Five Utrecht researchers receive NWO Open Competition ENW XS grant
NWO Domain Science has awarded 28 applications in the Open Competition XS. Among them are five Utrecht researchers: Ronald van Gaal, Dorota Kawa and Weizhe Zhang from the Faculty of Science, Daniel Hurdiss from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, and Alessia Longoni from UMC Utrecht. The grants are meant to encourage curiosity-driven and bold research involving a relatively quick analysis of a promising idea.
More information about the researchers and their projects:
Dr. Ronald van Gaal
Photo-sculpting drainage channels in kidney organoids
Miniature lab-grown kidneys, known as kidney organoids, offer promising potential for generating donor transplant tissues. However, a significant limitation is their inability to drain produced urine. We propose that recreating the spatial arrangement of key (progenitor) cell populations, as occurs during kidney development in pregnancy, will allow for the formation of an open urine-draining channel. To achieve this in organoids, we will use the progenitor populations in advanced light-sensitive hydrogels in microfluidic channels. This research could pave the way for developing functional kidney tissues for patients in need of new kidneys.
Dr. Dorota Kawa
Suberin-Inducing Microbes for Stress-Resilient Crops
The extreme pace and impact of climate change highlight a demand for crops withstanding multiple environmental stresses. A promising trait offering multi-stress protection is production of suberin by certain root cells. Suberin is a hydrophobic compound, which can shield plants from losing water during drought or oxygen under flooding, and ward off entry of harmful compounds or pathogens. Boosting suberized barriers by genetic approaches is challenging, but recently identified Suberin-Inducing Microbes (SIMs) offer novel solutions. This project will establish to what extent SIMs can shield crops from stressful environments and open avenues for agricultural applications for crop protection.
Dr. Weizhe Zhang
Electrochemical leaf for direct atmospheric CO2 capture and conversion
Closing the carbon cycle by converting anthropogenic CO2 emissions into value-added products is essential to achieve a circular economy. In this context, the electrochemical transformation of CO2, driven by intermittent renewable energy, is a promising avenue. Inspired by the efficiency of CO2 photosynthesis on a single leaf, we aim to create an artificial electrochemical leaf by merging CO2 capture and conversion into a single tandem surface reactor. We will craft molecular organic additives onto heterogeneous electrodes to control the local CO2 concentration to selectively transform CO2 into hydrocarbon products.
Dr. Daniel Hurdiss en Robin Veenstra (Faculty of Veterinary Medicine)
Het onkweekbare kweken: de ontwikkeling van een humaan norovirus celkweekmodel met artificiële receptoren
Human noroviruses are the leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide with millions of cases and thousands of deaths annually. Norovirus research has been hampered due to a lack of a robust cell culture model. Since the natural human noroviruses’ receptor is unknown, developing such a model remains challenging. Daniel Hurdiss and Robin Veenstra propose the design of engineered human noroviruses receptors using the latest advancements in synthetic biology. They will use these receptors to establish a human noroviruses cell culture model and screen several antiviral compounds. This project has the potential to revolutionize the norovirus field while also providing methods that could help culturing other difficult-to-culture viruses.
Hurdiss: "If successful, this project could revolutionise norovirus research."
Dr. Alessia Longoni (UMC Utrecht)
Harnessing Ovarian Preservation applying Engineering innovations (HOPE)
Many young female cancer survivors struggle with infertility because treatments like chemotherapy and radiation can damage their ovaries. The current method for preserving ovarian tissue, called cryopreservation, often fails to restore fertility effectively since cells within the grafts need oxygen to survive, but blood vessel ingrowth is slow. HOPE aims to enhance graft survival and fertility restoration by 1) reducing the size of ovarian grafts while keeping them functional and 2) adding bioactive molecules that promote faster blood vessel ingrowth. This will promote longer-lasting graft survival and improved functionality, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the patients.
