University of Groningen
Unraveling VPS13A pathways: from Drosophila to human
Pinto, Francesco
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Publication date: 2018
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Pinto, F. (2018). Unraveling VPS13A pathways: from Drosophila to human. University of Groningen.
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Acknowledgements
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I am at the end of this life experience called a PhD and I think it is time to thank all the people who made this possible.
Dear Ody, I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity to do a PhD under your supervision. We spent 5 years doing our best to solve the Vps13 puzzle, a lot of meetings, good and bad results, enthusiasm and disappointment, but you were always there to support me. I learned a lot from your advice and if I am a doctor today it is mainly because of you. Big thanks also to Sven, for always being present and for all his advice, support and scientific discussions.
Thanks to Prof. G. de Haan, Prof. J.A. Kuivenhoven and Prof. P. Verstreken for reading, commenting on and approving this thesis. I am also grateful to Prof. Billeter because without his encouragement and motivation I would probably not have started this PhD.
I would like to thank in particular my paranymphs, Despina and Paola. Despina, you are one of the best people that I have ever met in my life and I am so honored that I had this opportunity. We spent a lot of unforgettable times together and you helped me every time I needed. There will never be words good enough to express my gratitude to you. Paola, since the first moment I met you I understood we were going to be really good friends, you are always so positive and so friendly. I could listen to your stories for hours without getting bored. Thank you for your true friendship. Special thanks also to my dear friend Yixian. You really are a special person. In the last years we shared everything together and you were the first person I wanted to talk to when I had any doubt, problems, news or stupid questions. Also if I often make fun of you, I will always be there when you need and I am also sure that distance will never ruin our friendship.
A big thank you to Maluk, we spent a lot of time together motivating each other in the lab, in the gym and in the city, I consider you a brother and I hope for the best for you in USA.
I also need to express my gratitude to Marianne, the best technician ever. Since the first day I arrived you always helped me. You are a really generous and kind person. I think you are the exact definition of how a scientist should be. Anyway, more importantly, we became great friends and I have a lot of nice memories with you that I will never forget.
Els, Matteo, Peter, Cecilia and Lara, thank you all for your friendship and the incredible moments we had together in the lab, and during our crazy nights or parties. I consider all of you part of my family. I hope for the best for all of you because you all deserve it.
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Thanks also to my group, first my officemates: Anita, Liza, Wondwossen, Yixian and Jan. We had a lot of fun moments and scientific discussion that I will never forget. Thanks also to Bala, Roald, Madina, Nico, Yu Yi, Bart, Ellie, Hein and Erika for their support, discussions and company in the lab.
To all the DCB and the people of the 5th floor: Wouter, Suzanne, Abhi, Eduardo, Vivian, Sai, Jeanette, Mirjam, Anne, Maria, Fleur, Steven, Harry, Rob, Julie, Andries, Yi Wu, Niels, Wu Di, Pascale, Melanie, Vaishali, Martti, Maiara, Caterina, Reiner, you are all great and I am glad that I met you.
Thanks also to a special couple, Marco and Silvia, and their baby Nicola. We spent a lot of beautiful time together. We shared a lot of fears and exciting moments. I feel really lucky to have you in my life.
A big thank you also to a lot of friends with whom I shared many crazy nights: Sambika, Max, Cora, Ivana, Manuela, Clemens, Annika, Lara, Nikola, Ana, Ruben, Elvira, Hemant, Mohamed, Misun, Simone, Juan Fer, Mamen, Nathalie, Milos, Caterina, Boris, Johnny, James, Kostas.
I also want to thank the Italian community in Groningen: Ciccio, Mec, Giulia, Iteto, Font, Silvia Sto, Kappers, Simone (Paolini), Tilde, Ugo, Massimo, Stefano, Michele, Riccardo, Francesca, Isa and the major Gallo, to make me feel home during my stay in Groningen.
Il grazie più sentito va alla mia famiglia che mi ha sempre sostenuto e supportato. In primis i miei genitori che sono sempre riusciti a starmi vicino, anche se lontani fisicamente, non facendomi mai mancare il loro amore. Ada e Gianfranco grazie di cuore per avermi sempre incoraggiato e per essere stati sempre presenti, venendomi spesso a trovare in Olanda. Grazie anche alla piccola Azzurra che con il suo sorriso ha allietato le mie giornate e che mi ha trasmesso grande forza in questi ultimi mesi. Un grazie anche a tutti i miei parenti, mio nonno tra tutti, ed amici (tra tutti Rido, Tiri, Piomba, Giulio, Ale e Antonio) che dall’Italia mi hanno sempre fatto sentire il loro affetto e mi hanno aiutato a rilassarmi e divertirmi durante le vacanze.
E infine più che un grazie un ti amo va a Liliana per aver condiviso con me ogni momento in questi anni e per avermi dato tutto quello di cui avevo bisogno.
