building the future of health' research and education

Publieks jaarverslag 2014 | | 1

Public Annual Report 2014

University Medical Center Groningen

‘Building the future of health’

Research and Education

Public Annual Report 2014 | 2

Contents

Preface

Section 1 Research: performance 4

Section 2 Research: grants and prizes 11

Section 3 Education 21

Section 4 Finance 29


PREFACE

Building on the future of health – that is the mission of the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG). Healthy Ageing has been the prime focus of our research, teaching and care since 2006. Together with other knowledge institutions, organizations and regional, national and international companies. Our lecturers prepare students – the doctors, dentists, biomedical, health and human movement scientists of the future – for the challenges that accompany an ageing society. Also the central question we face each day in the clinic is how to optimize our patients’ quality of life so that they can enjoy good health for as long as possible.

Healthy Ageing relates to the entire lifespan. It is not only about curing diseases, but also preventing these and preserving normal functioning as good as it can be. This life course approach is unique. Here at the UMCG, it underpins our fundamental, translational and clinical research as well as our academic teaching. This approach has since been embraced by ‘Europe’ as well. We see this, for example, in Horizon 2020, the world’s largest research programme, initiated by the EU to stimulate innovation and research.

The report before you outlines the excellent research and teaching that takes place at the UMCG. It shows the performance and finance in 2014 with regard to the core roles of research and teaching.

We look back with pride on the year 2014 and hope that this document will serve as a source of inspiration for you.

Prof. Folkert Kuipers Dean/Vice-Chairman UMCG Board of Directors

1. ONDERZOEK: DE PRESTATIES

Public Annual Report 2014 | RESEARCH: PERFORMANCE | 4

1. RESEARCH: PERFORMANCE


Research performance is measured in various ways with the help of the following indicators: • the number of publications in internationally recognized, peer-reviewed scholarly journals (Section 1.1)• the number of articles in top journals, i.e. the top-ranking journals in a particular research field (Section 1.2)• the quality of research based on the 2014 report by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS)

(section 1.3)• the number of PhDs awarded (Section 1.4)• acquisition strength, i.e. the number/size of externally funded research projects (Section 1.5)

1.1 Rise in number of publications

The total number of publications by UMCG researchers in internationally recognized scientific journals came to 2405 in 2014, over a hundred more than in 2013. This increase means that the trend towards increasing our scientific production is continuing, which is a fine result, especially as the vast majority of these publications appeared in leading journals within their fields - an indication of high quality.

Total number of publications

Year 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Number 1766 2088 2036 2241 2294 2405

Performance


1.2 Articles in leading journals

In 2014 the UMCG chalked up 30 articles in the most prestigious internationally recognized journals. This is a slight decline compared with our peak year of 2013, but nevertheless an impressive figure. As in previous years, most of these articles appeared in Nature Genetics. Most notable is the sharp rise in the number of articles appearing in Nature. In addition, UMCG researchers published in highly rated journals such as JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) and Nature-Medicine.

Journals 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Nature 1 4 4 0 6

Nature Genetics 15 7 16 17 11

Science 0 1 2 1 2

Lancet 5 5 6 6 4

New England Journal Of Medicine 10 5 9 6 6

Cell 1 0 0 2 1

Total 32 22 37 32 30


1.3 High-quality research: CWTS report 2014

The November 2014 report by the Centre for Science and Technology Studies (CWTS) showed that 87% of UMCG research published in the period 2008-2013 fell into the high-quality category. The figure below shows the quality of UMCG research (within the international scientific fields defined by the World of Science) in the period 2008-2012/1213 compared with the global average (1.00).

Note: The vertical axis shows the scientific disciplines (‘Fields’) in order of size within the UMCG (expressed as a percentage of the total number of UMCG scientific publications, with the largest contribution at the top). The percentage (‘Share of the output’) is shown on the horizontal axis and is also printed in black on the bars of the bar chart, shown on the vertical axis. The quality attained in the scientific field (measured as mean normalized citation score (MNCS)) is given between brackets after the scientific fields shown on the vertical axis. This is also broadly reflected in the colour of the bars: light orange is low quality (there is no low-quality research at the UMCG), orange is average quality (7 fields, representing 13% of the scientific output, fall into this category) and light blue is high quality (26 fields) in relation to the rest of the world in the same field. In many cases the fields are broad and encompass several departments.

