Three talented scientists awarded ZonMw Rubicon grants for international research
The first Rubicon funding round 2026 allows NWO to enable a total of 15 talented researchers to gain research experience abroad, 3 of them are working in the medical scientific (ZonMw) domain.
Research at international institutes
This funding allows them to conduct their research at international institutes that offer the best environment for scientific development and growth as independent researchers.
The awarded projects are those of Dr A. Blanch-Asensio, Dr M.D. Manurung, and Dr M.P. Hommersom. The projects span a wide range of topics, including developing stem cell models to study neurological disorders, unraveling how ancestry influences immune activation, and investigating the role of calcium channels in brain networks. A description, the host institutes, and the duration of the 3 ZonMw projects can be found in the public summaries below this page.
For more information on all Rubicon laureates, public summaries and statistics on the Rubicon 2026-1 funding round, please visit the NWO website.
Features of the Rubicon program
The Rubicon grant enables young researchers to conduct research at a foreign institute that offers the best environment for their research. The amount of funding depends on the chosen destination and the duration of the stay. With the three 2025 rounds, NWO and ZonMw have funded 50 young researchers in total (for a total amount of around €9 million). The awards from this article are part of the first of three funding rounds of 2026.
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One genome, different origins: unravelling how ancestry shapes immune activation in Latin Americans
Dr M. D. Manurung -> Leiden University Medical Center-> United Kingdom -> Wellcome Sanger Institute -> 24 months
Genetic variants that control immune responses can behave differently depending on a person's ancestral background, but comparing populations makes it hard to separate ancestry from environment. By studying admixed Mexican and Peruvian individuals, who carry two ancestral lineages in one genome, I will determine how ancestral context shapes immune regulation and autoimmune disease risk.
Building complex human neurons in the lab
Dr A. Blanch-Asensio -> Leiden University Medical Center -> Spain -> Centre for Genomic Regulation -> 24 months
The human brain contains many specialized types of neurons that are difficult to recreate in the lab. This project combines computational analysis, genome engineering and single-cell technologies to identify and test the genetic programs that generate specific neuron types. The results could improve stem cell models used to study brain function and neurological disorders.
When calcium channels fail: Understanding brain network problems in CACNA1A-related disorders
Dr M.P. Hommersom -> Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behaviour -> Switzerland -> ETH Zürich -> 24 months
Genetic variants in CACNA1A cause severe neurological disorders such as migraine, epilepsy, and ataxia, but current treatments mainly address symptoms rather than modify underlying mechanisms. Using advanced technology to record activity from thousands of nerve cells simultaneously, this project will uncover how these variants disrupt brain networks and identify strategies to restore normal network function.