Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam has been awarded grants for three 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):
Molecular pharmacologist Tiffany van der Meer for her research Unleashing the immune system to combat cancer.
Immune checkpoint therapy is a major breakthrough in cancer treatment, but it does not work for all patients because immune cells sometimes fail to reach tumors effectively. It has recently been discovered that a specific receptor protein in blood vessels intercepts signaling molecules that normally guide immune cells to a tumor. As a result, the immune response is inhibited. It is currently unknown whether this protein can be influenced by medication. In this XS project, we are investigating this risky but promising question using advanced cell biological and biochemical testing methods. The results will provide a clear yes-or-no answer regarding the potential of this receptor as a new target for immunotherapy.
Ceri Richards for her research Virus based biosensor.
8 million annual deaths worldwide are related to bacterial infections, with forecasts for this to increase. One of the major problems in clinical treatment stems from long diagnosis times (1-3 days) during which the infection continues to grow at exponential rates. In this project we will develop a virus-based biosensor for rapid detection of bacterial molecules which are linked to infections and sepsis. The resulting platform will be an important step towards drastically reducing the time from suspected infection to effective patient treatment.
Professor of receptor biochemistry and signaling Martine Smit for her research BRET-PIT: Fighting Cancer with Light in 3D.
Photoimmunotherapy can kill cancer cells through local, light-induced production of cytotoxic oxygen species. Current PIT is limited to surface tumors because light and PIT-molecules do not penetrate tissues well. We will develop a next-generation approach for deep-tissue PIT. Good tissue penetration and in-tissue activation will be achieved by coupling the smallest antibody fragments (nanobodies) to light-producing and cytotoxic oxygen-producing molecules. Only when in close proximity, the internally generated light activates the toxic partner through bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET), enabling precise cancer cell killing without external light. This BRET PIT platform could unlock photoimmunotherapy for deep-seated cancers.
The researchers receive a maximum of € 50,000.