Figure 5b: Output and normalized impact per field (2008-2012/2013)

Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems (1,42) Oncology (1,4 ) Psychiatry (1,88) Genetics & Heredity (2,46) Surgery (1,34) Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging (1,44) Clinical Neurology (1,22) Medicine, General & Internal (4,94) Neurosciences (1,49) Multidiciplinairy Sciences (2,2 ) Pediatrics (1,13) Pharmacology & Pharmacy (1,02) Hematology (1,34) Endocrinology & Metabolism (1,05) Urology & Nephrology (1,83) Biochemistry & Molecular Biology (1,2 ) Dentistry/Oral Surgery & Medicine (1,21) Public, Environmental & Occupational Health (1,21) Peripheral Vascular Disease (1,15) Gastroenterology & Hepatology (1,55) Immunology (1,4 ) Respiratory System (1,59) Rehabilitation (1,33) Rheumatology (1,58) Psychology, Multidisciplinary (1,54) Obstetrics & Gynecology (1,21) Sport Sciences (1,29) Medicine, Research & Experimental (1,12) Microbiology (1,4 ) Cell Biology (1,33) Transplantation (1,27) Health Care Sciences & Services (1,02) Orthopedics (1.01) Dermatology (1,41)

0 1 2 3 4 5 6of the output (%)Low (<0,8) Average High (<1,2)

Fiel

d (M

NC

S)

65,34,23,93,43,1

333

2,82,62,62,52,42,32,32,32,32,22,12,1

22

1,91,81,71,31,21,1

11111


1.4 Growing number of PhDs awarded

The number of PhDs awarded rose from 181 in 2013 to 197 in 2014. This means that the UMCG has well exceeded the target of 180 PhDs by 2015, set out in the 2010 performance agreements for the University of Groningen.

Prof. Rudi Dierckx, head of the department of Nuclear Medicine & Molecular Imaging, had the highest number of successful PhD candidates (five).

Prof. Liesbeth de Vries, head of the department of Medical Oncology, reached a special milestone on 30 June 2014, when her 100th doctoral candidate was awarded a PhD.

Rudi Dierckx Liesbeth de Vries


1.5 Increase in acquisition strength

The turnover from externally funded projects was higher than in 2013 and came very close to that of the peak year of 2012. The figure shows which sources (indirect government funding, contract research and private sponsoring) the funding came from1.

Trends in turnoverIndirect government funding, contract research and private sponsoring 2007 - 2014 excluding Lifelines study and contract teaching

0

10.000.000

20.000.000

30.000.000

40.000.000

50.000.000

60.000.000

70.000.000

2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

DIV

TOP

OOI

LOH

CEU

MIN

STI

COL

BDR

TGS

1 Abbreviations: TGS (Tweede Geldstroom) = Indirect government funding , BDR (Bedrijven) = Companies, COL (Collec-tebusfondsen) = Collecting-box funds, STI (Stichtingen en verenigingen) = Foundations and associations, MIN (Ministerie en landelijke overheden) = Ministries and national bodies, CEU (Commissie Europese Unie) = European Commission, LOH (Lagere overheden) = municipal/provincial authorities, etc., OOI (Onderwijs-en onderzoeksinstellingen) = Teaching and research institutions, DIV (Diversen) = Miscell., TOP (Grootschalige Onderzoeksinitiatieven / Topinstituten) = Major research initiatives/ top institutes.


The department generating the largest share of total ‘turnover’ from externally funded projects was Paediatrics. The Biology of Ageing department grew the most in terms of turnover, and the Oncology and Psychiatry departments also saw an increase.

Department %1 2013 % 2014

Pediatrics 8.4% 9.0%

Biology of Ageing 4.4 7.2

Oncology 5.7 6.8

Psychiatry 5.3 6.6

Cardiology & Thoracic Surgery 5.1 5.2

Pathology & Medical Biology – Medical Biology 5.9 5.1

Internal Medicine (General) 5.7 5.1

Genetics 5.0 5.0

Health Sciences 5.7 4.9

Medical Microbiology 5.8 4.8

Epidemiology and Bioinformatics 5.7 4.4

1 Percentage of total UMCG turnover for externally funded projects.

Public Annual Report 2014 | RESEARCH: GRANTS AND PRIZES | 11

2. RESEARCH: GRANTS AND PRIZES


A substantial number of personal and programme grants were awarded to UMCG researchers in 2014. Researchers were also recognized for their special achievements. Here are some of the highlights.

2.1 Personal grants

Lude Franke awarded a Starting Grant by the European Research Council In 2014 Lude Franke (Genetics) was awarded a Starting Grant of 1,500,000 euro by the European Research Council (ERC). This prestigious grant gives talented young researchers an opportunity to set up their own research team to further pursue their own line of research.

