Leiden students work on the next generation of lab-grown mini organs
With a custom-designed protein and a strong team effort, Leiden's iGEM team hopes to improve organoids: tiny lab-grown organs that could advance research into medicines and diseases. In November, the students will present their project at the finale in Paris.
‘It's like starting your own mini start-up,’ says Team Leader Isabelle. ‘You choose a problem yourself and use synthetic biology to solve it.’ That is exactly what iGEM is about: an international competition where hundreds of student teams use DNA and cells to tackle biological and medical challenges. This year's Leiden team consists of ten students.
Mini organs in a petri dish
The Leiden project focuses on organoids: tiny, lab-grown versions of organs. ‘They're like mini organs grown in a petri dish,’ Project Manager Joost explains.
Researchers use organoids to test new medicines and gain a better understanding of diseases. ‘For many scientists, organoids are the future. They're small, easy to adapt and allow researchers to carry out very targeted experiments.’
In the future, researchers may be able to grow organoids using tissue from individual patients, making research more personalised. They could also help reduce the need for animal testing.
Printing organs in 3D
One challenge remains: unlike real organs, organoids do not have a well-developed network of blood vessels. As a result, the cells in the centre often do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients to survive. ‘Without blood vessels, the inside of these mini organ-like structures often dies,’ Joost explains. One possible solution is 3D bioprinting: using 3D printing technology with living biological materials. However, printing tiny blood vessels is still extremely difficult.
That is why the Leiden students are designing and synthesising a protein inspired by collagen, a naturally occurring protein in the body, which should help cells in organoids form their own blood vessels. ‘We looked at how our own bodies solve this problem and are trying to recreate that process,’ Joost says. The protein act as a kind of scaffold that cells can attach to, allowing a network of tiny blood vessels to develop.
Learning by doing
iGEM is about much more than laboratory experiments. It also involves everything needed to turn a scientific idea into reality. Everyone on the team has their own role. Students work on protocols, communication, fundraising and their own Wiki page. Joost: ‘Our Wiki Coding Manager had to learn coding from scratch to build our Wiki. We’re learning by doing.’
That is exactly what makes iGEM so special. ‘We're really building something together. It's incredibly rewarding – it almost feels like our baby,’ Communication and PR Manager Sarvin says. ‘It also gives you confidence in yourself.’
Interested in joining iGEM next year?
You do not have to study biology or biomedical sciences to be part of iGEM. Students from a wide range of backgrounds can contribute to a project. Skills such as programming, communication or web design are all valuable within the team.
‘You don’t need to know everything already. We’re all learning new skills and helping each other along the way,’ one team member says.
Keep an eye on iGEM's social media pages (see right side) to know when you can apply.
On the road to Paris
Leiden has a strong track record in iGEM. In 2020, the Leiden team won the competition's overall grand prize and later grew into a successful start-up. ‘Those are big shoes to fill, but it also works in our favour’, . People know Leiden, so they're more willing to collaborate. We also receive a lot of support from former iGEM team members.
In November, the student will travel to Paris for the Big Jamboree, the international final. Until then, they will continue working both in the lab and beyond. To help fund their research and the trip to Paris, the team has also launched a crowdfunding campaign.
‘Winning would be fantastic, of course, but for us a successful iGEM edition is really about being proud of what we've achieved and everything we've learned,’ says Isabelle.
One thing is already certain: in just a few months, the team has built something that goes far beyond a typical student project.
The 2026 iGEM Leiden team - VESSL
- Isabelle Bult: Team Leader, Master’s student in Evolutionary Biology
- Joost van Wijngaarden: Project Manager, Bachelor’s student in Biology
- Emilija Keževičiūtė: Modeling Manager, Master’s student in Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology.
- Joïne Wener: Wet lab and Safety Manager, Bachelor’s student in Biology
- Seren Keserci: Wiki and Design Manager, Master’s student in Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology
- Clementine Vaglienti: Wiki Coding Manager, Master’s student in Molecular, Cellular and Organismal Biology
- Gijs Arnold: Human Practices Manager, Bachelor’s student in Biomedical Sciences
- Sarvin Rezvanibafroyeh: Communication and PR Manager, Master’s student in Biomedical Sciences
- Eleni Becker: Entrepreneurship Manager, Master’s student in Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology
- Camilla Vavassori: Finance Manager, Master’s student in Molecular Genetics and Biotechnology