The summaries of the approved projects are listed below, in alphabetical order:
Towards improved DNA protection and repair: from flatworms to human cells
Prof. dr. E. Berezikov (Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen)
Damage to DNA is a major factor of ageing and cancer. Finding ways to better protect and repair DNA can decrease cancer incidence and delay ageing. Organisms that evolved superior DNA protection and repair mechanisms can help to address this challenge. Ionizing radiation causes huge levels of DNA damage, and a dose of 10 Gray is lethal to humans. Yet some free-living flatworms can survive a 10-times higher dose. This project will identify DNA-associated proteins that allow flatworms to sustain high doses of radiation and investigate whether these proteins can confer better DNA protection and repair in human cells.
Acoustic microalgal biorefinery: Riding the sound waves towards a sustainable bioeconomy (WAVE)
Dr. I.Z. Boboescu (Wageningen University & Research)
Microalgae are remarkable organisms which convert carbon dioxide into proteins, sugars, oils and pigments, used as building blocks in green chemistry, alternative fuels, food, cosmetics and even nutraceutical applications. However, these products are trapped in their cells, out of reach from conventional extraction approaches. Extraordinary interactions occur among acoustic fields and small particles in microfluidic devices, allowing their precise manipulation. Learning how to harness these forces could be a Promethean moment for many bioprocess applications. Thus, this work will reveal how microalgal cells and their components behave in these fields, possibly providing the foundation of a new line of research.
Mechanism of tissue damage in FLASH radiotherapy
Dr. E.C.M. Carroll (Technische Universiteit Delft)
Cancer patients treated by radiation therapy frequently suffer negative side effects. FLASH therapy is a promising new radiotherapy that appears to be as effective as conventional therapies, but causes less damage to healthy tissues. FLASH delivers a conventional dose of radiation in a fraction of a second, using very high dose rates. The treatment has not yet been adopted in the clinic, in part, because it is poorly understood how it works in the body. We will test leading hypotheses about the mechanisms of FLASH therapy using protons irradiation and molecular imaging in a model organism.
Beyond fossil fuels: a novel, economic solution to drive green chemistry
Dr. ing. E. J. Devid (DIFFER - Dutch Institute for Fundamental Energy Research)
Moving beyond our reliance on fossil fuel requires expanded use of green electricity.
We aim to develop a flexible, novel low-cost technology capable of directly using electricity to produce important basic chemicals. The approach is inspired by the working principles of efficient inductively-coupled plasma lamps. Electrically-generated plasma (partially-ionized “hot” gas) will convert common gasses (air, H2O, CO2) into basic chemicals (NO, H2, CO). These chemicals are building blocks that can be easily converted into synthetic fuels/high-value chemicals. This will provide major benefits in terms of storage and distribution and will accelerate the electrification of the chemical industry.
Recapitulating bone development through 3D Printing in Suspension Baths - RePrint
Dr. ir. M. Dias Castilho (Universitair Medisch Centrum Utrecht)
Reparative strategies for non-healing bone defects are challenging and limited. RePrint aims at developing an in vitro fabrication method that could generate growth-plate (GP) analogues: the structure that initiates the natural process of bone formation. This fabrication method will converge principles of 3D printing in suspension baths, magnetism and organoid technology. With suspended printing we will precisely assembly GP-like cell organoids up to centimeter dimensions; while with the application of magnetic fields we will resemble native GP microenvironment. This will generate constructs with unprecedented biological complexity and organization able to guide bone tissue formation following a natural ossification route.
Small differences, large impact: how actin variants differentially control cancer cell migration
Dr. K. van den Dries (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen)
Metastases arise when cancer cells leave the primary tumor site and colonize distant tissues. While it is known that metastases are driven by cancer cell movement, possibilities to prevent metastases are limited. It is therefore essential to increase our understanding of cancer cell movement, which is regulated by the cellular skeleton. Here, we aim to develop innovative gene engineered cell systems to investigate the importance of small differences in the building blocks of this skeleton in regulating cancer cell movement. We expect that a better insight into these differences will in the future lead to more possibilities to prevent metastases.
Rapid assessment of seismic damage using satellite data
Dr. G. Giardina (Technische Universiteit Delft)
After an earthquake, it is extremely important to identify quickly which buildings are safe and which are not. Inspections by experts on the ground are dangerous, expensive and require a long time to be completed. This project will revolutionise the response and recovery phase after an earthquake by developing the first methodology for the rapid assessment of damage based on satellite data. This novel approach can lead to the rapid creation of damage maps which will have a big impact on post-disaster management, helping reconstruction and saving lives.
Deciphering bone formation to model diseases: towards a new generation of in vitro bone models
Dr. A. Lolli (Erasmus MC)
In this project, I propose a radically new strategy to develop an urgently needed in vitro model of bone formation. Musculoskeletal diseases are commonly associated with insufficient bone formation, that can lead to growth defects, or abnormal bone production in other tissues, such as the joint in arthritis. We have currently no reliable in vitro model to study such phenomena in the laboratory. Here I will characterise the natural process of bone formation, and use this knowledge to create an unprecedented in vitro system. This will provide an invaluable tool for pre-clinical research and drug development for bone disorders.