Veni grants for Hanneke Wigman and Marie-José van TolResearchers Hanneke Wigman (Psychiatry) and Marie-José van Tol (Neurosciences) were each awarded a Veni grant of 250,000 euro under the NWO Innovational Research Incentives Scheme. The Veni grant is one of NWO’s forms of personal funding to encourage research talent. Wigman received the grant for her research into the development of psychoses and Van Tol for her research on depression.

Jingyuan Yang-Fu and Lude Franke awarded Vidi grantsUMCG researchers Jingyuan Yang-Fu and Lude Franke, both from the Genetics department, were each awarded a Vidi grant of 800,000 euro under the NWO Innovational Research Incentives Scheme. This will enable them to develop their own line of research and to put together their own research team. Fu is investigating how intestinal bacteria influence fat metabolism and the role played by genetic variation. Franke is using big data analysis to research genetic risk factors of diseases.

Lude Franke

Jingyuang-Fu

Hanneke Wigman Marie-José van Tol

Grants and prizes


Clinical Fellowship for Jan-Stephan SandersThe Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (ZonMW) awarded a personal clinical fellowship of 160,000 euro to internist-nephrologist Jan-Stephan Sanders for his research on the behaviour of B cells in small-vessel vasculitis.

Bas Mulder Award for Marco de Bruyn and Tom van MeertenIn 2014 the Bas Mulder Award from the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF) and Alpe d’Huzes went to UMCG researchers Marco de Bruyn (Obstetrics & Gynaecology) and Tom van Meerten (Internal Medicine and Haematology). This research award encourages talented young researchers to conduct groundbreaking cancer research. De Bruyn’s research looks at the reactivation of suppressed immune cells in tumours, while Van Meerten is researching the response of patients with lymph node cancer to immunotherapy. The researchers each received a grant of more than 600,000 euro.

Dekkers grant from the Netherlands Heart Foundation for Bianca Brundel and Jan-Reinier MoonenBianca Brundel (Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology) and Jan-Reinier Moonen (Paediatrics) were each awarded a Dekkers grant by the Netherlands Heart Foundation. Brundel was awarded an Established Investigator grant, the highest personal grant funded by the Heart Foundation. The 550,000 euro grant will enable her to research atrial fibrillation for a period of five years. Moonen was given a grant of 150,000 euro for his research into a potential therapy for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (high blood pressure in the lungs). This will enable him to conduct a two-year study.

Marco de Bruyn

Bianca Brundel

Jan-Stephan Sanders

Tom van Meerten

Jan-Reinier Moonen


2.2 Programme grants

In addition to personal grants, many programme grants were awarded in 2014. Here is a selection.

10 million euro grant for BBMRI-NL2 from NWOBBMRI-NL2 (Biobanking & Biomolecular Resources Research Infrastructure Netherlands) has received a grant of 10 million euro under NWO’s National Roadmap for Large-scale Research Facilities. More than 200 Dutch biobanks are working together under the umbrella of BBMRI-NL2 with the European Population Infrastructure (EPI2) of the Translational Research IT project of the Center for Translational Molecular Medicine (CTMM). BBMRI-NL2 is headed by Cisca Wijmenga (Genetics). The aim is to achieve uniform storage for all the information of significance for biomedical research in order to maximize its usability. The cheque was handed over by State Secretary Sander Dekker of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and NWO Director Jos Engelen.

Over 2 million euro for GRIAC researchThree research projects within the research programme of the Groningen Research Institute for Asthma and COPD (GRIAC, part of the GUIDE research institute) have been awarded grants totalling 2.2 million euro by the Lung Foundation Netherlands (Longfonds) for research into the development of asthma and lung tissue repair. The studies will be carried out by three consortia of knowledge institutions, led by Gerard Koppelman (Paediatrics) and Martijn Nawijn (Medical Biology) of the UMCG and Reinoud Gosens of the Pharmacy department of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences. Koppelman is investigating environmental factors that can trigger asthma, while Nawijn is researching the development of asthma in young children. Reinoud Gosens is looking at the Wnt signalling pathway, which is responsible among other things for foetal lung development and for adult recovery following pneumonia. This signalling has been shown to loose function in COPD patients and the researchers are looking at ways of reactivating it. In The Netherlands as a whole, the Lung Foundation granted only four research projects in 2014, three of which were for GRIAC.

Extreme left Jos Engelen, at the centre Cisca Wijmenga and extreme right Sander Dekker.


