidases) and are

differentiation and proliferation in human cells.

Research topics include dissociative chemisorption of hydrogen

tagged for directed proteomics studies. Prof. Overk-

and methane on metal surfaces and the production and storage

leeft has received many grants and prizes, including

of hydrogen as a clean energy carrier.

the 2009 “gold KNCV medal”, the most important

Protein Chemistry

Dutch prize for chemical research.

The research of this team aims at understanding how proteins work and involves both protein production and a large array of

Molecular Biotechnology

biophysical techniques. Important themes are dynamic protein-

The molecular systems biotechnology group provides novel

protein interactions, drug discovery and mechanisms of metal-

insights in regulatory pathways controlling growth, develop-

loproteins and electron transfer.

ment and antibiotic production in actinomycete and applies this knowledge to industrial processes.

Soft Matter Chemistry Synthesis, self-assembly and analysis of complex structures based on macromolecules, inspired by examples from nature is the

Graduate School of Science