Symposium Microspectroscopy in Biology

Agenda symposium "Microspectroscopy in Biology": see below.

The Gregorio Weber Award for Excellence in Fluorescence Theory and Applications

Antonie J.W.G. Visser has received the 2008 Gregorio Weber Award for Excellence in Fluorescence Theory and Applications. He obtained this Award for his significant and original contributions to the advancement and applications of fluorescence techniques.

Background
Ton Visser is an expert in the development of fluorescence methods and applications in molecular research on proteins and membranes. He introduced in The Netherlands the techniques of single-photon timing fluorescence spectroscopy and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy. He also obtained instrumental and personnel funds for the realization of the techniques of fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy and fluorescence spectral imaging spectroscopy. He is the founder and director (until 2007) of the MicroSpectroscopy Centre (MSC) at Wageningen University. The MSC is an established expertise centre where advanced fluorescence imaging methods have been developed as a research tool in cell biology, biochemistry and biophysics. The MSC facilities are used in pre- and post-graduate courses at Wageningen University in the field of biophysical imaging, advanced biochemical research and advanced imaging technology in cell biology. Using the mentioned fluorescence methods he has made major contributions to the understanding of the photophysics and function of flavoproteins and green fluorescent proteins, to the dynamics of cell membranes and most recently to the mechanisms of protein folding. He also contributed in cell biophysical research in Dictyostelium chemotaxis, plant receptor kinases and plant transcription factors. Currently he is a research leader of three groups of the Netherlands Foundation for Scientific Research (NWO): Molecular Biophysics , Protein Research and Lipids and Biomembranes . The methods he has established in his laboratory have attracted collaborations and joint publications with 29 different international researchers (e.g. in the USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan, Russia) and 16 Dutch national scientists. He is the author or co-author of over 200 publications in scientific journals with a peer review system.

Presentations and awards.

Ton is a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Fluorescence and a member of the Advisory Editorial Board of the European Biophysics Journal and Biophysical Chemistry . In 2005 he was invited as the Gregorio Weber lecturer at the “Weber Symposium on Innovative Fluorescence Methodologies in Biochemistry and Medicine” in Hawaii. In 2002 he was a recipient of a fellowship of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science and presented invited lectures at the Universities of Nagoya, Osaka and Kwansei Gakuin. Since 1997 he has presented invited lectures at numerous other international institutions in the USA, Germany, Belgium, Turkey and Croatia. From January 2000 on he has held an adjunct (part-time) position as professor at the Department of Structural Biology of the Free University of Amsterdam in the field of biological microspectroscopy. Currently, he is a professor at the Department of Biochemistry of Wageningen University in the field of biochemical microspectroscopy. In 2000-2001 he was co-chairman of the Organizing Committee of the “7^th Conference on Methods and Applications of Fluorescence: Spectroscopy, Imaging and Probes” held in Amsterdam, September 2001. During the last six years he has organized four successful FEBS (Federation of European Biochemical Societies) Advanced Practical and Lecture Courses in Microspectroscopy providing good training for PhD students and postdocs from all over Europe. Since 2006 he is coordinating a Marie Curie Research Training Network (acronym: from FLIM to FLIN) focusing on development and exchange of expertise in advanced fluorescence imaging technology. Since 1997 he is a member of the policy advisory committee and of project reviewing committees of the Councils for Earth and Life Sciences and Chemical Sciences of the Netherlands Foundation for Scientific Research, an external referee of the Italian Council for Life Sciences, a reviewer of large investment applications of the National University of Singapore, a reviewer of applications to the NHMRC/ARC-funded fluorescence network and a senior advisor of the Wageningen Centre for Food Sciences.

Program: “Microspectroscopy in Biology”

09.30-10.00       Welcome with coffee and tea

Chair: Dr. Riet Hilhorst, Pamgene International, ‘s Hertogenbosch