Almost 2.5 million euro for cancer researchMedical oncologists An Reyners and Carolien Schröder, (both Medical Oncology) and paediatric oncologist Wim Tissing were awarded an Alpe d’Huzes grant. Reyners was given 1.4 million euro for research into a rare form of cancer occurring in the gastrointestinal tract. This research involves collaboration with other university medical centres and setting up a biobank to enable treatment studies. Schröder received 500,000 euro for research into inflammatory breast cancer, a rare form of breast cancer mainly affecting young women. A biobank will be set up with Erasmus MC, the Netherlands Cancer Institute (NKI) and the Dutch Breast Cancer Research Group (BOOG). Tissing was awarded 400,000 euro to develop guidelines for a supportive therapy for children with cancer. Treatments often have such adverse side-effects that supportive therapy is required. However, there are not yet any clear guidelines in this area.

Dutch Cancer Society allocates almost 3 million euro in grants Various UMCG departments were awarded grants by the Dutch Cancer Society (KWF). The Pathology department (Anke van den Berg, Arjan Diepstra and Lydia Visser) received a 550,000 euro grant for research on the development of Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The Surgery (Translational Surgical Oncology) department was given a 500,000 euro grant that will enable Wijnand Helfrich, Edwin Bremer and Robert van Ginkel to continue their research into boosting the body’s immune response to cancer cells. Researchers in the Medical Oncology and Haematology departments each received a grant of more than 500,000 euro from the KWF. Researchers in the Medical Oncology department (Steven de Jong, Jourik Gietema and Marcel van Vugt) will use it to conduct research into testicular cancer. Jan Jacob Schuringa, Vincent van den Boom and Edo Vellenga of the Haematology department were awarded 570,000 euro for their research into new treatment methods for patients with leukaemia.

$ 1 million for research into type 1 diabetesThe Netherlands Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation gave a grant of 1 million dollars to the Internal Medicine department (Endocrinology and Diabetes, the national treatment centre for diabetes in children and adolescents) for research into the range of causes and manifestations of type 1 diabetes. The ultimate aim of this research is to ensure a better treatment match for individual patients (precision medicine).


Health Sciences awarded 650,000 euro grantThree researchers in the Health Sciences department (Danielle Jansen, Anja Holwerda and Menno Reijneveld) received a grant of 640,000 euro from the GAK Institute for research into the effectiveness of an intervention in families with multiple problems. The intervention combines all or parts of existing interventions that have not proved effective or whose effectiveness has not yet been established. The aim is to help families resolve their problems and to increase their participation and self-reliance. The research will be conducted in six municipalities over the next five years.

Grant of over 7 million euro for European consortiumResearchers at the UMCG and Radboud UMC are part of a European consortium that received 7.3 million euro in grants from the European FP7 grant programme for Rare Diseases. The grant is for an international study (BetaCure) of children with congenital hyperinsulinism. The project is headed by nuclear medicine physician Martin Gotthardt (RadboudUMC) and surgeon Go van Dam (UMCG). Several researchers from the UMCG are involved. In partnership with centres in Germany, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, the consortium is seeking to produce contrast agents at the department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging and the GMP facility at UMCG’s department of Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology.


2.3 Prizes

In 2014 several UMCG researchers were recognized for their special achievements.

Researcher Lude Franke (Genetics) was awarded the UMCG Research prize for his excellent scientific achievements in 2014 and for winning two prestigious, personal grants: an ERC Starting Grant and a NWO Vidi grant.

On 31 October 2014 Liesbeth de Vries was presented with the Dutch Cancer Society’s (KWF) Professor Muntendam Award by Princess Beatrix. Each year this award goes to someone who has made an exceptional contribution to cancer research in the Netherlands. The Award, comprising a certificate, a bronze medal and the sum of 50,000 euro for cancer research, was presented on the occasion of KWF’s 65th anniversary.

On the right, next to Princess Beatrix: Liesbeth de Vries

In 2014 the UMCG awarded four Mandema Stipendia: to Tom van Meerten (Internal Medicine), Jelmer Prins, (Obstetrics & Gynaecology), Anton Terwisscha van Scheltinga (Hospital Pharmacy) and Vladimir Tichelaar (Haematology). The Mandema Stipendium is a personal incentive grant that gives young, newly (PhD) graduated physican-researchers from the UMCG an opportunity to develop their own line of research during their specialist training.

