The laureates are, in alphabetical order:
Jurjan Aman from Amsterdam UMC receives the Vidi for his research Healthy vessels for healthy lungs.
Lung diseases are often associated with damage to the airways, but the small blood vessels in the lungs are also crucial for lung health. Factors like smoking and aging can damage these blood vessels. Aman's project focuses on discovering genes/proteins essential for the maintenance of these blood vessels ('stability factors'). Using existing data, patient cells, and complex disease models, Aman will investigate how these 'stability factors' work and whether activating them can reverse lung disease.
Physicist Maximilian Beyer receives the Vidi for his research SAMURAI - Synthesizing Antimatter Molecules Using Radiative AssociatIon.
Beyer investigates the very first and simplest chemical reactions: collisions between hydrogen particles and their charged variants. He studies how special quantum effects can enhance these reactions. Such processes are important today for modern technologies like nuclear fusion and computer chip production. In the early universe, they helped cool the cosmos after the Big Bang, allowing the first molecules to form. Now, physicists are trying to replicate those same reactions using antimatter. By figuring out the best way to create the simplest antimatter molecules, Beyer contributes to new experiments that could provide deeper insight into the fundamental laws of nature — and perhaps even into mysteries such as dark matter.
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Researcher of Islamic intellectual and cultural history Pieter Coppens receives the Vidi for his research The Art of Dying in Islamic Traditions (600-1800).
Reflection on the good death in premodern world views is crucial in situations in which the art of dying needs to be redefined, as recently during the COVID pandemic. Coppens therefore analyzes how Muslims have historically envisioned the good death, which bodily, sensory, and emotional norms were at play, and which legal and ethical concerns they had. He seeks to show when and how these norms and concerns have changed throughout the centuries. This opens highly needed new perspectives for contemporary academic and societal discussions on the good death in Islam and society at large.
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Jitske Jansen from Amsterdam UMC receives the Vidi for the research Dissecting Early Parietal epIthelial Cell activation in the kidney to pioneer therapy and halt FSGS.
Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease, where glomerular podocytes trigger harmful signals that activate parietal epithelial cells (PECs), causing scarring and loss of kidney function. Currently, there is no effective treatment to stop FSGS progression. Jansen aims to uncover the molecular signature of early-activated PECs, enabling the development of specific therapies to prevent FSGS. By investigating the molecular mechanisms behind PEC activation, validating potential therapeutic compounds, and testing treatments in vivo, this project will develop specific therapies to stop FSGS progression and preserve kidney health.
Isotope archaeologist Lisette Kootker receives the Vidi for her research IRONMAP-NL: Isotopic Research On Networks, Mobility, And Provenance in the Iron Age Netherlands.
Long before the Romans arrived, the Netherlands was already a connected world of thriving Iron Age (800-12 BCE) communities, trade, and travel. This project explores whether the Romans introduced large-scale networks or simply expanded existing ones. Using cutting-edge science, including isotopic analysis of human remains, animals, and metals, this project will trace ancient movement and trade routes. By mapping these connections, we can better understand how people, goods, and ideas spread across the region from the Bronze Age to Roman times. This research offers new insights into Europe’s past, revealing how the Iron Age shaped the world the Romans encountered.
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Neuroscientist Max Koppers receives the Vidi for his research Spatiotemporal regulation of protein synthesis in neuronal circuit formation .
We can walk, talk and form memories because neurons in our brain communicate with each other via thousands of small connections called synapses. These synapses are often formed far away from the cell body of a neuron, which makes it enormously challenging for neurons to gather all the proteins required to make these synapses at the right place and the right time. Koppers aims to understand how neurons achieve this by using innovative molecular techniques to study the local production of proteins at synapses.
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Tim de Meij from Amsterdam UMC receives the Vidi for his research Gut Barrier Boost: The Power of Microbes.
De Meij investigates how early changes in gut bacteria and their metabolites contribute to the development of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) and late-onset sepsis (LOS), two life-threatening conditions in premature infants. The aim is to develop safe, preventive treatments using sterile fecal filtrates to strengthen the gut barrier, and to identify non-invasive, microbiome-based biomarkers for early detection, in order to improve outcomes for this vulnerable population.
Psychologist Jon Roozenbeek receives the Vidi for his research The economy of digital influence operations.
Disinformation poses a risk to electoral integrity. Individual-level interventions against disinformation (e.g., media literacy games) have shown some promise but suffer from limited real-world effectiveness. System-level approaches, such as changes to recommender algorithms, are challenging to implement and require collaboration with tech companies. Roozenbeek therefore focuses on a major bottleneck in the disinformation ecosystem: the thriving market that enables online manipulation, bot networks, and political influence operations. Specifically, he will study how this market works, how disinformation spreaders use the services available on this market to undermine the democratic process, and identify potential policy and regulatory interventions.
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Cognitive psychologist Joshua Snell receives the Vidi for his research Preserving reading ability in macular degeneration.
Macular degeneration (MD) is a common eye condition that primarily affects central vision and can therefore lead to blindness. People with MD often struggle with daily activities, especially reading. Snell is testing a new tool specifically designed to help people with MD continue reading. This reading interface automatically adapts to each user based on their reading behavior and progress. In this way, the tool remains effective even as vision deteriorates over time. The experiments with this system also contribute to developing the first theory of how the brain reads — both in people with and without visual impairments.
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NWO Talent Programme
The NWO Talent Programme gives researchers the freedom to pursue their own research based on creativity and passion. The NWO Talent Programme encourages innovation and curiosity. Curiosity-driven research contributes to and prepares us for tomorrow’s society. That is why NWO focuses on diversity in terms of researchers, domains and backgrounds. Together with the Veni and Vici grants, Vidi is part of the NWO Talent Programme. They receive in total 86,7 million euros.
NWO selects researchers based on the academic quality and innovative character of the research proposal, scientific and/or societal impact of the proposed project and the quality of the researcher.
Read more on the NWO website.