Iddo Heller receives the funding for the project Joining Forces for Human-Made Molecular Machines. (Co-applicants: prof. dr. B.L. (Ben) Feringa; dr. J. (Jocelyne) Vreede; prof. dr. J. (Jan) Lipfert; dr. C.P. (Chase) Broedersz; prof. dr. S.S. (Shirin) Faraji)
In all forms of life, molecular motors are indispensable for transporting molecular building blocks inside cells, for maintaining DNA, and for generating (muscle-based) motion. Only recently, mankind has developed the ability to build synthetic molecular motors and machines and to control these with light. In this project, researchers from various disciplines will join forces to unravel the design-principles of synthetic nanomachines, to design motorized nanoscale building blocks and to demonstrate the first light-controlled artificial muscles and conveyor belts. These discoveries enable mankind to pursue new applications such as in nanomedicine and in the design of adaptive, mobile, and self-healing materials.
Mark Verheijen receives the funding for the project SUPerGLue: How SUbcellular ComPartments in AstroGLia control cognitive processing (Co-applicants: dr. R. (Rogier) Min; dr. E.N.T.P. (Erik) Bakker; prof. dr. H.E. (Elga) de Vries; dr. P. (Priyanka) Rao-Ruiz; dr. N.A. (Natalia) Goriounova; dr. H.D. (Harold) MacGillavry)
Research on information processing in the brain previously focused mainly on communication between neurons. However, in recent years it has emerged that a non-neuronal cell, the astrocyte, which was previously seen as a kind of support cell of your brain, also plays a role in memory and cognition. Astrocytes do this by forming connections with both neurons and blood vessels in the brain. Which molecules are involved in these connections is largely unknown. In SUPERGLUE the researchers use advanced techniques to map these molecules and cellular interactions, taking an important step in our understanding of information processing by the brain.
Physicists Andreas Freise & Conor Mow-Lowry receive funding for their Nikef project. (Co-applicants: Prof. Dr. C.F.F. (Chris) van den Broeck, Prof. Dr. A. (Alessandro) Bertolini, Dr. H.J. (Henk Jan) Bulten, Dr. A. (Anuradha) Samajdar, Prof. Dr. A. (Andreas) Freise, Dr. S. (Stefan) Danilishin, Dr. M. (Maria) Haney, Dr. G. (Gideon) Koekoek, Dr. C. (Conor) Mow-Lowry, Dr. J. (Jessica) Steinlechner, Dr. S. (Sebastian) Steinlechner, Dr. B. (Bas) Swinkels, Dr. N. (Niels) van Bakel) Their goal is to develop the Einstein Telescope, enabling it to listen to the entire universe. Listening to black hole collisions from across the universe, for example, is possible with the Einstein Telescope. The Einstein Telescope will become Europe’s gravitational wave observatory, providing unparalleled observational capabilities for most of the 21st century, as it will be able to detect black hole collisions from the entire universe. This project will focus on developing and qualifying innovative technologies that are essential to enable the phenomenal sensitivity of the Einstein Telescope. Special attention will be given to the low-frequency end of the observation band, where improvement factors of up to a million are needed compared to the current LIGO/Virgo detectors.
The value of fundamental research
The research consortia do share one common and essential goal: to take a big step in the direction of curiosity-driven research by consortia. The Open Competition ENW-XL is essential for the sciences as the only instrument for fundamental collaboration.
With this funding, it is up to the researchers to start, strengthen or expand groundbreaking and innovative world-class research lines together. The value of fundamental research: 'Many of the results of fundamental research eventually end up in society. You just don't know in advance how and when. Think of fundamental mathematical research, much of that is eventually reflected in logistics. Without fundamental research, there is no foundation to build on.'
Read more on the NWO website.