Lude Franke

Tom van Meerten

Anton Terwisscha van Scheltinga

Jelmer Prins

Vladimir Tichelaar


2.4 News from 2014

New research codeThe theme of Scientific Integrity ranked high on the agenda in 2014. A symposium on this topic was held on 26 June, when the new UMCG research code was launched, containing rules for conducting scientific research in a reliable way. The symposium also hosted the première of the interactive film ‘Integrity Factor’, made by UMCG lecturer in Ethics Els Maeckelberghe. http://integrityfactor.nl/movie

Honorary doctorate for Ronald M. Evans Dr Ronald M. Evans, Director of the Salk Institute’s Gene Expression Laboratory & Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator (USA), was awarded an honorary doctorate by the University of Groningen/UMCG on 13 June 2014 as part of celebrations to mark the University’s 400th anniversary. The honour was in recognition of his exceptional contribution to medical science. Dean Folkert Kuipers said in his address: ‘Ronald Evans’ work, specifically the discovery of the superfamily of nuclear receptors which are activated by hormones, vitamins, dietary fatty acids and sterols, but also by specific drugs, and which convert these signals into specific gene expression programs, has caused a revolution in the field of Endocrinology and our understanding of the regulation of our metabolism. This knowledge has led to the development of novel therapeutic strategies and drugs for the treatment of cancer, diabetes and heart disease’.

Els Maeckelberghe

Ronald Evans and laudator prof. dr. Bert Groen at the presentation of the honorary doctorate


Visit by the Chinese ambassadorOn 11 December the Chinese Ambassador Chen Xu paid a visit to the UMCG to see and hear for himself what the UMCG is doing in the field of Healthy Ageing. With more than 270 students and 50 Chinese PhD students, as well as five visiting professors teaching in China, close ties have been established between the UMCG and the city of Groningen on the one hand, and the Chinese city of Tijanjin and the four universities in this metropolis east of Beijing on the other.

UMCG strikes deal with Siemens to the tune of millionsIn September 2014 the UMCG and Siemens announced a unique 15-year partnership, entitled PUSH (Partnership UMCG Siemens for building the future of Health). Siemens will provide the latest medical imaging systems under a lease arrangement and will take care of proper management and maintainance. As part of PUSH there is also a research fund available for starting joint UMCG-Siemens projects in the area of medical imaging. The research programme will focus on cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic pulmonary diseases, and dementia. Part of the program is setting up an imaging screening study within LifeLines, the major three-generation cohort research study in the northern Netherlands.

Visit of the Chinese delegation.

Signing the PUSH-cooperation.


LifeLines becomes independentLifeLines became a private company in February 2014, with the UMCG as 100% shareholder. This has given LifeLines independence in its dealings with researchers and research institutions at home and abroad. The target figure of more than 167,000 participants in the first round of screening was reached at the end of 2013. Because LifeLines’ strength lies in the follow-up screenings, the second round of screenings began in January 2014. All participants will be invited for a second round of screening in the coming years.

Two billion for Innolife consortiumAt the end of 2014 Innolife, a consortium of more than 140 European research institutes, companies and universities, was selected by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) as a Knowledge and Innovation Community (KIC) for EIT Health. The UMCG is a partner in this European consortium for Healthy Ageing. With a total sum of 2.1 billion euro, Innolife is one of the world’s largest public-privately funded initiatives in the area of healthcare. Areas of focus for the consortium’s projects include big data, health literacy, healthy ageing at work, the ageing brain, oncology and the improvement of health systems. EIT Health will begin its activities in mid-2015.

Research Register introducedThe UMCG Research Register was introduced in 2014. All researchers are required to register any research involving human subjects with an indicaton of the expected risk category. The register makes it clear which studies entail the greatest risks in terms of patient safety, which should make these risks more manageable. The UMCG Research Register is part of a new quality system for research involving human subjects, introduced under the name PROFIT. A toolbox for the management of this kind of research is also available. The quality system is part of a greater effort expected to secure an ISO 9001 certificate for research by the end of 2015.

Public Annual Report 2014 | EDUCATION | 21

3. EDUCATION


The UMCG is one of the largest providers of initial academic education and training in medical sciences in the Netherlands, with more than 3700 students enrolled in Medicine, Dentistry and Human Movement Sciences. The UMCG also has two Master’s/Research Master’s degree programmes in Life & Health Sciences. With an annual intake of more than 410 first-year students and 45 transfer students, the degree programme in Medicine is the largest in the Netherlands. In 2014 a new teaching method involving ‘learning communities’ was introduced into the programme (see 3.4). The UMCG also plays a major role in teaching a number of inter-faculty programmes in the biomedical sciences and biomedical technology.

