‘Support scientific talent with your legacy’. This is the slogan of the Leave a Legacy campaign that was recently launched by the 15 Dutch university funds. The funds hope to inform people about the different options for including university funds in their wills.

They didn’t study at Leiden University, but Patrice Gerlach and Ellen Reuter have still chosen to leave a legacy to the LUF. A journey through Cambodia made them realise just how much of an impact education can have on the well-being of an entire family.

A signing ceremony took place in the Academy Building on Thursday 11 December to confirm a new endowment to the Leporis Fund, a named LUF fund. This celebrated a special moment in the continued legacy of Ruurt Hazewinkel, an alumnus and ardent advocate of research and teaching.

Have you ever considered including the LUF in your will? After your lifetime, you can contribute to the future of Leiden University by including the LUF in your will, either as a legacy, as a beneficiary, or as one of your heirs.

The Leiden University Fund (LUF) is the university's leading fund. With the support of alumni and other donors, scientists are working on groundbreaking research in the field of health, safety, sustainability and other social themes, and talented students and young researchers are given the opportunity to realise their ambitions.

Have you considered including the LUF in your will? After your life you can continue to contribute to the future of Leiden University by including the LUF in your will in the form of a bequest or as an heir or one of your beneficiaries.

Riet Groenen was able to spend almost a year in Fiji for her thesis research on fertility and family planning thanks to donations from funds. Her studies, research experience and focus earned her a job at the United Nations. Groenen dedicated her career to women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, and to ending violence against women.

People with chronic intestinal inflammation, such as Crohn's disease, often have high numbers of the gut bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus (R. gnavus) in their intestines. But why? To answer that question, LUMC researchers have for the first time mapped the complete genetic code (genome) of this bacterium on a large scale. And to accelerate further research on R. gnavus, they are offering all data for free to other researchers.

Whether you establish a named fund or make a donation, as a Golden Keyholder you make a lasting contribution to the future of education, research, and talent development at Leiden University.