In 2024, Simin completed her BSc studies in Pharmaceutical Sciences, with a very successful research project in Biomolecular Simulation and Modeling within the VU Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences. During her internship, Simin explored on her own initiative possibilities for the discovery and optimization of drugs against Chagas disease, a parasitic disease occurring in Latin America that is related to African sleeping sickness. Because the only available medication for Chagas disease shows itching as a highly unpleasant side effect in half of the patients (often leading to discontinuation of treatment) and as the disease is evolving into a growing health problem due to human migration and globalization, alternative therapies are urgently needed. Simin demonstrated that nitroaromatic compounds can irreversibly inhibit a specific Cytochrome P450 enzyme and thereby effectively combat the parasite. Using combined quantum mechanical, molecular modeling and simulation techniques, Simin has shown how such compounds can selectively block the parasitic enzyme, which is a starting point for further studies into improved treatment of Chagas disease. Simin performed and reported her mechanistic research in an excellent manner, leading to a high-standard final presentation and thesis, which will be on the basis of a scientific publication. After having presented her poster in a very clear and enthusiastic way she was awarded the FAR poster prize at the BSc poster market in June 2024. In addition she has acted as a true ambassador for the department, both at poster presentations in national scientific meetings and during open days for the VU pharmaceutical sciences study programs. Thanks to her drive, enthusiasm and brainstorming with colleagues, Simin has also positively influenced other research projects, and her student mentorship and student assistantships in courses such as Physical Pharmacochemistry, Chemical Principles, and Thermodynamics have been highly appreciated by students and lecturers.
Hence, the jury is confident that also this year the Karlijn Keijzer Scriptieprijs has been awarded to an excellent and highly motivated student. The prize will be presented to Simin by Jacqueline Keijzer, mother of Karlijn Keijzer. The ceremony will take place on Thursday 26 June from 16.30 h onwards at Vrije Universiteit in Theatre 2 of the NU.VU building, following the poster market and competition for BSc students in Pharmaceutical Sciences.
About the Karlijn Keijzer Scriptieprijs
The Karlijn Keijzer Scriptieprijs is established in memory of Karlijn Keijzer, who was aboard the fatal MH17 flight in 2014. Karlijn finished her MSc studies in Drug Discovery and Safety at the Vrije Universiteit cum laude in 2012, with a specialization in Computational Medicinal Chemistry and Toxicology. For her PhD studies, Karlijn joined the Computational Chemistry group of professor Baik at Indiana University in Bloomington to study amongst other organometallic complexes of therapeutic interest. In September 2014 she was posthumously awarded her doctoral degree. During her PhD studies Karlijn regularly visited the VU. Early 2014 she obtained an Aspasia research grant to stay with the Biocomputational Chemistry group in the Division of Theoretical Chemistry.
In line with Karlijn’s intellectual legacy and interests, and to stimulate talented and ambitious students in their scientific development and (international) experience, the Karlijn Keijzer Scriptieprijs is presented annually as a travel grant of 1000 Euros. The award recipient is selected by a jury based on the academic excellence and motivation of candidates who successfully completed a BSc research project in the field of pharmaceutical sciences or (bio)chemistry. Resources for the award have been made available by the family, supplemented by the VU Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences.