Humans all originate from a single cell, the fertilized oocyte, and developing through a fascinating highly orchestrated process to become the individuals that we currently are. AR&D studies how these processes are regulated, how perturbations can lead to congenital abnormalities or late onset diseases and how genetic and environmental factors affect development.
AR&D uses experimental model systems to study and simulate human development and use our unique twin register to disentangle environmental and genetic contributions to health and disease. By focusing on embryonic development, we provide the basis for understanding a huge variety of human disease and disease susceptibility. We link these fundamental studies to clinical trials. We use highly sensitive ultrasound measurements and genetic tests to examine the developing fetus, and evaluate innovative implemented techniques. These are used for developing new tests to improve our clinical capacities.