Grants October 2024
In October 2024 NWO Domain Science has also awarded 28 applications in Open Competition XS. Among them are five Utrecht-based researchers: Niels Bovenschen (UMC Utrecht), Ruben Hulswit (Veterinary Medicine), Silvia Mihăilă (Science), Patricia Olofsen-Dieleman (UMC Utrecht) and Zhu Zhang (Science).
Next Generation Genetically-modified Oncolytic Virus Therapy for Medulloblastoma, Niels Bovenschen
Medulloblastoma is the most prevalent brain tumor in children without specific therapy available, resulting in a death rate of >30% and severe side effects among survivors. Here, we propose genetically embedding Tri-specific NK cell engagers (TRiKEs) in oncolytic Vaccinia virus. The construct overcomes the blood-brain-barrier resulting in Vaccinia virus-mediated killing of medulloblastoma cells, subsequently attracting immune cells that engage to the remainder of the tumor through the locally expressed TRiKEs. Killer immune cells will give the final hit. We will employ Vaccinia, medulloblastoma-specific TRiKEs, immune cells, and medulloblastoma organoids. This groundbreaking research can directly pave the way towards clinical trials.
Unlocking the road towards anti-bornaviral therapy with the help of artificial intelligence, Ruben Hulswit
Bornaviruses cause fatal human brain infections, yet no effective treatment exists. The protein on the surface of bornavirus particles mediates infection and therefore forms a perfect target for the development of anti-viral therapy. Rational design of such measures requires detailed structural insight into this protein. Unfortunately, the viral protein is inherently difficult to study due to its small size, flexibility and evolutionary distinctiveness. Combining artificial intelligence with our preliminary experimental observations, we have now acquired insights that may allow us to stabilize the protein to perform the structural characterization required to jumpstart development of anti-bornaviral therapy and prevent future fatalities.
SEEDS- Stimulating Enhanced Endothelial Development for Kidney Organoid Vascularization and Network Formation, Silvia Mihăilă
In our quest to improve kidney-like structures called organoids, we face a key challenge: these organoids lack essential blood vessels, limiting their maturation. To tackle this issue, we plan to introduce tiny "vascular seeds" within the organoids. These seeds will help create vital blood vessels from within, enhancing the organoids growth and performance. By closely monitoring this process, we aim to develop functional kidney organoids, capable of blood clearance, significantly advancing our understanding of kidney-related diseases. This research brings us closer to healthier kidneys for all, much like solving a critical puzzle in disease research.
Reprogramming neutrophils: harnessing IgA antibodies to convert cancer-supporters into tumor destroyers, Patricia Olofsen-Dieleman
This project will reveal whether tumor-promoting and immunosuppressive neutrophils can be reprogrammed into anti-tumor neutrophils using IgA antibodies. Neutrophils, a type of white blood cell, can either support or combat cancer growth, but current immunotherapies struggle to activate their anti-tumor potential. By using advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing and engineered mice that express the human CXCL8 protein and IgA receptor, I aim to investigate if IgA antibodies can convert harmful neutrophil subsets into beneficial ones. The findings will advance our understanding of neutrophils in cancer and open new avenues for (IgA) immunotherapy by converting harmful neutrophils into cancer-fighting cells.
Unlocking safe and efficient electrochemical hydrogen storage in nanomaterials using real-time optical imaging, Zhu Zhang
Reliable hydrogen storage prohibits today’s hydrogen use as a clean energy source. Electrochemical hydrogen storage in nanomaterials emerges as a promising solution. However, the materials suffer from structural changes and degradation, which requires understandings of these dynamic process using sensitive detection techniques with high temporal and spatial resolution. Here, I propose to develop a novel in-situ optical imaging technique to visualize and quantify real-time changes in material during electrochemical hydrogen storage. With this technique, I will explore hydrogen-storage performance of nickel-metal-hydride nano-/micro-materials. This research will overcome scientific and technical bottlenecks in finding next-generation materials for safe and efficient hydrogen storage.