13 researchers head off to various foreign institutes
13 talented recently promoted and talented scientists will get the chance to gain value research experience abroad thanks to this Rubicon round, organized by NWO. The total budget for this round was no less than 3,1 million euros.
The projects that will be funded cover topics from gravitational waves to educational equality. The signal black holes give off is modified once they interact with dark matter. Dr. G.M. Tomaselli’s research aims at characterizing that modification. Meanwhile Dr. J.C. Janse will research the rise of far-right events from 1951 to 1981. Their research, which will be carried out in Germany, will provide new insights into the growth and mobilization of the far right in the post-war period.
Read here about the Rubicon laureates and public summaries of round 2024-3
Destinations and duration of research
The countries selected are Switzerland, Germany, Italy, the United States and the United Kingdom. Each researcher will be staying for a period of 24 months.
The United States was chosen as a destination quite a few times this round. If any issues arise regarding the current complications in the United States, NWO will try to assist the researcher by possibly postponing deadlines or providing necessary legal information. In some aspects NWO can be limited when trying to help a researcher as NWO is not the employer, just the financer of the research project. Further review will take place on how NWO can support the researchers affected by these changes.
Features of the Rubicon programme
Thanks to the Rubicon grant these young researchers have the opportunity to conduct their research at a foreign institute that provides the best environment for their work. The size of the grant depends on the chosen destination and the duration of the stay. Each year, NWO and ZonMw fund around 60 young researchers with the help of the Rubicon program for a total amount of 7 million euros distributed over three rounds. The projects featured in this news update are awarded in the last round of 2024. Read here the full NWO-news item.
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Dr A.M.R. van den Bosch -> Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, KNAW, NL -> Italy -> Experimental Neuropathology Lab, Humanitas University -> 24 months
The role of iron in the worsening of multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease where inflammation damages the brain and spinal cord. Researchers will study how iron build-up in immune cells in the brain leads to worsening of MS symptoms. By using lab-grown brain cells and studying donated human brain tissue, they aim to identify new treatment strategies to slow disability progression.A. Schreuder MSc > Leiden University Medical Center -> Switzerland -> Institute of Molecular Cancer Research -> 24 months
A new player in genome stability
There are many processes within our body that need to be executed correctly to ensure life, as for example genome maintenance. Genome instability can lead to a range of serious diseases, including cancer. A new mechanism protecting genome integrity has been recently identified and will be investigated further in the frame of this project.Dr L.A. Claessens -> Leids Universitair Medisch Centrum -> England -> Wellcome Sanger Institute -> 24 months
Using the cell’s waste disposal system to remove cancer proteins
Small mistakes in DNA can cause a cell to make proteins that turn the cell into a cancer cell. The researcher is going to study an innovative approach to disable these proteins and kill the cancer cells: reprogramming the cell’s waste disposal system to specifically remove the cancer proteins.