Identification of proteins that inactivate the female X chromosome
Dr. ir. H. Marks (Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen)
During embryonic development in mammals, female cells silence one of the two X chromosomes in a process called X-chromosome inactivation, resulting in one active X chromosome similar to male cells. Although the start of X inactivation is well understood, the proteins responsible for subsequent gene silencing on the future inactive X chromosome are unknown. In this project, we will apply powerful new labelling strategies to identify these proteins. Successful execution of this project will provide exciting new insights into regulation of the genome, and opens up unexplored avenues to investigate how misregulation of X inactivation causes diseases specific to women.
Chemical bonding and reactivity in a new light
Dr. E. Oksenberg (Weizmann Institute of Science)
Since its discovery, the periodic table has served as the guide to chemical properties. However, in the last several years, it has been shown that altering the optical environment rather than the chemical constituents, is a new approach to control chemical reactions. So far, the conditions that enabled such control exclude nearly all of industrial chemistry. We will demonstrate that nanoscale light confinement can expand this alternative approach to chemistry, providing a new path to improve industrial reactions and dramatically reduce their environmental footprint, while assisting the transition to renewable energy by enabling chemical energy storage.
Revealing the true colors of individual cells using barcodes
N. Oosterhof (Universitair Medisch Centrum Groningen)
Because of recently developed technologies it is possible to measure the expression levels of thousands of genes in an individual cell at once. This has greatly contributed to our knowledge about the development of different cell types and their involvement in disease. However, it is still unclear which gene expression changes in cells of the same type account for variation in the function and behavior of those cells. This is due to a lack of technology that directly connects an individual cell’s gene expression profile to its behavior. In this project we will develop a method to make this connection.
Impact of early electric activity of Purkinje neurons in brain development and function
Dr. C. Osorio (Erasmus MC)
The cerebellum, also known as “little brain”, contains more neuronal cells than the rest of the brain combined, however its full function is still unclear. Traditionally the cerebellum has been linked with motor control, but we know now that if early cerebellar development is disrupted, cognitive and emotional processes become compromised. In this project, we propose that the electric activity of cerebellar Purkinje cells around birth is essential for proper brain development and function. By temporally reducing Purkinje cell activity, we aim to unravel novel mechanisms critical to understand the origin of neurodevelopmental disorders and uncover new potential therapeutic interventions.
Electrifying Bacteria for the Circular Economy
Dr. ir. D.P.B.T.B. Strik (Wageningen University & Research)
Can we electrify bacteria and use this to stimulate them to make high-quality products? Who knows! We are investigating whether we can use alternating current to add extra energy to the metabolism of bacteria. With this extra energy, the bacteria can hypothetically produce energy-richer biochemicals which they elsewise could not produce! This principle can be tested because bacteria transport free electrons to each other. If we can demonstrate the effect, this can lead to electrification of all kinds of microbiological processes. Wastewater then becomes a raw material for production of food-ingredients. This way we close cycles for the Circular Economy.
Fertile when wet – wet-deposition of Saharan dust as a means to combat climate change?
Dr. J.B.W. Stuut (NIOZ - Koninklijk Nederlands Instituut voor Onderzoek der Zee)
Each year, hundreds of millions tons desert dust are blown across the atmosphere and deposited into the ocean. Plankton living in the ocean profits from the nutrients in this dust and reduces atmospheric CO2 contents through photosynthesis. Recently it was discovered how dust deposition by rain plays a key role in this process but so far, we have no clue how much dust is actually coming down with rain. In this project we propose to construct and deploy autonomous wet-dust collectors at sea to quantify the amounts wet-dust deposition on the ocean and study its potential to mitigate climate change.
Hybrid Soft Robotic Implant (HyBORG) to modulate foreign body response
V. Vaithilingam (Maastricht UMC+)
The long term performance of implantable medical devices such as breast implants, biosensors, pacemakers and drug/cell delivery devices is hindered by complex and unpredictable foreign body responses (FBR). Modern soft robotic technologies can be employed to design sophisticated anti-fouling implants that can remain in the body for an extended period and as well mitigate FBR. In this project, we propose to design a Hybrid Soft Robotic Implant (HyBORG), which employs mechanical oscillation to modulate FBR by altering fluid flow and cellular activity at the implantation site and support long-term functionality of the implant.
Gelling by printing
Dr. M.K. Wlodarczyk-Biegun (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)
3D bioprinting is a booming fabrication technique that allows to produce complex structures with unprecedented precision. Therefore, it is remarkably interesting for medical applications, such as building up artificial organs or reconstruction of damaged tissues. However, good printable materials (so-called bioinks) that are easy to use and solidify quickly, are still lacking. In this research, I propose a new class of inks that gel due to the printing process itself. As a result, high resolution printing will be simple and effective.