400th anniversary of the University of Groningen In 2014 the University of Groningen celebrated its 400th anniversary. For an entire month, from 15 May to 15 June, Groningen was immersed in a programme of festivities on the theme For Infinity (4∞). Many students, staff and alumni played an active role in the celebration, which involved festivities and sport, as well as knowledge and cultural events, all shared with the city’s residents, the people of the northern Netherlands, current and former staff and students, international sister institutions, government authorities, companies and the University’s well-wishers.

Education


3.1 Performance agreements

In late October 2012 the University of Groningen signed performance agreements with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science (OC&W). Target figures for teaching related to the following areas:• participation in excellence programmes• institutional dropout after year 1• programme switch within the teaching institution • Bachelor’s degree success rate• the percentage of lecturers with a University Teaching Qualification (UTQ)• teaching intensity (number of hours of face-to-face contact).

The specific agreements for the UMCG are as follows:

Indicator UMCG performance agreementExcellence programmes Minimum 7%Institutional dropout after year 1 Maximum 7%Switching within the institution Maximum 7%Bachelor’s degree success rate after 4 years Minimum 76.5%UTQ Minimum 80%Teaching intensity >12 hours p/w

The target figures had to be attained in 2015, but some were already met in 2014. For example, the goals for participation in excellence programmes and for direct teaching intensity have been achieved by a wide margin. There was great student interest in taking part in excellence programmes and Bachelor’s Honours programmes and continuing on to the unique UMCG MD/PhD programme. In the 2013/2014 academic year 35 students embarked on the University Bachelor’s Honours programme and five students on a Master’s Honours programme. Thirty-six of the 52 applications for admission to an MD/PhD programme in 2014 were granted.


The target of a Bachelor’s study success rate of 76.5% after four years will also be met. The average overall Bachelor’s success rate in the Human Movement Sciences, Dentistry and Medicine programmes came to 82% (2010 cohort), more than five percent above the performance agreement for 2015.

It was agreed that 80% of lecturers with substantial teaching duties should have a UTQ certificate by 1 January 2015. This meant some 180 lecturers would have to have the qualification. There were already 213 UTQ-certified lecturers by the end of 2014, a fine score that shows that our lecturers are also meeting the official qualification criteria.

3.2 Prizes

Teaching prize for Jaap de VriesThe UMCG 2014 Teaching and Education prize went to surgeon, oncologist and associate professor Jaap de Vries. He was awarded the prize for his many years of close involvement in developing and delivering medicine education in the successive C2000, G2010 and G2020 curricula and for his major contribution to the successful development of the Oncology Summer School.

Lecturer of the yearRob Withagen, Hans Burgerhof and Eric Meisberger were elected lecturer of the year in the Human Movement Sciences, Medicine and Dentistry programmes respectively. Of these three, Rob Withagen was named UMCG Lecturer of the Year during the UMCG Research and Teaching Day. He thus became the UMCG representative at the University of Groningen’s Lecturer of the Year election.

Rob Withagen

Jaap de Vries Hans Burgerhof

Eric Meisberger


3.3 Rankings

University of Groningen in top 100 rankingsIn 2014, for the second time, the University of Groningen was named in the top 100 of two major rankings: the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU; often referred to as the Shanghai ranking) and the QS World University Ranking. The University jumped from 92nd to 82nd place in the ARWU 2014. This is the second year in a row that the University has made such a big leap in this ranking, which is regarded as the most reliable quality measure of universities worldwide. The UMCG’s teaching and research efforts have done much to help achieve this. The field of Clinical Medicine/Pharmacy ranks among the top 100 in the ARWU (76/100). These scores provide a major boost to the joint ambition of the University of Groningen and the UMCG to strengthen the international character of the academic community in Groningen. This is a stimulus in terms of attracting prospective students and staff to the northern Netherlands, since this will reinforce the UMCG’s international standing by facilitating greater – and closer – collaboration in the fields of research, teaching and knowledge valorization.

Medicine, Human Movement Sciences and Dentistry number oneIn ‘De Beste Studies’, the annual Elsevier survey of degree programmes, the Bachelor of Medicine programme at the University of Groningen/UMCG shared joint first place in the Netherlands. The Master of Medicine programme at the UMCG was also ranked number one.The Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes in Human Movement Sciences and Sport Sciences were proclaimed best in their category in the survey. These programmes again scored well in the 2014 National Student Survey and the Higher Education Guide 2014, with 70-74% of students reporting that they were satisfied or highly satisfied.The UMCG Master’s degree programme in Dentistry was rated joint first with the Master’s degree programme at Radboud University Nijmegen in the Elsevier survey. The Bachelor’s degree programme in Dentistry came in second place.


