adJun 16, 2026, 17:30

Top doctor identifies new diseases in ‘forgotten’ pieces of DNA: ‘Some syndromes are rarely seen’

Rotterdam-based clinical geneticist Stefan Barakat is using artificial intelligence and stem cells to identify rare and ancient genetic diseases by analyzing previously overlooked segments of DNA. His research aims to provide long-awaited answers for parents of children suffering from extremely uncommon syndromes that are often difficult to diagnose.

Technology Health Netherlands

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Based on reporting by ad. Translated and condensed by LocalHeadlines.

Several hospitals less accessible due to nationwide KPN outage

A national KPN network outage caused by a cooling system failure has disrupted telephone services at several hospitals across the Netherlands, including UMC Utrecht and Maastricht UMC+. Affected hospitals are currently utilizing alternative contact numbers to ensure they remain reachable while technical teams work to resolve the widespread connectivity issues.

Alcohol-monitoring anklet to be introduced for alcohol-fueled violence and DUI offenders

The Dutch parliament is moving to introduce mandatory alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelets for offenders convicted of alcohol-fueled violence or severe traffic offenses. The device will monitor alcohol consumption 24/7 via skin sweat samples, providing a more reliable alternative to traditional periodic testing.

Vibrations forbidden in new VU building: "We measure down to the billionth of a second"

The Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam has opened a new research building designed with advanced concrete foundations to block vibrations from nearby traffic and public transport. These specialized measures allow scientists to perform highly precise physics and biomedical experiments that would otherwise be disrupted by environmental interference.

Katwijk gives green light: US multibillion-dollar obesity drug plant approved

The municipality of Katwijk has approved the construction of a large-scale Eli Lilly pharmaceutical factory focused on obesity and diabetes medication. The project is supported by a 100 million euro government deal to improve local infrastructure and housing, though it faces ongoing scrutiny over high water and energy consumption.

Possible first treatment for metastatic pancreatic cancer coming to the Netherlands

A new medication called Rasonque has received a positive recommendation for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer, potentially offering a more effective alternative to chemotherapy. Clinical trial results showed that the drug can extend patient survival and delay disease progression, with final European and Dutch regulatory decisions regarding market access and reimbursement pending.