On Wednesday, 11th of October 2023, Ikrame Aknouch will be defending her thesis “Human gut organoids, A promising model to study virus infection and pathogenesis processes”. 

Ikrame’s project is a collaboration between OrganoVIR Labs and Viroclinics Xplore in Schaijk. During her PhD studies, Ikrame has set up gut organoid models for studying EV-A71 and SARS-CoV-2. As a member of the Animal Welfare Body committee at Viroclinics Xplore, in which she is focusing on the 3Rs principles by experimental animals, Ikrame is introducing gut organoid models at Viroclinics Xplore as an alternative model for testing antivirals.

Prof. Dr. Dasja Pajkrt is her promotor along with Dr. Katja Wolthers (OrganoVIR Labs) and Koert Sittelaar (Vivotro Laboratories) as his co-promotors.

Ikrame’s PhD defense will take place at 11:00 at the Luthersekerk, Singel 411, 1012 WN Amsterdam, the Netherlands.