24 February 2020

Peter Friedl, theme Cancer development and immune defense, received a 300,000 EUR grant within the NWO open call - GROOT consortium "Active matter of cancer metastasis" to identify the mechanisms of collective metastasis in breast cancer.

The consortium combines experts from biophysics, microfluidics and in silico modeling for multiscale molecular and mechanical intragration of invasion and metastasis. 

In the NWO Open Competition Domain Science - GROOT researchers can apply as a part of a consortium for curiosity-driven, fundamental research in the research fields of the NWO Domain Science.

About the project: Active matter of cancer metastasis​
During the early stages of metastasis, clusters of tumor cells combat a series of hurdles to dissociate from the primary tumor, navigate complex surrounding tissues, and enter the circulation in order to reach distant organs. In this program, they map this journey by integrating theoretical models with experimental cell biology, biophysics, and tumor biology. They aim to identify the physical/mechanical parameters that regulate collective behavior of tumor cells during these first steps of the metastatic cascade, and deliver insights for rational design of new therapeutic intervention strategies.
  • Want to know more about these subjects? Click on the buttons below for more news.

    awards and grants

Related news items


Dutch Society of Clinical Chemistry Science & Innovation Award for the team of Hans Jacobs

14 June 2022 The team of Hans Jacobs pioneers on the development of personalized diagnostics to measure minimal residual disease in patients with multiple myeloma. read more

Michiel Vermeulen and Klaas Mulder receive funding from ZonMw for a collaborative project using stem cell-based models

15 July 2021 Michiel Vermeulen and Klaas Mulder, theme Cancer development and immune defense, receive funding from ZonMw for a collaborative project to develop a stem cell based model to study early human embryogenesis. read more

ZonMw Open Competition Grant for Annemiek van Spriel and Piet Gros

15 June 2021 Annemiek van Spriel, theme cancer development and immune defense, together with Piet Gros, Dept. of Chemistry, Utrecht University obtained a ZonMw Open Competition Grant to investigate IL-6 receptor structure and signalling in tumor cells. read more

HFSP Grant for Johannes Textor

30 March 2020 Johannes Textor, theme Cancer development and immune defense, has been awarded a program grant of 1 million US dollars by The Human Frontier Science Program (HFSP) to investigate how T cells navigate extremely dense environments using experiments, modeling and methods from pedestrian dynamics. read more

Three VIDI grants for RIMLS researchers

24 May 2019 Matthijs Jore, Daniele Tauriello and Johannes Textor are each to receive up to 800,000 euros to develop an innovative research theme and to build up their own research group. NWO is awarding the Vidi grant as part of the Innovational Research Incentives Scheme. read more

RIMLS awards festival Twelve winners

16 January 2019 In 5 categories RIMLS young researchers received an award and bonus during the New Year's drinks. See all photo's. read more