infinite Beauty - Faculteit der Wiskunde en Natuurwetenschappen

Professor Danhof obtained his PhD from Leiden
University under the direction of professor D.D.
Breimer. After coming back from a trip to USA,
professor D.D. Breimer arranged a post-doc position
for him. This was done in the old fashion way; by writing
a letter and checking it several times before posting
it. This is how he started his postdoctoral research with
professor G. Levy, in the department of Pharmaceutics,
State University of New York in Buffalo. Many years later,
he is not only professor but also the director of the
LACDR. Therefore we asked him about the expansion
of the LACDR.
“The LACDR has grown very fast, thanks to the growing
number of students. Our goal is to get the whole
faculty in the new tower. The ‘UFO part’ will stay, since
it’s very nice to see and I think it’s a monument for
Leiden.”
As we were waiting for the main course, our person of
interest received a work-related phone call. He excused
himself for a minute. The professor explained that he
is on call for a certain project, so for him the workday
does not end when he goes home. He enjoys his work so
much, that he does not mind this at all.
The professor is very enthusiastic about planning a strategy
and vision for the LACDR, especially since it has
grown so much in a short time. He’s been the director
of the LACDR for six years
now and there have been so
many interesting and exciting
things crossing his
path, that he doesn’t even
miss working in the lab. Of
course he is still involved in
research, as head of the department
of Pharmacology. “Over the years you grow
into this work. My attention has shifted from research
to more managerial tasks. I enjoy it all.” This becomes
evident looking at his working hours: “I start the day
at 7.30h, or at least try to, and go home about 18.30h.”
However, the LACDR is not the only occupation for the
professor; he has also founded LAP&P Consultants.
Origin is interested as to why he created this company.
“Now that’s a very interesting story. LAP&P Consultants
is a company with 15-20 employees and is one of the
biggest companies in this specific field. In my research
‘our goal is to get the whole
faculty in the new tower, the ufo
part will stay’
Koetjes en Kalfjes, photo by Shardul Paricharak
time at the Leiden University, we were approached by a
lot of companies for certain projects. This did not really
fit with the University’s activities and so I founded
a company that approaches these projects: “LAP&P
Consultants”. Thanks to the diversity of the clients,
there’s diversity in projects as well. This makes the
company a good learning
institute. Some people start
here as a junior, after two
years of work experience,
they have the opportunity
to do a promotion here.”
The professor is also involved
with the TIPharma. We wondered what the difference
is between LAP&P Consultants and TIPharma,
both situated in the Bio Science Park.
“These are both very different institutions. TIPharma
is a public private partnership, which promotes and
sponsors collaboration between Universities and pharmaceutical
companies. The government actually, for a
great part, sponsors TIPharma. There are more than 50
running research programs, on which industrial and
academic partners work together. I have a seat in the
executive board of TIPharma, but I also have a large
Culinaire Chemie
origin - universiteit leiden 9