102 leading researchers receive Vidi-grant

16 granted ZonMw Vidi projects

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  Modulating arousal to overcome gait impairments in Parkinson's disease
  Dr J.H. (Jorik) Nonnekes, Radboud University Medical Centre

  Gait impairments affect every person living with Parkinson’s disease, yet this debilitation symptom improves insufficiently with current treatments. Gait typically deteriorates when arousal is heightened, for example due to fear or stress. In this project, I investigate the underlying mechanisms, and how potential treatment works. Arousal influences the strength of interactions in the brain, like tuning the volume of a radio. I hypothesize that heightened arousal results in too much ‘cross-talk’ in the brain, which result in deteriorated walking, and sometimes even freezing of gait. I will test this by measuring brain activity during walking.

  Rhythmic hormones for healthy bones
  Dr E.M. (Elizabeth) Winter, Leiden University Medical Center

  Glucocorticoid-medication is crucial to treat inflammatory diseases, but it is detrimental to many fundamental processes including bone turnover: it leads to osteoporosis with fractures, and thereby loss of quality of life and independency. There is no effective preventive strategy so far. My previous research demonstrated that rhythmicity of glucocorticoids is essential to keep bones healthy. The proposed research will reinstate rhythm in glucocorticoid-signalling during glucocorticoid treatment to secure healthy bones, without compromising its effective treatment of inflammatory diseases. Results will have great impact for all patients dependent on this medication who now suffer from fractures and increased mortality.

  When pain stays: the metabolic switch of pain chronification
  Dr H.L.D.M. (Hanneke) Willemen, UMC Utrecht

  Chronic pain affects 1 out of 5 persons. After recovery from an infectious disease (e.g. COVID-19), patients often continue to suffer from pain, and this pain is difficult to treat. Currently we do not know who is more prone to develop chronic pain, but my preliminary evidence points to a disturbed metabolism in sensory neurons (neurometabolism) promoting chronic pain. My aim is to identify how neurometabolic alterations link to long-lasting neuronal activity and the duration of post-viral pain, and test whether restoring these alterations dampen neuronal hyperactivity. This knowledge may create novel options to prevent and treat chronic pain.

  AI in Healthcare: how confident are we?
  Dr L. (Laure) Wynants, Maastricht University

  Artificial intelligence (AI) can support diagnosis and prognosis, and support optimization of patient care. Whether this is achievable depends on the reliability of an AI-model. Testing of AI is often done on small numbers, and AI-models are not equally useful in all locations and populations. Reliability can be measured with value-of-information measures. These reflect the risks of uncertainty, expressed as the expected number of misdiagnoses. In this project, researchers develop these value-of-information measures. They allow physicians and policymakers to decide for each AI-model: is it ready for use, or is more research needed?

  Using a pump to store donor kidneys almost indefinitely
  Dr C. (Cyril) Moers, University Medical Center Groningen

  In this project, scientists will work on a radically new method to prolong the storage time of donor kidneys. They will use an advanced pump system to continuously circulate a novel fluid through the kidney. This fluid remains liquid while the organ is cooled to temperatures well below 0°C, thus enabling safe, long-term storage of whole donor organs. This would allow worldwide organ banking and exchange, and greatly improve organ-to-patient matching, thus improving outcomes. Moreover, transplants could be planned well in advance, thus reducing complications and enhancing access to transplantation.

  Artificial intelligence to develop personalized treatments for bladder cancer
  Dr T.C.M. (Tahlita) Zuiverloon, Erasmus MC

  Patients with high-risk non-muscle invasive bladder cancer have the highest risk of developing aggressive muscle-invasive disease (=progression). Hence, tumor removal is followed by BCG bladder instillations. In case of progression, life-altering bladder removal with urinary diversion (urostoma) is recommended. Unfortunately, current risk stratification is inadequate and urologists cannot reliably predict which tumors will eventually progress. As a result, patients receive one-size-fits-all BCG, resulting in exposure to unnecessary toxicity without any benefit in half of the cases. AI-PRECISE investigates whether artificial intelligence can be used to improve current risk stratification and can assist in the identification of personalized bladder-sparing treatments.

  Gonorrhoea superbug: prevention of emergence and transmission
  Dr J.C.M (Janneke) Heijne, Stichting Amsterdam UMC

  What is the reason that antibiotics are slowly losing their effectiveness? In this project we are going to investigate this for gonorrhoea, a sexually transmitted infection and one of very few pathogens for which strains resistant to all available antibiotics were described. We will make mathematical models of the development of resistance to antibiotics, based on laboratory experiments and data collected at sexual health centres. These models will be used to calculate effective ways to control the emergence and transmission of superbugs.

  The Key Role of Endothelial Cells as Gatekeepers of Our Immune System in Heart and Vascular Diseases:
  Dr J. (Jeffrey) Kroon, Stichting Amsterdam UMC

  This project explores the critical role of inflammation in heart and vascular diseases and focuses on tuning our immune system through adjustments in how our blood vessel cells function. These 'gatekeepers' can either promote or reduce inflammation, thus providing an opportunity to enhance the response of our immune system, our 'body's own soldiers'. The goal is to investigate more effective ways to address heart and vascular diseases.

