'We follow our curiosity'
Build big with the smallest parts. Scientists move molecules towards life. But what motivates them? In this episode of A Spark of Life: Patricia Dankers.
This episode of A Spark of Life almost didn’t see the light of day. Patricia Dankers, Full Professor of biomedical materials and chemistry, initially wanted to turn down the interview. “I do enjoy being in the spotlight sometimes,” she admits, “but everything I have to say doesn’t really feel like my own achievement.”
Dankers says it’s always been the people around her who have inspired and motivated her—her parents when she was younger, her colleagues throughout her career, and now, her family. “You know,” she says, “I couldn’t have done any of it alone.”
In the end, she agreed to do the interview. “It felt like a good opportunity to share this side of the story.”
New knowledge
Patricia Dankers is a colorful person—both literally and figuratively. She always dresses in a single color; today, she’s wearing green. Behind her is a bookshelf lined with dissertations, all arranged by color. She’s clearly in high spirits today. “It’s a good day,” she says with a smile. “The team from UPyTher just visited.”
UPyTher (pronounced like “Jupiter”) is one of the spin-off companies that emerged from Dankers’ research group. “They’re developing a material that can deliver cancer medication to a specific location in the body. The abdominal cavity, to be exact—aimed at targeting metastatic tumors. We just discussed the next steps so we can eventually bring the material to patients.”
Growing up, I always thought everyone was smarter than I was.
Patricia Dankers
Start-ups like give Dankers the chance to work on practical, real-world applications. “The only way to help patients directly is through a company,” the scientist explains. “That way, you can focus precisely on the necessary development steps.”
At ÔÚĎßşÚÁĎĂĹ, the professor and her team conduct fundamental research, which works very differently. “That kind of research has to be done with no strings attached. We follow our curiosity, make discoveries, and build something new. It doesn’t have to result in useful materials right away—as long as it generates knowledge.”
Technical Lego
Dankers applies her chemistry skills in biomedical technology, focusing on regenerative medicine. This field is all about growing tissues and organs. “The molecules we create are like Lego bricks. With the same set of bricks, you can build a fire truck, a house, or even a tiger. How you combine the bricks determines what the final creation can do.”
Dankers’ research group makes synthetic materials with biomedical functions. It goes beyond just building with molecules. “Think of it like technical Lego. We also make our creations move.”
Dream
Her biggest dream? “I want to build an extracellular matrix using our building blocks,” Dankers says firmly. In the body, that’s the gel-like structure that holds cells together and gives tissues their strength. Through various mechanical and chemical processes, the extracellular matrix communicates with the cells. Outside the body, researchers often use Matrigel to grow cells. This commercially available matrix-like material is made from tumors grown in mice.
“Lots of researchers grow cells in it, but it can never be used for patients. Our goal is to create a synthetic version of this matrix, using building blocks that give the material similar properties. And we want to be able to do tricks with it. For example, the matrix sends signals to a cell, causing it to change into a specific cell type—like a kidney cell. It’s a complex process—technical Lego for advanced builders.”
Role Model
Dankers’ desire to make a difference for patients started early. In high school, young Patricia had the chance to visit a pathology lab. “I looked at dozens of tissue samples and used the information for my senior project. The human body fascinated me. How is it put together? Can it be repaired?” She wanted to study medicine but wasn’t accepted. Instead, she chose chemistry—her best subject in school. The molecular world quickly captured her full attention. “I love how black and white chemistry is. Reactions, analyses, calculations—it’s all very systematic. And as a chemist, you can create things, even for medicine."
I love how black and white chemistry is. Reactions, analyses, calculations—it’s all very systematic.
Patricia Dankers
Throughout her career, Dankers has been inspired by the people around her—like full professor of Organic Chemistry Bert Meijer, with whom she did her PhD research. “I was impressed by how he leads his group. He always makes sure each researcher can bring out their best.” Between 2008 and 2017, Dankers climbed the career ladder at Eindhoven University toward a professorship. Today, she and Meijer collaborate regularly.
Having “Prof.” in front of her name still surprises Dankers. “Sometimes I think, is all this real? Are people actually listening to me? Am I the person who’s supposed to set a vision?” At times, she feels like the Patricia she used to be—but that girl is long gone. “People who know me now often don’t believe it, but I was very shy as a child. I thought everyone was smarter than me.” Over time, she’s come to realize what she’s accomplished. “I’m a determined person and I’ve worked really hard. I’m quite proud of that.”
Start-up VivArt-X
"Just as Bert Meijer has been a role model for me, I now strive to be one for others. I co-founded a start-up called VivArt-X with Dan Jing Wu. We’re developing materials for breast reconstruction after breast cancer. Dan told me that as a student, she followed my research and admired how I approached my work. That inspired her to join my group as a researcher. I find that really meaningful.”
Midlife crisis
For years, she worked toward one clear goal: leading a research group. That mission accomplished, Dankers still has about 25 years before retirement. So what’s next? “Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about questions like that. What do I really want to do? What do I want for the future?” When asked if it might be time to choose between fundamental research and patient-focused work, the professor has a quick answer: “No. I don’t want to give up one for the other. I’m not ready for that yet.”
Dankers is proud of how she manages to balance it all. “What we’ve built as a team is something special. This kind of growth only happens when people come together. Whether our research is fundamental or directly helps patients, we do it as a team.”
Great support
Speaking of teamwork, her family has also been a huge support for Dankers. “My husband has managed the household over the past few years, so I could focus on my career without limits.”
That arrangement worked well, but Dankers feels she’s reaching a turning point. She wants to find better balance, work more intentionally, and say no more often. The professor jokes that she might be going through a midlife crisis. “I’m heading home at 5 o’clock today. A few years ago, I would never have done that—I used to work until 7 every evening.”
Outlet
Sometimes she wonders if she regrets always being so focused on her career. “But no, I don’t. I just realize I want to organize my time differently now—with more time for my family, my parents, and myself.”
Dankers lives with her husband and two sons in an old farmhouse. She spends nearly every day in her vegetable and flower gardens. “Every week I make a colorful flower arrangement or a little winter scene. My husband always laughs at me and asks what kind of branch I’ve hung up in the house this time.” She laughs. “The garden is my outlet. The guys just have to deal with it, haha.”
About A Spark of Life
is a series of stories from NEMO Kennislink. Without the ability of molecules to organize themselves, we wouldn’t exist. Scientists are working to replicate how molecules function. They study what drives molecules, but what drives them? We’re publishing the interviews Michelle Wijma conducted with ÔÚĎßşÚÁĎĂĹ scientists Patricia Dankers, Luc Brunsveld, and Ghislaine Vantomme.
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