3.4 News from 2014

Medicine Launch of new G2020 curriculum A start was made in September on G2020, the new and ambitious, patient-centered curriculum. A key feature of the curriculum is that everyone involved (lecturers and students) is a co-owner of the degree programme and an active attitude is the norm. There is quick communication and close interaction between the lecturers and students, which increases ties and intrinsic motivation. In G2020 a cohort of some 400 students are divided into four Learning Communities (LCs) – Global Health, Sustainable Healthcare, Intramural Care and Molecular Medicine – each with its own focus, profile dean and teaching staff. During the selection process for the degree programme, students choose one of the LCs. Once admitted, they complete their Bachelor’s degree programme within that LC. The profile, the small-scale nature of the teaching and the direct contact with a small group of lecturers all help to create ties among students and within the community.

Martini and Wilhelmina Hospitals enter agreement with UMCGIn 2014 the Wilhelmina Hospital Assen (WZA) and the Martini Hospital Groningen entered into an agreement with the UMCG to train interns. In all, the two hospitals supervise 128 students of Medicine, making them the largest UMCG partner in terms of M1 clerkships. The Martini Hospital has been affiliated with the UMCG for over 40 years and is therefore now joined by the WZA.

First cross-border programme in MedicineIn 2012 the University of Groningen, the UMCG and the Carl von Ossietzky University in Oldenburg (Germany) launched a joint cross-border programme in Medicine. The European Medical School is the first of such programmes in Europe. Each year 40 German students embark on the Oldenburg programme, which is based on the Groningen curriculum. Last year, as part of the exchange, already 15 Groningen students undertook their clerkships in Oldenburg, while several students from Oldenburg completed part of their Bachelor’s programme at the UMCG. This number is set to grow in the coming years.


Human Movement Sciences

New one-year Master’s programme in developmentPreparations have begun for the introduction of the new one-year Master’s degree programme, which will start on 1 September 2016. Matters being worked on include the name of the programme, applying for a macro-efficiency check and for initial accreditation. The two current two-year Master’s degree programmes will become selective Master’s/Top Master’s programmes.

Dentistry

Opening of new Dentistry and Oral Hygiene skills lab The new skills lab in the Centre for Dentistry and Oral Hygiene was opened in February by Oene Hokwerda, emeritus professor in Dental Ergonomics. The new skills lab contains the latest equipment and significant ergonomic improvements have been made to the work stations. For example, the treatment units for trainee dentists are adjustable and suitable for both left- and right-handed people.

The new work stations are adjustable tot every stature.

Students of Human Movement Science working on a project.


Curriculum T2020 in preparation In the Dentistry programme a project team headed by prof. Henny Meijer has begun developing the new T2020 curriculum, based on the same principles as the G2020 curriculum.

Research Master’s and Top Master’sThe Research Master’s in Behavioural and Cognitive Neurosciences (BCN) and the Top Master’s in Medical Pharmaceutical Drug Innovation (MPDI) have been named top programmes in the 2014 Higher Education Guide for Master’s degree programmes. The Guide reports that the programmes received ‘a cartload of accolades from students’.

Evidence-Based Medical Education & Innovation Debbie Jaarsma (1973) was appointed Professor of Evidence-Based Medical Education & Innovation on 1 April 2014. Her primary focus is applied educational research in the broad area of medical education. Before this appointment, she was Professor of Evidence-Based Education at the Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam.

Debbie Jaarsma

Public Annual Report 2014 | FINANCE | 29

4. FINANCE

€


In 2014 the total turnover of the UMCG was more than 1 billion euro. From this about 70% was related to (complex) care activities and 30% to teaching and research.

4.1. What does the Research & Education budget cover?

The R&E budget and accounting relate to both ‘regular’ and ‘project’ activities. The regular activities are the statutory teaching and research activities that are funded almost entirely by the government through the University of Groningen. In the case of project activities, the funds have been acquired for a specified activity and period of time, and are therefore finite. By far the majority of this funding is for research. In addition to these R&E resources, the UMCG has a number of specific sources of funding that relate to its academic-hospital status: the ‘Workplace Function’ funding (85 million euro in 2014) awarded by the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science for clinical training and research, and the ‘Academic Component’ (90 million euro in 2014) awarded by the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport for the top reference function in healthcare and for development and innovation. These parts of the budget are accounted for separately.and not covered in this report.

4.2. How is the R&E budget drawn up?

The R&E budget is drawn up annually in August prior to the budget year. It is then discussed by the UMCG Board of Directors and the Board of the University in the Joint Policy Body (GBO). The GBO adopts the budget, which then becomes part of the University of Groningen budget. During the current budget year, adjustments are made on the basis of actual developments. The last adjustment was made at the end of 2014.