  Hero of our skin
  Prof. dr. E.H. (Ellen) van den Bogaard, Radboud University Medical Center

  Our skin acts as a protector, shielding our body from the outside world. In various skin conditions, environmental factors can either trigger or worsen the disease. This holds true for atopic eczema, the most prevalent inflammatory skin disease among us. Researchers seek to find evidence how key environmental sensors in our skin can influence inflammation, particularly in response to our diet and the microorganisms residing on our skin. This information yields new therapeutic options to reduce the burden of disease.

  Decoding rare genetic variation: Unraveling isoform impact on rare diseases
  Dr M.J. (Marc Jan) Bonder, University Medical Center Groningen

  Many different rare genetic diseases exist and they collectively impact a significant portion of the population. Advances in DNA sequencing technologies have recently improved the diagnostic yield for these conditions. However, our limited understanding of what genetic variation outside of genes does, combined with our still limited understanding of what different isoforms of genes do, makes further diagnostic gains a challenge. In this project, I will systematically investigate how DNA differences affect isoforms, and I will utilize this knowledge to identify which DNA alteration is responsible for rare diseases in more patients.

  Prenatal Family Integrated Care: An Intervention to Alleviate Parental Distress in Fetal Medicine.
  Dr N.M.T.H. (Neeltje) Crombag, University Medical Center Utrecht

  Parents who receive the news that their unborn child has a severe congenital anomaly often face mental health challenges, both during and after birth. Parental well-being strongly influences child development. This study aims to develop a personalized psychosocial support intervention during pregnancy, assessing its efficacy in reducing parental stress. Addressing stress and preparing parents for post-birth may positively impact the child's long-term development. By reducing parental stress and adequately preparing parents for the post-birth period, we anticipate a positive impact on the long-term development of the child.

  The MOT for artificial intelligence in healthcare
  Dr M. (Maarten) van Smeden, University Medical Center Utrecht

  Predictive artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing in healthcare to support doctors and patients in making important medical decisions. Just as cars need a general periodic inspection (MOT), it is also important to periodically test whether the artificial intelligence is still good enough for use and to carry out the appropriate maintenance if necessary. In this project I develop the MOT for artificial intelligence in healthcare.
  Zonmw

  The unexpected escape of cancer after ‘cure’ with immunotherapy
  Dr A.A.M. (Astrid) van der Veldt, Erasmus University Medical Center

  Immunotherapy has transformed metastatic disease of the most aggressive skin cancer into a potentially curable disease. However, approximately 25% of considered cured patients will have an unexpected tumour escape leading to recurrence of disease. This research will investigate which factors in the tumour and the patient contribute to this unexpected escape of cancer, and how this could be identified earlier. More knowledge about this unexpected escape will improve and individualize the treatment for patients with cancer who are treated with immunotherapy, ultimately improving their survival and quality of life.

  Tuft cells: A key to healing the gut beyond inflammation
  Dr J.H.J. (Jochem) Bernink, Amsterdam UMC

  Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) presents a global health challenge with unclear causes and limited treatment options. The problem lies in impaired intestinal healing, perpetuating immune activation that exacerbates disease. Research unveiled tuft cells as pivotal players in gut repair post-injury, through surviving damage and leveraging signals from the immune system to kick-start healing. Innate lymphoid cells are a source of those signals. This research aims to unravel their collaborative mechanisms in intestinal repair, particularly in IBD patients. This insight holds promise for novel treatments, not only in IBD but also for other conditions involving tissue damage.

  Ultrasound-enhanced nano-immunotherapy for brain tumors 
  Dr D.G. (Dannis) van Vuurden, Princess Máxima Center for pediatric oncology

  Immunotherapy shows great promise in cancer treatment, but unfortunately not in high-grade glioma (HGG), a deadly brain cancer. These tumors contain specific immune cells that strongly inhibit the activity of T-cells, which should normally kill cancer cells. This research focuses on reprogramming these immune cells using mRNA nanotherapy to produce substances (cytokines) that attract and activate T-cells. Researchers aim to further enhance this nanotherapy with therapeutic ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier, so the immune system can better attack tumor cells. Successful outcomes could ultimately improve immunotherapy for HGG, potentially enhancing patient survival.

  AGENDA - Advanced Genetics Exploration for Nephrologic DiseAse
  Dr A.M. (Albertien) van Eerde, University Medical Center Utrecht

  Errors in a single gene cause up to one quarter of the most severe kidney diseases. Yet, there are few targeted treatments for these monogenic kidney diseases, and many more types of these monogenic kidney diseases almost certainly remain to be detected. Having built up a wealth of data and insights over the past decade, researchers will combine cutting-edge DNA analysis and kidney cell models to shed much-needed light on monogenic kidney diseases. This is expected to improve diagnostics and enable effective individualized treatments, ultimately improving patient care and quality of life.