Profile of the supervisor
Prof. dr. Yijin Ren is currently Head of the Department of Orthodontics at the University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG) and Director of the W.J. Kolff Institute for BioMedical Engineering and Biomaterials.
Her scientific interest is mainly on downward translational research (basic science to clinical practice) in the field of biofilms and biomaterials. She is also active in research on clinical applications of 3D imaging and printing techniques in diagnosis, treatment planning and outcome evaluations. She has (co)supervised 13 PhD students and has published over 110 peer-reviewed articles across different disciplines. Clinically, she keeps an active practice in her department at the UMCG mainly on patients with oral clefts and craniofacial anomalies. She is also a consultant orthodontist in the North Netherlands Cleft Lip and Palate Center.
Expertise
3D imaging and 3D printing, oral biomaterials, oral biofilms.
Profile of the research group
The Department of Orthodontics has close collaboration with a number of prominent scientists in the field of physics, chemistry, microbiology and biomedical engineering within the University of Groningen. PhD students are hosted in the well-facilitated labs of the groups collaborators for the preclinical work. We tackle the clinical problem of oral biomaterials associated biofilm infections and study this topic both fundamentally and applied. We are actively involved in the Biomaterials Development Center (BDC) affiliated with the Kolff Institute to partner industry to translate our research findings down to the clinical front.
- 3D-Printable Antimicrobial Composite Resins. Advanced Functional Materials, 2015;25(43), 6756-6767. (patent filed)
- The Implant Infection Paradox. eCM. 2015 Jun 5;29:303-10; discussion 310-3.
- Contact-killing of adhering streptococci by a quaternary ammonium compound incorporated in an acrylic resin. Int J Artif Organs. 2012;35(10):854-63.