4.3. Operating summary

The table below shows the adjusted budget, the actual budget at 2014 and the final budget balance at 31 December 2014. Due to the independent position of LifeLines, it has been agreed that the original and actual budgets for the LifeLines component should be reported separately in the operating summary.

Finance


Operating summary 2014 in 1,000 euro

Adjusted budget 2014

(Nov.’14) excl. LifeLines

Actual at 2014 excl. Lifelines

Balance excl. LifeLines

Actual at 2014 LifeLines

Regular activities General revenue 77,985.6 77,985.5 -0.1 External revenue 14,749.1 17,773.9 3,024.8 Internal settlement (staff) 5,803.8 8,346.7 2,542.9 Internal settlement (other costs) 11,299.9 15,031.8 3,731.9 Total income 109,838.4 119,138.0 9,299.6 0.0Staff costs 75,538.5 78,338.1 2,799.6 Accommodation costs 6,194.2 6,223.0 28.9 Other costs 25,121.0 32,435.0 7,314.0 Total costs 106,853.7 116,996.1 10,142.5 0.0Result – regular activities 2,984.8 2,141.9 -842.9 0.0

Project activities General revenue 1,266.9 1,267.2 0.3 External revenue 64,726.3 76,221.8 11,495.6 11,711.6Internal settlement (staff) 7,881.3 10,785.9 2,904.6 Internal settlement (other costs) 4,226.2 3,441.4 -784.8 Total income 78,100.7 91,716.3 13,615.6 11,711.6Staff costs 44,697.0 50,505.1 5,808.1 5,855.6Accommodation costs 0.0 227.5 227.5 3,570.6Other costs 33,847.0 40,687.0 6,840.0 2,285.4Total costs 78,544.0 91,419.6 12,875.6 11,711.6Result – project activities -443.3 296.7 740.0 0.0


Total General revenue 79,252.5 79,252.7 0.2 0.0External revenue 79,475.4 93,995.8 14,520.4 11,711.6Internal settlement (staff) 13,685.1 19,132.6 5,447.5 0.0Internal settlement (other costs) 15,526.1 18,473.2 2,947.1 0.0Total income 187,939.1 210,854.3 22,915.2 11,711.6Staff costs 120,235.5 128,843.2 8,607.7 5,855.6Accommodation costs 6,194.2 6,450.5 256,4 3,570.6Other costs 58,968.0 73,122.0 14,154.0 2,285.4Total costs 185,397.6 208,415.7 23,018.1 11,711.6Result – total 2,541.4 2,438.6 -102.9 0.0

Operating resultThe 2014 operating result for UMCG Research & Education is 2.4 million euro positive. Of this figure, 2.1 million euro relates to regular operations and 0.3 million euro to project-based activities receiving direct government funding. The result is 102,900 lower than budgeted (minus 842.900 euro of direct government funding for regular activities and plus 740,000 euro of direct government funding for projects).

Regular operationRegular activities generated 9.3 million euro more than forecast, while costs were 10.1 million euro higher. The difference between actual and forecast sums is partly the result of additional income for departments, mainly due to the externally funded projects being completed and balances being transferred to regular activities. This in turn led to an increase in expenditure. In addition, several service departments (including Genotyping) and facilities (such as the Central Animal Facility/CDP) generated more activities, involving more revenue as well as higher costs.


Project activitiesProject activities also showed a difference in relation to the original budget, in terms of both revenue and costs. Revenue was 13.6 million euro higher than budgeted, and expenditure showed a difference of 12.9 million euro between actual and original budgets. In retrospect, the forecast was therefore too low.

LifeLinesThe total costs of LifeLines in 2014 came to 11.7 million euro, 5.8 million euro of which was for staff costs and € 5.9 million euro for material costs. Accommodation costs reached a one-off high (in keeping with the budget) because of construction costs of 2.8 million euro for Lifestore Eemspoort.


Colofon

The 2014 Public Annual Report on Research and Education was published by the University Medical Center Groningen, part of the University of Groningen

Editing: Bert Schoenmaker, Chantal BakkerFinal editing: Helma ErkelensDesign: Letter & LijnPhotography: Antoinette Borchert (cover page, p.4, p.11) Gerhard Taatgen (p.18) Elmer Spaargaren (p.21) Bert Otten (p.27 top) Jeroen van Kooten (p.27 bottom) Henk Veenstra (p.29)

building the future of health' research and education

Documents