Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam has been awarded grants for two scientists from the Open Competition ENW - XS of the Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO).
The Open Competition Domain Science – XS grants are intended to support promising ideas and to facilitate innovative and more speculative initiatives within the seven Domain Science disciplines. The proposed research is ground-breaking and high-risk. What counts is that all results, be they positive or negative, must contribute to the advancement of science.
The assigned VU applications (in alphabetical order of the applicant):
Physicist Ester Abram for her research "SHINE": Studying Biological Neurons at Single-Dendrite Precision with Photonic Microchips
Neurons communicate via electrical signals across the body. Each cell receives many inputs on its dendritic branches and the combination, strength, and timing of these inputs determine whether a neuron fires. Understanding dendritic computations is crucial for disorders such as epilepsy and autism, which involve synaptic and dendritic abnormalities. However, current technologies cannot measure or manipulate activity at single-dendrite resolution across multiple branches. SHINE addresses this gap with an all-optical physiology platform in a waveguide-array-like setting, enabling fully optical, noninvasive measurements of intracellular dynamics with unmatched spatial and temporal resolution, specificity, and flexibility.
Chemist Loreta Muscarella for her research Metal-Free Perovskites for Autonomous Power in Medical Technologies.
Muscarella explores a new class of safe, lead-free materials, metal-free perovskites, that can generate electricity from body movements. These materials could power medical devices like pacemakers without the need for conventional batteries, reducing health risks, electronic waste, and replacement costs. She will test whether these materials produce a stable electrical signal under slow, natural movements of the human body. Success would open the door to self-powered wearable and implantable technologies, enabling more sustainable and autonomous healthcare solutions.